First and Last Thoughts on the Palin’s Speech from a Wasilla Redneck

Wow, Sarah Palin delivered a rousing speech.

My redneck Wasilla pride blushed from my neck to my…ah, anyway. It made me wanna grab for my shot gun and shoots some fridges behind my house.

Boy the way she lit into Obama - how could it not make an Alaskan proud. And she didn’t hesitate cause he was African American or nothing historic like that. No, she calls ‘em as she sees ‘em.

You see, in Wasilla, we didn’t need diversity. In schools, on the job. Why, I attended all of the schools of the valley. I went to Butte Elementary, then Swanson Elementary, then Iditarod right after the fire.

Then I remember our school being so crowded, that they put us on split shifts until they finally got Tanina built. Then I went there. Moved onto Wasilla Middle School before I was home schooled. After the seventh grade, I went up to Houston High, then was transfered to Palmer High. Even attended a few semesters at the Mat-Su Community College. And in all that time, maybe two black students. No natives.

Yes, this is one hella a diverse community. Wow, anyway what can I say, I’m floored.

So you liberal elitists, and “angry” lefties, and anti-conceivers can take your smear rumors about Palin banning books, or drilling in ANWR, or not having ’nuff experience. Who the hell wants to read witchcraft shit like Harry Potter anyway.

NOTE: First, the commentary above is totally satire based on my real-world experience of living out 17 years of my most “can I forget those years” life. With that said, there is credibility to the story that Sarah Palin wanted to pursue book bans at the local public library (TIME Magazine, Sept 2, 2008). While the books cannot be confirmed, they probably include some of the books on the ALA 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books.

Does Size Matter in Politics?

On Friday, John McCain will announce his running mate to a “massive crowd.”

The McCain campaign is hoping to have 15,000 people at the Ohio rally — roughly five times the size of his largest crowd to date.

(Source: CNN)

15,000? A massive rally? Five times is largest crowd to day?

In sports, the difference between 5,000 and 70,000 is the difference between a high school playoff football game and the NFL Superbowl. So how can CNN even describe this as “massive”, unless massive is a completely arbitrary term used to manipulate the general readers perception of the enthusiasm surounding a candidate.

Well John McCain, have fun at your massive rally.

Photo Credit: Yes, this is my cat Vinny and his adoring crowd of two. He enjoys sitting on this tailed-tennis ball thingy…don’t ask me why.

McCain Tries to Stand Next to the Pillars of History

Barack Obama’s candidacy is historical. No other major political party has nominated an African American for the President of the United States. No other nominee has been backed by as many Americans as Obama.

John McCain’s candidacy is historical too. No other major party has nominated a man as old as McCain for their first term to be President of the United States. And the only older candidate to be nominated was Ronald Regan for reelection, and it was later revealed, likely suffered from the early stages of Alzheimer’s at the time.

McCain is set to announce his vice presidential pick. This will likely be leaked to the press shortly after Obama delivers what should be an electrifying speech to the 70,000 supporters at Invesco Field.

McCain will try, in his own little way, to steal the spotlight from Obama.

And McCain will be seen as merely a little man standing next to the true pillars of history…a speech on the anniversary of “I Have a Dream” by Martin Luther King Jr (who ironically John McCain battled against recognizing with a holiday), delivered by a historical candidacy…the historical kind that doesn’t forget who they were just a few years back.

Note: The reference to the pillars invokes the mocking Republicans that were berating the “Greek columns” on Obama’s stage. This just tells you how out of touch Republicans are….have they not been in Washington before? Actually, they know full well the neo-classical columns that decorate Washington DC…but they also know that middle America has likely never visited that place, and they want to keep it that way.

The Associated Press: Disguised Journalism

The Associated Press carries authority. Numerous news organizations subscribe and contribute material. Pick up any daily paper and 90% of the articles carry the credit line, “Associated Press”. The expectation with this brand is balance and fact.

Then you learn the author is Ron Fournier, Washington bureau chief, and past e-mail buddies with Karl Rove. All credibility is lost.

Attack on Obama Biden Ticket

On August 23, while critiquing Obama’s selection of Biden as his vice-president, Ron Fournier makes the claim that the only reason Obama made this choice was a lack of confidence. Fournier continues to write a thinly veiled opinion piece about why Biden “… is anything but a change agent…” and how Biden’s selection undercuts Obama’s core message. Finding the opportunity, Fournier manages to interject white versus black crime fears, accusations of misogyny (Hillary wasn’t chosen), paints Obama as nothing but a opportunistic politician who will do anything for a chance to sit at the oval office, and manages to close with:

“And there’s the 2007 ABC interview in which Biden said he would stand by an earlier statement that Obama was not ready to serve as president.

It seems Obama is worried that some voters are starting to agree.”

Of course, Fournier doesn’t mention Biden said those words while running for the office of presidency - I guess that would weaken his close.

And it should be pointed out that this is opinion penned outside the label of AP. However this is the guy behind their journalistic integrity. There are some journalists that have been fired for blogging their personal opinions as it compromises their perspective. How is this different? Ron Fournier happens to be the AP’s Washington Bureau Chief.

According to the AP at the time of his selection to this post:

“The next Washington bureau chief of the AP must preserve the authority and standards we have spent 160 years building, while at the same time leading us into a new and rapidly changing world of journalism,” Oreskes told a staff meeting in the bureau. “Fortunately, we have the perfect candidate at hand.”

Mr. Fournier is tasked to lead the AP into the brand new world of journalism.

Journalism Versus Editorial: Should They Mix?

As an amateur political cartoonist, my work is always accompanied by editorial. I’m not a journalist, nor do I disguise myself as one. However I’m not even close to being the number one news source for the country. The Associated Press is a cancer, infesting ever part of mainstream media and Ron Fournier is the political editor at it’s helm.

It’s good to always look at the author behind a story - in fact it’s a requirement if you want to read the news anymore, as opinion and fact become indistinguishable. Fournier is the man who had a close email relationship with Karl Rove, exchanging a conversation with the political operative that encouraged the good fight in Iraq and discussed a certain American hero, Tillman.

Tillman was an American hero of the highest order. He opted for a chance to fight a war on terror that for all it’s errors, seemed a good fight to take up in 2002. To join this fight he left a career in professional football and $3.6 million, a decision few Americans would even think to make. He lost his life in friendly fire on April 22 2004.

You’d think the Associated Press would be more interested in why the US government tried to cover up Tillman’s death. Instead the guy who should be showing journalistic leadership as a political reporter, is patting Karl Rove on the back, saying, “The Lord creates men and women like this all over the world. But only the great and free countries allow them to flourish. Keep up the fight.”

Faux Facts

And newspapers wonder why their readership is dwindling, why advertising revenues are tanking. It could just be that fewer people are buying the faux facts offered by the Associated Press. Instead, to be a modern consumer of news, everyone becomes an investigative reporter, verifying sources, and cross referencing slanted language.

To this end I say, “Bloggers, keep up the fight.” Only the freedom of the press allows the facts to flourish.

ISM

UPDATE: I just submitted my email both Ron Fournier and his supervisor, as encouraged by MoveOn.org. If your interested in joining this show of protest against denigrated journalism, consider submitting your email as well.

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Here’s What I Sent:

Mr. Ron Fournier,

I read a lot of news, and when I pickup a daily paper, it doesn’t matter which city, the major stories on the front page are often from the Associated Press. The Associated Press carries a brand that signifies credibility, with a long history. It says simply, what you are about to read is fact, based on the best of our abilities.

Unfortunately, in the past few months, the quality of reporting, especially as it concern your charge, has so diminished that I now start to look at all articles by the Associated Press with the same hesitation. Is this true, honest journalism? Or is it based on the pretentions of single man and his agenda? These are serious charges. If you want to remain the barometer whereby journalism is measured, then you have to keep personal opinion separate. If you wish instead to engage in political favoritism, then I’m definitely for that, but it should never be under the institution of honesty.

Your article, “Biden Pick Shows Lack of Confidence”, is demonstratively bad writing, and deserves mention only as an example of how bad a journalist can go so quickly. The truth is though, this hasn’t been a quick transition for you, as you’ve found yourself cozy with Karl Rove in the past.

I hope you understand that continued opinion pieces dressed up as journalism, in a single stroke of the submit button, destroy the AP brand. If I read another article by your or one of your staff that demonstrates this lack of integrity, I will refused to use the services, both on-line and print, that subscribe to the Associated Press.

- Nate S.

March of Scum Day 1: Jerome Corsi

I had a different person in mind for my first March of Scum Day, however the more the mainstream media makes a big deal of Obama Nation, Best Sellers and Jerome Corsi, I decided Corsi had to headline my list.

Think Progress pointed out the Confederate Flag pin way back in January 07, but now, when Corsi’s book is getting publicity, no one seems to be mentioning it. I say we get this into the mainstream as fast as they made a story out of Obama’s lack of a lapel pin. Jeezz!!

What a sick bastard. And to think this is the kind of guy McCain wants to surround himself with. In fact, I suggest everyone write a story on this on their own blog. Today, John Kerry worked to wipe out this scum with his own site, TruthFightsBack.com.

I want to note one thing, for any visitors who might sympathize with a confederate flag. Jerome here was born in Ohio and lives in New Jersey. He doesn’t really have the right to claim heritage. He’s a blatant racist who will stop at nothing to see an African American in office. And we’ve already seen that he would stop at nothing to keep a Vietnam veteran from office.

UPDATE: 8/14/08: As if my suspicions needed confirmation, Jerome Corsi is set to appear on August 17th on the racist radio program, The Political Cesspool. The host, James Edwards, is a unabashed white supremeicist (you can read this fellow scum’s mission statement if you care.)

UPDATE 2: 8/14/08: In fighting back against the smears from Jerome Corsi and the Republican right-wing fringe, the Obama campaign releasted a PDF, Unfit for Publication.

The Media is Dead and No One Cares

I have a dilemma, as I’m sure most political junkies do.

I breath news.

Any sort of news. Mainly political news. It’s my drug.

So what happens when the quality of your drug really starts to stink? When it’s been diluted with a cheap substitute. Where it’s expected to have meaning instead I’m getting ad space.

I love the Nine Inch Nails song, “Heresy.”

That’s how I feel about the media.

I feel like I’m feeding on a dead carcus. With Tim Russert political news died. I’m getting cable this next week. Maybe John Stewart will help. Likely not.

But the truth is the media (and by media I mean mainstream media) is dead.

Ask me if I care.

P.S. I guess I should use this post to say, next week will mark both the 1 year anniversary of this blog and a renewed energy in drawing, along with a new theme.

PS to the PS: Can I just say, Wordpress 2.6 is awesome…it embedded this YouTube clip without me pulling my hair out.

McCain and the Gas Tax Holiday

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