Letter rec'd from Editor of Arkansas Paper. Have to see to believe.

[KyndCulture]

I did a media blast yesterday from our site Radio News America, regarding the Downing Street Memo and the Newsweek issues.... I probably sent 100 emails... Here is the original letter I wrote:

=-=-=-=-=-
Hello,

As an American media viewer, I am disappointed with the media's lack of coverage of the Downing Street Memo, which documents President Bush's and Prime Minister Tony Blair's fixing of the Iraqi
intelligence to lead us into war. I am aware that there has been a virtual media blackout with some newspapers deliberately turning a blind eye to the Downing Street memo.

In my and many viewers' opinion, this is morally evil and fosters a climate of deceit and cover-up for an unnecessary war that has claimed many American soldiers' lives as well as those of Iraqi civilians. As representatives of the mass media, you need to do your jobs and tell the truth about the Bush administration's forging intelligence to get us into war.

In light of the Newsweek debacle, I believe the Newsweek story was true, albeit they got their facts a little screwed up. The toilet-flushing happened two years ago--and according to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, it was NOT the reason for the Afghani rioting. See this link for more info:http://www.radionewsamerica.com/index.php?blog=2&p=1191&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 - the whole finger-pointing in Newsweek's direction is nothing but a smokescreen to avoid telling the truth about fixing the intelligence for 1,000s of people to die in an unnecessary war. Can the Bush Administration really be this transparent?

It does not benefit you either politically or financially to evade the truth about the administration's complicity in lying. We millions who depend on people like you to expose the truth about the things that matter will turn our attention--and our dollars--to alternative
sources of information if we cannot get it from you.

So I urge you to report both these stories in full truth and plain sight for the good of our country.
Regards,
Me
Radio News America
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

HERE Is what I got back (this is the exact email, no edits have been made. I think we need to show this backwater newspaper some DU love today. What do you guys think?

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

From: Lucas Roebuck <[e-mail]>
Date: May 17, 2005 12:26 PM
Subject: Re: Newsweek
To: XXXXXX (My email address)
Cc: "Paul T. Semones" <[e-mail]>


Actually, a little known fact is that most members of the media own Haliburton stock. Too bad Michael Isikoff sold his, so we are going to hang him out to dry for his little Koran screw-up. Why couldn't Michael Isikoff get with the program, like Rush, Bill and Sean?

Best,

Lucas

-------------------------------
Lucas Roebuck
Managing Editor
Siloam Springs Herald-Leader
www.nwanews.com/leader
101 N. Mt Olive
Siloam Springs, Arkansas 72761
479.524.5144
479.524.3612 (fax)
[e-mail]


=-=-=-=-==-

My jaw is still hanging open on this one. Anybody else wanna give this man a lesson on journalistic integrity along with me?

[katinmn]

1. Re-read the note. He's with you -- being sarcastic

[Bunny]

2. That's how I read it, too.

I think it's now called irony, or something.

[anarchy1999]

4. Agreed, I read it as dripping with sarcasm. I'd be laughing if I were

you and send back a note of appreciation laced with more fun sarcasm.

Just IMHO, though.

[Journeyman]

8. I think he favors a free press. . .

and is being sarcastic about his fellow journalists' lack of interest and ethics.

[BlueStateGirl]

3. Sounds to me like he's on ourside.

[SmokingJacket]

5. I agree.

His use of irony is a little blunt... but I do think he's with us on this one.

[Nordmadr]

6. Have to agree. I think he understands your points exactly and is

being sarcastic in his repsonse.

Olaf

[KyndCulture]

7. Look at their website though

go look at their site.

I highly doubt it.

Dry county, first op/ed is about Jesus... I don't think so.

[Texas_Kat]

9. Sorry, I think you missed it.

It sound to me like Lucas is agreeing with you in a sarcastic sort of way. Read with a little twist and it's a slam against the RW media.

[TiredTexan]

10. I could be wrong, but it sounds like he's making fun of

your letter to me. He's insinuating that you and other like you are buying into absurd conspiracy theories like the media not reporting the real news because they all own Halliburton stock, or all are in cahoots with Rush, etc.

Regardless of whether he meant to be with you or against you, his reply does not answer a single point you raised in your excellent letter.

Consider going above his head, if there is anyone else to contact.

[gratuitous]

12. That's my reading as well

I see his response as being dismissive and rude, as if this memo has no value or sheds no light in the ongoing debate in our society about what the hell we're doing in Iraq, and whether we're right to be there.

He did reply, though, and that's something. I'd do a follow-up email and ask him why he apparently thinks that the memo is a conspiracy theory frame-up, and why the Bush administration was saying one thing in private to its friends in the British government ("we must overthrow Saddam") and something else entirely to the American people ("I haven't made up my mind yet on whether to take military action").

[Atman]

11. A park ranger walks up to an old Jewish man by the reservoir.

"Excuse me," says the park ranger, eyeing the stringer of freshly caught fish lying beside the man. "Don't you see that sign over there? It clearly says 'No Fishing Allowed!'"

"Oy!" says the old Jew. "You've got it wrong, sonny! It very clearly states, 'No, Fishing Allowed!'"


===


Or how about the old Saturday Night Live sketch where the boss of the nuke plant takes off and leaves his staff with only one vital piece of advice..."You can't put too much water in a nuclear reactor." Of course, there is a melt down, and the staff is paralyzed arguing about whether he meant they needed to be careful not to overfill the reactor, or since you can never have too much water, they should just flood it.

===


This guy is either a genius, or he's a raving fundy. Or maybe a left wing loony. He's pre-emptively taken the wind out of any re-re-buttal, because you really don't know whether he was being nice to you or telling you to get bent.

I sure as hell can't tell. All I know is, you can't put too much water in a nuclear reactor.

[Melinda]

13. He's a right-wing hack, seemingly apparent *sarcasm* aside

He's a managing editor espousing atypical reicht-wing rhetorical values in his writings; A simple search here for "LUCAS ROEBUCK" contains links to his past columns and this link reveals his opposition (and feelings in general) toward Lincoln and Pryor in re the current Senate battle over * judicial nominees.

*edited for spelling and to repair hyperlink

[BlueStateGirl]

14. I stand corrected. You are right. Although he did write one

sort of interesting column talking about our dwindling oil supplies.

[misanthrope]

18. From my experience,...

...managing editors are more conservative. Think about their jobs. These are the guys who make decisions to pull or push things according to the whims of their advertisers. For them, it can often be "business" first, "journalism" second.

[progressivebydesign]

15. I loved his reply! You need to block his info IMMEDIATELY!

I'm worried that your public outing of his letter will cause him some MAJOR grief in Freeperland. You have no idea what is about to happen to that guy once the trolls see that... can you please edit out his info.. PRONTO before he loses his job??

[KyndCulture]

21. Well I can't edit it now...

If the mods want to that is fine.

I will tell you we spoke with the publisher this guy is already in hot water over a column calling Michael Schiavo Scott Peterson. The publisher, very nice lady, is very sorry for his reply.

She is looking into it.

This email address is in most media blasters, and his information readily available on that site.

I really don't feel bad for outting him. Sorry, it's public info, he is the managing editor.

If the mods want to do so, please excuse my rashness and please do remove it. Not wanting to cause grief. Trolls, well I'll handle them if they come my way. I'm used to it. I don't want DU to suffer for it .

I've written thousands of letters to newspapers... seen all kind of replies. This one made me gasp. They don't always agree, some are form letters, but this was just nutso to me.

[Habibi]

16. Hm. I don't see the sarcasm, either.

I think he's dissing you, big-time. How about a reply that simply asks him why he didn't address any of the points in your letter?

[VOX]

17. He's a right winger, and he's fu*king with you.

Just google his name -- this guy's **way** out on the right wing:
http://www.roebuckcompany.com/content.php?sectionid=48&contentid=188
Dean doesn’t share Arkansas values
The new Dem Chair will alienate the Democratic base in Arkansas
Hatchet
By Lucas Roebuck
<snip>
...{Democratic Chairman of Arkansas} Jason Willett may say Dean’s progressive social views represent Arkansas, but to me they seem to represent the values of the increasingly out-of-the-mainstream left-wing Democrat national party Dean now leads.
<snip>
- - -
The usual freeper rhetoric aside, the phrase "Democrat national party" is such a major tipoff these days. Only freepers say "Democrat party" -- it's the Democratic Party, dammit! :grr:

[geniph]

19. Typical wingnut tactics

If you can't actually refute facts with reasoned debate and logic, resort to childish sarcasm and juvenile insults. He's accusing you of being a tin-foil hat conspiracy nut. He's a dick and a half, that's how I read that note. And thoroughly unprofessional to boot.

[katinmn]

20. This is why I can't stand obtuse messages. They are open to many

kinds of interpretation.

Some read it one way and others another.

[Straight Shooter]

22. Many a truth is spoken in jest.

It makes me wonder, yes, it does, exactly how many high-ranking members of the media own stock in Halliburton (or any Carlyle enterprise).

Also, since he "signed" his name to the e-mail, go ahead and send a copy of your letter, and his reply, to BuzzFlash and dailykos. Let Lucas Roebuck take responsibility for his comments.

[KyndCulture]

23. Great idea. Will do. Sent copy to Mike Malloy too...

[bin.dare]

24. his opening sentence is clearly dissing you ...

... "a little known fact is that most members of the media own Haliburton stock." Since this is clearly an exagerated fact of the conspiracy type (MSM is controlled by big business etc), then the rest of his reply is yanking your chain.

[sinkingfeeling]

25. Siloam Springs, AR is one of the most conservative, RW areas in

the country. It's sited in Benton County (Wal-Mart's home) and has a sign as you enter it that my sister and I often thought could be the basis of a good lawsuit, "Welcome to Siloam Springs, where Jesus is King" or lord, I forget which! I would guess he is right in line with Rush, Bill, and Sean!

[crispini]

26. He's yanking your chain.

If you can think of a good funny zinger to toss back at him, do it. If not, ignore it.