Do you believe there is a leftist bias

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

I think bias occurs only because everyone has their own personal bias somewhere and it'll come out.

 

I don't see it very much anymore, however. Most the news stations are almost all clones, now pretty much pushing "Bush = Patriotism = GOOD" at the viewer.

 

For me, it's a number of factors, including source and price and what have you. I've noticed that the San Francisco Chronicle editorializes and calls it news every few headlines or so, and the letters section the day after Columbia was filled with people with conspiracy theories such as Bush having the shuttle blown up so he could blame it on Iraq.

 

...But on the other hand, it's the cheapest paper available here, and HALF the price of the next one up.

[Guest Olympic Slam]

The television media has a Democrat bias more than a leftist bias I would say. The relentless attacks on Trent Lott shows that. As for a leftist (socialist/Green) bias, that's more pronounced in the New York times and SF Chronicle ect. There is a difference (though dminishing) between a leftist and a Democrat.

[Guest Some Guy]

The Liberal/Democrat bias is certainly a part of the mainstream news (save Fox News, which has a Conservative bias and higher ratings than CNN). Rather, Brokaw, Jennings, Larry King and the others on CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, 60 Minutes, Dateline, Nightline are almost all Liberal Democrats. Their personal beliefs affect their job, just as my beliefs affect my posts.

Those who deny the liberal bias tend to not see it because they think the same way as the anchormen or say things like "ratings are all they care about" or whatever. If that's true then why have they sat back and watched them fall and Fox News rise and not changed anything? Doesn't make sense to me. This country is pretty much split down the middle politically and isf the mainstream news outlets continue to choose only one side to champion while condesendingly dismissing the other they'll lose more and more viewers. Most people want to hear both sides of an issue and see (supposed) experts debate them.

[Guest Some Guy]

Dreamer. I couldn't help but notice that in the Political Beliefs Thread all your beliefs are liberal. In what way would you consider yourself a moderate.

Those are only some of my political beliefs. For instance, I'm interested in some libertarian ideas (such as no taxes, ending the war on drugs, and allowing immigrants free passage into the US). Therefore, I'm more of a moderate who leans to the left. I hope this has been helpful to you.

That's just silly. How the hell are you going to fund all the leftist programs without tax money? How the hell are you going to fund anything?

 

I'm all for lower taxes and I'm aware of what must be sacrificed in social programs and such, from your statement I don't think that you are. It is immpossible to be a leftist and be in favor of no taxes, or even low taxes. The whole basis of Marxist theory is to tax teh living shit ofut of the wealthy and middle class so that the underclasss can be supported. Without taxes you lose that. Can't have you cake and eat it too. Unless be leftist you mean hopelessly idealogical to the point of insanity (which many on the left and right (Rob Stone) are) then you aren't making sense.

[Guest JMA]

Those are only some of my political beliefs. For instance, I'm interested in some libertarian ideas (such as no taxes, ending the war on drugs, and allowing immigrants free passage into the US). Therefore, I'm more of a moderate who leans to the left. I hope this has been helpful to you.

That's just silly. How the hell are you going to fund all the leftist programs without tax money? How the hell are you going to fund anything?

 

I'm all for lower taxes and I'm aware of what must be sacrificed in social programs and such, from your statement I don't think that you are. It is immpossible to be a leftist and be in favor of no taxes, or even low taxes. The whole basis of Marxist theory is to tax teh living shit ofut of the wealthy and middle class so that the underclasss can be supported. Without taxes you lose that. Can't have you cake and eat it too. Unless be leftist you mean hopelessly idealogical to the point of insanity (which many on the left and right (Rob Stone) are) then you aren't making sense.

I agree, it is silly. I guess I just can't decide. I want to keep an open-mind is what I'm trying to say. The main reason I dislike most conservatives is because they bring religion into politics. I especially dislike people like Hannity, Coulter, and Savage who blame "liberals" for almost everything. But, besides that, I try to keep an open-mind regarding politics. I guess I like the liberal philosophy regarding people doing "normal" stuff. But regarding the economy and all I prefer to listen to most all ideas. I took the test at politicalcompass.org and it said I'm a pretty left guy. Heck, I'm only seventeen.

 

Maybe I'm getting too worked up over politics...

[Guest JMA]

The Liberal/Democrat bias is certainly a part of the mainstream news (save Fox News, which has a Conservative bias and higher ratings than CNN). Rather, Brokaw, Jennings, Larry King and the others on CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, 60 Minutes, Dateline, Nightline are almost all Liberal Democrats. Their personal beliefs affect their job, just as my beliefs affect my posts.

Those who deny the liberal bias tend to not see it because they think the same way as the anchormen or say things like "ratings are all they care about" or whatever. If that's true then why have they sat back and watched them fall and Fox News rise and not changed anything? Doesn't make sense to me. This country is pretty much split down the middle politically and isf the mainstream news outlets continue to choose only one side to champion while condesendingly dismissing the other they'll lose more and more viewers. Most people want to hear both sides of an issue and see (supposed) experts debate them.

I think part of the problem are the stereotypes concerning so-called liberals and conservatives. For instance, some people think all conservatives see gays as "sinful and disgusting." Not true. I know conservatives who don't give a damn what gays do. On the other hand, I know liberals who are everything BUT PC. The respective philosophies should be broken down with only their cores remaining. Anyone care to do that?

[Guest NoCalMike]

Dangerous A let me borrow a book called, "You are being lied to" and one of the articles talks about how mainstream media always reports that big time corporations mergers are the greatest thing to ever happen. It is true for the most part. Besides Enron, I don't really ever see media reporting on how these mergers affect the people, whether it be the general public or employees way down on the chain for these companies. By the way, that book is kick-ass so far.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

You mean to tell me Time magazine didn't pull any punches in its reporting of the AOL/Time Warner merger?...

[Guest Some Guy]

Those are only some of my political beliefs. For instance, I'm interested in some libertarian ideas (such as no taxes, ending the war on drugs, and allowing immigrants free passage into the US). Therefore, I'm more of a moderate who leans to the left. I hope this has been helpful to you.

That's just silly. How the hell are you going to fund all the leftist programs without tax money? How the hell are you going to fund anything?

 

I'm all for lower taxes and I'm aware of what must be

sacrificed in social programs and such, from your statement I don't think that you are. It is immpossible to be a leftist and be in favor of no taxes, or even low taxes. The whole basis of Marxist theory is to tax teh living shit ofut of the wealthy and middle class so that the underclasss can be supported. Without taxes you lose that. Can't have you cake and eat it too. Unless be leftist you mean hopelessly idealogical to the point of insanity (which many on the left and right (Rob Stone) are) then you aren't making sense.

I agree, it is silly. I guess I just can't decide. I want to keep an open-mind is what I'm trying to say. The main reason I dislike most conservatives is because they bring religion into politics. I especially dislike people like Hannity, Coulter, and Savage who blame "liberals" for almost everything. But, besides that, I try to keep an open-mind regarding politics. I guess I like the liberal philosophy regarding people doing "normal" stuff. But regarding the economy and all I prefer to listen to most all ideas. I took the test at politicalcompass.org and it said I'm a pretty left guy. Heck, I'm only seventeen.

 

Maybe I'm getting too worked up over politics...

 

I think part of the problem are the stereotypes concerning so-called liberals and conservatives. For instance, some people think all conservatives see gays as "sinful and disgusting." Not true. I know conservatives who don't give a damn what gays do. On the other hand, I know liberals who are everything BUT PC. The respective philosophies should be broken down with only their cores remaining. Anyone care to do that?

I dislike religion in politics but don't think that the GOP is the only one. At least they're consistant about their beliefs when it comes to religion, Dems tend to sway to depending on who they're talking to.

 

What is "'normal' stuff"? What's normal to me as a straight white guy in his early 20s is probably very differant from a gay balck guy in his late 40s. You have to define "normal." I'm pretty Conservative and I don't give a fuck what gays do as long as it's not in front of me. I just find two guys together to be disgusting. That's not a religious thing, it just me. I don't hate gays or wish them dead, so don't throw that shit at me.

 

At 17 I knew what I believed and now at 21 I can back it up. I think you need to do some reading and listening and make an informed decision beore you say silly things like being a leftist against taxes, that's like the Jews for Jesus.

 

They're are a good reason for stereotypes, they are grounded in truth, althoguh exagerated they would not be if they're weren't truth to them. Most are exagerated to the point that they become unfair.

 

Most people don't practice what they preach. How many Priests have gotten caught for molestation in the last year alone? Newt Gingrich was all over Clinton for cheating and then got caught cheating. That's life. People tend to develop their political beliefs from parents, friends, and world events (Vietnam was a big influence on a lot of the baby boomers) when they are 16-25 or so. The Left is full of contradictions, they claim to be all in favor of blacks and Hispanics gaining power in this country yet they are against any judges that Bush appoints. I guees they just want "the right" minorities in power so they can keep them were they want them. The Right is also full of contradictions, especially the Christian Conservatives. The Bible says, "Thou shall not kill" yet they're in favor of war in Iraq.

My point is that there is no set rules for what a Conservative is or what a liberal is. People are people and most don't think a like. Howeevr it is pretty easy to tell who is and who isn't a liberal on TV just by looking at them and listening to the way they speak (not what they say), there are different buzzwords and such that are easy to pick up on.

[Guest JMA]

Thank you, Some Guy. Seeing the contradictions, I don't think either one is right for me. Maybe I'll try for moderate.

[Guest Some Guy]

Moderates are pussies. Unless it's moderate libertarian. That's the shit.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Thank you, Some Guy. Seeing the contradictions, I don't think either one is right for me. Maybe I'll try for moderate.

Just call yourself Independent.

[Guest Choken One]

I am an idiot...Some one tell me if I am Left or right? How do I tell? I tell myself what I believe not some party or bias tells me.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Don't worry about party affliation Choken. Some people are clleary on one side of the fence (like me), and others have beliefs that are both left and right of the political spectrum.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

Dangerous A let me borrow a book called, "You are being lied to" and one of the articles talks about how mainstream media always reports that big time corporations mergers are the greatest thing to ever happen. It is true for the most part. Besides Enron, I don't really ever see media reporting on how these mergers affect the people, whether it be the general public or employees way down on the chain for these companies.

HP/Compaq.

 

Many suits in Hewlett-Packard wanted to "merge" (although it wound up being pretty much a buyout of) Compaq into the company. Not everyone was thrilled with this idea. In fact, some of the largest shareholders in the company started fighting it. If you were a stockholder, even just of the tiniest amounts of shares, you'd get swarmed with snail mail from HP telling you how great the merger was going to be and mail from the group representing Packard's son telling you to vote against it.

 

Despite some potential unfair play here and there, the vote went through anyway. Compaq merged, their company head eventually dropped out, and a bunch of workers from both companies got fired.

 

The media was pretty clear about both sides fighting each other. It was one of those day-to-day stories in the Business section. Then again, many tech stories are since so many of the companies are based here.

 

This only counts for the SF Chron though. Up until a few years ago, HP was the biggest employer, taxpayer, money earner, etc in our county. Thus, whenever bad news hit, the local newspaper was understandably cautious about being too negative. HP dropped our division and it turned into Agilent, which has kept the tradition of seemingly holding the local paper in their pocket.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

Don't worry about party affliation Choken. Some people are clleary on one side of the fence (like me), and others have beliefs that are both left and right of the political spectrum.

Yeah, parties in politics is pretty stupid but a bit of a necessary evil or something. You can pretty much be what you want. I voted for a bunch of Republicans in the last election. *shrug*

 

And truth be told, I've seen a lot of sheep that tow their own party line way too much.

[Guest Dangerous A]

To update the original topic.

 

 

Bernard Goldberg, Author of "Bias" is the guest tonight on "Hardball" on MSNBC.

[Guest Some Guy]

I read his book and it's ok and does a good job of proving the point, my only problem is that he has an ax to grind with Dan Rather and CBS. Btu it is refreshing to hear a liberal tell the thruth about the news. Emily Rooney, Andy Rooney's daughter got run out of ABC for the same reason after Rush Limbaugh made a story out of her "insubordination". She's a liberal as well and so is her father who also admits that there is a lieral bias in the news.

[Guest Dangerous A]

I've read the book as well and once you get past his "bias" about Rather, his point about a leftist slant in mainsteam news is hard to debate.

[Guest NoCalMike]

I'll be watching.

[Guest Some Guy]

NoCal, pick up the book at the library, it's pretty short and a very easy read. I read it in a few hours. I don't mean that as an insult, rather that it wouldn't be a big inconvienance for you to see the other side of the story.

[Guest JMA]

To update the original topic.

 

 

Bernard Goldberg, Author of "Bias" is the guest tonight on "Hardball" on MSNBC.

Bernie didn't even know some of the facts in his own book. He got slammed by Al Frankin for robot's sake! I think the term "liberal" is sometimes overused. Some use it to describe anyone who is open-minded. So I don't know if I'd call the media "liberal' or not. Maybe open-minded, but not liberal. Isn't Chris Matthews a Democrat?

[Guest Some Guy]

"Open-minded" is a term that liberals use to describe themselves when that in many cases couldn't be further from the truth.

 

I missed Goldberg on Hardball, but Al Frankin is a dumb ass blow hard.

 

WHOA!!!!!!!!! Dennis Miller is sticking up for Bush on Donahue right now.

[Guest JMA]

"Open-minded" is a term that liberals use to describe themselves when that in many cases couldn't be further from the truth.

 

I missed Goldberg on Hardball, but Al Frankin is a dumb ass blow hard.

So, what does that make Bernie for getting slammed by him? Must be pretty low on the totem pole. And I meant some people often refer to open-minded people as "liberals," not the other way around.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

Dennis Miller has been sticking up for Bush for the past year or so. I think Brent Bozell is now in love with him...

[Guest JMA]

Sigh. Why are celebs only praised when they praise Bush?

[Guest JMA]

Well, I respect Miller and his position. I just don't agree with it.

[Guest JMA]

Haha, Donahue rules.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

"Sigh. Why are celebs only praised when they praise Bush?"

 

Because it's Brent Bozell doing the praising. I doubt he'd have kind words to say about Sean Penn...

[Guest NoCalMike]

NoCal, pick up the book at the library, it's pretty short and a very easy read. I read it in a few hours. I don't mean that as an insult, rather that it wouldn't be a big inconvienance for you to see the other side of the story.

well Dangerous A owns the book and I think he finished it, so I will most likely borrow it from him. I am currently borrowing another book from him right now, and it is pretty big, so afterwards, BIAS is next.(we work together)