No Quiet During the Storm
My comments at NYTimes Opinionator blog:
"No Quiet During the Storm"
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/no-quiet-during-the-storm/
Thanks to commenter, Jenny (comment #16), which I repeat for emphasis:
Why is there absolutely no coverage in the Times about the unlawful, violent arrests of journalists covering the RNC protests?
Or the SWAT team-like, pre-emptive raids on lawful protesters and journalists over the weekend? This is a HUGE civil liberties story.
Here’s a link: http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/
Yes, why IS there no coverage???
Amy Goodman, an accredited and widely respected progressive voice from Democracy Now, was arrested with two of her crew while trying to cover this travesty.
Sign petition here: Take action at: https://secure.freepress.net/site/Advocacy?id=281
We have become Iran, China, Russia. If the same thing were happening in Bejing, Moscow or Teheran, the main stream media, our great "Fourth Estate" would be shouting from the mountaintops about the denial of basic human rights.
Our "Fourth Estate" has largely abdicated its former honor in favor of the slinking mien of the lackey of the "Ministry of Information"...
"No Quiet during the Storm" -- a misleading headline if there ever was one.
I assumed that here finally the Times would report on the neo-fascist police action taking place in St Paul.
PREEMPTIVE ARRESTS of amateur videographers? Professional Journalists???
What country am I in???? This is an insult to all Americans, a vile insult to the Constitution, and a massive dereliction of duty on behalf of both the "Fourth Estate" and the Constitutional Officers, whether Fed, State or City who are allowing this police action.
High School Politics at the Highest Level...
Oh, and by the way, Sarah Palin's drama queen entrance is having exactly the effect planned. Firstly, to foment delirious outrage amongst liberals, progressives and anyone who's actually paying attention. That creates a perfect backdrop to distract and deceive...
As Bob Herbert notes in his excellent column today:
Palin is the latest G.O.P. distraction. She’s meant to shift attention away from the real issue of this campaign — the awful state of the nation after eight years of Republican rule. The Republicans are brilliant at distractions. Willie Horton was a distraction. The chatter about gays, guns and God has been a long-running distraction. And we all remember the Swift-boat campaign.
Palin is not an attempt to gain PUMA Hillary voters, but an extremely calculated and targeted bait for the evangelical 'influencers' who would have sat this one out, because they are disgusted with both Bush and John McCain (McSame).
Please see George Lakoff's sharp and clear analysis here:
Lakoff: Palin Appeals to Voter Emotions -- Dems Beware http://www.alternet.org/election08/97193
The initial Democratic response to Palin indicates that many Democrats have not learned the lessons of the Reagan and Bush years.
Fortunately, I think the Democrat who does matter, Barack Obama, DOES get it.
So, onward. It's going to be a great season...
I'm optimistic that the Repuglicants will swing wildly and never connect. May Gustav be their prophet.
Go Cubs! gObama!
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