Jonathan Alter, stop saying we can't be bitter. Don't say we need to be careful what we say.

[madfloridian]

I just heard you on Countdown, saying Americans need to be very careful about using the word bitter. Why?

Was that a warning, the kind we heard right about 9/11 from Ari Fleischer? Be careful what you say?

The last 8 years have made many Americans bitter. They have seen their country sold out and its infrastructure broken. We have seen uncounted Iraqis die because we invaded and sanctioned them for years.

We have seen 4000 plus of our brave military die. More maimed for life.

Bitter means severe grief or regret.

I am bitter over what Bush has done to this country.

Do not use that lecturing tone, Mr. Alterman. We have had enough of that already.

[Kitty Herder]

1. K&R

[islandmkl]

2. he always looks afraid...and now, afraid of the truth....

sad to be so smart and so scared...

[YDogg]

3. bitter barely begins to describe my feelings about bush and what he and his ilk have done

[spanone]

4. how about 'FUCKING OUTRAGED'

[islandmkl]

5. I predict the new 'Network' phrase for 2008 will be:

"I AM DAMN BITTER AND I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!"

get used to it MSM, RW a-holes, bittlary crew...

Bitter will strike a chord with the people who feel it...who happen to be those people you will never see on TV....

bitter may not be good, compared to all the positive emotions we could feel to ensure a calmer approach to life in general...

but bitter is REAL in America...wishing someone wouldn't have said it, saying the mere saying of it is a 'mistake'...reveals the ostrich approach many, within the dem party and especially the MSM and DC beltways 'true elites', view our society...

there is an old axiom: "Sitting on the fence is all fine and dandy till both sides start shooting."

Time for a change, America

[jbnow]

6. From their conversation Keith had clearly read the whole 5 paragraph

comment Obama had made and was referring to much of what was in that (being let down by government for 25 years, politicians of both parties making promises and so on).
I don't think Alter did. While Keith was talking about the context of his whole comment, Alter sounded like he thought Keith was talking about what Obama is saying now to explain that infamous out of context excerpt. It didn't sound like Alter knew it was in his original comment.
I think that's why the back and forth was a bit unbalanced and why Alter focused on the bitter part.

I think there are a lot of "analysts" and "journalists" who haven't bothered to look at it in context. Maybe they have been since it lessens the drama they just ignore it.

I don't understand the media...do they truly feel no responsibility to provide context...to feel free to provide only the inflammatory bits that misrepresent the whole? Like Wright. Can you even imagine being a journalist who gets attention and not feeling obliged to hear the whole sermons, to listen to others, to look into the man and the church? I mean present the "spicy" parts but also be sure you offer the whole picture. This isn't Entertainment tonight...this is coverage that could affect things of great importance.

I haven't watched Entertainment tonight actually, for all I know they are more responsible in what they present.

OK I am off subject but this media distortion really bothers me. It's one thing if they mock the orange juice or bowling or downing a shot. It's stupid coverage but the things happened, go at it.
But no matter who the candidate is, creating strong controversy through distortion is just seriously wrong and if they don't do something about it grass roots need to-or they have all the power and that could lead bad places.

[lutefisk]

7. The media distortion seems to mostly apply to Democrats

Bush has made outlandish statement after outlandish statement, yet the corporate media obediently waits for the WH to provide context and "what he meant to say".

I can only assume the corporate media will continue to give the same unequal treatment to McCain and whoever.