I'MMA LET YOU FINISH
Was Wolfowitz lying or just stupid?
Frist. (sorry)
Great post Atrios!
Hey maybe they should demand that someone read a list of people who haven't been killed in the Iraq War.
grinding my teeth.
Damn.
How long has Sinclair been gobbling up local stations?
I'm usually pretty well-informed, but I only even heard the term "Sinclair broadcasting" in the last couple of days.
Good for McCain. Though, even in the case of these Sinclair morons, I could do without the "unpatriotic" charges.
What's with Sinclair. We the people have given them OUR airwaves for free with their license, haven't we?
This is outrageous.
Your decision to deny your viewers an opportunity to be reminded of war's terrible costs, in all their heartbreaking detail, is a gross disservice to the public, and to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. It is, in short, sir, unpatriotic.
Hell yeah John McCain! What a scathing letter.
Can you imagine what would happen if more pols took to scolding and shaming folks like these?
Good god don't these people have any shame at all?
Your point being....?
booby says ACK!
(.)(.)
Was Wolfowitz lying or just stupid? - LYING - he's gotten away with so many, it was worth a shot.
Anyone have the contact information for these assholes?
Oh wait...
Sinclair CEO: dsmith@sbgnet.com
VP of Programming and Promotions: bbutler@sbgnet.com
Regarding Wolfowitz not knowing the number of dead in Iraq, someone should make an effort to notify Fat Tim Russert. I remember just how aghast Fat Tim was at Governor Dean not knowing the exact number of US personnel on active duty in the military. Not an exact fit, but of the two, which is more damning?
Shameless fucking cretinous motherfuckers.
Instaidiot is plugging the need to highlight the UN oil for food matter. What the f*** does that scandal have to do with our dead soldiers? Even Bush has never raised that as an issue of why we are in Iraq.
I read somewhere this morning that Sinclair owns over 20% of local TV stations (Faux, WB, NBC, CBS, as well as ABC) in the US.
Can anyone confirm this?
One more:
dhyman@sbgnet.com
Richard Holbrooke (former UN ambassador) just bitch-slapped Howitzer Explosionguy (that's Wolf Blitzer for those who don't get Cable Access Channel Eight) on CNN. He did it with CNN's own poll, too, and it left a bit of a welt.
Also, Holbrooke says he has an advance copy of the speech Kerry will give in Missouri today, and says Kerry will lay out the details of his plan for Iraq.
Too fucking right. I'm appalled that someone that "in the loop" would be so OUT of the loop when it comes to the actual numbers. Hey, Paul - these are DEAD PEOPLE - people YOU supposedly revere for their service. And you don't even know how MANY of them have paid that price?
Hell, I didn't know the EXACT daily figure myself, but I would have been within 20 or 30 of the overall total, and I knew that the over-500 mark for "combat deaths" alone had been reached earlier this month. What a wanker.
Sorry that was a typo. The email address is mhyman@sbgnet.com
Carry on...
The charges against Sinclair:
1.) Aiding and abetting war criminals;
2.) Impersonating an independent journalist.
3.) Being unpatriotic.
4.) Operating a media empire without a soul.
Pretty serious, kids.
A related note...USA Today's front page is covered, top to bottom, with the pictures of 116 soldiers, of the 134 reported killed this month.
You can go to the newseum web site to view the page, and download a PDF.
On this page, USAT is the last image on the upper set of links.
http://www.newseum.org/todaysfro...ault.asp?
page=7
Can Fulloshitowitz be fired now? Strangefeld and the whole lot of them should be forced to learn the name of every single soldier they've sent into the meat grinder. A stunning example of their callousness to casualties.
Thanks for the contact info old hat.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm writing a letter accusing them of being liberal, Saddam-appeasing traitors and other such nonsense. I plan to ask why they don't support the troops and suggest that if they don't love America, they should leave. You know, the same stupid-ass right-wing arguments that are always used. I think nothing will raise their hackles more than what they perceieve as some dumb right winger mistaking what they're doing for them being liberal. Should be fun!
OT, but not so much negroponte to the rescue But "atrocities" are part of the Bush Administration's agenda in Iraq. Negroponte is "the man for the job". He has as the required skills from his stint in organizing death squadrons in Honduras. ok, that seems a little loaded to me. but this link covers the south american/cia atrocities thru a series of several links. it's a lot to read. it does show that some journalists try. meanwhile the 3 major cable stations keep droning on about Michael Jackson, who cares? and this a.m. i hear drudge say dickless cheney, likes fox news. well, yea, i guess so, your own personal propaganda arm of the media.
So the Sinclair Group's poor decision will become a story. CNN.com even has
this headline and story on their website about the Sinclair Group's political decision and all the complaints that their stations received.
Link from McCain's site:
http://mccain.senate.gov/
index.c...Content_id=1276
----
Jim Newberry, condemns media concentration as the cause of the problem.
If you have never written a letter to your local paper, if you have never phoned a television station in outrage, if you have never complained to a heartless corporation (Sinclair Broadcasting Group) before - now is the time to do it.
Not that anything will change.
Oh. And don't forget to register a complaint with the FCC. Colin Powell's offspring will no doubt respond appropriately.
Jeebus thinks Sinclair's CEO David D. Smith is going to go to hell.
---
Atrios, there's a terrific revolution going on right under our noses.
Compare the Democratic response capabilities during the Fall 2002 elections, war votes, and 2003 runup to war -- and the fact that the blogosphere was the only place that a broad, forceful, passionate, and fact-and analysis-based critique of the BushCo "case" for war was being made -- with the content of this post.
It's all drawn from the great work at CAP. We're finally developing the tools we need to beat this democracy-destroying slime.
And you've helped lead the way with your site.
Take a minute to step back and take a bow.
Now get back to work.
The left is a lonely group.
They needn't be part of the loop.
We'll just manage the news
And those fucking cuckoos
Will never get in on the scoop.
Wolfowitz is neither lying nor stupid (at least in this case): he just doesn't really care. 300, 500, 700 cannon-fodder deaths - what's the difference?
How cynical is Sinclair management? Check out their stock dumping.
talk about selling the troops short!
Sinclair's web site is being blocked today from what CNN is reporting.CNN came out today and called the decision to not broadcast the nightline episode tonite "A big mistake".
I dont need CAP to tell me about the misdeeds of the problems of media consolidation.This is what brought me out of my slumber.The consolidation is a huge issue to me,It is the single biggest blunder of the the clinton administration to inititate it.Bushco has made it worse.We no longer have a free and independant media and we will never get it back.Our government failed us in this respect even more so than on 9/11.That is saying alot.
I fail to see how the consolidation is anything but evil and for the rich only.Yet we hear nothing from the majority of the population,they just go on about their daily shoe buying binge.
I feel alienated from this country and it's ideals.Now more than ever, after reading this last post by our thoughtful and ever vigilant host.
Holden, "Howitzer Explosionguy" made me laugh harder than I have in a long time. Party on, Wayne!
WF
Your Preznit, today:
``A year ago I did give the speech from the carrier saying we had achieved an important objective, accomplished a mission, which was the removal of Saddam Hussein,'' Bush said.
``As a result, there are no longer torture chambers or mass graves or rape rooms in Iraq,'' the president said.
FWIW, I have more on Sinclair on my blog. Some may be new to you...
I think the fact that Wolfowitz had no clue as to the number of deaths could mean two things. 1) He literally doesn't care. He is so into the overview, the future of America, the big scheme that he has written off the deaths as unimportant. Or 2) they have been hiding the actual death count so well that he couldn't remember what number had been given to the public.
Aaarrrrrgghhhh.....
This is not surprising in the least, well, maybe a bit, given the sheer in-your-face gall of it.
And re: Wolfowitz, he's not stupid, or lying. He. Does. Not. Care. Period.
Anyway, I'm gonna pretend I'm not in Bizarro World this afternoon, and go plant the garden.
Dear David Smith,
How does it feel to be an America-hating punk ass bitch?
Love,
everyone ought to write Bush and Cheney a letter saying "HAPPY ANNIVERSARY" for "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED"
here's where you can go to do so:
http://congress.org/congressorg/...?id=20004&
lvl=F
Whoa, Mccain used that word *unpatriotic*!
Where's my little friend from last night, the one who called ted Koppel a *fucking asshole* for reading the names?
Everyone check their mutual funds for any Sinclair stock and dump it. Letters of complaint to them aren't going to do any good. it would have as much effect as trying to turn Anne Coulter into a liberal. Hit them where it hurts.
A little 'Ludwig Van' would be appropriate for that toolbox!
I second Silence Dogood's post, wolf-o-shits is neither lying nor stupid, he's a fucking sociopath just like the rest of the neocon horde. The dead mean nothing to him except, perhaps, to serve as grist for his mill
S Dogood is right - Wolfowitz has an agenda, and that agenda assumes dead GIs. HE DOESN'T CARE - the agenda is what is important. His attitude is part and parcel of the gov't refusal to allow coffins to be shown, and the media's complicity in not showing the true cost of war (people get KILLED and MAIMED and are never the same afterward). Show the carnage - show American chickenhawks what they are missing, and then see if Wolfy will be so cavalier about our dead GIs. The insufferably arrogant prick.
gack! drudge!
i say we put Dean in the FCC seat.
Ah, McCain. I really do like him a lot of the time. He tends to stick to much to the party line, but then he'll turn around and do something that's actually principled. I have to appreciate that, even though I disagree with most (but certainly not all) of his politics.
Every Republican who stands up and proclaims their love for the troops should be absolutely outraged by Sinclair's decision. Yet, somehow, I don't hear a major outcry. Shocking, isn't it?
- Joel
----
Nightmares For Sale -
You're Damn Right I'm Angry!
I read somewhere this morning that Sinclair owns over 20% of local TV stations (Faux, WB, NBC, CBS, as well as ABC) in the US.
Can anyone confirm this?
That is incorrect. Their stations reach 20% of viewers in America.
The FCC has some public interest requirements in their licenses. It is time people began filing complaints with the FCC. We should go after all the Sinclair licenses. Massive amounts of complaints, and protests when they come up for renewel.
John McCain to Sinclair: [Cartman voice] HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SUCK MY BALLS? [/Cartman voice]
My crush on him continues unabated.
A.
I know I will be blasted for this, but had McCain won the republican nomination for president I would have voted for him over Gore. Despite my moderate to liberal standings, I have always liked McCain, and unlike Delay or other republicans, I have always looked at McCain's support of predominantly conservative causes as being based on more legitimate fealins than the otherwise hatred or greed of his associate republicans.
But more than anything, I always knew that McCain was not a direct partisan. He may vote predominantly along party lines but he has broken away from the party far more often than most others in his party.
This is just one more sign of proof that McCain is one of the few Republicans we in the middle or the left can hope and have future hope, will make decisions based less on political goals and more on legitimate goals.
MYOB'
.
RE: Sinclair Not Supporting Our Troops
Dear Sir:
I am appalled by Sinclair media's lack of support for our troops and I truly feel it is just another example of the bias in the liberal media. By not airing the Nightline broadcast of our fallen soldiers, you are not supporting our troops and you obviously don't feel that their sacrifice was worthwhile. These young men and women paid the ultimate sacrifice, for you, for me, and for our country. If you do not repect these men and women, then you are no better than the French or Germans. I will do my best to boycott your station from now on, and I will tell my friends and family to do the same. If you do not love this country, then get the hell out! This country would be a much safer place to raise my kids if all you damm liberals would just moved to Canada already.
Justin Blake
Florida
The consolidation is a huge issue to me,It is the single biggest blunder of the the clinton administration to inititate it.Bushco has made it worse.We no longer have a free and independant media and we will never get it back.
I dispair for the republic.
Holden, thanks for that link and prize quote with emphasis. More congnitive dissonance by our preznit?
Let's all buy domains! Some examples:
www.sinclairbroadcastgrouphatesthetroops.com
www.sbghatesthetroops.com
www.fucksinclairbroadcasting.com
www.fucksinclairbroadcastgroup.com
www.sinclairbroadcastingkillsamericans.com
www.sinclairpropagandagroup.com
etc.
Remember Clear Channel's pro-war rallies?
This in a nutshell is why media consolidation and a lack of localism in news is bad.
The consolidation is a huge issue to me,It is the single biggest blunder of the the clinton administration to inititate it.Bushco has made it worse.We no longer have a free and independant media and we will never get it back.
We will get it back, because people are going to fight for it. It just took a while for people to cotton on to things.
The Duck Pit committee announces that we have aquired landfill rights for the entire state of Texas to provide sufficent space for post The Revolution operations.
I agree with "waiting for the crapture." The key to understanding these people is that they just don't give a crap. Clean air? don' care. Mercury in the water? don't care. Jobless? don't care. Dead soldiers? don't care. They ONLY care about wealth and power and damn everyone else.
MYOB, I respected McCain a lot and I really liked the way he went at his presidential run. I'd have crossed party lines for him, too, because he really seemed to listen and give a shit, and I can work with somebody like that, as opposed to somebody whose mind is made up on either side.
A.
Gary - Wait wait wait wait - turn the whole state into the duck pit? Where are you going to relocate the people who live here? We aren't all Bush supporters - Dallas is pretty well divided 50-50, just like the nation.
I suggest you retool this, Gary. We are not all like Bush and DeLay.
I'm a great supporter of the duck pit, but let's be reasonable here - The problem is in DC, let DC be the duck pit.
Sigh.....
Media consolidation...what was the defense of it?????
I'd have crossed party lines for McCain, but not against Gore. Against Zell Miller certainly.
Here's what I got back when I e-mailed my local Sinclair affiliate -
"The ABC Television Network announced on Tuesday that the Friday,
April 30 edition of "Nightline" will consist entirely of Ted Koppel
reading aloud the names of U.S. servicemen and women killed in action in
Iraq. Despite the denials by a spokeswoman for the show the action
appears to be motivated by a political agenda designed to undermine the
efforts of the United States in Iraq.
While the Sinclair Broadcast Group honors the memory of the
brave
members of the military who have sacrificed their lives in the service
of our country, we do not believe such political statements should be
disguised as news content. As a result, we have decided to preempt the
broadcast of "Nightline" this Friday on each of our stations which air
ABC programming.
We understand that our decision in this matter may be questioned
by some. Before you judge our decision, however, we would ask that you
first question Mr. Koppel as to why he chose to read the names of 523
troops killed in combat in Iraq, rather than the names of the thousands
of private citizens killed in terrorist attacks since and including the
events of September 11, 2001. In his answer, we believe you will find
the real motivation behind his action scheduled for this Friday."
Bastards.
Sinclair Broadcasting is just an ideal Republican media company operating in an ideal Republican fashion, emulating an ideal Republican world. It's where Republicans want to take us.
No news here.
The tide is definitely turning. Previoulsy, the Sinclairs of the world thought that pulling this type of stunt and kissing the ass of the far right was a sure thing. But now they are starting to see that there are costs.
If you live in a area with a Sinclair affiliate, write a letter to the GM and forward a copy to the FCC. Then go to the TV station and demand to see the public file. The station has to give you access to it. Find out when the station's license is up for renewal, then write the FCC. And above all, write your Congressman and Senators and demand that media ownership be limited. Ask the station for equal time to respond to its "editorials." If the station refuses, write your local paper about it. Above all, watch as little of the station's programming as you can and boycott the local sponsors of the station.
Frank,
shut up. you shouldn't be allowed to elect your senator, anyway, you fool!
I wrote McCain a thank you letter. He really does have nads. I don't know that I'd vote for him, but he'd be welcome to come over for supper.
I think McCain is an honorable man. They are in short supply these days. In fact, lately one of the things that I used to hear all the time at the Vajradakini Buddhist Center goes through my mind every day- "These degenerate times." I didn't believe that things were that bad when I was a member of the Center 5 years ago. But they are. These are very degenerate times.
What happens if Cheney bows out in August and McCain runs as Veep w Shrub?
Do you want fries with that?
I watched Wolfoputz giving that answer yesterday and wanted to reach through the teevee and slap that smirk off his face.
The disgusted look on Kaptur's face was priceless, with a hint of *oh, really? does this jerk know anything?*
He was oh so blase about the whole subject of deaths.
Good for McCain for having the right idea.
I agree but I think publishing McCain's letter is Matt Drudge's idea of 'both sides' of an issue.
MeToo,
What happens if Cheney bows out in August and Jesus runs as Veep w Shrub?
had McCain won the republican nomination for president I would have voted for him over Gore.
Me too.
You know,
Kerry could nominate Jesus as Veep and the gopers would allege that he is a christ-killer.
I wrote McCain a thank you letter. He really does have nads. I don't know that I'd vote for him, but he'd be welcome to come over for supper.
Enough of the McCain worship BS. If you go to Sinclair's website (www.sbgi.net) and read their letter about the Nightline show you will see that we are in a socio-political culture war, and when push comes to shove McCain will be with the enemy. Too many people on the left have mush for brains, that's why Fox, Sinclair, Clear Channel are kicking our ass.
Sinclair owns the local ABC affiliate in St. Louis. They made the local news anchors read the "We luvs Bush" statement. Within a couple of weeks, the news department got blown up. So they don't do local news anymore. At all.
McCain is the kind of statesman our forefathers had in mind. If all Democrats and Republicans could be more like this, the operations of our goverment would be on a higher level. Differences would be respected and debated professionally.
Instead, we have, especially on the right, vicious, my side versus your side, good versus evil, God versus heathens kind of crap.
If McCain had been elected instead of the smut smear 9/11 would never have happened,Iraq would never have happened and saddam would probably have been ousted.
Jr: My fear is that this will look that much better to the sleeping repub swing voters and Kerry gets sheared. There have been so many glowing reports of McCain coming from some Dems that it would look like a betrayal of sorts. An August surprise. Another ball of wax.
McCain for President. Sorry, that has been done already.
Isn't he great? Now, why couldn't Sen. Leiberman write a letter like that, huh?
To those of you in Sinclair stations area, I like fedup's idea above - go to the station and demand to see the access file, that you are entitled to. Organize a community group and file with FCC, next time they are up for renewal. Hopefully, our guys will be in the drivers' seats by then.
You know, one silver lining in this is that now I know about Sinclair, and so does much of the rest of the country. In other words, how long could this propaganda machine have continued to operate without our knowing what they are about if Sinclair hadn't outed itself with this move? This way, at least, maybe now there can be some action to do something about these people who are pretending to offer news and who obviously don't. This is the real national disaster and disgrace that is at the bottom of all our problems - the fucking media that has been bought and paid for by the Repugs.
Dear Sirs,
As a Patriotic American, I cannot believe that you refuse to show the Nightline broadcast with the names of our KIA soldiers. Sir, this is AMERICA. And in America we HONOR OUR TROOPS. We don't hide them from the public as some liberal, anti-troop protest. People like you are what is wrong with this country. You liberals have never supported our troops or America. REAL Americans know the truth even if you won't show it on your liberal TV stations. We did the right thing in Iraq. We've saved their people and Saddam had it coming. We should have invaded his ass in the first Gulf War. Your pathetic anti-war, anti-troop TV protest is not going to change that. America supports its troops and honors our dead. If you liberals won't honor the troops and think Saddam's regime was OK, maybe YOU should move to Iraq.
***************************************
I especially liked the part about invading Saddam's ass. Hope I didn't lay it on too thick.
The only thing wrong with Sinclair's action is it doesn't go far enough. Nightline is just the tip of the iceberg. Extensive media research has revealed that not only ABC, but every major tv network regularly broadcasts programs devoted to dangerously political subjects. They deny being motivated by a political agenda, but that's simply not credible. Virtually all of these so-called 'news shows' report on the economy, international affairs, the activities of the congress, the president, etc. These are all politically charged subjects, and are likely to shape viewers' political opinions. People exposed to such information may feel empowered to make their own judgements on major issues affecting this country. The result is divisiveness, which weakens our nation and erodes support for our president.
Remember, an informed public is a seditious public. Only through ignorance can we be truly free.
``A year ago I did give the speech from the carrier saying we had achieved an important objective, accomplished a mission, which was the removal of Saddam Hussein,'' Bush said.
``As a result, there are no longer torture chambers or mass graves or rape rooms in Iraq,'' the president said.
Holden, all I have to say is Good fucking GOD. really, could he be more stupid?
Woot, four legs says "ACK!!" too.
Anony-guy, please give me your account number so I can make a props deposit for you.
Was Wolfowitz lying or just stupid?
It no longer matters.
Stupidity is not an acceptable defense in a war crimes tribunal.
Anony-guy, I second Old Hat. That was poetry.
Hmm, McCain for Repub Veep. Rove would never let that happen. He hates McCain and everything he stands for.
I think Cheney bows out and Powell runs with Bush. Why the fuck else is Powell still there?
A.
Anony-guy, perfect response. I wasn't nearly as respectful when I told them where to shove their dipshit station.
Everyone check their mutual funds for any Sinclair stock and dump it. Letters of complaint to them aren't going to do any good. it would have as much effect as trying to turn Anne Coulter into a liberal. Hit them where it hurts.
Chi Bob
top investors in Sinclair Broadcasting (ticker symbol SBGI) include:
Morgan Stanley Special Value B
Mutual Shares Z
First American Small Cap Select Y
Morningstar has lots of good free into
Was Wolfowitz lying or just stupid?
It no longer matters.
Stupidity is not an acceptable defense in a war crimes tribunal.
It's not a defense in the second grade, much less the Hague.
A.
WBFF TV here in Baltimore is our local FOX station. So I haven't been watching it since I moved here (except when they run the Simpsons...). It's mostly junk TV. The surprising thing to me about the article excerpt you posted on WBFF talking heads protesting being forced to read hosannas to Bush is that they protested at all.
I'm assuming here that it was concern over maintaining their pretense of objectivity, in a pretty heavily democratic city.
I was surprised to learn they were part of a faux "local" newsbroadcast though. Here all this time I'd assumed stations did that to save money. Nieve me didn't think about the enforcing conformity of viewpoint thing...
I'm a great supporter of the duck pit, but let's be reasonable here - The problem is in DC, let DC be the duck pit.
Tena
Washington, DC and all the inside-the-beltway-precincts voted for Gore in landslide numbers.
the media harpies in no way represent Greater Washington
Bush feels "disgust" at Iraqi abuse... "Their treatment does not reflect the nature of the American people. That's not the way we do things in America. I didn't like it one bit."
Well, obviously it is.... It was Americans that did that shit!! There are more instances than just those, anyway. There are a lot we don't hear about. He is such a dog turd!!!
i say we put Dean in the FCC seat pansypoo?
as much as i dislike dean, i actually like this idea. he was the one canidate(i can remember) who talked about reforming the media if he was elected.
consolidation of the media is clearly a problem. but i am actually even a little more concerned that these right wing thugs, and here i mean the powers that be, are actually manipulating the press to do their bidding. so many times i couldn't mention them all. dixie chicks, jim angle with the r.clarke backgrounder, howard stern...
democracy is in the shitcan, without a reliable press, and we dont have a reliable press.
Actually, Sinclair may be doin' its job, seeing as how some of their stations are FOX, and Veep has now gone on record that he prefers to get his news from FOX. (What? The WaPo story didn't mention the point about viewers being misinformed? Damned liberal media!
May I politely volunteer Minnesota? Lots of ducks could swim in those ten thousand lakes of theirs.
Hosers. 
A.
Sinclair still has the statement on their site claiming Nightline has not read the names of the 9/11 victims, which they did do on 11 Sept. 2002.
So is anyone digitizing the Nightline show and uploading it? Also is Nightline offering this broadcast for sale? If I remember, correctly, Nightline regularly offers copies of broadcasts and transcripts for sale.
"Bush feels "disgust" at Iraqi abuse... "Their treatment does not reflect the nature of the American people. That's not the way we do things in America. I didn't like it one bit."
"Well, obviously it is.... It was Americans that did that shit!! There are more instances than just those, anyway. There are a lot we don't hear about. He is such a dog turd!!!"
oldwhitelady 04.30.04 - 2:48 pm
Since private companies are doing the hiring, who's to say that the "contractors" are American?
The people supporting McCain are being snowed by a few decent opinions. You are sucking up to a warhawk. Gore would have been a decent, hardworking, progressive president. He is easily more informed than McCain, and FAR less supportive of corporate goals like overdevelopment. No denying he wouldn't be better than a Coup by the ugliest Americans, but that's not saying much.
Btw, remember the video on 911 of Palestinians shooting their guns in the air celebrating? That was part of this prepackaged news that Bushliarco produced for their conspiracy. The footage itself was file footage, and NOT celebration for 911 (it was an earlier wedding, as I recall). There have been many of these propaganda pieces shown since, shoring up the idea 'they all hate us.'
As for Wolfowitzliar, he is so gorged on power he has the pictures of the soldiers he has killed papering the ceiling over his bed. Along with pictures of his favorite philosopher: Dr. Mengele.
Dr. Squid,
do you have more info?
I noticed that the St. Lou Sinclair-owned ABC channel doesn't have news programming, but I didn't realize that they used to. It sounds like they were shamed off the air.
If you have more info on this, I'm sure others in markets where they have to endure Hyman will appreciate any action plans that may have worked here. Or did Dick Gephardt just bust their asses?
Nice comment Beth!
And really good blog today, Atrios. Did you take some pep pills this morning???
Ok, 56K, I surrender. Take Texas, I don't care. Let's just get that duck pit built now because this is all so sickening and terrifying that it is time to start feeding those ducks. Bring in the bulldozers, and you can start here in Dallas.
Re Sinclairs statement - They did read the IX/XI list and the press spent months and months printing touching biographies of everyone who died that day. How many private citizens have been killed by Terrists since IX/XI? Richard Pearle (1). Religious missionaries and mercenaries in Iraq (10- 12?)
How many American children have ever been killed by Moslim terrists??? Two or three on the planes? How many Afgani and Iraqui children have been killed by Western or American troops and mercenaries? Anybody care?
McCain has repeatedly said he doesn't want to be VP under either party, period, most recently on MTP, I believe. I agree with McCain on some issues, chiefly the issue of media consolidation, but I don't pretend for a moment he's a progressive. On most issues, he remains a solid Republican. But he is one Republican who is willing to publicly disagree with Miserable Failure and the Republican leadership, and for that I give him credit.
Washington, DC and all the inside-the-beltway-precincts voted for Gore in landslide numbers.
the media harpies in no way represent Greater Washington
DC is solidly democratic and its neigboring state on one side, Maryland is solid blue. Virginia is red, but northern Va (DC suburbs) is dem.
This year, if John Edwards is the VP candidate, VA may swing to Dems.
Wash Post generally endorses Dem candidates in local/state/national races. So the damage done by people like Steno Schmidt is not in the local areas, but in the national echo chamber.
thats where that little fucker hyman comes from, they own the local station in springfield illinois, its always had a horrible right wing bent, never reporting on the corruption of george ryan, selling CDL licenses for campaign contributions, using state workers at the secretary of states office for campaign work on state time, forcing them to contribute for consideration for promotions and the like, s soon as we got our current democratic governor the tone changed, moving the government to chicago, everything he does is a mistake, ectectect cant even comment on the long term republican corruption, but shit they act like blajoivich (sp) would cook our babies and worship satan, I hate news, and I really really dont like sinclair broadcasting
Koppel was on with Bob Edwards (his last broadcast!!) this morning. When Edward asked him if this was being done for ratings, Koppel said that anyone who thought that reading the names of 715 dead troops and showing their pictures was going to attract a large audience knows little or nothing about television.
He said, although he didn't consider it to be a political statement, some prowar and antiwar Americans would probably see it that way.
But Koppel maintained that:
"We should not be engaging in
war with the sense that, somehow, there is no cost to it."
Wow! Sinclair makes Clear Channel look frickin' non-partisan!
i know that Atrios has had the contact info up for the CEO of Sinclair. if people have not taken the opportunity to express their views to Mr. Smith you can send him an email at Common Cause's action center. in just and hour we have had over 500 people send emails. flood his box or give him a call!
http://causenet.commoncause.org/...5731396&
type=CU
scratch that, 1569 oh and for those money and politics wonks out there: since 1997 through the end of 2003, Sinclair and its executives and affiliates have given more than $165,000 in political action committee and soft money contributions to federal candidates and national parties, exclusively to Republicans.
http://www.commoncause.org/news/...t.cfm?
ArtID=325
I keep hoping in the bottom of my heart that Colin Powell has a soul and is staying in the administration because he's planning his own October suprise for the bushistas. Imagine, a month before the election, Powell resigns in protest of Bush's failed policies. THAT would be a great day.
Renato, the CNN article has an ABC claim, but it doesn't say the names were read on Nightline itself: maybe they were just covering the memorial at Ground Zero, where the names were read?
This distinction doesn't matter to me, since the names have been read and the NY Times still has Portraits in Grief available online, but it's wiggle room for Sinclair.
Hey Athena, the duck pit is not for swimming, you know? In our pit the ducks are gonna get down to business!
CNN was lambasting Sinclair on this one. It's a wave, and everyone here should take a bow and get back on this.
Push this out to campaigns, get them to sign on board, and make this an issue. McCain gives them a great deal of air cover.
Buskertype - I'm afraid that Colin Powell's soul shriveled and died a long time ago - about the time he got involved in covering up My Lai.
Pinning your hopes on Powell is just going to get you disappointed.
How about a letter that slams them both ways:
Take the faux-conservative view that they're not honoring our troops because they'r refusing to acknowledge their sacrifice and add to it something like the following:
I am also completely disgusted by Sinclair's failure to grasp the consequences of their actions. By refusing to air the Nightline special, you have ensured the broadcast will receive far more attention than it ever would have had you not made your decision. Your refusal to broadcast will further serve to publicize what the anti-war left wants: that many troops have died, and it will also serve as ammunition to those who claim that President Bush serves, and is served by, giant corporate interests. All of the news stories highlighting your decision will mention the troop deaths, and it will be a much bigger story because of your refusal to air the broadcast.
Sen. John McCain is on TV more then "Law & Order", I'm sick of seeing him. Why is his opinions so important?
Sen. John McCain is on TV more then "Law & Order", I'm sick of seeing him. Why is his opinions so important?
I noticed that the St. Lou Sinclair-owned ABC channel doesn't have news programming, but I didn't realize that they used to. It sounds like they were shamed off the air.
The main anchor currently at the WB station was previously at the Sinclair/ABC affiliate, and got canned with everyone else in late 2001. The news simply cost way too much for that poor, poor company.
I don't watch that station for anything except Simpsons reruns and football.
Wolflowitz Has No Idea How Many Died
When asked "how many American troops have died in Iraq," Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz estimated "the total was about 500 -- more than 200 soldiers short," the AP reports.
Dead soldiers and homosexuals should both be kept in the closet and out of sight.
/jesus' general
"Mark Hyman. Hyman regularly refers to the French as "cheese-eating surrender monkeys,"
Hmmmm...Hyman appears to be eating a fair amount of cheese himself, of the FRUMUNDA variety....
" . . . . but i am actually even a little more concerned that these right wing thugs, and here i mean the powers that be, are actually manipulating the press to do their bidding."
--Don't you get it yet? The corporate media IS one of the "powers that be."
--Click on this link and read the following article for more elaboration on this point:
http://www.blackcommentator.com/
...dean_media.html
I got an e-mail from MoveOn this morning about this issue.
It seems they are all over it.
How many people does MoveOn have on its e-mail list? A couple of million?
This means that as of right now, MILLIONS of people ALL OVER THE COUNTRY have been made aware of Sinclair's actions and why they did what they did.
All of which is to say that I have a strong feeling that this is going to bite Sinclair in the ass big time.
As a protest, people in the communities impacted by the Sinclair decision should go down to their local ABC station at the same time Nightline would normally be presented, and say the names of the war dead outloud.
Anybody see the irony here?
(From CNN):
Some of the stations have received many calls and e-mails in response to Sinclair's decision.
"I have not gotten one positive response," said an assignment desk editor at WSYX, the ABC station in Columbus, Ohio.
. . . .
Sinclair general counsel Barry Faber confirmed the company told its ABC affiliates not to air Friday's "Nightline."
"We find it to be contrary to public interest," he said.
--Welcome to the new corporate-fascist world order, where people in corporate boardrooms and their political allies DICTATE to us what IS and ISN'T in our interest.
From the
Oh, sweet monkeyed crap...
STL P-D editorial
SINCLAIR BROADCASTING GROUP won't let you hear Ted Koppel read the names of America's war dead tonight. Sinclair is pre-empting ABC's "Nightline" broadcast during which Mr. Koppel will read the name, military branch, rank and age of the 700-plus men and women killed in Iraq as a picture of each is shown on the screen.
[...]
Sinclair doesn't exactly have a reputation for professional news judgment. In 2001, it pulled the plug on KDNL's news operation because it wasn't making enough money. In this instance, its news judgment is simply atrocious.
"Buskertype - I'm afraid that Colin Powell's soul shriveled and died a long time ago - about the time he got involved in covering up My Lai.
"Pinning your hopes on Powell is just going to get you disappointed."
--Amen and thanks for being informed about Powell's activities in connection with Mi Lai. Too bad more Americans aren't. But then that would be the corporate media's job to INFORM them, right? Gee, I wonder why that hasn't happened.
Sen. John McCain is on TV more then "Law & Order", I'm sick of seeing him. Why is his opinions so important?
Because he's teh HOTTTT. Duh.
Sorry, will go stupidfangirling on my own blog from now on and stop subjecting you guys to my crushes. 
A.
Naturally, Fox (while it's there) is completely biased about the Nightline tempest. Here's a rundown:
Head: "Some stations to boycott ..."
Lead: "... political statement disguised as news."
2: factual statement about Nightline
3: factual statement about the material Nightline will use
4: "The network's intentions drew a denunciation ..."
5: another Sinclair opinion quote
6: Sinclair impugns Nightline's motives with direct quotes
7: Sinclair impugns Koppel's and Nightline's motives with direct quotes
8: factual account of McCain's protest letter
9: first quote from McCain's letter, leading with "I supported the President's decision ..."
10: factual paraphrase of ABC spokeswoman, identifying the stations that will not air Nightline
11: ABC defense with direct quote (finally!), "an expression of respect ..."
12: factual - source of material again
13: quote from Koppel irrelevant to the controversy that Memorial Day might have been expected timing of this broadcast
14: factual - simulcast in Times Sq. and excerpts on radio
15: factual - air time of Nightline
To review:
- completely one-sided
- no identification of Sinclair's conservative point of view
- strong quotes from their side, weak ones from the opposition
- no defense at all until very late in the story
- no attempt to discern actual motivation of Nightline (say, based on history of support or nonsupport for the war)
And, of course, Fox is leading with the indictment of Michael Jackson, instead of the torture scandal.
They're not media whores - they're married to the Bush Dynasty.
Wolfowitz! For crying out loud, I'm a construction worker and I know, at least approximately, how many GIs have gotten greased thus far in this God-awful Iraq fiasco. This stupid son-of-a-bitch is the Deputy Secretary of Defense and he doesn't have a clue.
This is ridiculous. Why does this moron continue to draw a paycheck? If the Deputy Secretary of Defense doesn't know what kind of casualty figures we're facing in the middle of a war, what does Wolfo-half-witz know, anyway? Let's drag that twitchy jerk down here to hold a plumb bob; I'll go to Washington and take over his job, for which I'm clearly far better qualified.
"ABC RADIO MAKES FEED AVAILABLE TO LOCAL RADIO IN AFFECTED MARKETS. ST LOUIS RADIO KTRS WILL CLEAR TO AIR SIMULCAST... DEVELOPING..."
Old Hat 04.30.04 - 5:00 pm
St. Louis: KTRS is 550AM.
Holy cow, I just figured it out, I was wrong a couple of posts above.
You may or may not be aware that if a soldier gets shot up in Iraq yet doesn't die right then and there, but he gets evacuated to, say Landstuhl Army Hospital in Germany and he dies in a hospital bed there, he isn't added to the count of "dead soldiers in Iraq."
So here's Dr. Genius Wolfowitz, and certainly he knows the burn rate of cannon fodder in Iraq, it's one of those statistics a professional desk-warrior has just got to keep up on.
Well, he's sitting in front of that teevee camera and someone poses that embarassing question, probably his first impulse is to say "one thousand and fifty-seven" or whatever the true figure is, but then he catches himself and realises that he has to say the fraudulent official figure instead. But hey, it's certainly not his job to keep track of all the lies emitted by the Bush White House. That's Rove's job, and Dr. Paul is a busy man, no way can he keep up with the ever-changing Rovian kaleidoscope of mendacity! So just to play it safe he makes up a number that he knows is low - better a low number than a high one, I guess.
Yeah, that's probably it.
lovable liberal wrote: They're not media whores - they're married to the Bush Dynasty.
Wait, I thought Condi said she was Bush's husband?
Back semi on topic, was searching to try and see what each of the Sinclair stations intend to air instead of Nightline, and found all of their web sites severely overloaded.
This could be good, if they are having to pay for extra bandwidth, or bad, since each station features a slew of pop up ads, that hopefully Sinclair isn't getting revenue from.
Ted Koppel weighs in with his letter to the editor in the Washington Post online today about the controversy and claim of ratings hype.
In St. Louis, Fox Channel 2 is attempting to get permission to broadcast tonight's Nightline. Local Fox not so evil? (They have to get a signoff from ABC and Fox, according to a forwarded email I just rec'd.)
They get a small portion of gratitude from me just for trying, but if it succeeds, I'll have to give props, out of gratitude and obligation.
Hey, Why keep the love here? Share it with these fine folk.
investor@sbgi.net
excellent work, anony-guy. they won't know what hit them.
I live in Madison, WI and these jokers own the Fox affiliate here. Even though this is a lefty area of the state, they force the local affiliate to air a 3 minute right-wing hack editorial during every one of their 9 o'clock news shows. It is transparently partisan and contrary to the essence of objective journalism. I've read in interviews that the producer of the local newscast would rather not air them, but she is required to do so by Sinclair. I guess we are just FuCCed.
Tena says, now I know about Sinclair, and so does much of the rest of the country.
Absolutely crucial point. We have a chance to stop these guys from getting bigger, which we might not have gotten otherwise.
I keep hoping in the bottom of my heart that Colin Powell has a soul
Dear sir,
I note your recent comment on Mr Powell's. I would like to inform you that Mr Satan's organization took possession of Mr Powell's soul some time ago, in a commercial transaction, which gives SatanCo all rights of ownership of Mr Powell's soul in perpetuity. Although I was instrumental in laying the groundwork for this deal, because of my own expertise and experience in this area, the terms of the deal prevent me from divulging details.
I can state however, that Mr Powell's soul is in safekeeping in a secure temperature controlled storage locker along with Mr Satan's 1966 Mustang convertible, and his prized collection of Florida punch card voting machines.
I will be happy to assist if you have any further questions on this matter
sincerely
Richard Nixon,
Director of Public Relations
SatanCo, Hell
Holy cow, I just figured it out, I was wrong a couple of posts above.
You may or may not be aware that if a soldier gets shot up in Iraq yet doesn't die right then and there, but he gets evacuated to, say Landstuhl Army Hospital in Germany and he dies in a hospital bed there, he isn't added to the count of "dead soldiers in Iraq."
So here's Dr. Genius Wolfowitz, and certainly he knows the burn rate of cannon fodder in Iraq, it's one of those statistics a professional desk-warrior has just got to keep up on.
Well, he's sitting in front of that teevee camera and someone poses that embarassing question, probably his first impulse is to say "one thousand and fifty-seven" or whatever the true figure is, but then he catches himself and realises that he has to say the fraudulent official figure instead. But hey, it's certainly not his job to keep track of all the lies emitted by the Bush White House. That's Rove's job, and Dr. Paul is a busy man, no way can he keep up with the ever-changing Rovian kaleidoscope of mendacity! So just to play it safe he makes up a number that he knows is low - better a low number than a high one, I guess.
Yeah, that's probably it.
No, the... what is it up to now? 750 yet? Even I have lost track. But that 700+ number is the fraudulent official number.
The real number of US troop deaths from Iraq is impossible to to know, but the total number of wounded, which NPR finally pried out of them several weeks ago, was at that point over 8,000.
And that was before Operation Holy Living Fuck started in earnest.
I've been trying to get in touch with a real person (if such a thing exists at Sinclair) all day with no success. I finally found an email link to the folks there at http://www.newscentral.tv/
statio...ct_talent.shtml Mark Hyman is the chief expounder of rightwing rhetoic and would appreciate lots and lots of email from all of you on the blog, I'm sure.
I've been trying to get in touch with a real person (if such a thing exists at Sinclair) all day with no success. I finally found an email link to the folks there at http://www.newscentral.tv/
statio...ct_talent.shtml Mark Hyman is the chief expounder of rightwing rhetoic and would appreciate lots and lots of email from all of you on the blog, I'm sure.
Keep it comin A, outstanding stuff, a fine example of utilizing the net to it's fullest capacity, I JUST LOVE IT!, EAT THIS SINCLAIR!
BIG Update- Nightline is being broadcast in Central Ohio on an alternate station!
There were about fifty people at the WSYX protest at 5:00, pretty good considering that it's pouring rain here in Central Ohio. The reading of names of service members killed in Iraq did occur, with volunteer readers trading off at a podium. Many of the casualties were represented only by their ID numbers, since their losses are so recent. Protestors were refused access to the public right-of-way in front of WSYX by Columbus Police and were diverted to the side of the station. That actually was to our advantage, since the station's call letters were clearly visible as a result. Several people carried signs and got a solid response from rush hour traffic with waves and honks- "Why is ABC 6 afraid of Ted Koppel?" and "Censorship is UnAmerican" were on two of them. At least two other local TV stations did on-camera interviews of protestors, along with the Columbus Dispatch and a stringer from the Washington Post. During the protest, we found out that the Ohio News Network (Ohio's cable version of CNN and affiliated with one of WSYX's local competitors) will be broadcasting Nightline statewide tonight, in response to many angry phone calls. Many thanks to JB for organizing this protest!
Holden wrote:
Richard Holbrooke (former UN ambassador) just bitch-slapped Howitzer Explosionguy (that's Wolf Blitzer for those who don't get Cable Access Channel Eight) on CNN. He did it with CNN's own poll, too, and it left a bit of a welt.
Also, Holbrooke says he has an advance copy of the speech Kerry will give in Missouri today, and says Kerry will lay out the details of his plan for Iraq.
Could you give us details or link to transcript?
Thanks!
Station Manager
WEAR-TV
Pensacola, Florida
Dear Sir or Madam;
Regarding Sinclair Broadcast Group’s disrespect for the military:
It is disheartening to say the least to find that a media outlet in an area as permeated with veterans and active-duty military personnel as Northwest Florida chooses not to honor the members of the military who have died in service to their country.
This pallid excuse that honoring the fallen is a political statement should give one pause. Are the only people who are worthy of respect the civilian dead? Do the military and other public servants who give “the last full measure of devotion” deserve no remembrance for that devotion?
It is Sinclair that has chosen to make this a political issue, not ABC’s Nightline. It is a sad commentary on the corporate ownership that it fails to find anything “newsworthy” in the deaths of our military.
This area would be better served by Sinclair selling WEAR-TV to someone with more regard for the military and veterans, as I shall inform the FCC.
Sincerely;
WEAR-TV was originally going to broadcast a Will & Grace re-run, but they are now going to feature a debate with local nitwit Congressclown Jeff Miller supporting Sinclair's action.
The Charleston, WV paper (which is distributed statewide) had this on the front-page today, which was enough to remind me to get up from my cheerios and call the local sinclair station to complain. The woman on the other end of the phone sounded like she had handled more than a few complaints already.
WHNS, the FOX affiliate in Greenville is going to show Nightline, so that those in the WNC/upstate SC region 'subject to blackout' courtesy of WLOS will get to see the programme.
http://www.whns.com/Global/story...y.asp?
S=1831112
"In spite of the political ramifications of the program, we believe the viewers should be allowed to decide whether or not to watch it," Stan Crumley, the general manager of WHNS said today. "We look at tonight as a golden opportunity for FOX Carolina to stay true to the slogan, 'We report, you decide.'"
Ironic, yes, but I'd suggest that we reward good behavior with a few appreciative emails.
Unbelievable! At the last minute, the non-Sinclair affiliated (yet still right-wing) ABC station in Huntsville, Alabama (WAAY) pulled Nightline. I can't believe it and am so angry I am shaking. I have already called them, but invite anyone else to help me unleash a sh*t storm on them.
WAAY-TV
256-533-3131
TOP 10 REASONS WOLFOWITZ DOESN'T KNOW THE CORRECT CASUALTY COUNT
10. Thought you were asking about Vietnam at a comparable point.
9. Not sure what the definition of "casualty" is.
8. Pathological liar.
7. Keeps forgetting that there's the "real" number and the number everybody gives the President.
6. Pre-war planning said 500 casualties so that must be the correct number.
5. White House policy is to count every soldier as 2/3 a person. Just like slaves.
4. George Tenet gave him bad information.
3. 9/11. (Repeat until questioner goes away.)
2.
1. Just doesn't care.
DECLARATION AGAINST SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP
The Sinclair Broadcast Group pre-empted ABC's Nightline's tribute to our dead in Iraq.
As a consequence, I make the following delcaration and encourage others to join me in flooding Sinclair's phones and email boxes with our horror at their hatred for the men and women who lost their lives while doing their duty.
If someone want's to make a petition of of this, please do.
"We, the People of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, declare SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP to be an ENEMY OF THE AMERICAN WAY. In pre-empting Nightline's tribute to our fallen soldiers, the group disgracefully and maliciously betrays the loved ones and fellow countrymen of those who gave everything to fulfill their duty to our nation. Further, SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP's pre-emption of Nightline's tribute betrays all of those that have served and fought for this country in all wars. In deciding to pre-empt Nightline's tribute to fallen American soldiers, SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP reveals itself as a traitor of the people and the nation. We hope that legal action will be taken to punish SINCLAIR BROADCASTS GROUP's cold-blooded and calculating betrayal of the public's trust."
Corporate Headquarters
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
10706 Beaver Dam Road
Hunt Valley, Maryland 21030
410-568-1500 (Main Telephone)
410-568-1533 (Main Fax)
Investor Relations Contact
Lucy A. Rutishauser
VP Corporate Finance and
Corporate Treasurer
investor@sbgi.net
Sacrifice :
2. "Hence, to destroy, surrender, or suffer to be lost, for the sake of obtaining something; to give up in favor of a higher or more imperative object or duty; to devote, with loss or suffering " - As defined by our government.-
The truth :
3. "Destruction or surrender of anything for the sake of something else; devotion of some desirable object in behalf of a higher object, or to a claim deemed more pressing; hence, also, the thing so devoted or given up; as, the sacrifice of interest to pleasure, or of pleasure to interest." (yahoo dictionary)
A subtle but poignant differance!
--I personally escorted 10 airplane loads of troops over the past year and half to fight in Iraq, not one of the troops intended to loose their llfe, or give it up. We should be clear on the definition of "Sacrafice". The U.S. is "sacrificing" our soldiers, not the soldiers sacrificing themselves!
Randy
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