Category Archives: Media Criticism

Media Criticism, Political Commentary, Satire, War Commentary

The MS In MSNBC

9 Comments

Lileks, on the moral superiority of our media and political “elites.” It’s really hard to use that word for them with a straight face.

Hope the attack was caused by one of the several dozen million militia members — also known as “Midwesterners.” After all, that’s the logical extension of being opposed to anything the government does while in control of the Democratic Party: blowing up that oasis of commerce and gaudy free enterprise, Times Square.

Fingers crossed: Oh, if only the attack was caused by someone protesting Arizona’s immigration policy. Such a thing would be misguided, but there’s a lot of anger out there about a law many say harkens back to Nazi Germany, where they rounded up Jews who had entered the Third Reich illegally, and made them return to Israel.

…CNN chatterboxes later ruminated that the fellow had a hard life in the U.S. — couldn’t get a good job, had his house foreclosed on. Granted. But this has happened to many during the Great Recession, and 99.99999% don’t sit down and conclude: “Well, it’s Pakistan for fertilizer bomb training, then.”

Do these people actually think about the stupid things they say?

I fully expect all those being foreclosed on to be put on a terrorist watch list. But we can’t discriminate against those Jihadis. That would be intolerant.

Media Criticism, Political Commentary, Space

Note To Kevin Drum

I am not a conservative, though I do speak fluent conservative, which is why I’m trying to sell conservatives and Republicans (and the intersection of those two sets, which is smaller than any imagine) on the new program.

And yes, we did have dinner the other night, with Marc Danziger and Michael Totten, and others, in Manhattan Beach, and a good time was had by all (as far as I know).

[Update a few minutes later]

Clark Lindsey responds to the Charles Homan piece at the Washington Monthly.

Media Criticism, Political Commentary, War Commentary

Lutherans, No Doubt

11 Comments

Or maybe Episcopalians.

Eight have been arrested in Pakistan in connection with the Times Square bombing attempt.

They were probably upset about health care.

[Update a few minutes later]

More thoughts from Mark Steyn:

To the traditional who-ya-gonna-believe-me-or-your-lyin’-eyes cliches, Mayor Bloomberg has now added the inspired line that the amateurish loner with no connection to terrorism “didn’t like the health care bill”. I do hope they ask Faisal Shahzad his views on the individual mandate.

Any moment now, Janet Napolitano will announce that effective immediately it will be illegal to remove your sweat shirt in a public place.

By the way, there are so many of these isolated extremists and lone wolves, they surely belong to the United Amalgamated Union of Lone Wolves and Isolated Extremists. So their cadillac health care plan probably has an Obamacare opt-out anyway. Very odd.

Why do public officials so reflexively dissemble and misdirect every time? In the end, all they’re doing is undermining confidence in the integrity of their own institutions. That doesn’t seem a smart move.

It could be because they’re not very smart. Apparently that’s not a criterion for becoming the mayor of a major city, or a federal official.

[Update a couple minutes later]

The bomber had to have had help:

While officials called the bomb itself “crude” and “amateurish”, they now privately acknowledge that the preparation, advanced espionage and meticulous orchestration of events required to insert a Sport Utility Vehicle into a curbside parking space anywhere in New York City reflects a high-level of intellectual and technical sophistication.”

“You don’t just drive into New York and park your car,” the source said. “Without a real-time satellite video feed and agents on the ground in constant communication with the driver, that kind of operation can take hours on a good day. Even with all of those resources, the perps still had to count on a certain degree of luck.”

More evidence that it was sophisticated white guys. And they only have to be lucky once…

[Update a few minutes later]

It’s the Jihad, stupid.

Media Criticism, Political Commentary

A Tale Of Two Protests

Here:

Both groups were mentioned by the media one was dismissed as racists, whose protests nationwide might encourage violence.

The other group was mentioned as part of a nationwide nonviolent expression of popular will although in some cities actual violence took place.

I continue to be sickened by the biased media. It’s hard to feel any sympathy as they swirl the bowl financially. It’s exactly where they belong.

Media Criticism, Political Commentary, War Commentary

Willful Blindness

12 Comments

Is the Army ready for another Jihadi attack? I doubt it. When you consider how politically correct things were during the Bush administration, it must be much worse now, in an administration that doesn’t even want to name the enemy. With regard to Times Square, it seems we’ve reverted back to the war on “terror.” Except I don’t think that they believe we’re at war, even though the people who planted that bomb are trying to kill us.

Media Criticism, Political Commentary

When Did Barack Obama…?

21 Comments

…really meet Bill Ayers? I think that the speculation that it was Columbia is entirely reasonable, and that he doesn’t want us to know that, not just because of the Weathermen connection, but because it would put the lie to the claim of “just a guy in my neighborhood.” And that may be one of the reasons (and perhaps a big one) why he won’t let us see his transcripts.

And I remain in awe at the continued incuriosity of the media about this. But if the honeymoon is really over, maybe we’ll start to hear more about it. I won’t hold my breath, though.

Media Criticism, Political Commentary

“US Missed Chances To Act”

25 Comments

I stand second to none in my low opinion of the competence of the federal government, and particularly of DHS (and particularly of this DHS with its current secretary). So I’m not exactly surprised that there was apparently a lot more that could have been done to prevent the oil spill from spreading early on. But I also find it interesting that a government that is clearly opposed (despite lip service) to serious proposals for off-shore drilling accidentally on purpose took an action, or inaction, that is going to make such proposals now politically difficult, if not impossible.

I don’t think that George Bush and Karl Rove steered Katrina into New Orleans and blew up the levies and then sat on their hands for days because they hate black people, though exactly those kinds of ridiculous charges were flung around (and I’m sure there are still many people who believe them). But while not necessarily endorsing the theory, I don’t find it completely implausible that the administration may have taken actions that may have been viewed as potentially politically convenient because it hates fossil fuels (particularly cheap ones) and oil rigs. If one wanted to go all black helicopter, one could even postulate sabotage. But as usual, incompetence remains the most likely explanation. I don’t think that this administration could get it together to pull something like that off, though it would be easier than steering hurricanes.

And like Glenn, I’m a little surprised that the Gray Lady has jumped on this, and not buried or ignored it. I think that the honeymoon might be over, and if so, it doesn’t portend well for the White House either this election cycle or next.

[Update a few minutes later]

A time line of presidential delay.