Ace of Spades HQ

February 02, 2014

Guess the Party
— Ace

While you're waiting for Dave's official Cavalcade of Elbows, you might want to check this out. This is more egregious than the usual Guess the Party situation.

As Newsbusters tells the tale, within the short space of 40 seconds, (MS)NBC's Brian Williams reported on two politicians caught up in scandal -- Tray Radel, the Florida Congressman who was busted with cocaine and who just resigned over that infraction, and former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, on trial for 21 counts of bribery in accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars for awarding city contracts to companies that bought his favor.

Within 40 seconds, these two stories were reported (briefly). The party affiliation of one of the men was reported, but not the other.

Can you guess the party which was prominently mentioned in this story, and which party went entirely unmentioned?

Spoiler Alert: Yes, you can guess. More specifically, you can guess with 100% accuracy.

For years, I have made this point: This persistent bias in reporting can be almost entirely cured by simply writing, into each news organization's style book, a directive as to when to report a misbehaving politician's partisan affiliation (always) and where in the story to do so (the headline, always).

There is one simple reason the media does not include such an unbiased rule in their stylebooks: They wish to be biased. To make an even-handed rule would limit their ability to do just what Brian Williams did last night -- to use their own partisan leanings to decide if they should note the political affiliation of a corrupt or embarrassing politician -- and they do not wish to be even-handed.

They want to keep on doing this, forever, and forever, and forever more.

By the way: Also note that Tray Radel's infraction can be characterized as "personal misbehavior" (a la Clinton) whereas Nagin's trespass -- bribery -- gets right to the heart of job performance, that is, his position within the political structure.

Thus, Nagin's misbehavior is more political and has more to do with actual political outcomes than Radel's, which is more personal, and has almost nothing to do with political issues our outcomes.

And yet, and yet. Brian Williams wanted you to know Radel is a Republican, and he wished desperately to make you forget that Nagin is a Democrat.

At the link, Newsbusters recounts some recent media refusals to label Democrats as such (for example, Bob Filner, the 20 year Congressman and progressive wingman to Nancy Pelosi, turns out to not belong to any political party, in the media's reportage at least). Video at the link too.

Via Instapundit.

Posted by: Ace at 09:25 AM | Comments (117)
Post contains 443 words, total size 3 kb.

1 If the media didn't have double standards, they'd have no standards at all.

Posted by: --- at February 02, 2014 09:28 AM (MMC8r)

2 About time The Chocolate City Madman faced a judge.

Posted by: Boss Moss at February 02, 2014 09:29 AM (6bMeY)

3 So, what else is new? Media always hides DemonRats affiliation when they are charged with crime. Nag in is on trial now? That is the only surprise. Ace, you do a great impression of SCOAMF.

Posted by: Carol at February 02, 2014 09:30 AM (z4WKX)

4 carol, thanks!

Posted by: ace at February 02, 2014 09:31 AM (/FnUH)

5 Brian Williams is a stuttering clusterfuck of a network anchor. His daughter is in that execrable HBO TV show "Girls". He works for NBC, the Turkey Network. And he's been known to masticate in public.

Posted by: Ribald Conservative riding Orca at February 02, 2014 09:32 AM (+1T7c)

6 Ray Nagin? The King of Chocolate City?

Willie Wonka, hardest hit.

Posted by: tangonine at February 02, 2014 09:32 AM (x3YFz)

7 I agree with you on this, Ace. It's simple, direct and easy to fix. It's the most egregious and obvious example of media bias there is.

Posted by: AmishDude at February 02, 2014 09:32 AM (xSegX)

8 The Kronies over at the Blaze from sidebar. This is how you beat them in the culture war.

Posted by: Boss Moss at February 02, 2014 09:32 AM (6bMeY)

9 I suspect there is a big new scandal, directly involving Choom Boy and/or one of his co-conspirators, that would be filling the news if Brian "basset hound" Williams and his ilk didn't pimp the Christie "Fat and Furious" story as hard as they can.

Something more than politics is behind this. The coverage has been incessant and even less substantial than usual. That should set warning bells ringin'.

Except that we're all used to it now. And there's no one out there to do the hard work of checking.

Posted by: MrScribbler at February 02, 2014 09:33 AM (ff7/5)

10 Damn spellcheck! I typed Nagin, it separated into two words. I borrowed DemonRats from someone here months ago, I had to put capital D & R to use that word.

Posted by: Carol at February 02, 2014 09:33 AM (z4WKX)

11 When I first started seriously paying attention to the news in my early 20s, the Guess the Party issue was one of the first things I noticed and it didn't take long from there to start detecting the bias in other areas as well.

Posted by: Burn the Witch at February 02, 2014 09:34 AM (0jFxY)

12 Spellcheck should be more flexible if it is going to suck this bad.

Posted by: Boss Moss at February 02, 2014 09:34 AM (6bMeY)

13 I've always said this about Brian Williams: He has the air of a man desperate that you not know how stupid he really is.

Posted by: AmishDude at February 02, 2014 09:35 AM (xSegX)

14 8 The Kronies over at the Blaze from sidebar. This is how you beat them in the culture war.

Posted by: Boss Moss at February 02, 2014 01:32 PM (6bMeY)

The Blaze is a bit of a looney bin. You want to like them, but most of them have the IQ of a pre-school drop out. Hearts are generally in the right place, but I wouldn't give them sharp objects.

Or blunt objects, for that matter.

The Horde could out drive them on any golf course. Just sayin.

Posted by: tangonine at February 02, 2014 09:35 AM (x3YFz)

15 Repetition of 'War on Women' is another one, considering they never bring it up about Anthony Weiner, Bob Filner, Bill Clinton...

Posted by: --- at February 02, 2014 09:35 AM (MMC8r)

16 >>>When I first started seriously paying attention to the news in my early 20s, the Guess the Party issue was one of the first things I noticed and it didn't take long from there to start detecting the bias in other areas as well. yes, as you say, and as Amish says above, this one is so obvious and obviously unfair that one immediately realizes the absolute refusal by the media to address it demonstrates their commitment to biased reportage.

Posted by: ace at February 02, 2014 09:35 AM (/FnUH)

17 unfortunately, this meme is as revelatory as yada yada yada, and only mentioned by those victimized so much for squeaky wheels getting anything more than going from bitter to bitterest, or something ...if you want to find something new, go back far enough...trivial pursuit Guess the party of each Lee Van Cleef, Jack Palance and Richard Boone God's Gun (1976) http://tinyurl.com/lz6ugyg

Posted by: panzernashorn at February 02, 2014 09:35 AM (MhA4j)

18 It is so trivially easy to fix that only a fulsome commitment to biased reportage can possibly account for the refusal to fix it.

Posted by: ace at February 02, 2014 09:36 AM (/FnUH)

19 9 I suspect there is a big new scandal, directly involving Choom Boy and/or one of his co-conspirators, that would be filling the news if Brian "basset hound" Williams and his ilk didn't pimp the Christie "Fat and Furious" story as hard as they can. The story it buried was the Gates memoir.

Posted by: AmishDude at February 02, 2014 09:36 AM (xSegX)

20 Heh, ace said "fulsome".

Posted by: AmishDude at February 02, 2014 09:37 AM (xSegX)

21 OMG, ot, but look at Drudge -- Philip Seymour Hoffman dead

Posted by: Peaches at February 02, 2014 09:37 AM (8lmkt)

22 You're welcome, Ace, thank you for not playing clips of him. I can't take it. I listened to podcast on my way home from work, but it's only a 20 minute ride. I finished listening yesterday.

Posted by: Carol at February 02, 2014 09:37 AM (z4WKX)

23 What's really amusing to me is that it's not just NBC. The entire media does this. You know where else I notice it? Judicial rulings. Most articles don't even give you the judge's name, let alone who was the appointer.

Posted by: AmishDude at February 02, 2014 09:38 AM (xSegX)

24 Never heard of him. He was only 46?

Posted by: Boss Moss at February 02, 2014 09:40 AM (6bMeY)

25 Phillip Seymour Hoffman is dead? Are we sure?

Posted by: Joe Montana at February 02, 2014 09:40 AM (hh9HC)

26 It's a stock comment even on the S.F. Chronicle comments page that if there's no party mentioned, it's Dem.

As for Nagin, that guy really could have gone places, but the sweet, sweet lure of Dem party politics was irresistible.

Posted by: SFGoth at February 02, 2014 09:40 AM (UHVnU)

27 I hope PSH gets better.

Posted by: Jeff Goldblum at February 02, 2014 09:40 AM (hh9HC)

28 The story it buried was the Gates memoir. Posted by: AmishDude at February 02, 2014 01:36 PM

Naaah. That was/is weak sauce. IIRC, even Gates was surprised that his negative comments about Choom Boy attracted much notice, as they made up a relatively small part of the book.

I think something much more important has happened, or is about to happen, and the Prophets of Choom are worried that the general public might be roused (well, at least sorta roused) by it.

Posted by: MrScribbler at February 02, 2014 09:41 AM (ff7/5)

29 Unaffiliated... just like Rep. William Jefferson

Posted by: Ray Nagin at February 02, 2014 09:41 AM (Pr6hk)

30 OMG, ot, but look at Drudge -- Philip Seymour Hoffman dead You know, you actually do wish its something like a massive heart attack, just because it would be so normal. But 98% of the time, it's drugs.

Posted by: --- at February 02, 2014 09:41 AM (MMC8r)

31 Side note: I know you've been doing this for a long time, Ace. But seriously, I'm always amazed (in a good way) when you just, sorta, bang out a thought like this and hit post. Lately I've been pruning my RSS feeds and while going through it all, I realized that there are only a few writers who consistently put out good material. Bookworm room (who is relatively new), Neo-Neocon, Patterico... I kinda miss Dr Sanity and wish she were still around.

Anyway. Random thoughts over.

Thanks for doing your thing, Ace.

Posted by: Book at February 02, 2014 09:41 AM (qWES6)

32 21 OMG, ot, but look at Drudge -- Philip Seymour Hoffman dead

Posted by: Peaches at February 02, 2014 01:37 PM (8lmkt)

yeah. he didn't read the "Just say No to drugs" ads.

Natural selection doesn't take holidays.

Posted by: tangonine at February 02, 2014 09:43 AM (x3YFz)

33 whereas Nagin's trespass -- bribery Chocolate Bribery, please.

Posted by: garrett at February 02, 2014 09:43 AM (hh9HC)

34 Shit, it sounds like Hoffman died of a heroin (just guessing) overdose. Doesn't seem to be much question in the small NYPost mention. I kinda liked him, but it always shocked me when I wouldn't see him for a couple years and then he'd reappear looking ten years older.

Posted by: Lincolntf at February 02, 2014 09:44 AM (ZshNr)

35 Nagin always struck me as kind of stupid, the kind of pol that can get where he is on sleaze and identity politics, but never capable of a substantial achievement.

Posted by: --- at February 02, 2014 09:44 AM (MMC8r)

36 I saw Chocolate City Madman open for Canned Heat back in 1979

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 02, 2014 09:44 AM (oFCZn)

37 This conspiracy goes right to the top, since Williams works for Somebody and Somebody is perfectly capable of telling him to cut the shit. I'm sure they chuckled about it the first few times--now it's just habit.

Posted by: spongeworthy at February 02, 2014 09:45 AM (r5w1L)

38 He has the air of a man desperate that you not know how stupid he really is.

I know, right? What a maroon.

Posted by: Joey Paste Eater at February 02, 2014 09:45 AM (6TB1Z)

39 I don't suppose Hoffman left behind any Superbowl tickets..? Just asking for a friend.

Posted by: --- at February 02, 2014 09:45 AM (MMC8r)

40 He was in a lot of movies I never saw.

Posted by: Boss Moss at February 02, 2014 09:46 AM (6bMeY)

41 The nature of the evidence is irrelevant; itÂ’s the seriousness of the charge that matters... and it's only serious if a Republican is being charged

Posted by: Zombie Ted Kennedy at February 02, 2014 09:46 AM (Pr6hk)

42 39 I don't suppose Hoffman left behind any Superbowl tickets..? Just asking for a friend.

Posted by: --- at February 02, 2014 01:45 PM (MMC8r)

hah.

I thought the guy was a douche. I'll shed as many tears as I did when George Carlin died. Meaning none.

Posted by: tangonine at February 02, 2014 09:47 AM (x3YFz)

43 The Horde could out drive them on any golf course. Just sayin. Posted by: tangonine at February 02, 2014 01:35 PM (x3YFz) You should probably never see me on a golf course then. I can throw the ball father than I can hit it.

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at February 02, 2014 09:47 AM (GaqMa)

44 32 21 OMG, ot, but look at Drudge -- Philip Seymour Hoffman dead Posted by: Peaches at February 02, 2014 01:37 PM (8lmkt) yeah. he didn't read the "Just say No to drugs" ads. Natural selection doesn't take holidays. Posted by: tangonine at February 02, 2014 01:43 PM (x3YFz) No volcano jokes until a respectful period of time has passed.

Posted by: eman at February 02, 2014 09:47 AM (AO9UG)

45 Ray Nagin? Never heard of him. Sounds like a local story. One for cable and the internets

Posted by: Charlie Gibson at February 02, 2014 09:47 AM (Pr6hk)

46 I can throw the ball father than I can hit it.

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at February 02, 2014 01:47 PM (GaqMa)

foot wedge! use the foot wedge!

Posted by: tangonine at February 02, 2014 09:48 AM (x3YFz)

47 32 Maximilian Schell died yesterday also

Posted by: Tuna at February 02, 2014 09:48 AM (M/TDA)

48 This conspiracy goes right to the top, since Williams works for Somebody and Somebody is perfectly capable of telling him to cut the shit. Brian Williams is Ron Burgundy. He doesn't make these decisions. Somebody writes the story for him.

Posted by: AmishDude at February 02, 2014 09:48 AM (xSegX)

49 Nagin always struck me as kind of stupid, the kind of pol that can get where he is on sleaze and identity politics, but never capable of a substantial achievement. Posted by: --- at February 02, 2014 01:44 PM

Just think: better P.R. and a little more national attention, and he coulda been president!

Posted by: MrScribbler at February 02, 2014 09:48 AM (ff7/5)

50 No volcano jokes until a respectful period of time has passed.

Posted by: eman at February 02, 2014 01:47 PM (AO9UG)

He gets as much respect in death as he gave out in life. It's not a quiz.

Posted by: tangonine at February 02, 2014 09:49 AM (x3YFz)

51 43 That's classic. When I try to drive the ball I usually bury the head of the club 6 inches in the ground if the club head doesn't break off.

Posted by: Boss Moss at February 02, 2014 09:49 AM (6bMeY)

52 PSH dead yet we're stuck with Bieber.

Posted by: NCKate at February 02, 2014 09:49 AM (Eed4A)

53 "34 Shit, it sounds like Hoffman died of a heroin (just guessing) overdose. Doesn't seem to be much question in the small NYPost mention. I kinda liked him, but it always shocked me when I wouldn't see him for a couple years and then he'd reappear looking ten years older." A couple of years ago he went into rehab after a relapse after being sober for several years. I guess this relapse was one too many. Great actor. It's a shame when people throw it all away for a quick fix.

Posted by: Synnerman at February 02, 2014 09:50 AM (0Bdlg)

54 Williams daughter is on Girls? Worse television show I have seen, three minutes of it was enough.

Posted by: Carol at February 02, 2014 09:50 AM (z4WKX)

55 Anyone remember Pop-up Videos? Treat newscasts the same way and you will start to crack the facade. A website that does so would be pretty popular, suspect.

Posted by: eman at February 02, 2014 09:51 AM (AO9UG)

56 No volcano jokes until a respectful period of time has passed. Okay, how 'bout NOW?

Posted by: --- at February 02, 2014 09:51 AM (MMC8r)

57 The guy could act. There's no denying that, he was very gifted in pretending to be someone else.

Take that as you wish.

Posted by: tangonine at February 02, 2014 09:51 AM (x3YFz)

58 Living on that island off the coast of Amurica turns man into heroin addicts.

Posted by: Boss Moss at February 02, 2014 09:52 AM (6bMeY)

This is so racist against Mayor Nagan from New Orleans. President Obama should overturn these bogus charges and go after that Christie guy fro New York for lying.

Posted by: Dorcus Blimline at February 02, 2014 09:52 AM (iB0Q2)

60 We could probably eliminate Hollywood if we'd legalize drugs.

Posted by: --- at February 02, 2014 09:52 AM (MMC8r)

61 40 He was in a lot of movies I never saw. Posted by: Boss Moss at February 02, 2014 01:46 PM (6bMeY) Same here. I wasn't familiar with the name and looked him up on IMDB. He's been in a lot of things, but the only ones I've seen were The Big Lebowski and the American Revolution miniseries.

Posted by: rickl at February 02, 2014 09:52 AM (sdi6R)

62 Maximilian Schell died yesterday also

Posted by: Tuna at February 02, 2014 01:48 PM (M/TDA)

I don't believe anyone suspects drug overdose for him . . .

Posted by: Peaches at February 02, 2014 09:53 AM (8lmkt)

63 Reminds me of that Young Guns scene. I reckon we ought to give him a proper burial. Then they start kicking dust on the dead guy.

Posted by: Boss Moss at February 02, 2014 09:53 AM (6bMeY)

64 Same here. I wasn't familiar with the name and looked him up on IMDB. He's been in a lot of things, but the only ones I've seen were The Big Lebowski and the American Revolution miniseries.

Posted by: rickl at February 02, 2014 01:52 PM (sdi6R)

The Talented Mr. Ripley with Matt Damon wasn't a bad movie. His acting in that was pretty darned good.

Posted by: tangonine at February 02, 2014 09:54 AM (x3YFz)

65 OT: Â“America, with its strategic ignorance, does not have a full understanding of the power of the Islamic Republic,Â” Brig. Gen. Hossein Salami said in a televised interview. Salami? General Salami? Srsly? We evidently have much to fear from cured meats, my friends.

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 02, 2014 09:55 AM (yz6yg)

66 I always considered him one of the actors who was sort of aimed at my demographic. Basically my age group. I remember seeing him in all sorts of teen age shows/movies when I was in junior high, then he'd show up in something else years later, often playing an older version of his earlier roles (rich, usually mean, guy with dripping with smarm).

Posted by: Lincolntf at February 02, 2014 09:55 AM (ZshNr)

67 His Capote movie was excellent.

Posted by: NCKate at February 02, 2014 09:56 AM (Eed4A)

68 Srsly?

We evidently have much to fear from cured meats, my friends.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at February 02, 2014 01:55 PM (yz6yg)

Oh, you so missed my attempt at humor in the earlier open thread about hiding the General. (give it a second)

Posted by: tangonine at February 02, 2014 09:57 AM (x3YFz)

69 This is one of those issues over which I don't really fault the Republican Party.

They do what they can to try to combat the bias, and that means sucking up to the media in ways that make it possible for them to reduce it somewhat.

Of course, the alternative is you boycott and blast them with every weapon in your arsenal... which of course would NOT be going on their news shows and trying to make your points.

I might personally prefer the latter, but I can't say with any certainty that the party isn't smart to do the former.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 02, 2014 09:57 AM (BeSEI)

70 Sorry to see this about Maximilian Schell. He was wonderful as General Bittrich in A Bridge Too Far.

Posted by: JPS at February 02, 2014 09:58 AM (9ziuC)

71 Konstantin Pobyedonostsev: The journalist has the fullest power to defame and dishonour me, to injure my material interests, even to restrict my liberty by attacks which force me to leave my place of abode. These judicial powers he has usurped ; no higher authority has conferred them upon him ; he has never proven by examination his fitness to exercise them ; he has in no way shown his trustworthiness or his impartiality ; his court is ruled by no formal procedure ; and from his judgment there lies no appeal. Its defenders assure us that the Press itself heals the wounds it has inflicted ; but any thinking mind can see that these are mere idle words. The attacks of the Press on individuals may cause irreparable injury. Retractions and explanations can in no way give them full satisfaction. Not half of those who read the denunciatory article will read the apology or the explanation, and in the minds of the mass of frivolous readers insulting or calumnious suggestions leave behind an ineffaceable stain. Criminal prosecution for defamation is but the feeblest defence, and civil action seldom succeeds in exposing the offender, while it subjects the offended to fresh attack. The journalist, moreover, has a thousand means of wounding and terrifying individuals without furnishing them with sufficient grounds for legal prosecution. It is hard to imagine a despotism more irresponsible and violent than the despotism of printed words.

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 02, 2014 09:58 AM (b9CR7)

72 Oh, you so missed my attempt at humor in the earlier open thread about hiding the General. (give it a second) Posted by: tangonine at February 02, 2014 01:57 PM (x3YFz) I did. Just got here. I was off sticking pins in my Richard Sherman voodoo doll. No, that's not a euphemismÂ….

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 02, 2014 09:58 AM (yz6yg)

73 Like I said, the dude was a gifted actor.

Obviously an idiot, (you don't die at 46 from a heroin overdose by being smart).

But talented. And very dead.

Posted by: tangonine at February 02, 2014 09:59 AM (x3YFz)

74 The PSH link in the sidebar goes to an error page, just FYI.

Posted by: Jenny Hates Her Phone at February 02, 2014 09:59 AM (GmTxn)

75 47 Maximilian Schell died yesterday alsoPosted by: Tuna at February 02, 2014 01:48 PM (M/TDA)
I've actually seen movies in which HE appeared.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at February 02, 2014 09:59 AM (ICBi0)

76 Sorry to see this about Maximilian Schell. He was wonderful as General Bittrich in A Bridge Too Far. Still the best war flick of all time.

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 02, 2014 09:59 AM (yz6yg)

77 Posted by: Boss Moss at February 02, 2014 01:49 PM (6bMeY) Yeah I can't get the swing right at all, I come down chopping rather than swinging. I gave up. Fuck golf. Elect me to congress I swear never to set foot on a golf course (mini-golf excluded.)

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at February 02, 2014 09:59 AM (GaqMa)

78 The DEA can analyze the heroin that killed PSH and trace it back to its place of origin. Something that does no good at all.

Posted by: eman at February 02, 2014 10:00 AM (AO9UG)

79 I know you like a Chocolate City, Ray, but right now all I want is a Hershey Highway...

... now bend over.

Posted by: Big Bubba, Ray Nagin's future cell mate at February 02, 2014 10:00 AM (R5Pm3)

80 70 Sorry to see this about Maximilian Schell. He was wonderful as General Bittrich in A Bridge Too Far.

Posted by: JPS at February 02, 2014 01:58 PM (9ziuC)

Aye. One of my top 10 movies.

Posted by: tangonine at February 02, 2014 10:00 AM (x3YFz)

81 My Dad watched NBC Nightly News religiously for years but I think I shamed him out of it. Anytime I went over to his house and he was watching it I'd make a snarky comment. Sometimes it was, "See? Right there is the bias" and then I'd explain why it was biased. I've been over there a few times recently around news time and asked him why he wasn't watching Williams. He said he doesn't watch it anymore.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 02, 2014 10:01 AM (oFCZn)

82 Keith Richards is still alive.

Posted by: Boss Moss at February 02, 2014 10:01 AM (6bMeY)

83 Ray Nagin was evidently an Uncle Tom Republican. I can draw no other conclusion.

Posted by: ChampionCapua at February 02, 2014 10:01 AM (KZi9D)

84 I gave up. Fuck golf.

Elect me to congress I swear never to set foot on a golf course (mini-golf excluded.)

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at February 02, 2014 01:59 PM (GaqMa)

Hah.

Thing is, it's an addiction.

You get that one great shot that lands one inch from the pin and your life just took a turn for the worse.

Posted by: tangonine at February 02, 2014 10:02 AM (x3YFz)

85 Another thing P.S. Hoffman is famous for: even though he looks really really REALLY gay, he is/was apparently one of Hollywood's leading poon hounds.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 02, 2014 10:02 AM (BeSEI)

86 I'm thinking of joining some of the local guys in some disc golf. They're actually "serious" about the sport, have half a dozen different types of Frisbees for different situations, etc., travel around locally to dozens of different courses. I can't stand regular golf, but I like the idea of the game, walking around outside, competing.

Posted by: Lincolntf at February 02, 2014 10:02 AM (ZshNr)

87 Hoffman was in Boogie Nights too. I saw that but didn't think it was very good.

Posted by: Carol at February 02, 2014 10:03 AM (z4WKX)

88 84 They need more windmills on the greens.

Posted by: Boss Moss at February 02, 2014 10:03 AM (6bMeY)

89 Posted by: tangonine at February 02, 2014 02:02 PM (x3YFz) I have pinball for that

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at February 02, 2014 10:03 AM (GaqMa)

90 "We evidently have much to fear from cured meats, my friends.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at February 02, 2014 01:55 PM (yz6yg)"

We have nothing to fear from cured meats, my friends

Posted by: Juan McCain, at February 02, 2014 10:04 AM (w3OHe)

91 82 Keith Richards is still alive. Posted by: Boss Moss at February 02, 2014 02:01 PM (6bMeY) Yeah, like a cured ham.

Posted by: eman at February 02, 2014 10:04 AM (AO9UG)

92 Late to the thread due to rare chance to work on lawn tractor outside.

As that former Democrat pollster/consultant said during the 2012 campaign, they are the enemy of the people. Oh if I could be dictator for a day.

One other note Ace, how many of those SOBs have had Obama's Gestapo charge them with campaign violations much less as a felony?

Posted by: Vic[/i] at February 02, 2014 10:04 AM (T2V/1)

93 I have pinball for that .

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at February 02, 2014 02:03 PM (GaqMa)

brother, I've been hunting a classic 70's-80's era pinball machine for over a decade. They cost a freaking fortune!

Posted by: tangonine at February 02, 2014 10:05 AM (x3YFz)

94 Dead man's thread up

Posted by: Juan McCain, at February 02, 2014 10:05 AM (w3OHe)

95 55 Anyone remember Pop-up Videos? Treat newscasts the same way and you will start to crack the facade. A website that does so would be pretty popular, suspect. Posted by: eman at February 02, 2014 01:51 PM (AO9UG) Conservative comedy shows don't usually work, not when they're intended to be so. There's a certain meanness required for comedy. But I think a The Soup-style show aimed at the MSM would work quite well, rather than the Daily Show.

Posted by: AmishDude at February 02, 2014 10:06 AM (xSegX)

96 77 -

Same here. I try to hit it as hard as I can, and they kept telling me I was doing it wrong. I don't think you can classify anything as a sport if hitting it as hard as you can doesn't work.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 02, 2014 10:06 AM (BeSEI)

97 Good work, Dack, making your father see their bias. Does he watch any news now?

Posted by: Carol at February 02, 2014 10:07 AM (z4WKX)

98 I wonder how his death will effect the next Hunger Games movie, which he was in and they are currently filming.

Posted by: buzzion at February 02, 2014 10:09 AM (LI48c)

99 96 77 -

Same here. I try to hit it as hard as I can, and they kept telling me I was doing it wrong. I don't think you can classify anything as a sport if hitting it as hard as you can doesn't work.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 02, 2014 02:06 PM (BeSEI)

I'm a physicist. So I'm brain fucking myself every swing:

tangential velocity is a function of radius, gravitational concerns, kinetic energy, semi-elastic collisions... see? Every swing is an exam to me.

Horrible.

Posted by: tangonine at February 02, 2014 10:09 AM (x3YFz)

100 Really liked Philip Seymour Hoffman, he could play pathetic guy, cool guy, or nails on a chalkboard awful and loathsome guy on a dime. could be so appealing and in the next movie totally up appealing, and he had a great voice. But, I think, a bad, bad drug habit. I loved him as Lester Bangs in Almost Famous. So sad.

Posted by: Goldilocks at February 02, 2014 10:09 AM (vrZxx)

101 Another point on this particular issue with Brian Williams. Remember that these talking heads with the manicured hair and bleached teeth do not write their own copy. That went away long ago when they did away with using real reporters as desk jockey news readers. The producer writes the copy. He only reads it. So you have to find out who the producer is for that particular segment.

And yes, this bias goes right to the top.

Posted by: Vic[/i] at February 02, 2014 10:10 AM (T2V/1)

102 new one

Posted by: Vic[/i] at February 02, 2014 10:12 AM (T2V/1)

103 I've always said this about Brian Williams: He has the air of a man desperate that you not know how stupid he really is.

Posted by: AmishDude at February 02, 2014 01:35 PM (xSegX)

He earned every one of those 18 credits.

Posted by: Captain Hate at February 02, 2014 10:16 AM (yQyBg)

104 I still don't know what to make of Magnolia, about fourteen years after I saw it by accident, but I thought Hoffman was awfully good in it.

Posted by: JPS at February 02, 2014 10:17 AM (9ziuC)

105 I would suggest that for people like Brian Williams, the terms "reporter," "newsman" and so on no longer be employed. Every time he's mentioned, he should be called "prominent Democrat activist Brian Williams." Each and every time until it starts to stick.

Posted by: Null at February 02, 2014 10:20 AM (xjpRj)

106 Guess which one faces the severe consequences and which one is protected by the MSM as "the victim of a witch hunt" Clue - not the one shielded by the indestructible substance known as Blackdemocratium

Posted by: kbdabear at February 02, 2014 10:35 AM (aTXUx)

107 I think it was Bernie Goldberg who wrote "when Republicans are hypocritical, they tend to hurt themselves and their families. When Democrats are hypocritical, they tend to enrich themselves and hurt other people." The same applies when Republicans and Democrats do wrong. More often, Republicans fail in their personal lives and hurt themselves and their families. Democrats tend to hurt other people.

Posted by: William Teach at February 02, 2014 10:43 AM (vRNdo)

108 Tray Radel, the Florida Congressman who was busted with cocaine and who just resigned over that infraction,

Ice cube Tray Radel? I think you mean Trey.

Posted by: Pedantry Q. Grammatic at February 02, 2014 10:52 AM (FvyJS)

109 101 Remember that these talking heads with the manicured hair and bleached teeth do not write their own copy. That went away long ago when they did away with using real reporters as desk jockey news readers. The producer writes the copy. He only reads it. Posted by: Vic at February 02, 2014 02:10 PM (T2V/1) They're more honest about it in England. They call the on-air personalities "newsreaders".

Posted by: rickl at February 02, 2014 10:55 AM (sdi6R)

110 I think along with Stanley Tucci and Philllip Seymour Hoffman, Pual Giammatti is another an excellent actor and often plays somewhat smaller parts in movies, He was great in "Saving Mr. Banks" and terrific in the series about John Adams.

Posted by: Fenelon Spoke at February 02, 2014 11:08 AM (7kkQJ)

111 110-Sorry wrong thread.

Posted by: Fenelon Spoke at February 02, 2014 11:09 AM (7kkQJ)

112 There is one simple reason the media does not include such an unbiased rule in their stylebooks: They wish to be biased. To make an even-handed rule would limit their ability to do just what Brian Williams did last night -- to use their own partisan leanings to decide if they should note the political affiliation of a corrupt or embarrassing politician -- and they do not wish to be even-handed. Not a problem. Every time they do this shit, bash 'em hard, and bash 'em in any forum. Calling them out right to their faces would be ideal.

Posted by: Blacque Jacques Shellacque at February 02, 2014 11:54 AM (itCai)

113

Maybe they should only be identified when most people do not know which politcal party theybelong to

Putting a D after Obama doesn't seem necessary to me

Posted by: righter at February 02, 2014 12:04 PM (wuXtb)

114 The story at Instapundit is about the state of Missouri executing a condemned man while he had an appeal pending to the SCOTUS. Insty's take was that the Governor of the state was never mentioned in the story, because he is a Democrat. I added the following...

The "Name that Party" game also includes a rule that seems not to have been observed here: that you go up the ladder of responsibility until you find a Republican to blame it on.

For example, hurricane Katrina: you have to skip over the Democrat Mayor, the Democrat Governor, and the Democrat Senator, before you get to a Republican - the President of the United States at the time.

Oh wait... Governor, Democrat: Senator, Democrat: President... hell, there isn't a damn Republican available! How unfair is that?!

Posted by: Ray Van Dune at February 02, 2014 12:17 PM (qIFL7)

115 "Putting a D after Obama doesn't seem necessary to me"

But that D is for Dickface.

Posted by: Ray Van Dune at February 02, 2014 12:23 PM (qIFL7)

116 Don't like my TV network/newpaper/news show/classroom? I have an idea: Get your own.

Posted by: Liberal Institutions at February 02, 2014 02:13 PM (pYmM1)

117 Â“When you are wrestling for possession of a sword, the man with the handle always wins.Â” ― Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash

Posted by: I'd rather be surfin at February 02, 2014 04:30 PM (KBR4k)

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