Do yourself a favor, don't watch the news right now.

[asdjrocky]

Just believe our President. Believe in the words of the highest authority in the land, the President of the United States.

Public option. I heard him say it. You heard him say it. We all heard him say it. Now all the pundits will come out and tell us he really didn't mean it.

I'm going to believe my President.

Turn off the news, it will only piss you off.

[Cleita]

1. I'm not believing anything they say right now until after President Obama's speech on

Wednesday. These media people are spinning themselves out of control. I wish there was a way to make them STFU.

[asdjrocky]

5. I figured out how to do it for myself at least.

I used the remote control.

[Cleita]

29. Me too. I limit my broadcast news to BBC, Democracy Now! Al Jazeera, America.

Yes, I watch Al Jazeera to get the news about the ME, that our media is ignoring. I also watch MSNBCs three shows with a so called "liberal" bias (meaning the truth) on The Ed Show, Countdown With Keith Olbermann and The Rachel Maddow Show. Sometimes I watch Sixty Minutes, like I did last night. It was informative. I listen to a lot of Air America Radio too. So I don't pollute my beautiful mind with the other media whores. Other than that I use the internet for more news, much of it posted here at DU that points me in a direction for reading today.

[asdjrocky]

37. I don't get Al Jazeera here, or even Democracy Now.

I have to watch Amy on line. And yeah, I'm not much of an Ed guy, though I agree with his views, but I almost always watch Rachel and Keith.

And DU, let's face it, it's through dialog with folks like you that I get a lot of my news.

[Turborama]

48. You can watch Al Jazeera English and BBC World 24/7 for free online (links)

Download the player to view this channel at a higher quality. The English language news and current affairs channel of Al Jazeera provides a unique perspective on news from the Middle East and around the world: http://www.livestation.com/channels/3

Offering global news highlights and headlines 24 hours a day, BBC World News is the global news and current affairs channel from the BBC: http://www.livestation.com/channels/10-bbc_world_news_english

Thanks for the great OP!!

K & R!

[asdjrocky]

53. Cool! Thanks so much. nt

[gateley]

9. I won't believe anything until a bill is introduced and voted on, but I'm

really eager for Wednesday night, too. :hi:

[asdjrocky]

55. I'm eager too.

And I'm more hopeful than I was before the speech.

[Cleita]

63. Amen.

However, I don't think I could handle disappointment again. *sigh*

[hlthe2b]

2. the damned talking heads (led by "Mr. Peter Principle" himself,

Chuck Todd), just blew dark smoke all over my emerging glint of sunshine. I echo your admonishment.

[asdjrocky]

7. David Corin from Mother Jones came on-

Two or three words out of his mouth, I dove for my remote, turned off the TV, and wrote this post. I still feel really good.

Obama is my man.

[jenmito]

12. He had the nerve to say Obama didn't say "public option" with the same intensity he said other

things in his speeech. :eyes:

[asdjrocky]

16. Noticed how he started in on body language?

I mean, fucking body language?

[Cirque du So-What]

21. Did he ever comment on *'s 'body language?'

Twitching, blinking, stuttering fuck!

[jenmito]

26. Oh, yeah. He DID go on about his BODY LANGUAGE!

Jeez-desperate to MAKE negative news?!

[gateley]

8. Bwah! Mr. Peter Principle" -- too funny! Right on, though. nt

[Greenpeach]

18. He always does that.

Sorry, but I fucking hate him!

[Aramchek]

22. they get paid alot to do exactly that

fuck 'em

[asdjrocky]

27. I shouldn't even ask this...

But I have to. How long did it take before Chukie called it a "campaign event"?

[Old Studentka]

57. Still searching,,,,,

...for his testicles after the Bill Maher appearance!

[Cha]

3. That's always good advice

especially after the President speaks.

[lala_rawraw]

4. that is absurd...

no matter who the POTUS is, blind faith is not ever the option

[asdjrocky]

10. Choosing to believe someone is not blind faith.

What a stupid thing to say. I chose to believe someone, if it turns out my choice is a mistake, I chose something else.

Sell your BS down the street.

[tularetom]

11. It's not blind faith if I decide for myself whether I agree with him or not

But I don't want my perceptions of what he said filtered through the distorted lens of Chucky Fuckin Toadd.

[asdjrocky]

13. You said it right.

[fadedrose]

6. Ya hear that, Mr. President???? Turn off the news....nt

[asdjrocky]

17. And you said that right Rose!

[eleny]

14. Chuck Todd was talking like he watched a different speech

I don't know exactly what Obama is proposing Wednesday night. But I'm still open to just waiting for him to say it. Meantime, I liked his emotion of today.

And Chuck Todd is still an idiot.

[asdjrocky]

31. Exactly.

I'm going to enjoy these next 48 hours or so. I chose to believe today. I'm not saying that we won't be disappointed, it could happen, but I'm not going to be influenced by the news.

[slackmaster]

15. TeeVee is banned from my Labor Day

I recommend it.

[Stardust]

19. I was an avowed news junkie until Wednesday last week. Quit cold turkey. nt

[asdjrocky]

25. Not even Cspan?

See, I think I could do it, but I'm not sure if I could give up Cspan.

[Stardust]

33. OK, I'll give you Cspan. :^)

[CoffinEd]

20. Yep!!!

One of my buddies call it the "but" factor. Example, Obama gave a fiery and inspirational speech about healthcare reform today, but...

I'm sure some of us have heard this during performance reviews. You worked your ass off all year and did exactly what we asked of you, but...

Same reason why I tune out food and film critics.

[asdjrocky]

23. Dude!

Wicked good point! The "but factor." I really like that. Total big welcome to DU :hi:!

[CoffinEd]

32. Thanks!

I've been around for a while, mostly as a reader, but (smile) thanks for the welcome anyway.

[freddie mertz]

24. "Believe in the words of the highest authority in the land?"

Where to start?

The president is a human being, an elected representative of the people.

He is not God and he is NOT the pope, and I don't believe the pope is infallible either.

I think that as a former professor, Mr Obama would tell you, as I am about to, that the best thing is to learn to THINK FOR YOURSELF.

Or as the Bard put it, "Don't follow leaders, and watch your pawkin' meters..."





:patriot:

[asdjrocky]

34. Thank you so much for the enlightenment.

Gee, before you came along I was lost and afraid.

Listen, I chose to believe the President today, and on matters of government policy I chose to see the President as just what I said he is, an authority. I'm pretty sure there are a lot of Catholics who believe, in fact, the pope is the highest authority. Just as there are a lot of people who believe that job goes to God. That is great for Catholics or people who believe in God, telling them what to believe is not my fucking job. Just as it's not your job to tell me, a person who can clearly see and hear and read and reason for himself, what I should believe.

That would be... oh what's the word, authoritarian.

I believe in the United States. I believe government can work for the People. I believe that is what our President has in mind. And I believe we need to question authority, always.

Get a life. The reason I'm not watching the news? People like you.

Be gone with your condescending attitude.

[freddie mertz]

39. Wow. I guess "Just believe in this highest authority"

MIGHT be someone's idea of a "free-thinking" dictum.

But it's not what comes to mind while reading it.

[asdjrocky]

45. Well okay then. I can't really control what "comes to mind" for you.

[freddie mertz]

49. Actually you can, by choosing words and writing well...

I think I got the gist of the message:

My version:

"Block your ears, your eyes, and close your mind to all distractions and JUST BELIEVE in the authority of the president."

That;s what you meant, right?

[asdjrocky]

52. Well, thanks for the tips. Have a nice day.

[freddie mertz]

54. You betcha.

Meanwhile, every other progressive forum on the net seems to be able to handle a wide range of views on this topic without a handful of self-appointed thought-police freaking out all over the place.

What is the problem here this week?

[asdjrocky]

60. Are you still here?

Let's say bye now, okay. You go first.

[freddie mertz]

64. You betcha.

Boy ,it's great getting to know all these nice people at a Democratic site.

[asdjrocky]

65. You started it buddy.

Don't go away with your feelings hurt, just go away.

[freddie mertz]

66. So Sorry please.

But I did not sign an agreement to take orders from you when I signed on.

And as long as I try my best to follow the rules, I think I am free to stay as long as I like.

I believe they have a ting called the ignore button here.

My advice is that if you really find my musing that disturbing, you just put me on that list.

Cause I have as much right to post here as anyone, including you.

[AngryAmish]

28. Only "Saved By the Bell" reruns for all DU from now on

If we need facts or news, we can get it from asdjocky from now on.

[asdjrocky]

36. Your fly is open.

[freddie mertz]

50. The message is clear: There should be NO DISCUSSION or DEBATE

Give me an echo chamber, or give me death!

[LittleBlue]

30. DU is just getting weirder every day

Just bury our heads in the sand?

I don't think so. Verbally supporting the public option and vigorously pursuing it are two different things.

[asdjrocky]

41. I'm choosing to believe the President.

I know msm lies and spins. I didn't say stop getting information, I said turn off the news.

Who the hell said anything about burying my head in the sand? I swear, are you one of the people that watches speeches and then comments on them on the news?

See, because like they almost always do, you completely misrepresented what I was saying. I'm sure in retrospect you'll think about it and come around to see what I'm saying because I find it hard to believe you could be that narrow minded.

[Jennicut]

74. Not bury our heads in the sand but don't be manipulated by the media.

[AspenRose]

35. I would just stick with C-SPAN

There is a reason why the M$M is called an echo chamber and a noise machine.....

[asdjrocky]

43. For sure, I'm a total Cspan junkie.

I always say, why watch Moran Joe when we have Washington Journal?

[Fire1]

38. HEAR! HEAR!! n/t

[lunatica]

40. I pay attention to what Thom Hartman and Rachel Maddow say

I trust them because when they make a mistake they apologize for it quite openly and then correct themselves. Anyone who sincerely says they were wrong is someone who tells the truth and who specifically values the truth.

[Silver Gaia]

42. I'm with ya, man. Thanks for saying it.

I'm "sick and tied of being sick and tired"! Turn that shit OFF. We don't need them to tell us what we saw, what we heard. We KNOW.

Stay FIRED UP! READY TO GO!

[LWolf]

44. I don't watch the news anyway.

I read it. I can access news from a variety of sources, scan headlines, and read through an article to determine main points and validity in a fraction of the time it takes to listen to a bunch of bullshit from talking heads on the tv.

[treestar]

46. Done with pundits

They suck. They offer nothing. They confuse everything. They are useless. All of them, even those supposedly on the left.

[firedupdem]

47. I did! Cut it right off once the speech was done! Enough is enough

and I'm sick of their naysayer shit!

Firedup!

[asdjrocky]

51. Go get em!

[Hekate]

71. Ready to go!

:toast:

Hekate

[FrenchieCat]

56. All I had to do was hear the first 5 minutes......

and yes, it pissed me off.

[asdjrocky]

58. Yep.

You know no one here would accuse me of being an administration cheerleader, but this time I'm going to keep hope, and keep working unless my President tells me something else on Wednesday.

And I don't plan on letting pundits shade my thinking.

[left is right]

59. if we were smart and dedicated

we would not only turn it off now, we would leave it off for the rest of the day, tomorrow and all day Wednesday until Obama's speech. Before the repukes have the ability to respond (and you know it will be vitriolic) turn it off again. In fact, we would leave it off for a very long time.
I am really fond of TV but I gave up cable news along time ago. I feel so much smarter now that I rely on nothing but sites like DU for all of my news.

[Enrique]

61. unless they say Obama supports the public option

then they're ok. Even if it's Chuck Todd. Even if it's David Gregory. Even if it's Politico.

[asdjrocky]

62. Really?

Is that what you think I'm saying? Un-fucking-believable.

[freddie mertz]

67. Funny how that works, eh? nt

[asdjrocky]

70. You're like my nutsack, you're always with me.

[freddie mertz]

72. Boy Howdy!

[Nedsdag]

68. Unless it's sports or an occasional television show, I don't watch the news.

It's not worth me getting all hot and bothered over.

[Hekate]

69. I did exactly that after Olbermann, Robinson, & O'Donnell sat shiva over health care reform Thursday

I pretty much had a meltdown and had to come here to unload and be talked down.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=8624822

After that I walked away from the tv set. When even journalists I respect fall for the "failure is inevitable" meme, I have to quit. The president will speak his mind on Wednesday, and then we'll know something. The Congressional Democrats either will or won't get their shit together, and then we'll know something else. The House and Senate will vote, and then we'll have a bill.

Most of the rest is speculation, spin, and the MSM/Repubs doing voodoo to make the rest of us think that public option is a goner. Nuts to that.

Hekate

[harun]

73. There is nothing of benefit on the Corporate News.

[asdjrocky]

75. Thank you.

And for the record, I did not say don't be informed, I said turn off the news.

[kjackson227]

76. Yes, I agree, and it does piss me off because they give a voice...

to the 20% whackjob racists. Although I must admit that Jim Greer got his ass handed to him yesterday and this morning on CNN. I was rather surprised to say the least.

[GivePeaceAchance]

77. Exactly it's what I feel too, if it's on record those are the facts and we go from there.