April 23, 2017

Chuck Todd MTP 4/23: Genuine Ignorance or Alternative Facts?

“What is the Democratic Party doing getting involved in a mayoral race in Kansas?” a grinning Todd asked his panel on MTP this morning.

Did Todd know that the answer to his question was readily available to anyone truly interested in finding out? It was the news division of his own parent network that reported the facts in a news story just yesterday.

As per NBC News:

The tensions (between Sanders and Democrats over his non-endorsement of Ossoff) were further elevated by the fact that Sanders praised a mayoral candidate in Omaha, Nebraska, who was revealed to have a mixed record on abortion.

At Sanders' request, the DNC added a stop on the tour to promote Health Mello, prompting backlash from pro-choice groups and accusations that Sanders was applying a double standard — or perhaps a loyalty test — about what it means to be a progressive.

Perez, who skipped the Omaha stop in order to campaign for Ossoff, had to put out his own clarifying statement Friday.

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/democrats-vs-trump/bernie-sanders-clarifies-support-jon-ossoff-after-dustup-n749491

Say what? The unscheduled stop was added to accommodate a specific request made by Sanders? Perez didn’t participate? Then why did Chuck blame Perez for a mess that Democrats didn’t make? That wasn’t very honest.

Was Chuck uniformed, misinformed, or deliberately dissembling? We deserve better from a man who touts himself as a fearless truth-teller.

Journalists have a duty not to put their thumbs on the scale through the deliberate omission of important facts and context. Are there any rules anymore, Chuck? And if so, will you actually play by them? These days, what passes as journalism could use a little refereeing. Democrats are not afraid to blow the whistle

April 22, 2017

Joy gets it #2.

A stoic Ms. Reid wasn't buying what they were selling.

In a shattering interview, Allen and Parnes dropped their grins and desperately tried to seem objective and measured while insisting that their book of anonymously sourced juicy tidbits is serious work of political analysis. "That's why everyone needs to buy it," a panicked, yet profit-driven Allen explained to a stone-faced Joy.

I'm not sure which I liked better, the full on stare or the skeptical side-eye.

April 22, 2017

In Celebration of Science!

"

April 22, 2017

So who's reading "The Destruction of Hillary Clinton"?

Although Susan Bordo's cogent work is not getting the publicity that more gossipy recent releases have garnered, Bordo is an academic who focuses on on gender and cultural analysis rather than unsubstantiated juicy tidbits from anonymous sources.

From her publisher's website:

"Gossip is easy. Get to the deeper truth, with this in-depth look at the political forces and media culture that vilified and ultimately brought down Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Presidential campaign.

The Destruction of Hillary Clinton is an answer to the question many have been asking: How did an extraordinarily well-qualified, experienced, and admired candidate—whose victory would have been as historic as Barack Obama’s—come to be seen as a tool of the establishment, a chronic liar, and a talentless politician?

In this masterful narrative of the 2016 campaign year and the events that led up to it, Susan Bordo unpacks the Rights’ assault on Clinton and her reputation, the way the left provoked suspicion and indifference among the youth vote, the inescapable presence of James Comey, questions about Russian influence, and the media’s malpractice in covering the candidate."

Anyone truly interested in an honest appraisal of what went wrong in 2016 should check it out. You can read excepts on line or take a peak through the pages at the publisher's website.

http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/558341/the-destruction-of-hillary-clinton-by-susan-bordo/

April 22, 2017

Why is the Trump administration going after Assange?

Is it a threat to make sure he doesn't talk, or is it preemptive play to diminish the credibility of any dirt Assange spills?

Or is it something else?

April 19, 2017

Do you have a favorite Pre-Code movie?

If so, what is it and why do you like it?

http://pre-code.com/what-is-pre-code-hollywood/

April 7, 2017

Now that it's spring, why is Trump

still going to the "Winter White House" so often? Is he billing the government for the use of any of his facilities?

April 2, 2017

Elizabeth and Hillary: This is what leadership sounds like.

Both women spoke at events this week. Excerpts and video clips at the links.

"Elizabeth Warren to the resistance: 'Fight like a girl'

At a rally in Massachusetts, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) told a short, sweet story of a little girl and her hand-lettered sign. It will fill every heart in the resistance with hope."

"Hillary Clinton: Advancing rights of women and girls is 'the great unfinished business of the 21st century'

Hillary Clinton has devoted her life and energy toward the cause of equal rights and justice for women and girls around the world. In a wise and thoughtful address to Georgetown University, at a ceremony bestowing awards named in her honor, she showed that she is as dedicated to this cause today as she has ever been"

http://shareblue.com/elizabeth-warren-to-the-resistance-fight-like-a-girl/

http://shareblue.com/hillary-clinton-advancing-rights-of-women-and-girls-is-the-great-unfinished-business-of-the-21st-century/