Ouch, Ouch, Ouch: UK Guardian: "The Obama administration doesn’t have the spine to pursue Murdoch."

[kpete]

UK Guardian: "If phone hacking had been perpetrated by a liberal news conglomerate, the company would be dead. But the Obama administration doesn’t have the spine to pursue Murdoch."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/jul/20/news-corp-phone-hacking
via:
http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/07/20/274585/uk-guardian-obama-if-news-corp-was-a-liberal-outfit/

[defendandprotect]

1. Agree -- we should be all over this --

[roguevalley]

91. he's evolving. He used to just reflect but now he's evolving.

If he weren't a fucking lawyer this would only be terrible. because he is its a stain on all of us, his cowardice and slavish devotion to the class he wants to be a part of obviously.

[joeybee12]

2. Isn't this awful? Why is it awful? Because they're right...nt

[ChairmanAgnostic]

8. Like that frenchman before them, it takes an outsider

to really see us for what we are.

Ever since 9/11 Americans have become spineless, including our pols. They are a perfect reflection of what and who we have become.

[Scurrilous]

48. The author is an American blogger. n/t

[BNJMN]

92. If he was an anchor on msnbc, he'd be looking for a new job. [nt]

[Jackpine Radical]

151. Tocqueville?

C'est vraie.

[dana_b]

3. "After all, Obama's typical approach is to insult

his allies while he cozies up to his enemies."

we aren't the only ones who see this.

[libmom74]

80. It depends on who his real allies and enemies are.

I'm increasingly thinking his true allies are all on the Right.

[dana_b]

85. good point! n/t

[ctwayne]

106. Murdoch Will Support Obama

Not only will the Obama administration not go after Murdoch, but Fox News and Murdoch will support Obama in 2012. Obama, as a proud Reagan Democrat, not only gives the Repubs most of what they want, but has the added advantage of dividing the Democrats. So Obama can cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid without the opposition that a Republican president would face.

[divvy]

109. Your analysis is right on the money.

I do NOT believe he is getting any money from Democrats at this point, and his campaign coffers are over-filling the brim.

[MissDeeds]

115. Good point

Where is the money coming from? I don't know of anyone who is going to contribute to his re-election campaign. It would be interesting to follow the money trail.

[lark]

156. The Obama we voted for has left the building

and re-entered in his true designer Repug suit. We are so totally screwed!

[SteveM]

158. I see your point, but I would add this:

The Obama I voted for was never a Leftist, progressive, liberal or anything to the left of DDE. He was all there was after my first two choices tubed it.

The Democratic Party has one major goal and has had this goal since the mid-70s: to assure corporate America it is no longer a threat.

Enabling this goal is complete disassociation with ANYTHING or ANYONE remotely to the left of Eisenhower. This may be hard for younger folks to see, but Obama, the Democratic Party, and MSM want NOTHING to do with the "Left." This is why you see almost NOTHING in the way of (dare I say it) ideologically-defining positions from Democratic elected officials; it's all "involving the stake-holders" to develop a "consensus" so a "win-win" (note the adjective has become a noun) will enable us to "move forward." No wonder this bloodless mumbo-jumbo can never start a movement or cause: they don't WANT anymore causes, lest the Democrats get bludgeoned once more by the GOPers. (and no wonder so many bureaucrats wring their hands over bullies in our schools, on the air and everywhere.) So, it's some mythical, hazy "third way" or "no labels."

My god! The hideousness of that "no labels" notion: It suggests nothing is there, nothing to hold onto, nothing to feel optimistic about except: "you know, like WOW! know what I mean? OMG! He's one of us, some how, some where, shopping....."

[ChiciB1]

172. Couldn't Agree MORE! It's Been Bad, It's Been Awful, All This Betrayal

but now it's like a knife in our backs! Perhaps we SHOULD all vote for ANONYMOUS! Really! I said I would hold my nose and "do" Obama, but I just don't know anymore!

I really don't know which is worse. I KNOW what I'm getting with Repukes, and even The Idiot didn't get the Big 3 cuts. But NOW, this person seems to be the one who WILL screw us and cut the Big 3!

I knew it was bad, but even I didn't think he would let it go so low!

I've just HAD IT! I so wish there was SOMEBODY ELSE!

[AllyCat]

178. Well ain't this the truth... You hit the nail on the head with this one I think

Unfortunately, you hit the nail on the head.

[lark]

155. Ding ding ding

You rang the bell on this. He's the trojan horse president, sent to destroy the Democrats and let the plutocracy take over for good. Hope we can live with serfdom, because that's the direction the PTB are driving us, with Obama's help and leadership.

It's so bad, I'm actually beginning to wonder if he would be one iota better than the Repugs? Crazy thought, yes, but where's the major differences?

:cry:

[StarburstClock]

4. or the spine to pursue torture, criminal banking system, perma-war, health care

They do have the greed necessary to propagandize and pass "austerity measures" and further impoverish the world.

[mod mom]

112. +1

[tblue]

145. He has plenty spine to go after Wikileaks, Manning, Anonymous, ACORN, Van Jones,

Shirley Sharrod. I'm done asking what's wrong with him. What's wrong with the Dems who still believe in him?!

[MedicalAdmin]

185. This. n/t

[Enthusiast]

146. "perma-war" is a good term. nt

[Cali_Democrat]

5. Painfully obvious. n/t

[MrTriumph]

6. Don't forget the Wall Street crooks that have been REWARDED for their crimes.

x

[Ichingcarpenter]

7. The Guardian is a left wing Paper that you should ignore

They only print stuff that attacks our party and leader.

Shame on you!!

Obama needs to go on Faux again
to give O'realy the viewership he deserves.

[drokhole]

9. Does Eric Holder have the guts to take a page out of Robert Kennedy's playbook?

"We were going for broke: their expense accounts and where they'd been and what they were doing. I picked up all their records and I told the FBI to interview them all - march into their offices the next day. We weren't going to go slowly, I said to have them done all over the country. All of them were hit with meetings the next morning by agents. All of them were subpoenaed for their personal records. All of them were subpoenaed for their company records."

- Robert Kennedy, recalling actions taken against Big Steel in response to the Steel Crisis of 1962 (some back story: http://www.maryferrell.org/wiki/index.php/JFK_and_Steel,_Bush_and_Oil)

From what I remember reading elsewhere, in addition to Big Steel caving and re-lowering their prices, they found a ton of stuff implicating steel execs which led to numerous fines and arrests.

[truedelphi]

36. In his real life, before his getting his post at Justice,

Holder defended death squad organizers. So I don't "hold" on to much "hope" regarding him.

But friends of mine are starting a "Draft Robert Kennedy Jr" campaign, and in that there is one serious, FDR, and of course, Kennedy-inspired gentleman I would be happy to vote for.

[earcandle]

101. And who do we hire to protect him?

[chervilant]

131. hmm....

On that note, I'm just waiting to see if Hoare died of a 'heart attack,' just like Big George Webley. Ironic, isn't it, that two of Murdoch's whistleblowers have met with untimely ends?

[lark]

157. Reminds me of the Iran Contra

and Bill Casey all of a sudden can't talk, is in the hospital, and then dies. Brought to an untimely end so he could NEVER reveal the traitorous actions of Reagan/Bush Sr.

[chervilant]

197. Not to mention

Ollie North. Remember him parading around in his uniform, spreading his mendacity far and wide?

[MedicalAdmin]

188. Ironic? It's predictable.

Rule number one - never board a small plane.

Rule number 2 - never drive in the same car twice.

Rule number 3 - never eat anything you don't randomly select from a random store and a random shelf at a random time.

Rule number 4 - kiss your ass goodbye.

[chervilant]

191. Durn

I was being mildly facetious when I used the term 'ironic' and I rather agree with your assessment.

[MedicalAdmin]

193. I keep thinking about sen. Paul wellstone.

If they can take out a senator...

JFK. ...

No one is safe.

[Enthusiast]

150. Really..............nt

[Enthusiast]

149. Guts?

The problem ain't guts. It ain't guts with Obama or Holder. Lack of guts is what they want you to think because the alternative is worse.

[Fearless]

10. Exactly. Like he won't fight for Americans on the debt ceiling, he won't fight...

for their best interest in this case. Or any case it seems. Bash your supporters cozy up with your enemies. Bow down to the rich and kiss their ring.

[chervilant]

132. More like

plant your lips solidly on their collective asses...

[Kingofalldems]

11. Hopefully a local prosecutor will get this going

[MedicalAdmin]

189. You mean like a certain former NY att. gen.? n/t

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

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

[MouseFitzgerald]

15. and it all makes sense

[nc4bo]

21. And you ain't just whistling Dixie.

Just damn.

[Lorien]

68. No kidding. Nothing surprises me anymore

when it comes to the DINO POTUS.

[Qutzupalotl]

23. No wonder his Justice Department is investigating the hacking in the U.S.

[KittyWampus]

65. What? Several new DU'ers don't know that Obama doesn't accept PAC money?

[russspeakeasy]

66. That is one of many things new DU'ers don't get.

They have a tendency to live and believe in the 08 campaign rhetoric.

[banned from Kos]

18. BFD! New York/NJ employees overwhelmingly support Dems

low/mid level donations mean NOTHING!

Tell me where Roger Ailes donated!

[Bluebear]

20. lol

[hifiguy]

22. Well that explains a few things

just like the big contributions from Goldman.

The fish rots from the head down.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ProSense]

25. Fox secretly loves Obama

They're on his payroll!!!

[Kingofalldems]

128. You don't seem to like Obama very much.

[banned from Kos]

13. And the Brits do? LMAO! The Brits are the most supine Western

Government in existence.

I will happily retract if they cuff a Murdoch - fat chance!

[Bluebear]

29. lol

[blank space]

74. Diego Garcia -

Enough Said.

[Bluebear]

194. Thank you.

[in_cog_ni_to]

14. That obvious, eh? They can see it all the way across the pond.

So freakin' sad. :(

I so admire the UK for doing what's right and investigating the Murdoch thugs. The Guardian is right. If this were a LIBERAL news conglomerate, the repukes would have sent out swat teams already and arrests would have been made and the Liberal Conglomerate's FCC license would be pulled.

[Scurrilous]

49. The author lives in Arizona. n/t

[in_cog_ni_to]

53. Aw shit.

Never Mind. :evilgrin:

[obxhead]

141. If it were a liberal conglomerate

This Dem admin would be heading the investigation with no holds barred.

[newfie11]

16. Sad but probably true! n/t

[Scurrilous]

17. He's worse than Hitler. n/t

[Ichingcarpenter]

30. thank you for your moral equivocation

of meaningless blather that enriches
DU's dialogue on the story.


Your input is always enjoyed
AND LOOKED AT.

[Dr Fate]

170. More like he's worse than FDR. Not even close.

n/t

[PurityOfEssence]

19. spine, schmine; it's a question of affiliation

Watch Rahm. Watch Obama. Come up with a coherent set of excuses for the general trend of corporate facilitation.

I'll be in the lounge.

[truedelphi]

37. I feel the same way, except I prefer the garden to the

Lounge. though possibly when the cold weather hits, we will meet.
Till then here's a friendly :toast:

[ProSense]

24. Don't worry, the

British have the "spine" to get him.


The premise of these articles are so idiotic: Insult the President into action.

"If News Corp was a liberal outfit, it would have been shredded by now"

<...>

You can bet that a George W Bush administration would respond with savage pleasure. It would use the situation like this to punish its political opponents. One would expect the same from any of the plausible Republican candidates for president in 2012. And Republicans in Congress would be frothing at the mouth to ensure that the company paid dearly for its transgressions.

Indeed, in this parallel universe, the executives of the media company might well have been hauled before courts, congressional committees and grand juries already. And Fox News would be leading the calls for termination of this imaginary company's broadcasting licenses, which surely would be in jeopardy.

The Obama administration doesn't seem terribly interested, despite news stories suggesting that an investigation has begun, and his party doesn't have anything like enough spine to force the issue. The Democrats stand for essentially nothing, as they've shown repeatedly in recent years. To be fair, moreover, Washington has other issues on its table – the debt ceiling, for example, which threatens to blow an even bigger hole in the struggling economy.

One partial caveat: if it turns out that News Corp employees hacked the voicemails of the families and/or victims of the 9/11 attacks, the company's American woes will surge. Even the Republicans who count Fox News as an essential ally in the war on liberalism would demand some kind of sanction.

<...>

Oh yeah, the President will find a spine if 9/11 families are victims. No doubt, the same goes for military families.

You see, the President doesn't give a shit about anyone else.

Moronic!

[FiveGoodMen]

27. Or the will.

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

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

[Ruby the Liberal]

42. Well done.

[nashville_brook]

47. omg...i think i love you.

:loveya:

[PufPuf23]

54. Sweet and accurate!

I lived/worked in Portland 1986-1992 (in the American Bank Building on Pioneer Square) and in Corvallis from 1994 to 2000 though home was N Coast, CA. Was educated at Cal and OSU and was a Fed and later was a contactor to the Feds and States in CA and OR and many US and European investment banks for work throughout the USA and Canada.

My Dad went to 8th grade and was a Roosevelt Democrat that only lived away from our hometown during WWII as an overaged volunteer.

What is accepted as reality even here at DU is pathetic.

[QC]

57. !

:rofl:

[Scurrilous]

76. The author is an American. n/t

[Uncle Joe]

31. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.

[Speck Tater]

32. K&R When is this president going to realize why we elected him in the first place?

A tough-talking Chicago politician who was going to bring a gun to a knife fight ends up bringing barbecue sauce to the cannibals.

[Ruby the Liberal]

43. Good analogy.

[Greybnk48]

33. True.

[Jakes Progress]

34. No spine. Probably. No interest. Assured.

We'll hear the same old line. "Let's look forward".

[peace frog]

35. "It's off the table"

"Nothing to see here, move along."

[Lorien]

73. Sadly so. Meanwhile, U.S. "Justice" rolls on:

http://www.care2.com/causes/mother-who-lost-son-in-hit-and-run-faces-longer-jail-term-than-driver.html

[Ruby the Liberal]

38. Ouch.

k&r

[Chimichurri]

39. sadly, they are correct about that.

[RainDog]

40. Liberals telling it like it is the world over

while democrats in the U.S. pretend they're liberals.

[A Simple Game]

121. Liberal Democrats are not that far fetched, I can remember when there used to be some.

I am kind of old though. I'm so old I can even remember liberal Republicans, and the actually called themselves that.

[SteveM]

159. I hear you. Hell, LBJ would be considered a Left Bank Maoist, now. nt

[LWolf]

179. +1

[Arkana]

41. Yeah, because what we want to do is start attacking people

for being mean to the President.

What's that first amendment to that "constitution"-type dealie again? Oh, right.

[madrchsod]

44. the guardian is one of the better newspapers in the world

from what i have noticed over the years is that they do report what is going on. they also tend not to choose sides.

holder and his merry band will look the other way unless the stench is just to hard to ignore

[RainDog]

52. it truly is. during the Dubya administration I got real news from them

and found out things that were happening in my own country months before they were even broached here - and when they were mentioned the issues were always watered down so that conservatives would not look like the pigs that they are.

that includes Pat Tillman's death, Jessica Lynch's rescue, no WMD evidence... anything, basically, that had to do with propaganda related to the Bush administration's illegal war.

[KoKo]

70. yep...remember when there was report they were coming to America..?

Something happened then...Internet days maybe told them they shouldn't expand here. But, all of us were reading the Guardian for REAL NEWS... Now we are back again ..reading it for REAL NEWS....

[RainDog]

96. I remember, back then, I would tell people something I'd read

and some wouldn't believe it at first.

then I ran across more than few other people where I live, who were not connected to DU, who had been doing the same thing.

the experience was a real eye-opener - and, in fact, it changed my life and view of my own nation.

[mmonk]

45. If he won't pursue crimes committed by the opposition political party,

he probably won't pursue their toadies either.

[KoKo]

71. He says we need to "Look Forward" and not "Backwards." That rear view mirror

is getting way out there, these days, though...

[hatrack]

129. "Warning - Objects In Mirror Are Much Farther Away Than They Appear"

nt

[nashville_brook]

46. "we should wait until all the facts are in..."

:evilgrin:

[Rex]

50. One good thing about being a longtime poster is

you sometimes find it amazing what some posters will pick to defend and ignore.

[nashville_brook]

51. i've been noticing that lately too...some things, like this, are so spot-on

it'd just be ridiculous to try to defend.

other things, i've noticed, have "strategic" value:

http://www.thedemocraticstrategist.org/

[Rex]

55. Wow, glad to see I'm not the only one.

Yeah exactly what I was thinking nashville_brook. :hi:

[KittyWampus]

62. You may be a long time Poster, but you must not read actual news-

9/11 families to meet with attorney general over phone hacking


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/phone-hacking/8651236/Phone-hacking-US-senators-increase-pressure-on-Les-Hinton.html

[KoKo]

75. So...what do you think will come out of this meeting?

:shrug:

[Rex]

97. I did read the Feds might be a little mad

but posted what I did, because I don't think the JD will do one dam thing about it.

[Enthusiast]

152. Exactly.

This DOJ and national law enforcement mechanism has been hopelessly compromised. I'm with KoKo.

[eilen]

138. Your link does not say that

all it says is that there are 2 Democratic Senators (Boxer and Rockefeller) wrote a letter to Dow Jones oversight committee ---nothing about any attorney general meeting.

"In a letter to the special committee at Dow Jones, which was set up to safeguard its independence after Mr Murdoch bought the company in 2007, they also sought assurances that none of its senior executives have been involved in or had any knowledge of misconduct in the United States.

"The American people need to be reassured that this kind of misconduct has not occurred in the United States and that senior executives at News Corporation properties in our country were not aware of or complicit in any wrongdoing," said their letter to the Dow Jones editorial oversight committee, which was created when Mr Murdoch bought the company in 2007 to ensure the journalistic independence of Dow Jones."

[Blue Owl]

56. How long have FOX/GOP been fuck buddies now?

And the Obama administration is just going to look the other way?

C'mon, kick the fuckers while they're down for heaven's sake.

[DFW]

61. Fox IS the GOP

It is their media arm, just like Pravda and Izvestia were in the Soviet Union, just like
Neues Deutschland was in the DDR, or Der Freiheitskampf in Saxony during the Nazi era.

Nothing more, nothing less, except that Murdoch and Ailes owe their allegiance to no Führer
or CP general secretary, but rather the other way around.

[DissedByBush]

58. Question: What US laws did he break? n/t

[BiggJawn]

59. The Guardian reads my mind?

Murdoch's as safe as houses in this country. Obama will want to "Look Forward" and that totally useless piece of shit pussy ambulance chaser Eric Holder won't lift a finger to investigate, much less prosecute Murdoch.

[Horse with no Name]

60. These jellyfish wouldn't even defend ACORN.n/t

[KoKo]

77. and so much more...since ACORN's Demise......Not Investigated....n/t

[Liberalynn]

63. Totally agree with them

[KittyWampus]

64. Fuck The Guardian- This story ONLY just broke internationally & the FBI has already started

looking into it. Eric Holder is meeting w/ families of Sept 11th victims.

[nashville_brook]

72. be sure and let us know when the full force of the Obama Justice Dept is brought to bear on this

until then, the Guardian's critique resonates like church bells ringing at a funeral.

[divvy]

108. Ok, the full force has been brought .... now the gang of 6 cut funding

We are also gutting our ability to fight white collar crime.

[KoKo]

78. Umm I listened to whole Murdoch Testimony...Asked if US FBI was Investigating...he said "No, I'm not

aware of any FBI Investigation by the US."

Okay..from the mouth of Murdoch to the US FBI and DU'ers who think that the Press Release that said FBI was Investigating Murdoch is the TRUTH!

[harun]

82. LOL, what country you been living in? They won't do a damn thing

in the U.S. besides provide cover for Murdoch so he get's through this.

This is the U.S.A. we take care of our billionaires.

[OnyxCollie]

93. Attorney General Eric Holder is on the case!

Just like he blocked Spain's investigation of Bushco for torture, and how he dropped all but two of the investigations into the CIA for torture.

[BNJMN]

99. &#9834;Whenever there's trouble ...(he's) there on the douuuble....&#9834;..if you've got the criiim...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4w2cpR21eo

[QC]

140. Holder will get right on the case, as soon as he's through ginding Don Siegelman into the dirt

and busting all the pothead cancer patients.

[OnyxCollie]

142. Won't someone think of the Supreme Court picks?!?

During her stint as Solicitor General, Justice Kagan argued against Siegelman's Supreme Court appeal.

That's one less arrow in the quiver for the proselytizers to use to convince me to reelect Obama.

[deacon]

124. After the way the MP's handled that hearing they criticize us??? Assholes. n/t

[KoKo]

67. Oh MY...that really is a BIG OUCH! Almost a Stab in the Ribs that draws blood!

:eyes:

[go west young man]

69. Obama's job is to maintain the status quo two party system.

That's why the corporations put him there and that's why they are already filling his war chest.
Those who think he's working for the American people are kidding themselves.
He won't pursue, dismantle or destroy any Republican program because the two parties need
each other to maintain the American way. Fucked up as that is. Obama is weak. We need a real
progressive left candidate. I would love to see Dr. Dean run again. He would have my vote.

[Firebrand Gary]

79. Holy Shit!

That one hurts a bit.

[kestrel91316]

81. Pathetic, but oh so true.

[Frisbee]

83. Truer words have never been spoken.

A Democrat spits on the sidewalk and the MSM will have them run out of town/office. But there is seemingly no crime/lapse of ethics, morals or judgement that will get a republican more then a passing mention.

[AtomicKitten]

84. Murdoch's force field is down and his vulnerable bits are exposed.

This is the opportunity of a lifetime. Justice demands fucking his shit up. The many investigations that are blossoming now will force the administration's hand. Oh sweet schadenfreude.

[Cali_Democrat]

89. This administration won't do ANYTHING about Murdoch and Newscorp

Obama doesn't have it in him to fight a battle like this. He's too afraid of what Fox News will say about him.

[grahamhgreen]

86. That would be looking backwards. No criminals can be pursued under the Obama doctrine.

[Zorra]

87. Even my dog knows that. She didn't even need to read the paper. nt

[Skittles]

88. Obama thinks we need to "look ahead"

ONLY TEACHERS CAN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE :puke:

[LWolf]

180. Yes.

We're obviously the anti-christ of the new millennium.

:(

[BNJMN]

90. Now, now, let's not be greedy, as long as Rupert looks contrite on the stand for a few hours....

that's all we can honestly expect to get out of this. Right?

>SARCASM<

[inna]

94. earth shattering.

[xchrom]

95. That's gotta sting. Nt

[BNJMN]

98. Sometimes, I need to remind myself---> Rupert Murdoch *is* an American citizen. [nt]

[pam4water]

100. But but it's OK when conservatives do it ;)

[BNJMN]

102. It's probably expected...when conservatives do it. [nt]

[lutefisk]

103. People, calm down. President Obama's got this...

[abelenkpe]

104. Sad and True. Nt

[dmosh42]

105. And he doesn't have the Att'y Gen'l to handle it!

Holder is useless, and they should shut the office to save the money. He's only interested in prosecuting the Calif. potsmokers!

[inna]

111. and john edwards - ffs, it doesn't get any pettier and small-minded than that.

[Divine Discontent]

118. +1 !!! !!! !!!

[Bluebear]

195. +

[divvy]

107. Oh For Fuck's Sake. What the HELL is wrong with that man?

Maybe Murdoch is a contributor.

[blkmusclmachine]

110. Especially if you're paid to NOT pursue Murdoch.

n/t

[Bluebear]

113. Sorry, they're busy with baseball players who may have lied about steroids.

[Divine Discontent]

117. obsessing over rich guys in tight jerseys has always been the rage. ha

[Hubert Flottz]

114. They are exactly right.

They might send Rupetile a nasty letter, but not too nasty.

[RedCloud]

116. They are too busy french kissing the enemy to pay attention.

[MissDeeds]

119. Sad

Apparently the US can't elect strong, principled leaders - eight years of Bush, and now this wimp. What a joke we've become.

K&R

[tularetom]

120. I'm saddened and distressed to read the posts in this thread

Because I fucking agree with most of them.

Remember how we used to say Clinton was the best republican president we ever had?

I don't think that's true anymore.

[ProSense]

122. Yeah,

If News Corp was a liberal outfit, it would have been shredded by now

<...>

You can bet that a George W Bush administration would respond with savage pleasure. It would use the situation like this to punish its political opponents. One would expect the same from any of the plausible Republican candidates for president in 2012. And Republicans in Congress would be frothing at the mouth to ensure that the company paid dearly for its transgressions.

Indeed, in this parallel universe, the executives of the media company might well have been hauled before courts, congressional committees and grand juries already. And Fox News would be leading the calls for termination of this imaginary company's broadcasting licenses, which surely would be in jeopardy.

The Obama administration doesn't seem terribly interested, despite news stories suggesting that an investigation has begun, and his party doesn't have anything like enough spine to force the issue. The Democrats stand for essentially nothing, as they've shown repeatedly in recent years. To be fair, moreover, Washington has other issues on its table – the debt ceiling, for example, which threatens to blow an even bigger hole in the struggling economy.

One partial caveat: if it turns out that News Corp employees hacked the voicemails of the families and/or victims of the 9/11 attacks, the company's American woes will surge. Even the Republicans who count Fox News as an essential ally in the war on liberalism would demand some kind of sanction.

<...>

...only the Republicans can save us. This weak ass President, tool of Wall Street, hater of the poor, worse than a RW hack, is pathetic.

What the fuck has this "tool" ever done why anyone in their right fucking mind would consider him a Democrat?

Who cares if he has reversed most of the shitty policies of his predcessors, he makes Clinton look like Che Guevara.

[deacon]

123. Oh really??? Like they should talk? Look at the farce they are putting on. That country is a joke.

[deacon]

125. Yanno, this thread makes me sick.There is not a spine to be found in that entire government. Murdock

and his son are walking away intact. What a bunch of losers. Gimme a freakn' break.

[OwnedByFerrets]

126. Or persecute war criminals

[meow mix]

127. enough spine to bust pot smokers though, rofl

id like my vote returned plz. Hill 2008!

[certainot]

130. there would be a price, but the price is much much higher because the left ignores RW talk radio,

which does most of the heavy lifting for the right wing media machine.

[treestar]

133. It doesn't take spine, it takes evidence.

One would think the Casey Anthony verdict would be instructive.

[russspeakeasy]

134. He has proved it time and time again; he is not a fighter.

[Beacool]

135. Only Murdoch?

I would say that the lack of spine is across the board. Who fears Obama? They all know that he will cave in faster than a sinkhole in FL.

FLORIDA HAS MORE SINKHOLES than any other state in the nation.



:eyes:

[Ganja Ninja]

136. His spine is fine as evidenced by his ability to stand up to the people who voted for him.

He's not afraid to take on Murdock and the right wing. He's a member of the club.

[ClarkUSA]

137. The British nitwit who wrote this op-ed obviously isn't up on the latest news from America.

"U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO THE EXTENT OF NEWS CORP PHONE HACKING AND BRIBES":
http://www.tradenewswire.net/2011/u-s-justice-department-launches-investigation-into-the-extent-of-news-corp-phone-hacking-and-bribes/

"U.S. Justice Department launches investigation into the extent of News Corp phone hacking and bribes":
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2016529/News-World-phone-hacking-bribes-US-Justice-Department-launches-investigation.html

From The Guardian itself:
"Rupert Murdoch assembles US legal team over phone-hacking scandal":
http://www.thebellforum.com/showthread.php?t=54342&p=385061

The WSJ also reports the same thing. It's obvious that the Murdochs are hiring high-powered US legal team to defend themselves.

[aquamarina]

139. Sad but true.

[chrisa]

143. Agreed. If it happened here, the people calling for any form of prosecution

would be described as Far-Left liberals. Public support for prosecution would be very low, with many people even taking the side of NewsCorp and Murdoch. Nobody would have been arrested, and it would be declared a non-story in favor of what is going on in the newest reality show.

[Stinky The Clown]

144. Spot on

Spineless is a good description

[Downtown Hound]

147. So true, and this is why Democrats keep failing

They have an opportunity here to crush the biggest propaganda outlet the right wing has, and yet they are too timid.

Thanks for nothing Democrats.

[DirkGently]

148. NPR barely survived the barest of trumped up smears. Murdoch corrupted cops, maybe a Prime Minister?

... and Fox is already squealing that it's just unfair "piling on."

The larger point will probably be lost, which is that this IS WHAT YOU GET with a giant conglomerate of ANY kind. It's not about profits after a certain point -- it's about consolidating power. This is why we used to have safeguards against such things.

Bank of America hired (happily, amateur) hackers to infiltrate and smear critics. Newscorp had a double-agent within Scotland Yard.

These are not conspiracy theories. These are conspiracies, and they are the natural product of the unchecked accumulation of wealth and power in fewer and fewer hands.

[femrap]

153. Maybe the Guardian would like

to open shop over here.

Obama: bought and paid for.

Debt Ceiling and Deficits: BOHICA while Wall Street laughs.

[DirkGently]

177. Sure wish it would.

[October]

154. Be honest. This rec'd littled attention in UK until public outrage over Milly Dowler

When the British found out that the Dowler family's phones/emails had been hacked, this case exploded in the media.

[Imagevision]

160. No biggie, Obama didn't have a spine to pursue Rove either...

[avebury]

161. That is so true.

I am so done with Obama and the Democrats. It is no longer a question of whether or not the Republican Party and Tea Party will destroy this country but how much longer it will take. It has become pointless to even bother to voting any more.

[Doctor_J]

162. But...but...we can't do it because of the political climate

:eyes:

[BlueJac]

163. A Spineless President is a shame

[alp227]

164. well at least FBI and Justice are looking into this, but I think the author is predicting

they'll drop the case :-(

[DeSwiss]

165. K&R n/t

[NCcoast]

166. You'll get no arguement from me Guardian

I'd say you're right on the money. Spineless and toothless.

[rainlillie]

167. I wonder if the folks over the pond realize we live in a democracy..

Obama isn't a dictator.

[Dr Fate]

171. No one said he had to be a dictator in order to expose FOX's violations.

I'll bet if you try real hard, you could come up with some ways the President and the Democratic party could fight or counter FOX news -without taking on the powers of dictators.

[rainlillie]

173. Considering the state of the economy are other important issues, my hope is that

the president wouldn't waste his time on this. The Justice Department is free to investigate and file charges if they find that laws have been broken pertaining to American citizens.

[Dr Fate]

174. So we dont need a dictator then. FOX has everything to do with the state of the economy, etc.

FOX more or less got the ball rolling for the impeachment of Clinton and the subsequent trashing of Al Gore who "lied about inventing the internet", etc. FOX started the narrative, then the rest of the media picked it up as "common knowledge."

FOX more or less stole the election for Bush by falsely calling the election for him. The rest of the media followed suit.

FOX more or less convinced the public that Saddam had WMDs, and "fooled" DEMS into spending a TRILLION DOLLARS. They were the main media outlet pushing this- then the rest of the media followed.

To say that DEMS should not waste their time with a multi-billion dollar, global corporation that creates fake news stories (that even "fools" our own party), gets Republicans elected by lying about our guys, drums up trillion dollar wars by reporting fake news, etc.- well that is just crazy talk.

For you to say that the press, and a corrupt press at that- does not have an effect on the economy and "important issues" is silly.

Where else do voters learn about "the important issues" if not from the media? Therefore it is not a waste of time to see that the media is fair, accurate and not breaking any laws.

Okay, I shot down your "dictator" excuse- and I believe I shot down your "corrupt media has nothing to do with the economy or important issues" excuse too.

Is Obama's 3rd excuse "Maybe FOX didnt really do anything so bad after all?" Something like that?

Care to craft a 3rd excuse for Obama's inaction? If the Justice Department is free to move forward, then where are they?

[rainlillie]

187. I do believe that Fox has been harmful to our democracy, however

I would like to see the president take action on domestic polices that actually mean life and death for some Americans. The rest is a sideshow to me. I know people who have to borrow from family members just to pay for life saving meds, I know people who can't get in to see specialist because they can't afford it. The folks down the street a family of four, just lost their home. Do you think they give a crap about Fox News, I think not.

[Dr Fate]

190. Or maybe you just know Obama will not go after FOX, so you are making excuses for him in advance?

If he did go after FOX, you would be for it.



Since he is not, you are not.

I've already explained to you how the media shapes and even creates all of the issues you mention above- we would not even having half the problems you mention if FOX had not stolen the election for Bush and then trumped up our trillion dollar wars.

Seems like an intelligent Democrat would not want a repeat of how FOX has distorted and even shaped reality, and now we have an opening to prevent more of the same. Where is the action?

I already shot down your "corrupt, lying, billion dollar funded Global Media has nothing to do with other issues" excuse.

You were supposed to come up with a 3rd excuse, not use your 2nd one twice.

You guys are slipping.

Oh- and you forgot to give a side excuse for why Eric Holder has no time to go after this. What is it? Too busy busting Cheech & Chong?

[rainlillie]

192. I guess some of us just have our priorities in order.

[Dr Fate]

196. So your "strategy" is to let FOX off the hook? See no evil certainly worked for BP!!!

So your "strategy" is to let FOX continue to lie, commit crimes and get Republicans elected?

Brilliant! I'm sure it will "work" just like the see no evil "strategy" has BP on the run too!

Oh well- we all have "priorities."

I guess some of us still think FOX and Republicans are the enemy- some centrist "strategists" do not.

You mentioned that the justice Dept. could go after this.

What is your excuse in advance for when they do not?

Yes- some of us sill have our priorities in order- Apparently a centrist priority is to just leave FOX be and let them continuie to break laws and elect Republicans.


Your main priority must be to make excuses in advance for Obama. Hope it "works."

[SammyWinstonJack]

168. The Obama Administration doesn't have much of a spine to pursue anything

but what it's corporate masters want.

Heckuvajob Barack. :puke:

[Dr Fate]

169. If FOX goes down, then Centrist Democrats have one less party to blame for their failures.

Centrist DEMs count on FOX news.

Whenever they are "forced" or "fooled" into caving to the GOP, they can always say:

"We had to do it or Fox would have attacked us."

or

"Us DEMS had to say there were WMDs, b/c Fox had everyone believing they exist. We must pretend to agree or we will not get re-elected."

"We had to take that position b/c everyone believes FOX's framing- we cant fight them on this."

"We had to fire Shirley Sherrod, b/c FOX news has everyone thinking she is racist, even tough we know she is not."

etc, etc.

Obama will not go after FOX b/c he needs them to be his bad cop.

If anything, he will give FOX a front row at his pressers, just like he did the day after FOX was busted showing edited and faked video tapes of Obama admin member Shirley Sherrod, at a NAACP function, falsely making her out to be a "reverse racist."

As a result, Obama fired Shirley Sherrod, then REWARDED FOX the very next day -not with threats of an investigation-but with a front row seat at his press conference!

If FOX is not around, it's one less excuse centrists have for being "forced" or "fooled" into adopting conservative positons.

[ctwayne]

184. You are Right!

However, it goes further than that. A Reagan Democrat like Obama agrees with most of Fox's positions. If Fox were not around, Obama would seem more extreme and reactionary.

[Dr Fate]

186. Good Cop/Bad Cop. n/t

n/t

[polichick]

175. Well, that's for damn sure.

[pam4water]

176. I believe you mean oh snap ;)

[leeroysphitz]

181. Presidents are not paid to step on rich people. n/t

[idrahaje]

182. go figure, can't go after Cheney

definitely not murdoch

[blackspade]

183. K&R!