Rupert-über-alles must not be allowed to darken BSkyB

[CHIMO]

Aren't people who prefer to give Rupert Murdoch the benefit of the doubt adorably trusting? At the precise moment his Fox News appears to have finally abandoned even the quarter-arsed pretence of impartiality, allowing Tea Party-backed candidates to fundraise on air in return for exclusive, uncritical access, there are those on these shores opining that Murdoch winning full control of BSkyB really is no biggie.

Well, quite. What's the worst that can happen?

Even as Sarah Palin appears to be fashioning a run at the presidency without appearing on any media outlet other than the one that pays her (she has her own show on Fox), there are those wittering that Murdoch basically already runs Sky, so gaining full control won't alter the UK's media landscape.

Were things across the Atlantic not looking so mind-boggling, you could almost envy that cosy, antiquated assumption that the "media landscape" is something settled, as opposed to in a state of historic flux. Sarah Palin's tweets may have to be ghostwritten – I know, even Darren Bent can fart out his own – yet, as Time magazine observed this week, a single one of them can dominate a news cycle, while one of her speeches can monopolise three news cycles.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/sep/24/rupert-murdoch-bskyb-fox-news

[oceanman]

1. Rupert

Can't someone figure out how to revoke this asshole's citzenship and send him back to Australia? Talk about seditious. This guy has done more to pollute the political discourse in this country than anyone in history - and why is it that these old, sick bastards (I recall that Rupert had cancer) from the right never die, but somehow the dems die young in plane crashes. Not that I wish anyone's death, but the obvious result of their deals with devil is living forever. I saw a recent picture of Babs Bush recently - talk about mummified. Rambling - sorry, its the beer.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. 'Murdoch was "ushered up the back stairs of Downing Street" ...

...which sounds like both a statement of fact and a euphemism for what Rupert has been doing to successive governments for decades.'

Right on the mark.

[fasttense]

3. Murdoch and the Moonies

This is what happens when you turn your back on anti-trust legislation. Murdoch had to get an exemption to own most of our media. And our gubermint gave it to him.

And the wanted criminal Moonie was allowed to buy up a newspaper because he's a friend of someone.

This country needs to move back to enforcing ALL laws for everyone.