Has anyone even HEARD of Col. Ken Allard??

[CatWoman]

This diseased wingnut is bragging that Allard quit as an MSNBC analyst because they are leaning "too far to the left".

Here is his evidence:

Ken Allard: NBC sinks too low for this talking head

Like some second marriages and most Hollywood sequels, it's usually a bad idea for a columnist to revisit the same topic. But last week's discussion of renegade blogger and NBC military analyst Bill Arkin proved some larger points.

In case you missed it, Arkin characterized U.S. soldiers as "mercenaries" enjoying "obscene amenities" shipped into the war zone — pampered hirelings who then complain about declining public support for the war effort.

-snip-

NBC then was a network comfortably resonating to the rhythms of Tom Brokaw and the greatest generation. Especially after 9-11, our rivals at Fox and CNN scrambled for audience attention by recruiting their own military analysts — subsequently known as "Warheads." Especially for a post-draft nation where personal military service is increasingly rare, our band of TV brothers helped fill in some of the blanks about this new kind of war.

But has anyone else noticed the network's precipitous retreat from journalistic and ethical standards? Not only were no apologies given and no pink slips issued for Arkin's outburst, but on his MSNBC show last week, Keith Olberman went out of his way to defend this "valid criticism" of our military.

In January, Conan O'Brien was allowed to escape without apology after airing a particularly tasteless gay skit deriding Christianity: "Oh, Jesus, I love you, but only as a friend." (Just try doing that sometime using Mohammad's name!)

And only this week, questions have been raised about the cozy relationships between CNBC anchor Maria Bartiromo and the companies she covers as a supposedly objective journalist. The response by Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of GE and godfather of the NBC family: "Substantially, I don't think she did anything wrong."

http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/stories/MYSA021507.02O.allard0215.39ca78.html

[pecwae]

1. A quick check on him

bio as appears on www.leadingauthorities.com/14423/Ken_Allard.htm

"A former army colonel, Kenneth Allard is a well-known commentator on ethics, leadership, and international security issues and is featured as a military analyst with MSNBC and NBC News, as well as a regular columnist for MSNBC.com. His military career as an operational intelligence officer also included service on the faculty of the United States Military Academy, as special assistant to the Army Chief of Staff, and as dean of students at the National War College. A command and control expert, he served in 1996 on special assignment with the U.S. 1st Armored Division in Bosnia.

Allard also played key roles in two of the most significant reform efforts in Pentagon history: as a congressional fellow, helping to draft the landmark 1986 Goldwater-Nichols Act; and directing the study that produced the sweeping procurement reforms of the 1994 Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act.

Col. Allard is the author of Business as War, Battling for Competitive Advantage (Wiley December 2003). The book discusses 21st-century business strategy for succeeding in a tough global economy. In his book and his speeches Allard draws numerous parallels between the strategies and tactics used by the United States military and the challenges businesses face in the no-holds-barred competition of the global economy.

A noted author and lecturer, Allard's many publications include two books, Somalia Operations: Lessons Learned, and Command, Control and the Common Defense, which won the 1991 National Security Book Award. Allard holds a Ph.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, an M.P.A. from Harvard University, and he is an adjunct professor in the National Security Studies Program, Georgetown University."

Sounds like he's helping pound the Iran war drum as well.

[grasswire]

2. when will someone expose the $$ of these "analysts"?

Talking heads with conflicts of interest are presented time and time again with no regard for the integrity of programming. How many of the military analysts are profiteering off the war in some way? What about it, Allard? Show us your portfolio. We know about some of the others. What about you??

[EFerrari]

3. Isn't he the @sshole (one of them) that drew on maps of Iraq during the invasion

for cable channels as if he was calling a goddam football game?

For that alone, you know he's scum. Because people DIED for no reason and he was willing to treat it like a Cowboys game.

(And congrats on 50K posts, CatWoman. :hi: )

[CatWoman]

5. thanks, Hon

:hi:

it appears that whenever a reporter makes an observation that isn't glowing asskissing of Chimpy, Inc., they are "leaning to the far left".

These people sicken me.

[EFerrari]

6. I can't watch them. Can't, don't and won't.

Like Bill Moyers said, if the media won't tell the story, we hafta tell it ourselves.

Ken Allard can kiss my precious remote.

[AlCzervik]

4. I used to see him commenting during the war and then few times on NBC news, now he's

favorite of O'Reilly. When O'Blowhole said to Allard-"You left NBC because of Arkin...mmmmright?" Allard said something like--"No i left because i had a stroke" and without missing a beat Blowhole just moved along like that exchange didn't happen.

[OHdem10]

7. This has been an almost OReilly --One ManShow

O'Reilly has been on a war against NBC. Allard was Military
Analyst for NBC. Has recently had a stroke. He first
got into trouble at NBC because he was one of about 5
generals who spoke out against going into Iraq. He was
Anti-War. Put off air for while. Gradually worked his
way back. As a Military Man he supported the war once
it started. Sometimes he commented at FoX. OReilly,
used him to sound off about Arkin.(explained below)
Allard decided to join ORelly and attack NBC.

O'Reilly has been after the Networks accusing NBC of
turning left. I have not seen anyturns. They have been
morequestioning of White House but no turn to the left.
If you do not agree wholly with O'Reilly then you are
either turning Left or on the left.

Some Arkin (reporter) made some disparaging remoarks about
the military. Arkin is employed some how by both WaPa
and NBC. This is not absolutely word for word. He called
our Soldiers Mercenaries and (according to OReilly )
This gave OReilly Ammunition --He got GE WaPo you name
he has ranted and raved. He not only has gone after Arking
He attacks Gregory because Gregory disrespects the President
at the WH Press Conference. If you are at NBC OReilly has
you in his crosshairs. He frames things the way he wants
to frame them. Forget the truth--truth is often the first
casuality of an O'Reilly rant, IMO.

For whatever reason he has been praising ABC.

Now he implies he has changed the viewership. Moved
200,000away from NBC and gave them to NBC. Some
agree he did this.

Remember how MSNC was forced to fire Donahue when he
had the highest ratings on the channel. They were afraid
of having someone on air who openly opposed the war.

Give NBC a little support by watching.

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