The assertions that F911 only tells one side...

[asthmaticeog]

The media assertions that F911 only tells one side strongly resembles an argument I had a couple of weeks ago. I work in print media, for an unabashedly left-sympathetic newspaper. After a journalism awards banquet thingy (at which we won "Best Weekly Paper" in the state, might I add with some smugness and pride) I ran into an old writer friend at my fave bar. Said writer congratulated me, and I him (he won something for the suburban weekly he works for), then after some conversation, he complained that the paper I work for was "too far to the left" and was thus "unbalanced." I found this odd, to say the least, since both he and I are farther to the left personally than my paper is.

My only answer to that was "Fuck balance. When the dailies and broadcast are balanced, then there's no need for us. We are in fact the 'equal time' that the mainstream NEVER gives our viewpoint."

It hit me shortly after I said it that roughly the same phrase used to be Rush Limbaugh's rationalization for his thoroughly extremist broadcasts - that the media was so "liberal" dominated (laughable, I know) that he was equal time, and was under no obligation to give voice to opposing views except to skewer them.

All this got me thinking - the left-enough Salon.com employs (employed?) Andrew Sullivan, The Nation runs essays by right-wingers every so often, I could go on and on with examples of this, but there are no examples of the right's utterly dominant media giving voice to a leftist analyst (unless he or she's outnumbered on the panel by a factor of at least two or three - the Mike Malloy ambush by John Kasich and that horrible, horrible fucker Hugh Hughley comes to mind).

So why do we bother? We're never going to be treated properly by these people, only abused. Why does what little that exists of our media feel the need for this outreach to the viewpoint that not only dominates, but that actively hates, mocks and abuses us?

We need to reclaim the "equal time" meme, starting right now. Michael Moore's spectacular success with F911 gives us a fabulous window of opportunity to do so.

[quinnox]

1. Woo hoo, I agree!

It's time for the Democratic point of view for once widely dissemiated, Rush and Hannity and the rest have had the airwaves 24/7. Time for a different point of view flooding the country.

[asthmaticeog]

4. Good point.

They've had almost 3 years of disseminating their side of the 9/11 story 24/7/365 exclusively - in every paper, on every channel. How DARE they get so bent out of shape when our side of the story gets a 2-hour movie? 2 hours compared to three years. The hubris is disgusting.

It also prompts the question: if mainstream media is the beacon of objectivity to which Moore is supposed to aspire, how come nobody knew the information he presented? Both times I saw it, there were some folks who you could tell were lefties by looking, sure, but most of the packed house looked like middle-america to me. I heard plenty of gasping, and more than a few "holy shit"s. The right wing media needs to be disciplined, but HARD. This moment created by F911 is our "in." I pray we don't blow it.

[quinnox]

6. I fully agree n/t

[bklyncowgirl]

2. Is Limbaugh one sided, Is Hannity one sided?

Qustion: What do you call people who can dish it out but can't take it?

Answer: Conservatives

[ronabop]

3. Equal time...

For equal dissent?

"Up next, two perspectives: is the world flat, or not?"

"Coming soon, a man who thinks that god made the world 6,000 years ago, and a junior scientist with a bad microphone."

"Next debate: Is Bush a divine prophet of god, or not?"

Equal time should be awarded for equally valid perspectives, "Equal time" is basically a rally cry for allowing the insane, bizarre, and incoherent a voice.

Note that this works both ways, depending on who is offering the time. Creationsists often offer "ambush" time to scientists, so they can offer up a presentation of being "Fair and Balanced".

-Bop

[matcom]

5. the assertions are 100% CORRECT!

and the proper response to the 'assertion' is that we have had only one side from our media for the last 3 years. its bout damned time we GOT the other side!

[Mnemosyne]

7. Was watching disney news for lies last nite and they

showed shrub with beautiful background "speaking" in Turkey, with NO mention of 1000's of protester's or teargas being used.

Happy Happy Joy Joy!!!

[UTUSN]

8. It's HIS Creation, HIS Point of View----NO Balance Needed

He made no pretense of "fairness, balance." He's presenting HIS view of things (despite being TRUE). It's ridiculous-------and FUTILE, btw------that wingnuts DEMAND he present another "side". What would THAT be like, "I said to myself, 'Self...' "? This is the emptiest of sour grapes. Haven't the wingnuts said about Faux that "objectivity" doesn't exist anyway, that it's O.K. for Faux to be wingnut so long as it's up front about its p.o.v.? Eff them, and that's that. Yesterday, HANNITY's substitutes were pushing "Spiderman 2" as a way to reduce F 9/11's numbers. Hahaha.

[bullimiami]

9. The other side of the truth is LIES.

Is that balance?

Is the news media supposed to be balanced or objective?

I propose one new law and one new amendment.

LAW. If you are broadcasting or writing NEWS you must indicate it is news and lying is forbidden. If you are found about NEWS lying you lose your credentials.
If it is not NEWS it is opinion or entertainment and would be indicated as such.

AMENDMENT. If a public figure lies. They are fired. Period. They are required to tell the truth. Otherwise they can decline to comment.

[wadestock]

10. Yes of course you're right but here's the rub....

To do what we do takes thinking....and thinking hurts a lot of people....literally.

I see the pained expression so often on my wife's face....she knows I know a topic is relevant and I want to talk about it....but it often pains her to "hear the truth".

Limbaugh and Hannity have people sitting by their radios...but 99% aren't really listening....and in fact the vast majority that have contributed to the ratings probably only SAY they listen. Try some time asking a ditto head what was on the program.....they might have it on but they're most of the time spaced out.

Shows like that are popular today because it is increasingly difficult for us to face the truth....it really does hurt....mentally.

So what they've actually succeeded in doing is finding a way to placate our ever bruised mental state.....

I'm with you...I'm digging this stuff more and more each day....but the majority of the people want to hear a drone in the background that tells them that things are really OK, you might hit it big someday if you keep on working hard....and just keep your morals in place the way we tell you. It's quite a nice bunch of crap that works well with prosac for the ever increasing brain dead in this country.

Did you ever see the movie THEY LIVE?

[asthmaticeog]

11. Ha! They Live...

One could make the case that the left's current situation is not unlike that ridiculousl scene that seems to go on forever where the two guys fight over whether or not one of them should put on the sunglasses.

On edit: 900th post!