Nomen Nescio
2005-11-02 18:10:04 UTC
Media Matters
http://snipurl.com/jeow
. . .Last Tuesday, Iraqi election officials certified that their
constitution was approved by a nearly four-to-one margin. This
vote was a crushing blow to terrorists and those who support
them. So how was this news reported?
Some, like Reuters accentuated the negative, as in the headline
"Sunni leaders reject Iraq charter." Others persisted in
familiar claims of voter fraud. Most, however, either gave the
story short shrift or chose to overshadow it with reports of the
2,000 American soldiers killed in Iraq; as if their sacrifice
was not vindicated by the historic election.
On Thursday, the Miers withdrawal thrilled conservatives
everywhere, allowing all the wayward right-wing pundits to
retract their claws while denying liberals their wish for a
divided Republican Party. This temporary in-house skirmish,
while embarrassing for the president, nonetheless proved
beneficial to the movement.
While some begrudgingly recognized what was a banner day for a
relieved GOP, most of the media also decided that it was mainly
a "striking defeat" for the president who was "bowing to
intensifying attacks from right-leaning activists." As I said,
beneficial.
Friday brought the unkindest cut of all to those hoping to bury
Karl Rove. Their white knight, Special Prosecutor Patrick
Fitzgerald, revealed that he had not indicted King Karl. So,
after 22 months of wishing, all they got for Fitzmas was Scooter
Libby's resignation and five indictments for lying about a leak
they failed to hang on anyone. No, Dr. Dean, there is no Santa
Claus.
Worse yet was the public's reaction to the "next Watergate."
According to Monday's Gallup poll: "Despite much speculation
that Libby's indictment will deepen public skepticism of Bush
and spell the political unraveling of his administration, the
initial reaction of Americans appears to downplay the matter's
significance."
Also on Friday came news that the U.S. economy grew by 3.8% in
the third quarter despite hurricanes Katrina and Rita. And on
Monday we learned that consumer spending was up a solid 0.5% and
that incomes grew by 1.7% in September, with gas prices plunging
along due to oil prices dropping to under $60 a barrel. What was
that the Washington Post said about consumer confidence in the
economy taking a plunge?
This week began with President Bush's own Fitzmas present for
liberals. His name is Samuel Alito and he has been nominated to
replace swinging Sandra O'Connor on the Supreme Court. Having
failed miserably on nearly all counts to land a single body blow
to Bush, they are now forced back into their usual defensive
stance: Alito is a radical extremist, against women's rights and
probably eats his own children.
But their main charge will be, as usual, that he is "out of the
mainstream." In liberal media-speak, this means he is exactly
the kind of judge who represents what the majority of Americans
who elected the president want and will likely get. Once again,
bad news for the left is good news for America. And, once again,
Bush makes lemonade out of liberal sour grapes.
http://snipurl.com/jeow
. . .Last Tuesday, Iraqi election officials certified that their
constitution was approved by a nearly four-to-one margin. This
vote was a crushing blow to terrorists and those who support
them. So how was this news reported?
Some, like Reuters accentuated the negative, as in the headline
"Sunni leaders reject Iraq charter." Others persisted in
familiar claims of voter fraud. Most, however, either gave the
story short shrift or chose to overshadow it with reports of the
2,000 American soldiers killed in Iraq; as if their sacrifice
was not vindicated by the historic election.
On Thursday, the Miers withdrawal thrilled conservatives
everywhere, allowing all the wayward right-wing pundits to
retract their claws while denying liberals their wish for a
divided Republican Party. This temporary in-house skirmish,
while embarrassing for the president, nonetheless proved
beneficial to the movement.
While some begrudgingly recognized what was a banner day for a
relieved GOP, most of the media also decided that it was mainly
a "striking defeat" for the president who was "bowing to
intensifying attacks from right-leaning activists." As I said,
beneficial.
Friday brought the unkindest cut of all to those hoping to bury
Karl Rove. Their white knight, Special Prosecutor Patrick
Fitzgerald, revealed that he had not indicted King Karl. So,
after 22 months of wishing, all they got for Fitzmas was Scooter
Libby's resignation and five indictments for lying about a leak
they failed to hang on anyone. No, Dr. Dean, there is no Santa
Claus.
Worse yet was the public's reaction to the "next Watergate."
According to Monday's Gallup poll: "Despite much speculation
that Libby's indictment will deepen public skepticism of Bush
and spell the political unraveling of his administration, the
initial reaction of Americans appears to downplay the matter's
significance."
Also on Friday came news that the U.S. economy grew by 3.8% in
the third quarter despite hurricanes Katrina and Rita. And on
Monday we learned that consumer spending was up a solid 0.5% and
that incomes grew by 1.7% in September, with gas prices plunging
along due to oil prices dropping to under $60 a barrel. What was
that the Washington Post said about consumer confidence in the
economy taking a plunge?
This week began with President Bush's own Fitzmas present for
liberals. His name is Samuel Alito and he has been nominated to
replace swinging Sandra O'Connor on the Supreme Court. Having
failed miserably on nearly all counts to land a single body blow
to Bush, they are now forced back into their usual defensive
stance: Alito is a radical extremist, against women's rights and
probably eats his own children.
But their main charge will be, as usual, that he is "out of the
mainstream." In liberal media-speak, this means he is exactly
the kind of judge who represents what the majority of Americans
who elected the president want and will likely get. Once again,
bad news for the left is good news for America. And, once again,
Bush makes lemonade out of liberal sour grapes.