Arianna Can Kiss My Ass...

[lala_rawraw]

I just sat through what appeared in all manner to be a passionate plea from Ms. H on reclaiming the media and focusing all eyes on Iraq, holding those accountable at the highest levels, etc. Yes, all sentiments I agree with.

Arianna spoke brilliantly to raging applause about the failing of the MSM and how she/they at The Huffington Post would not bury stories on page 8, for example. They would keep news on the front page she chirped and bellowed.

It sounds lovely and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, as though I had a million + budget to dance with.

But there are a couple of problems nagging my small brain overfilled with the ability to reason and question. Let me rant about them here in a nicely organized and numbered list:

1). News that Pays: Take a moment to peruse the "news" links on Ms. Huff and Puff's blog. Notice anything glaring? Notice anything missing? Can you spot Waldo? The links for news sources on Ms. Huff and Puff's blog are all MSM. There is not a single alternative, indie press, or citizen journalist news site listed. Yes, I know she lists blogs (not forums with 70k+ people, but blogs yes).

Side note:
You all know my deep regard for the blog world and you also know that I believe that the blogs are the voice of the people and as such should not be forced to work within controls/censorships that might hinder that voice. If you want to torture yourselves on my views on this topic, feel free to read via the link below. I won't bore you here with my full discussion on it here. http://radiofreeblogistan.com/2005/02/21/the_big_e_ethics_bloggers_and_independent_media.html

Back to Huffer:
The point is, there are no alternative news sources or indie journalists listed in the links section. Now how does that equation make sense given her comments?

2). Huff's Bloggers: with the exception of a few, important and honest voices (Conyers for one), Huff's bloggers are generally MSM and Right Wing (yes, the fair and balanced something or other mantra). Since when has Joe S, of MSNBC country, needed yet another outlet to posit his dubious ravings? Does he not have a TV show and a blog front and center already? And what, other than the fame game, qualifies Joe to muse as though he were in expert in anything other than interns? No really, someone please do tell.

There are, as I have said, some (tiny handful) of exceptional voices that are blogging at the Huff and Stuff. The rest is a collective, a marriage of MSM and Right Wing all-stars lined up to sell the product, nothing more.

3). MSM influenced: How much coverage does Deep Throat need? Check the latest Huffer blogs and tell me that the Darfur blog should not be the entire front page? Ms. H made a passionate plea during her talk saying "send me your photos, your tips..." your poor even and we will post them on the front page, not bury these stories like the MSM on page 8. Pardon me, but the MSM has buried everything in order to crawl down the deep throat saga completely. Why is the Downing memo (discussing minutes...I know the difference) story not front and center? In other words, how is this unlike the MSM she scolds?

Pardon me but I don't like hypocrites and I like hypocrites for money even less.

4). The Standard: devaluing of indie journalists and publications is what will finally collapse our souls in the end. The MSM is not reporting and the right is spinning. In between there are those on the front lines, with little pay and/or credit, used as needed, and discarded for something giving off more sparkle.

It is not that journalists are failing their duty to the people, it is that the people are failing their duty to journalists. We can all scream and rant about the lack of reporting and such. The truth is, there is plenty of reporting, which is why you have as much as you do to work with. Most of that reporting is coming from people who are largely ignored by the left and smeared by the right.

The MSM is not the problem, although it is a large portion of it. What I see as a real problem is the lack of support for those very people needed and who are dwindling in numbers either through frustration or through starvation. Ideals do not pay bills. But it seems the pretense of ideals, such as the Huff Post, is just the right mix to equal more lip gloss and candy canes for the all-star line up.

I watched her today and realized that she, among others, is who speaks for reform, taking back America, etc. This is who was applauded with such fervor? I actually once admired her and her work. I did less so when I heard she was taking one of the "blue dress" cultists on to her staff. At this point, I find little value in her bling-word and shiny thoughts. Is this who speaks for taking back America, for media reform?

Tell me, please, because I am frankly at a loss here. Is there no care for those doing actual reporting at all?

If there is, then why is no one addressing the dolled up version of integrity via the grassroots voice? Why is no one blasting away at the MSM (and their smaller versions of MSM light) while ALSO supporting the alternative press? It is one thing to bash the cowardly and dishonest, but it must be coupled with the praising of those that we might and should call heroes or at the very least, those we might call journalists.

Rant over.

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Warpy]

3. A little harsh, don't you think?

I'd think "Goldwater conservative, but rejected the cult of personality and occasionally gets it right."

[lala_rawraw]

10. darn, I missed whatever this msg was:(

[Pacifist Patriot]

40. I always miss them.

[ewagner]

2. Good rant

I agree with a large portion of your rant....

at this point, if Ms Huff gives us even another inch of column space that we wouldn't have normally gotten, I'll consider it a plus....

[Cha]

4. Please send this very

valuble "rant" to ms huffington. Hopefully she'll appreciate it as much as I did.

[lala_rawraw]

6. Wow, you guys read this quickly... I just posted it...

Super readers... you shall all have capes.

[Roxy66]

5. So, her work is just a waist of time? Geez, give me a break!

I am glad to see anything that brings in a conversation about the problems occuring in this counrty of ours.

[lala_rawraw]

8. break given and thanks for comment n/t

[Helga Scow Stern]

7. I lost respect for her as a truth teller when she said not a word

about the stolen election of 2004.

On edit. But I DO appreciate her new website.

[lala_rawraw]

9. Because there is not enough deep throat coverage?

Or because there is that tiny blog Darfur, only visible via a magnifying glass?

Thanks for commenting on rant... must step back from pooter as I am still a font danger to myself, lol:D

[Just Me]

11. I would like to see folks expand their circles a bit more,...

,...expand their networking boxes. The failure to do so leaves our country stuck in the status quo that's hurting us.

I believe she is well-intended but fails to take any significant steps out of safe territory.

[paineinthearse]

12. .

:grr:

[lala_rawraw]

16. nooooo, not the red face woman...

Not that, anything but that...hehehe:D

Always on the same page we are, says Yoda

[paineinthearse]

30. I'm formulating my thoughts

The red face is my empathy.

[lala_rawraw]

32. i know silly...

I want that entire page to list Darfur, Memogate, and Torture. Everything else is of limited use right now and given ample time on the TV and other outlets.

Oh, DU is missing too... why is that?

[bryant69]

13. The potential value of the Huffington Post

It could be good if some of the more progressive voices got a chance to actually debate the right wing. Right now more and more our national debate is pathetic - people shouting past each other to get the base riled up.

So by creating a place where people can engage each other, it could end up being very good - but odds are that isn't the way it will go.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[lala_rawraw]

18. Right... I did

Write her on this a little while back. I said this very same thing. Bling baby bling is what integrity goes for these days.

What is politicalc? your place or no?

[Coexist]

14. you give voice some very important concerns

I hope the Huffington Post does a serious review of their front page issues. You are right about Scarborough - do we really need more of him in this world? He is defiantly more of the problem that the solution.

The independent media is usually first to break political stories - and should be treated as more than free leg-work for the MSM. Keep up the good work!

[lala_rawraw]

17. Well I did write her about this a little while

Back and expressed my concerns. So it seems to me that she is quite aware.

[leveymg]

15. A+. You're right, there is something manufactured about Arianna

and she has strayed far into the Right, particularly during her last marriage. She was a mouthpiece for immigration restriction a few years ago - something that I think is almost treacherous in her case, as she is herself an immigrant, and should know better.

She's attractive, smart and articulate. I agree with a lot of what she has to say, recently. But,I don't trust her. I have the same feelings about Hillary, who is also a convert from the Republican Right.

Both of them are being obviously groomed to take over the "Center-Left" and the "Left." Don't trust those groomers and triangulators at all.:bounce:

[SoCalDem]

50. Arianna is a shrewd cookie..

She had to have known that her husband was gay/bi, yet she stayed with him because he was an "acceptable" man for her purposes.. He was nice looking, and had lots of MONEY.. When he came out, she saw HER star dimming, so she switched sides, where the 'conversation' would be about her political conversion, rather than the fact that she lived a sham marriage for many years...for financial accoutrement.

She's attractive, articulate, and has a sense of humor...and she knows how to use those attributes to her advantage..

In short..Arianna is a user.. Users do actually benefit others from time to time, but they are always in it for themselves..first and foremost.

We have not seen the last incarnation of Arianna.

[sellitman]

19. I think you need to stay off the caffeine.

You made a few good points but you come on and off too strong. We have to stop eating our own if we are ever to overcome the organized and UNITED right wing. Your post was harsh and a little self serving.

Just my

.02

[lala_rawraw]

21. Well I have been trying to bite my tongue on this for some time...

I wrote privately to Huff even, no response of course. At some point, outrage is just what it is and must be expressed. Polite dancing in this instance has already taken place behind the scenes. In any case, all rants are self-serving, are they not, by their very nature? I appreciate the critique, I don't appreciate the judgment call.

Noted, however.

[sellitman]

29. Biting your tongue is not fun...

But biting the hand that feeds is never worthwhile.


Peace!

[lala_rawraw]

31. pardon... what hand is feeding me, just so I know who to thank?

[sellitman]

37. Liberal writers are rare...

Nothing wrong with constructive criticism but lets not



throw this fella out with the bathwater.

[lala_rawraw]

51. what liberal writers do we have... and I don't mean

Liberal in that they are pundits. I do not define progressive journalism in those terms. For me it is an entire strcutre that does not absolve any particular party from anything... but who am I throwing out with the bath water?

[sellitman]

54. Whether you like the links on her blog or not..

Arrianna is on our side now. That's all I was saying. There are obviously differing opinions as to who is more Liberal and who is more moderate but that being said she ain't the enemy.

This is the evil one. You can tell by his ring.....

[lala_rawraw]

58. Uh no, I am reacting

To her statements about MSM which she made on TV today and I am reacting to how those comments do not match the reality of her product. Now she could left of center or center of left, the point is, she is paying lip service to the audience who should take a closer look at her site.

I don't think her the enemy, whatever tht means. I simply think she can kiss my ass.

[guruoo]

24. Ditto that, sellit

Leave the circular firing squad thing to the freepers.

[merh]

20. Nominated and will send a copy of the link

to this article/rant to Ms. Huffington!

Now where's that address. :freak:

[lala_rawraw]

23. I don't know if it needs to be sent...

I am just happy to finally vent, given the amount of tongue biting I have done. But thank youuuuuuuuuuuu:D

[merh]

25. Sure couldn't hurt to send it to her.

She needs to understand that it is vital she recognizes all forms of the media and all bloggers.

:hug: I hope you are feeling bettter. Take care of yourself please. :pals:

[lala_rawraw]

27. Well I sent her a letter... not sure

Another lett would make her see it any differently. It would be nice if it did.

I am sort of, bad and good days. You know the drill:) Thanks for asking.

[thebigidea]

22. so what newspapers, wires, or networks would you link to?

[lala_rawraw]

26. Okay the short list?

Here are some (just threw all together, not seperating per genre, such as newspaper vs. online only and such):

Alternet
Village Voice
Free Times
Harpers
Mother Jones
Vanity Fair
Atlantic Monthly
Raw Story
Common Dreams

... any of these okay with you?

[lala_rawraw]

28. Oh silly me, I left out the whole TV category...

What, no John Stewart either? No KO?

[Turn CO Blue]

49. OT- Jon Stewart, not "John" thx n/t

[lala_rawraw]

52. I know, I saw after but was too lazy to correct... in any case

and in any spelling, he is not listed.

[WilliamPitt]

35. Ignore my post below

TO runs that stuff all the time. Never mind.

[janx]

36. Excellent choices, lala.

I could not have done better myself. And good for you for posting on Huffington's blog.

Often the problem is that people (including Ms. Huffington) don't know the indies are out there or haven't even considered media like Harper's or Atlantic.

Have you forwarded these to her blog as well?

Remember, she was ASKING exactly for this kind of thing today. Send her your work! Let's cut her some slack for now and see what she does with your suggestions. We might be pleasantly surprised.

[sweetheart]

33. what do you expect

Her blog and her life are all about MSM.. its a blog for the famous
and that itself involves endemic elitism and part-acceptance of a way
of life that fosters media-fame.

Hopefully, she'll de-bunk some MSM stories and get more focus to online
strengths.

It sounds like you want her website to be like DU... and DU is already
here! We are better writers than Ariana and we deal with all sorts
of stories, mainstream and sell journalized. Rather than bitch about
something that was obvious from the getgo, you could use that writing
talent to make some more passionate cases here on DU.

The democratic party, suffers for an information gap. It does not
communicate with its grassroots its concerns, the feelings in the
trenches and the sense of inclusiveness it needs to keep and gather
more persons engaged in defeating this criminal bush mess.

Your skills at writing are so necessary in that area, and ariana is just
window dressing and a bunch of me-too bloggers who are new on the block
BECAUSE OF PERSONS LIKE US, writing on DU have moved the world, and they're
yet to prove they are in the same league.

We are better writers, and better speakers for the people. What
could you expect from a culture of MSM-fame?

[WilliamPitt]

34. No flames, but

I will give you the truthout perspective. You won't see much of any of the alt-media on TO, either. 99% of our reprints are MSM. Our trick, and our hard job, was to cull the good and important stuff from the MSM. It's there, you just have to look for it.

[Hugin]

39. Questions for ya...

Why must all "news" originate in the MSM? Don't they
get it from somewhere?

What happened to first person reporting and investigation?

These questions have been in my mind lately.

[WilliamPitt]

42. Well

Because the MSM has thousands and thousands of people who get paid to do it. They have cameras and printing presses and ink by the barrel.

[bpilgrim]

44. hey, but thats CHEATING!!!

:evilgrin:

peace

[Hugin]

46. Understood...

What I'm trying to think through is the Self-Accreditation
methods of the RWers.

It's their channel of communication to pick up a talking point
from some unknown and in many cases a down right fictitious source.

That point is passed on to some accredited source. Drudge for
instance. The MSM feels free to pick it up and spread it from
there.

The Dems need an originator or maybe we need to start using
someone as one.

[Pacifist Patriot]

41. You have a good point.

Sometimes it's not so much a matter of silence as looking for a needle in a haystack of infotainment.

[Cleita]

38. I've always kept Arianna at arms length even after her

epiphany. I know she was used as a tool by the neo-cons during the Ken Starr investigation and subsequent impeachment of Clinton. My God she was on every TV talk show, even with Ann Coulter, clucking in agreement. Once she fulfilled her role, the GOP left her behind. Remember the pathetic little shadow Republican convention she ran in 2000 because she had been left out of the real one? I think she realized that she had been used and that eventually fueled her epiphany. (You just promised to marry me Jethro to get into my pants and now you tell me you are already married?)

What remains though is still a conservative journalist. It's just that the neo-cons have become so Christo-fascist that Arianna sounds like a liberal. I like her writing style. I guess I admire anyone who can write well and speak well in a language second to your native one especially utilizing the subtleties of metaphors, similies, etc. as a native would. Not everyone can accomplish that.

Actually, the princess has escaped from the palace and is happy to mingle with the peasants for now until her father, the King, gets rid of that mean stepmother once and for all. But once things get back to normal and conservatives don't have to seek shelter under the tent of the liberals, I think you will see her returning to her conservative roots.

[bpilgrim]

43. she's an INSIDER, hello...

whadaya expect :shrug:

she is preaching to HER choir in a way that is EFFECTIVE for that audience, chill, shes on OUR side in OUR fight AGAINST the neoCONs.

:hi:

peace

[oasis]

45. Huffington is playing it straight down the middle. Folks holding right

wing views will hopefully wander over to a more progressive ideology when everything is laid out on her buffet table.

[SmokingJacket]

47. You have a point.

At first I was very much put off by her website. Famous people blogging? I mean, I like Julia Louis-Dreyfuss even more than most people, but I don't give two hoots what she has to say about politics. I felt like Huffington should be using her megabucks to support real journalists.

But... she has put a few pretty good things up there, and now I see that the internet is big, very very big, and there's room for StarBloggers as well as everyone else. If a liberal point of view is presented with a giant dollop of polish and starpower... well, maybe it'll attract a few lost souls. Whatever. I won't be stopping by unless someone points me there -- not my cuppa tea.

You're seeing it as taking away from the alternative press; maybe it's just adding to it? I don't know, frankly. Is she going to do a Bev thing, co-opt the movement and drive it into the ground? I think it's too big for that, way bigger than Arriana Huffington. You guys have the real stuff.

I anticipate Huffington taking another swerve to the right one day... what's to stop her? But until then, I hope she does what she can for our cause.

[EFerrari]

48. Well said, lala.

I don't know where we'd be without the indy media. Yes I do. Completely f%cked.

[KelleyKramer]

53. Same goes for indie book publishers ...

This was brought up a couple months ago on some blogs.. one of the strongest areas of the Progressive movement is major best-selling books.

But almost all the top book writers on the left use the big publishing companies, so the same MSM corps (Time/Warner, Murdock, etc) end up making a ton of money off the Left.

Why dont the top writers from our side use more independent book publishers? Many of these are pretty much guaranteed best-sellers and it would foster more books from the indie publishers.

[dxstone]

55. EXCELLENT POINT, Kelley!

MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY!
Whatever happened to INTEGRITY?
d

[KelleyKramer]

59. We should funnel that money to places that will help us

There are a LOT of progressive best-selling books, why should our authors allow a large chunk of those profits to go right back into the hands of what is basically the enemy?

I have heard the argument that the big publishing houses can give a bigger up-front bonus and this helps the author.

But a lot of the top writers, like Franken, Michael Moore, Carville, etc etc ... they are already rich and dont depend on a signing bonus like some of the 2nd tier (and lower) authors might need.

Why dont these big writers support indie publishers?

[sendero]

62. I don't know that much about ..

... the book business, but I suspect that this has everything to do with distribution.

You think those indie publishers can get those books on the shelves of the major retailers with ease? I doubt it.

[lala_rawraw]

66. or funnel

At least some much needed respect, no?

[KelleyKramer]

67. In the case of news, yes I agree, but with the books ...

Yes, I agree the likes of Huff should at the least pay respect to independent news, and also as you say in so many words.. put their money where their mouth is.

You'll also notice that Huff is using an alternative news format, a blog, but just as you say will not support (or link) to the same kind of alternative sources.

I was kind of piling on, the book biz is a more stable source of revenue and especially with the big authors..

respect is not enough, they are in a position to deliver a huge financial boost to indie publishing houses.. and each best seller not only takes away from the enemy and supports the indies, it also delivers more leverage for more authors to get coverage and spread the word.

[river2]

56. Huff is rich dilletante

I'm so sick of the so called 'new left'.

[dxstone]

57. I'm with you, lala! We don't need any more jello warriors!

She's too rich and phony and inside and Reep-apologizing and fascist-forgiving and really-only-slightly-left-leaning for me...
Never understood why Bill Maher seemed so enamored of her...
These details you've laid out are extremely telling, if you ask me...
Sadly, I fear that all in all she's just another brick in the wall...
d

ps: Sure, I'll keep an open mind... but I ain't holdin' my breath on her...

pss:
DON'T EAT THE BROWN ACID!



IT'S FOR THE PRETZELDENT!

(edited to appease an obnoxious obsessive-compulsive urge of no real significance)

more sour grapes of wrath at
http://presidentevilonline.com

[siliconefreak]

60. The Pathetic Wing of the Democratic Party

For all of you who dismiss everything Arianna has to say, I pity you. Give me a break! Can't you accept that maybe she really has changed over the years?

We can use all of the help we can get right now, and I'm glad she's speaking out against the failures of the Bush Administration.

I think there are many here who are equivalents of the intolerant right - except that you're on the left. There will never be anyone (in your opinion) who is honest enough, liberal enough, and apologetic enough for you to accept.

Thank goodness I don't share your illness.

Okay, you can go back to bashing all of the Democrats now.

[sendero]

61. Like Ms Huffington or not..

.... she can make a point in a couple of paragraphs.

A talent you are sadly lacking.

[lala_rawraw]

64. Nice to know. Thanks for comment

[Zen Democrat]

63. I read a Paul Krassner blog on huffingtonpost yesterday.

If there's anybody out there definitely not MSM, it's Krassner.

[lala_rawraw]

65. But the links or even a few more

NON JOE S bloggers, that would be good, no? I mean not even the Village Voice?