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but it says so much about the character of these people.
Why John W. McCain is an unstable, crazy, angry, clueless, hypocritical, lying, pandering douche.
by clammyc on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 02:41:13 PM PDT
Republican Party and the channel that Dick Cheney prefers. What did you expect?
Fox is reprehensible to blaim the parents and the docs, but we couldn't blame a corporation, could we?
IGTNT
by blue jersey mom on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 02:44:58 PM PDT
[ Parent ]
heh...
I know how bad they can be just from reading what others write about them, but I truly never ever watch other than by accident just now.
Even with the warnings, I was still amazed at how much they can "out-asshole" themselves.
by clammyc on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 02:48:05 PM PDT
But I have paused to hear what was being said as I surfed by it now and then, as you did here, and each and every time I have done that, regardless what the subject matter, I have become enraged within mere seconds. Who are these people? Where do they come from? Do they truly represent the opinions of those who feed off this kind of talk? I can barely stand to accept the fact that they have a viewing audience that approves (and even seeks out) this kind of hateful talk.
Things are going to get a lot worse before they get worse. ~ Lily Tomlin
by vigilant meerkat on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 03:54:48 PM PDT
I watched O'Really and Hannity&What's-his-name every now and then.
If I could cleanse my eyeballs with Brillo pads, I would.
The upside of this misadventure is that I got a clearer understanding of these people, and felt better knowing I'd never be like them. I still sometimes catch a half-hour of Hannity on my afternoon drive, just to keep that edge on.
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall piss you off.
by Executive Odor on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 04:47:36 PM PDT
group I understand, however, Olbermann is cutting into their lead.
Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities-Voltaire
by hairspray on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 04:51:24 PM PDT
The miscreants that feed off of the predigested hate that is Faux News are empty vessels looking for some straw. Faux tells them what to think. They swallow and follow.
I don't watch it either. Luckily, I have no cable. If I did, I suspect that my television would have long since have been reduced to small shards.
The lone and level sands stretch far away. -Shelley
by justme on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 09:59:31 PM PDT
due to the preponderance of campaign contributions and other extenuating circumstances like those of having to satisfy share-holder profits, Cigna, and any Real-Big Corporation, like Cigna, is hereby free to deny coverage, and Kill, anyone they like
by leonard145b on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 04:59:22 PM PDT
to sign the emergency order any second now...
by Ramelle on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 07:37:27 PM PDT
by blue jersey mom on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 02:51:18 PM PDT
florida, something about how just becuase they call themselves a news channel, it does not legally obligate them to tell the truth. someone sued them over something they were reporting as 'news', and won. Faux then appealed. and won on appeal. I can't remember the specifics.
by pickandshovel on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 04:15:30 PM PDT
which Fox won on appeal:
FOX appealed the case, and on February 14, 2003 the Florida Second District Court of Appeals unanimously overturned the settlement awarded to Akre. The Court held that Akre’s threat to report the station’s actions to the FCC did not deserve protection under Florida’s whistle blower statute, because Florida’s whistle blower law states that an employer must violate an adopted "law, rule, or regulation." In a stunningly narrow interpretation of FCC rules, the Florida Appeals court claimed that the FCC policy against falsification of the news does not rise to the level of a "law, rule, or regulation," it was simply a "policy." Therefore, it is up to the station whether or not it wants to report honestly. During their appeal, FOX asserted that there are no written rules against distorting news in the media. They argued that, under the First Amendment, broadcasters have the right to lie or deliberately distort news reports on public airwaves. Fox attorneys did not dispute Akre’s claim that they pressured her to broadcast a false story, they simply maintained that it was their right to do so. After the appeal verdict WTVT general manager Bob Linger commented, "It’s vindication for WTVT, and we’re very pleased... It’s the case we’ve been making for two years. She never had a legal claim."
FOX appealed the case, and on February 14, 2003 the Florida Second District Court of Appeals unanimously overturned the settlement awarded to Akre. The Court held that Akre’s threat to report the station’s actions to the FCC did not deserve protection under Florida’s whistle blower statute, because Florida’s whistle blower law states that an employer must violate an adopted "law, rule, or regulation." In a stunningly narrow interpretation of FCC rules, the Florida Appeals court claimed that the FCC policy against falsification of the news does not rise to the level of a "law, rule, or regulation," it was simply a "policy." Therefore, it is up to the station whether or not it wants to report honestly.
During their appeal, FOX asserted that there are no written rules against distorting news in the media. They argued that, under the First Amendment, broadcasters have the right to lie or deliberately distort news reports on public airwaves. Fox attorneys did not dispute Akre’s claim that they pressured her to broadcast a false story, they simply maintained that it was their right to do so. After the appeal verdict WTVT general manager Bob Linger commented, "It’s vindication for WTVT, and we’re very pleased... It’s the case we’ve been making for two years. She never had a legal claim."
Background story
As reported by Jeanette Batz in the St. Louis newsweekly, Riverfront Times, David Boylan, WTVT station manager, was blunt in demanding that Akre and Wilson tell the story about rBGH the way Monsanto wanted it told. "We (the Fox TV network) paid $3 billion for these television stations. We will decide what the news is. The news is what we tell you it is."
by skrekk on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 04:33:29 PM PDT
trump social interests. Last night on Bill Moyers he interviewed a Dr.Benjamen Barber who had written a book about how capitalism (which he didn't want to eliminate) has overwhelmed social responsibility. It was a wonderful show on this topic.link
by hairspray on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 04:57:51 PM PDT
like a bad rug. What appalls me is that they are given any shred of credence after it has been shown time and time again that that is what they do. By all rights they should be the moving picture version of the Weekly World News, amusing bathroom viewing at best. That people watch it, and digest and assimilate it, knowing full well that it's bullshit, speaks of a truly unfortunate disease ravaging the country.
I might have some disagreement as to their being able to label it "news" on public airwaves, but even that, eh, frankly it really should be self correcting. They are not subtle. Just because you dress a shit covered pig in a sun dress and call it Princess Grace doesn't mean folks ought to want their picture taken with it. Alas, it seems far too many do, though.
by justme on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 11:39:35 PM PDT
people who believe what's in the WWN. There are people who believe what's in the National Enquirer. Hell, there are people who believe that the characters in soap operas are real, and that aliens visit us from outer space.
There are some STRANGE people out there. Unfortunately, too many of them have gotten voted into office.
by mmacdDE on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 04:11:27 AM PDT
They are what is properly known as "the fringe". Generally, they do not and should not have control of one of the two major political parties engaged in running the country. Generally, we do not have very many people running around with "Bat Boy for President" signs and t-shirts without any sense of irony, and those we do have are ignored without detriment, and rightfully so.
The problem is that Fux has convinced enough people that they shouldn't care how fact-free or absurd the crap they throw out is, that they are not only unable to be ignored and ridiculed out of hand, but are a driving force behind what the criminals at the helm can get away with. That so many blindly climb aboard the Two Minute Hate Special and slurp it down with such gusto is somewhat more than bothersome. Imagine if it were the WWN in the same position. The actual information would be hardly any stupider or farther from the truth. All you would need to win a Senate seat in some States would be a credible claim to being Elvis' alien love child. Wait a minute... Nahhh.
That so many can be made to believe so much that is so wrong is just shocking. I suppose it just means that Lincoln's "some of the people all of the time" has become a significant voting block.
I'm convinced that the reason Cheney always has it on has nothing to do with any desire to know what specific pablum the monkeys are feeding the sheep. I think he just likes the comfort of knowing that no matter what, there is an organization that will spout whatever is necessary, no matter how bat-shit crazy, to cover his ass, and that there are those who will believe it.
by justme on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 06:23:23 AM PDT
using an Elvis campaign. It helped that the incumbent was really, really corrupt, and that Feingold never slung any dirt. I'm proud he's my senator.
by skrekk on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 01:41:09 PM PDT
For me. Cigna ain't shit. Cigna don't give a damn. Cigna, until nurses and health care professionals started to "picket" against them, Cigna changed its mind on the transplant.
Cigna, too fuckin' late.
Have a good Holiday clammyc, one of my favorite writers here.
And one that I read his BLOG directly, subscribe to it.
In Iowa next week, fighting the good fight.
May the good Democrat win.
This Week With Barack Obama. Because you need to stay informed.
by icebergslim on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 02:51:02 PM PDT
and have a good one too. I'll be thinking you as I watch the results in Iowa.
And may the best Democrat win (I'll keep it cryptic until I don't have to anymore....)
by clammyc on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 02:52:53 PM PDT
by icebergslim on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 06:09:40 PM PDT
you saw what I did with the 2 earlier this week, and some took offense to my obvious snark.
oh well.....
by clammyc on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 07:50:06 PM PDT
They couldn't care less about one particular insurance company. For them it's the Republican cause. When their ideology causes tragedy, then blame the victim, do whatever is necessary to defend advance the ideology. Because the ideology is Truth, and all else is Falsehood, so said Lenin, so Bush Limbaugh-Hannity-O'Reilly et al.
"Great men do not commit murder. Great nations do not start wars." William Jennings Bryan
by Navy Vet Terp on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 03:14:25 PM PDT
...about an hour ago, clammy. They're experts were lawyers, I believe. It was cold, but not unexpected.
I've been reading on the right about this, as well. It's very interesting. Everybody is scrambling to get their feet under them -- because it is an ideological conflict, post Schiavo. (Perhaps a fatal error loop that could crash the right.)
The morons say stuff like ... "If she was in Canada, she would have died a long time ago because of the socialist waiting list."
I have a feeling that the real players are on high alert this weekend. This could be the straw that broke the camel's back. It happened big and fast and loud.
Pluto now orbits Overnight News Digest ʍou sʇıqɹo oʇnld
by Pluto on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 03:37:48 PM PDT
but I think yer right that they are scared witless because they KNOW this terrible case hit a very raw nerve at a very bad time for them.
Nataline put a beautiful and tragic face on this ongoing horror story.
This is going to explode all over them and it ain't gonna be pretty. And they know it. I promise they do.
You can't always tell the truth because you don't always know the truth - but you can ALWAYS be honest.
by mattman on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 04:24:25 PM PDT
Never forget her!
Keep fighting!
McCain = Death. "I'm tired of being afraid." -- Michelle Obama
by Pris from LA on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 06:50:13 PM PDT
are reporting this straight, no chaser, and they are reporting it. That has got to have some folks in full bore linear panic mode, hence they crank up the Mighty Wurlitzer. The more noise they can make, the less signal gets through.
by justme on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 11:47:28 PM PDT
that the bean-counters are overruling the doctors, now Fox tells us they know better than anyone.
Don't I recall them having similar loyalties (and behavior) during the Schiavo debacle?
(-7.75, -7.69) No matter how cynical I get, I just can't keep up - Lily Tomlin
by john07801 on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 03:49:39 PM PDT
in our future history the people are going to have to rise up and start mounting these people on pikes. I have lost hope that we can ever legislate this type of behavior by the ultra wealthy corporations out of existence.
The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same." Carlos Castaneda
by FireCrow on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 03:49:49 PM PDT
The wingnuts wouldn't like that. They'd call it government overspending on useless technology. Sharpened stakes just like Vlad Dracul used to use will work just fine, and without the fancy sharpened iron heads.
Looking for intelligent energy policy alternatives? Try here.
by alizard on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 09:27:18 PM PDT
I can't believe that even Faux Snooze viewers buy into this crap. They have kids. They know the deal - Cigna stalled and stalled until it was too late.
Even the hardcore neocon contingent knew the deal when the Terri Schiavo fiasco hit the news. This was bad for them. They knew - in their dark hearts - that Terri was "any woman", and that even the most trailerparkish morons could relate.
In Nataline's death, perhaps she's created something that she could not have imagined in life. And I hope (as a non-believer) that today she's watching this from some other cosmic location, and that she (and her family) understand that the tragedy they've been through will ultimately benefit millions on her behalf. This doesn't excuse Cigna's actions - or UCLA Medical Center - but perhaps we all grow a bit of humanity as a result.
by Richard Cranium on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 03:53:58 PM PDT
Because if Fox viewers who have children are unable to relate to what happened to the family in this situation, they are so hardened and brain-washed that there literally is no hope that they will ever rise up and act in their own best interests, and the rethugs and neocons will have won.
by vigilant meerkat on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 04:09:28 PM PDT
GOP 22% of batshit diehards to win. We need Democrats in office who aren't afraid of them.
by alizard on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 09:45:51 PM PDT
Those who so hysterically wanted to prolong Terri Schiavo's life against her will, to the point of pressuring Congress into calling a special session... where was that culture-of-life passion when it came to Natalie Sarkisyan, who WANTED to stay alive?
I know that the Democrats will be too timid to ask that question (and gee, I always thought they wanted to prove their pro-life cred with the evangelicals, but never mind), but that doesn't mean WE can't put it out there.
We need to expose the "pro-life" crowd for the craven, opportunistic phonies they are. And this is the moment to do so.
"Le ciel est bleu, l'enfer est rouge."
by Buzzer on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 05:06:58 PM PDT
that is a perfect frame.
by clammyc on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 07:58:18 PM PDT
...but they KNOW this will never happen to them. Because unlike that careless, indifferent Sarkisyan family, which obviously made poor health-care choices and foolishly trusted doctors instead of their insurance provider, these Faux viewers have it ALL under control. And their kids never get sick anyway.
by Buzzer on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 05:10:09 PM PDT
"God will watch out for us and keep this from happening"
by catnap1972 on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 08:13:05 PM PDT
believers who have CIGNA health insurance had better not have their kids getting sick.
by alizard on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 09:46:47 PM PDT
I couldn't have watched that. I'd have thrown my TV through the window at the 15 second mark.
NFTT Progressively supporting the troops
by Timroff on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 04:04:21 PM PDT
I was comfy on my bed....the TV was all the way on the other side of the room...
by clammyc on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 07:58:58 PM PDT
watching PBS these days. If I had Fux, my TV would be splinters.
by justme on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 11:50:36 PM PDT
I guess that doctor who wasted 36 hours (versus the compassionate insurance company that wasted several weeks) should be ashamed of him/herself.
How can s/he live with herself?
by ShainZona on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 04:26:21 PM PDT
36 MINUTES!!!!
don't you feel much better now?
by clammyc on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 07:59:27 PM PDT
The wingnut crowd badly needed its talking points, because for a few hours there it looked like their beloved system had actually malfunctioned.
Fox always delivers.
That's what this is all about.
by Buzzer on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 04:46:58 PM PDT
our soldiers caught in a quagmire in Iraq, their standard answer has been "well they joined up didn't they?" Can't expect much when people think like that.
by hairspray on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 04:50:08 PM PDT
the email fromthe transplant surgeon, I felt it was so important to immediately set the record straight on who is responsible.
Going forward, you've got to be prepared that the smear machine will be working overtime to in some fashion point the finger of blame as far away from CIGNA as possible. This was to be expected.
And never forget if CIGNA hadn't weaseled out of its responsibilities, we would not be having this discussion.
Tell your healthcare and insurance horror stories at Guaranteed Healthcare
by nyceve on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 05:25:14 PM PDT
I read that diary a few hours before writing mine. Yours was heartwrenching. Mine was pure outrage.
A different message, but yours is always the most powerful.
by clammyc on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 08:00:30 PM PDT
When wingnuts behave like decent and honorable people, that's news.
by alizard on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 09:23:50 PM PDT
Chez kidneystones: rattlesnakepoint.
Everyone is welcome. I'll post more formal invitations later over the day.
Great work.
by kidneystones on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 11:07:02 PM PDT
looking forward to reading it....
by clammyc on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 07:20:09 AM PDT
the sentiment that led to the French Revolution.
I'm not saying we need our own Madame Defarge, but I wouldn't object very strongly to her putting on a few show trials with the likes of Fox News personalities and HMO executives.
"When I was an alien, cultures weren't opinions" ~ Kurt Cobain, Territorial Pissings
by Subterranean on Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 11:39:51 PM PDT
wide narrow
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