The Global War on Terror 5.0: Putin on the Risk

[Kepler]

Re: The Global War on Terror 5.0: Putin on the Risk

Sure, FNC leans to the right, but you have to admit that there are more left-leaning commentators (Carville, Bechel, Combes, Powers and Greta come immediately to mind) than on MSNBC, which has simply fallen off the left side of the cliff and has zero credibility as "news" network.

Not sure if serious.

Are you saying you think FNC is a news source with a slant? It is very clear to me that Fox News, on political issues, has no "news" element at all. It is a propaganda arm for the GOP, which it was explicitly designed to be by Roger Ailes. That's not a slant -- it's the actual mission statement. MSNBC is its mirror image for the Dems.

Understandably, people like to hear their opinions validated, so Fox and MSNBC each have legions of viewers who like to marinate in their own juices. All fine and dandy -- what else is reading a site like Kos or Red State than that same self-indulgence? But it isn't "news." News is the coverage of an event. What Fox and MSNBC do is use events as a pretext to reiterate a pre-set opinion.

This isn't a matter of degree but of kind -- it's the whole distinction between the news stories and the editorial pieces in a newspaper.

[Gurtholfin]

Re: The Global War on Terror 5.0: Putin on the Risk

I've actually taken to watching Al Jazeera for world news...

W T F?

[Kepler]

Re: The Global War on Terror 5.0: Putin on the Risk

I've actually taken to watching Al Jazeera for world news...

W T F?

AJ is great for everything except Israel (AJ on Israel is like watching FNC on Obama -- they're not even trying to hide it) and Qatar (obviously, since AJ is an arm of the Qatar royal family).

AJA sucks, though -- it's dumbed down to the point where you think you're watching CNN or one of the networks.

[Gurtholfin]

Re: The Global War on Terror 5.0: Putin on the Risk

The unfortunate part about MSNBC is that they used to actually try and only lean left instead of what they have become.

I remember when Matthews used to skewer Dems as gleefully as he does GOPs. Scarborough had a show in prime time. The dude with the bow tie had a show. Pat Buchannan used to be on quite a bit.

Then they saw that they really had no niche and decided to fill the void as an unapologetic voice for the left.

Can't blame them as survival and being profitable is important.

I miss the MSNBC of 10 - 15 years ago though.

[SteveP]

Re: The Global War on Terror 5.0: Putin on the Risk

Difference between Stewart & Colbert and O'Reilly & Hannity is that two of them are on Comedy Central while the other two are on a "News" channel.

But how many younger viewers get their "news" and opinion/commentary from Stewart & Colbert? Probably a lot more than those getting the same from FNCCNNMSNBCABCCBSNBC

[Gurtholfin]

Re: The Global War on Terror 5.0: Putin on the Risk

AJ is great for everything except Israel (AJ on Israel is like watching FNC on Obama -- they're not even trying to hide it) and Qatar (obviously, since AJ is an arm of the Qatar royal family).

AJA sucks, though -- it's dumbed down to the point where you think you're watching CNN or one of the networks.

I don't have alternatives for general world news. I don't have BBC and not sure if Headline News is even still in business.

AJ is on during Skillet's show - which I can't stand.

[SteveP]

Re: The Global War on Terror 5.0: Putin on the Risk

I miss the MSNBC of 10 - 15 years ago though.

You're not the only one. In fact, years ago I wanted to work there.

[Kepler]

Re: The Global War on Terror 5.0: Putin on the Risk

The unfortunate part about MSNBC is that they used to actually try and only lean left instead of what they have become.

I remember when Matthews used to skewer Dems as gleefully as he does GOPs. Scarborough had a show in prime time. The dude with the bow tie had a show. Pat Buchannan used to be on quite a bit.

Then they saw that they really had no niche and decided to fill the void as an unapologetic voice for the left.

Can't blame them as survival and being profitable is important.

I miss the MSNBC of 10 - 15 years ago though.

I can't say I remember those days. AFAIK, MSNBC has always treated the GOP exactly like FNC treats the Dems:

1. (some topical statement)
2. (tenuous bridge)
3. HURDURHERP THEY SUCK!!!11!

Note that this works whether 1. is A or ~A. That's the genius of the attack ad networks -- the conclusions are already in the teleprompter, so the only work that has to be done is working backwards to the ostensible "trigger."

[Gurtholfin]

Re: The Global War on Terror 5.0: Putin on the Risk

But how many younger viewers get their "news" and opinion/commentary from Stewart & Colbert? Probably a lot more than those getting the same from FNCCNNMSNBCABCCBSNBC

IALTO

They don't get their news there any more than I do. They have their already held opinions validated and get to point and laugh at the hypocrisy of the people that Stewart and Colbert crush.

I love their shows, but sometimes disagree with their opinions. I'm there for some laughs.


The difference between them and the "news" channels is that they aren't calling themselves news. Even my 15 year old knows they comedians.

[Timothy A]

Re: The Global War on Terror 5.0: Putin on the Risk

Why can't there be a news channel with no slant?

[Gurtholfin]

Re: The Global War on Terror 5.0: Putin on the Risk

I can't say I remember those days. AFAIK, MSNBC has always treated the GOP exactly like FNC treats the Dems:

1. (some topical statement)
2. (tenuous bridge)
3. HURDURHERP THEY SUCK!!!11!

Note that this works whether 1. is A or ~A. That's the genius of the attack ad networks -- the conclusions are already in the teleprompter, so the only work that has to be done is working backwards to the ostensible "trigger."

Everyone used to go on Hardball. You don't see the Republican big wigs on there anymore. Trust me, it's changed a lot. Not just that show, but the whole network.

They always leaned left, but nothing like now.


Why can't I remember the dude with the bow tie's name? Used to actually watch his show....

[Slap Shot]

IALTO

They don't get their news there any more than I do. They have their already held opinions validated and get to point and laugh at the hypocrisy of the people that Stewart and Colbert crush.

I love their shows, but sometimes disagree with their opinions. I'm there for some laughs.


The difference between them and the "news" channels is that they aren't calling themselves news. Even my 15 year old knows they comedians.

I can't tell if he's trying to convince you or himself.

[Kepler]

Re: The Global War on Terror 5.0: Putin on the Risk

But how many younger viewers get their "news" and opinion/commentary from Stewart & Colbert? Probably a lot more than those getting the same from FNCCNNMSNBCABCCBSNBC

The weird thing is, not as many as you would think.

Working down here has been an incredible eye-opener as to how many blue collar / lower middle class white families are still Big Three. If they go out of that orbit at all it's FNC. The white southern guys in my office almost all watch FNC uncritically -- most are in their late 20s / early 30s, they're non-college, ex-mil, conservative Christian. Most of them aren't frothing at the mouth "secular humanism is the devil" either, they're just not aware there is more to the world than what daddy and mommy taught them.

The older fundies self-segregate deliberately, but the younger ones are just self-segregated by their ignorance of other options. "We've got both kinds -- country and western."

[Kepler]

Re: The Global War on Terror 5.0: Putin on the Risk

Why can't I remember the dude with the bow tie's name? Used to actually watch his show....

Tucker Carlson.

[joecct]

Re: The Global War on Terror 5.0: Putin on the Risk

I've actually taken to watching Al Jazeera for world news...

W T F?

Well, there is Russia Today. I watch every now and then to see what the Muscovites are up to. Usually I have Tartar sauce with my dinner when I do so.