Ace of Spades HQ

February 20, 2014

"What Was the FCC Thinking?" The Anchoress Answers Howie Kurtz
— Ace

Howie Kurtz wants to know what the FCC was thinking when it proposed to monitor how editorial decisions are made in news media. (Including in newspapers, over which they have no jurisidiction whatsoever.)

Oh, She's got answers. Some of these answers are obvious, but apparently they didn't occur to Kurtz.

After summing up what they were thinking (which I don't want to excerpt, because it's smokin'-hot, and you should click over there), she concludes:

The biggest problem in our nation is not the Democrats, or the Republicans; it is not the Obama Administration, just as it wasnÂ’t the Bush Administration, and it wonÂ’t be future Clinton or Warren Administrations. Our biggest problem is that the press has voluntarily surrendered its freedoms for the sake of idols and ideologies.
Because this is true, our government is either factionalized, fictionalized and bombarded with daily media outrage and indignation, or it is given an utterly free pass, with no accountability required. Either way, it is a process of illusion, which gives assist to the necessary distraction, and thatÂ’s all.
I didnÂ’t want to write about this today. The truth is, I donÂ’t even want to write about politics, anymore, because itÂ’s all distraction and illusion and theater. IÂ’d be happy to write about prayer and scripture, and nothing else, for the rest of my life, and maybe thatÂ’s what IÂ’ll be doing, soon enough. But I am passionate about journalism, passionate about the need for a free press, and so I had to write, today. Without a curious press interested in protecting its own freedoms, there is no there, there. We might as well just put down the mics and turn out the lights, because itÂ’s over.

Posted by: Ace at 01:54 PM | Comments (153)
Post contains 304 words, total size 2 kb.

1 It's 'internet content' too, Ace.

Posted by: wheatie at February 20, 2014 01:57 PM (DEUoo)

I didnÂ’t want to write about this today. The truth is, I donÂ’t even want to write about politics, anymore, because itÂ’s all distraction and illusion and theater. IÂ’d be happy to write about prayer and scripture, and nothing else, for the rest of my life, and maybe thatÂ’s what IÂ’ll be doing, soon enough.

In reference to the earlier posts, if you don't write about the politics today, you may well not be free to write about the other things tomorrow.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at February 20, 2014 01:57 PM (AskuI)

3 Ace...maybe your own FCC 'monitor' will at least be a smokin' hot babe.

Posted by: wheatie at February 20, 2014 02:00 PM (DEUoo)

4 Ouch. And, yeah.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at February 20, 2014 02:01 PM (IXrOn)

5 You will write what you are told.

Posted by: Ministry of Truth at February 20, 2014 02:01 PM (qyoyx)

6 The same media that were coordinating stories with the Obama White House and administration weren't covering the news of the FCC considering such a thing? That's unexpected.

Posted by: [/i]andycanuck[/b] at February 20, 2014 02:01 PM (14um2)

7 This is where Dennis Miller is at. He is forced to talk politics because of his radio show and his thing with O'Reilly, but, you can see his heart is not in it. He's already said "I'm done" many times. He's tuning out more and more. He also thinks we have reached the point of no return. And, the left are clapping. Clapping at the demise of the country. It's so sick, really.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at February 20, 2014 02:03 PM (IXrOn)

8 The Central Scrutinizer.

Posted by: garrett at February 20, 2014 02:05 PM (ss5GK)

9 Howard Kurtz is a dumbass. I've only seen him a couple of times on Fox but he's just bad.

Posted by: Adam at February 20, 2014 02:06 PM (Aif/5)

10 There are those who will fight for Freedom.. And those who will surrender their freedom in the name of Comfort and the illusion of safety. The MSM is very very comfortable in their symbiotic relationship with the Federal Government... which is why they will forgo their Freedom... Even if it means NOT doing the job they were historically tasked with in our American system.

Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 02:06 PM (84gbM)

What a lot of people don't realize about this...is that it is not just 'monitoring' from afar.

The FCC will be installing agents in newsrooms, as 'monitors'...to oversee the day-to-day decision making as to "what is news".

That's right.

FCC agents, installed in newsrooms, to monitor their content.

Posted by: wheatie at February 20, 2014 02:07 PM (DEUoo)

12 Call them what they are. They're 'political officers.'

Posted by: --- at February 20, 2014 02:07 PM (MMC8r)

13 Mika B. has not yet received instructions to be outraged about this.

Posted by: --- at February 20, 2014 02:08 PM (MMC8r)

And while they may be still referring to this as a "proposal"...

It is scheduled to be implemented this Spring, beginning in South Carolina.

Posted by: wheatie at February 20, 2014 02:09 PM (DEUoo)

15 HEY, HOWIE-- The FCC will do for you what the IRS is doing for the Tea Party. Wake up that brain you keep under that hideous rug.

Posted by: --- at February 20, 2014 02:09 PM (MMC8r)

16 Wheatie: they already had diversity consultants, vice presidents, officers or whatever. They probably had sustainability officers and title ix officers (like CU keeps hiring in Boulder). They already let the commissars in. Why NOT the FCC?

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 20, 2014 02:09 PM (m5+rk)

17 And then there's the old standby from the People's Cube... "It's Not Fascism When We Do It!"

Posted by: nnptcgrad at February 20, 2014 02:09 PM (Opyrm)

18 FCC agents, installed in newsrooms, to monitor their content. Posted by: wheatie at February 20, 2014 06:07 PM (DEUoo) Paid for by our Tax Dollars... Stalin once said "A Capitalist will sell you the rope to hang him with." We are going one better.... we are going to pay for those who will enslave us.

Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 02:10 PM (84gbM)

19 We are going one better.... we are going to pay for those who will enslave us. Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 06:10 PM (84gbM) At least they will be employed, raise the participation rate...

Posted by: MikeH at February 20, 2014 02:11 PM (bRL1M)

20 Here is the FCC Study "transition" for Critical Information Needs in respect to the internet. http://transition.fcc.gov/osp/inc-report/INoC-4-Internet.pdf (Haven't read it yet.)

Posted by: tasker at February 20, 2014 02:11 PM (RJMhd)

21 So she's basically saying that the biggest problem in this nation is caused by a one sided Press? Wow! What an idea! I wish *I'D* thought of that.

Posted by: D-Lamp at February 20, 2014 02:12 PM (bb5+k)

22 12 Call them what they are. They're 'political officers.' Posted by: --- at February 20, 2014 06:07 PM (MMC8r) Ahhh.... not Commisars.... but Commissioners?

Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 02:12 PM (84gbM)

23 It's not one sided enough,damn that Fox News!

Posted by: steevy at February 20, 2014 02:12 PM (zqvg6)

24 The FCC will be installing agents in newsrooms, as 'monitors'...to oversee the day-to-day decision making as to "what is news". That's right. FCC agents, installed in newsrooms, to monitor their content. Posted by: wheatie at February 20, 2014 06:07 PM (DEUoo) I believe the correct and historical term is "Zampolit".

Posted by: D-Lamp at February 20, 2014 02:13 PM (bb5+k)

25 Well here's it's conclusion. ***** Conclusions About the Internet We disagree with those who claim that the Internet has provided us with a world of pajama-clad bloviators and para- sitic aggregators as opposed to real reporters. In fact, the Internet has brought improvements to news and information ecosystems in a variety of ways: > Unlimited space and lower barriers to entry have led to a greater diversity of voices and more choices for consumers. > Links make it possible for any piece of content to point toward huge numbers of additional sources of infor- mation, allowing an interested reader to access a far greater depth of information. > The everyone-is-a-publisher economy has allowed for the rise of a new commentariat, and a system that is arguably more meritocratic than before. > Citizen contributions have enhanced the coverage of important topics, including weather events, disaster recovery, local zoning decisions, scheduling of community events, and the quality of public transportation. > The cost of some types of reporting has dropped dramatically. > Thanks to volunteer contributions, database-driven tools, and low-cost publishing platforms, hyperlocal re- porting and news is now able to thrive like never before. Yet it is also possible that while the Internet is doing all of the above, it is doing something else as well: un- dermining the business models that enabled legacy journalism firms to employ reporters, especially on beats that are costly to maintain. One can appreciate the incredible benefits of the web while still confronting head-on some of its more unfortunate repercussions: > As of now, in many cases, communities now have more news distribution outlets and, simultaneously, less accountability journalism. > So far, relatively few new websites have been able to create sustainable business models that would support significant hiring of reporters on a local level. > Revenue from advertising has, up to this moment, not been sufficient to replace losses in print advertising revenue or sustain news start-ups because: > Rates are low and showing no signs of rising. > Ad dollars are getting scooped up by a small group of advertising venues. > Advertisers have less and less need to advertise next to content as a way of reaching their targeted audience. > Internet companies (and would-be investors) can generate monetizable page views in far more cost-effec- tive ways if they avoid hiring of large numbers of reporters and expensive freelance writers. These limitations do not nullify the benefits, but it does mean that while the Internet solves many problems, it does not solve all of them. This still leaves us with a crucial question: even if the new-media system has not filled all of the gaps so far, does that mean it will not or cannot? With digital technology and business models changing rapidly, is it not possibleÂ—even likelyÂ—that the problems existing today will be solved tomorrow? In the next chapter, on mobile plat- forms, we look at some of the new ways that publishers are trying to charge for content and improve their advertising businesses. And in Chapter 25 (How Big is the Gap and Who Will Fill It?), we look holistically at the likelihood of the commercial sector evolving in ways that will lead to the gaps in accountability reporting getting filled.

Posted by: tasker at February 20, 2014 02:13 PM (RJMhd)

26 HEY, HOWIE-- The FCC will do for you what the IRS is doing for the Tea Party. Wake up that brain you keep under that hideous rug. To his credit, Kurtz was critical of the administration about this. For being someone who was a full member of good standing in the left wing MSM, he's played it pretty straight at Fox News. He wasn't so much asking what the motivation of the FCC was as he was saying "WTF?".

Posted by: Hollowpoint at February 20, 2014 02:14 PM (SY2Kh)

27 Waiting for 100 posts. Not gonna stomp the Ewok. Renee Ellmers sucks.

Posted by: Golfman in NC at February 20, 2014 02:14 PM (/djtm)

28 @10 The MSM is very very comfortable in their symbiotic relationship with the Federal Government... which is why they will forgo their Freedom...

I'd argue it's not the Federal Government they love, but the Democrat Party. If a GOP should win the Whitehouse (which will never happen), suddenly the Federal Govt will become the biggest, meanest bully of them all and it'll be time for non-stop criticism, even when the goals of the Left arfe still being met by the GOP.

Posted by: Null at February 20, 2014 02:14 PM (xjpRj)

29 Am I the only one here thinking "Well, if you'd read AoS over the last decade, your surprise factor would be zero?" Duh.

Posted by: tangonine (Entropy sucks) at February 20, 2014 02:14 PM (x3YFz)

30 And, the left are clapping. Clapping at the demise of the country. It's so sick, really. The left will be shocked with what comes after. Mob rule will be ugly.

Posted by: rickb223 at February 20, 2014 02:14 PM (XCfYI)

31 I didnÂ’t want to write about this today. The truth is, I donÂ’t even want to write about politics, anymore, because itÂ’s all distraction and illusion and theater. The link is worth it. The embedded link to Maxine Waters and that other fat little turd is sickening to see again. My worry is that people like Elizabeth, and Ace, for that matter, will stop what they are doing - shining a light on all of this. It does matter that bloggers who can communicate our views more eloquently than us hang in there. I do think the blogosphere is making a difference. I hate to see talented people give up. But, I do respect it, especially if their health (mental or physical) is in danger of not recovering. It's a tough battle. And, it will never stop.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at February 20, 2014 02:15 PM (IXrOn)

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo

-----------

Because, unlike those others...the FCC has power.

The FCC has the power to revoke licenses.

Which is sorta like the difference between a coworker engaging in sexual harassment...and a Boss engaging in it.

The coworkers are a nuisance.

The Boss has power over you.

Posted by: wheatie at February 20, 2014 02:15 PM (DEUoo)

33 It's nice to see Ace has been reading "The Anchoress." Keep reading her Ace. Your soul depends upon it.

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at February 20, 2014 02:15 PM (V70Uh)

34 The Italics are taking over.

Posted by: garrett at February 20, 2014 02:16 PM (ss5GK)

35 Too many italicians in this thread.

Posted by: SE Pa Moron [/i] at February 20, 2014 02:16 PM (CnA98)

Posted by: tasker at February 20, 2014 02:16 PM (RJMhd)

37 That's right. FCC agents, installed in newsrooms, to monitor their content. Posted by: wheatie at February 20, 2014 06:07 PM (DEUoo) masturbation enablers to the left they will gleefully write what they are told

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at February 20, 2014 02:16 PM (IXrOn)

38 Mr. Frog, is the water warming up for you? Nice, eh? No worries, little guy. Enjoy.

Posted by: eureka! at February 20, 2014 02:17 PM (xiXna)

39 To his credit, Kurtz was critical of the administration about this. For being someone who was a full member of good standing in the left wing MSM, he's played it pretty straight at Fox News. Yes, but he's not connecting the dots: The FCC will rein in the media, the IRS will take care of troublesome political orgs. Suppression will come bureau by bureau.

Posted by: --- at February 20, 2014 02:17 PM (MMC8r)

Posted by: wheatie at February 20, 2014 02:17 PM (DEUoo)

41 Italicans off. Don't blame me

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at February 20, 2014 02:17 PM (V70Uh)

42 Naw... Ace won't give up. If he does, I'll personally find him, duct tape him and douse him in whatever syrup Denny's is serving that day. No quitting.

Posted by: tangonine (Entropy sucks) at February 20, 2014 02:17 PM (x3YFz)

43 Lion balls? Why, yes. I'll have two.

Posted by: Honey Badger at February 20, 2014 02:17 PM (Iyg03)

44 Posted by: artisanal 'ette at February 20, 2014 06:15 PM (IXrOn) You know what to do.

Posted by: Hollowpoint at February 20, 2014 02:17 PM (SY2Kh)

45 >>>>"I didnÂ’t want to write about this today. The truth is, I donÂ’t even want to write about politics, anymore, because itÂ’s all distraction and illusion and theater. . . But I am passionate about journalism, passionate about the need for a free press, and so I had to write, today. Without a curious press interested in protecting its own freedoms, there is no there, there. We might as well just put down the mics and turn out the lights, because itÂ’s over." That sounds just like you, Ace. I like the Anchoress. I'll go read over there. Howard Kurtz is a dumbass.

Posted by: L, elle at February 20, 2014 02:18 PM (0xqKe)

46 Grrrrr. Pixie hash eating test - Take 4,326.

Posted by: rickb223 at February 20, 2014 02:19 PM (XCfYI)

47 I'd argue it's not the Federal Government they love, but the Democrat Party. If a GOP should win the Whitehouse (which will never happen), suddenly the Federal Govt will become the biggest, meanest bully of them all and it'll be time for non-stop criticism, even when the goals of the Left arfe still being met by the GOP. Posted by: Null at February 20, 2014 06:14 PM (xjpRj) Have you looked at how inbred is the people who work in media with Democrat party officials and Democrat office holders? I swear to God that the Media and the Democrats are blood family. There is so much inter-marriage and blood relations between Democrats and the media that you just wouldn't f*n believe it.

Posted by: D-Lamp at February 20, 2014 02:19 PM (bb5+k)

48 Oh! *waves to Null* How's Leela?

Posted by: L, elle at February 20, 2014 02:20 PM (0xqKe)

49 It's like my local leftist said this morning, "Battleground Texas did not commit any crime." 100% illegal and he is 100% o.k. with it. Because, "Go Team D!!"

Posted by: RoyalOil at February 20, 2014 02:20 PM (VjL9S)

50 Posted by: artisanal 'ette at February 20, 2014 06:15 PM (IXrOn) "" is your friend.

Posted by: D-Lamp at February 20, 2014 02:20 PM (bb5+k)

51 If they somehow put this in place (and I seriously doubt it will happen), when the government goes Republican, or Conservative, and we get to put in our own monitors in their place, hooboy, what on earth can they say?

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at February 20, 2014 02:21 PM (IXrOn)

52 47 It's like my local leftist said this morning, "Battleground Texas did not commit any crime." 100% illegal and he is 100% o.k. with it. Because, "Go Team D!!" Posted by: RoyalOil at February 20, 2014 06:20 PM (VjL9S) If it was said in person I'm assuming you provided the obligatory dick punch?

Posted by: tangonine (Entropy sucks) at February 20, 2014 02:21 PM (x3YFz)

53 Apparently you can't quote the close italics character string.

Posted by: D-Lamp at February 20, 2014 02:22 PM (bb5+k)

54 We need someone in Texas to monitor the words people paint on rocks, too.

Posted by: garrett at February 20, 2014 02:22 PM (ss5GK)

55 Naw... Ace won't give up. If he does, I'll personally find him, duct tape him and douse him in whatever syrup Denny's is serving that day. No quitting. Posted by: tangonine (Entropy sucks) at February 20, 2014 06:17 PM (x3YFz) there are days when I'm not too sure I, at least, can walk away from the computer.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at February 20, 2014 02:23 PM (IXrOn)

56 Later peeps.

Posted by: D-Lamp at February 20, 2014 02:23 PM (bb5+k)

57 I know Glenn Beck has never gotten overly dramatic, but on today's show he basically said, hey, we are done here, the transformation is complete with this story being the straw that broke the camels back. They are thinking they will do it because who will stop them? Shit, look at the IRS scandal. No corruption there. Because they were doing what they were ordered to do. Bowie Kurtz works for Fox so maybe this would matter to him. But MSNBC will gladly cheerlead this, the same way the Left is cheer leading the IRS to investigate and hinder the right. It isn't a conspiracy, it isn't a secret, they are doing it right in front of our fucking faces and saying, oh yeah, wht re you going to do about it? We might follow Gabe's lead and send some snarky tweets, but guess what, they are going to do it any damn way.

Posted by: blaster at February 20, 2014 02:23 PM (4+AaH)

58 Posted by: Null at February 20, 2014 06:14 PM (xjpRj) Would they use any misconduct to go after a Republican President??? yes... Would they try to hold Government OFFICALS Personally responsible???... uh.... no.... Even during the worst of the Bush attacks, the MSM would not go after those Government Mandarins who were the ones actually perpetuating most of the bad things happening...

Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 02:24 PM (84gbM)

59 It's just a sneaky way to implement the Fairness Doctrine.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at February 20, 2014 02:24 PM (WvXvd)

60 It's a good article but....she has 21 links in it! I know she's trying to make a point but if I clicked and read each one, I'd be down the rabbit hole until tomorrow morning.

Anywhoo...all she really had to say was this:

"They know that half the people in the newsroom are either married or to (or social buddies with) influential members of this government, and that everyone is all comfy and nicely settled in for the revolution."

Posted by: Tami [/i][/b][/u][/s] at February 20, 2014 02:24 PM (bCEmE)

61 Howie is quite a name, innit? What a fucking stooge. When the camps are opened, he'll get a couple months grace, for being a good puppy, before they'll come for him.

Posted by: the littl shyning man at February 20, 2014 02:24 PM (tmFlQ)

62 and it wonÂ’t be future Clinton or Warren Administrations. Our biggest problem is that the press has voluntarily surrendered its freedoms for the sake of idols and ideologies. Oh. Well. She doesn't have any idols.

Posted by: 98ZJUSMC Rounding Error Extraordinaire at February 20, 2014 02:25 PM (7i1Jd)

63
Howard Kurtz is a dumbass. I've only seen him a couple of times on Fox but he's just bad.

Posted by: Adam at February 20, 2014 06:06 PM (Aif/5)

Yes, he is.

He's also just about the closest the MFM comes to a courageous, professional, objective, even-handed and perceptive journalist.

Talk about setting the bar low........

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at February 20, 2014 02:25 PM (TIIx5)

64 Apparently you can't quote the close italics character string. The thing to do is have -- at the end of your nic -- a [ / i ] (without space between characters). Regular folks know to do this. It tends to inoculate the thread from excessive spillage from unclosed HTML tags.

Posted by: SE Pa Moron [/i] at February 20, 2014 02:25 PM (CnA98)

65 51 Apparently you can't quote the close italics character string. Posted by: D-Lamp at February 20, 2014 06:22 PM (bb5+k) It requires being smarter than the blog software.

Posted by: Buzzion at February 20, 2014 02:25 PM (GpDq2)

66 It isn't a conspiracy, it isn't a secret, they are doing it right in front of our fucking faces and saying, oh yeah, wht re you going to do about it? We might follow Gabe's lead and send some snarky tweets, but guess what, they are going to do it any damn way. Posted by: blaster at February 20, 2014 06:23 PM (4+AaH) too many idiots out there who do not understand why the freedom of the press was such a bedrock

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at February 20, 2014 02:26 PM (IXrOn)

67 Kurtz is pretty frigging stupid.

Posted by: prescient11 at February 20, 2014 02:26 PM (tVTLU)

68 Howie's on Special Report talking about this now.

Posted by: Tami [/i][/b][/u][/s] at February 20, 2014 02:26 PM (bCEmE)

69 I don't believe the IRS was ordered to do it. Barky O'Fuckstick doesn't have to order anything. The Left has control of the levers of government. It's organic. They know they will not be punished.

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at February 20, 2014 02:26 PM (V70Uh)

70 58 We make the point all the time,the revolving door,the nepotism ,the beltway cocktail part circuit.

Posted by: steevy at February 20, 2014 02:27 PM (zqvg6)

71 Well....he was...I barely caught his last sentence.

Posted by: Tami [/i][/b][/u][/s] at February 20, 2014 02:27 PM (bCEmE)

72 57 It's just a sneaky way to implement the Fairness Doctrine. Posted by: Dave in Texas at February 20, 2014 06:24 PM (WvXvd) ********** It's actually grosser than that if you read the Annenberg University of Southern California report. The local stations would have to make statements about or educate the public about the "environment", policies, and every small political position and race.

Posted by: tasker at February 20, 2014 02:28 PM (RJMhd)

73 Hollywood is just as incestual as DC and the media.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at February 20, 2014 02:28 PM (IXrOn)

74 Kos said it best, years ago.

Posted by: Roy at February 20, 2014 02:28 PM (tiOTz)

57 It's just a sneaky way to implement the Fairness Doctrine.

----------

But the thing is...the Left-stream media would be hurt more by this, if it were truly done in a 'fair' way.

It's the Left-stream media that engages in 'One Side Only' type of reporting.

Fox bends over backwards to tell both sides of things.

And the leftists, who are so used to hearing only one side, scream at Fox and call them a 'right-wing' network...when Fox is only being 50-50.

Posted by: wheatie at February 20, 2014 02:29 PM (DEUoo)

76 I don't believe the IRS was ordered to do it. Barky O'Fuckstick doesn't have to order anything. The Left has control of the levers of government. It's organic. The bureaucracy is weaponized. They know who is the threat to them-- people who want to make the government (ie, THEM) smaller and less powerful. The bureaucracy has gone all Skynet.

Posted by: --- at February 20, 2014 02:29 PM (MMC8r)

77 Right now, they say it is "voluntary." Those that hand out the licenses to the stations... I saw someone describe this as mobster-like. No kidding.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at February 20, 2014 02:29 PM (IXrOn)

78 Posted by: wheatie at February 20, 2014 06:29 PM (DEUoo) But Fair is whatever I say it is, nothing more, and nothing less...

Posted by: Humpty Dumpty, FCC Fairness Czar at February 20, 2014 02:30 PM (84gbM)

Tami...

Howie called this "insidious".

So maybe he's starting to 'get it'.

Posted by: wheatie at February 20, 2014 02:30 PM (DEUoo)

80 BREAKING... Fox journalist Howie Kurtz arrested on hundreds of counts of possession of child pornography.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 20, 2014 02:31 PM (oFCZn)

81 But the thing is...the Left-stream media would be hurt more by this, if it were truly done in a 'fair' way. It's the Left-stream media that engages in 'One Side Only' type of reporting. Fox bends over backwards to tell both sides of things. And the leftists, who are so used to hearing only one side, scream at Fox and call them a 'right-wing' network...when Fox is only being 50-50. Posted by: wheatie at February 20, 2014 06:29 PM (DEUoo) This is only meant to get in the doors of Conservative studios, newspapers and radio. I guarantee you the left MSM outlets will barely see a presence. And, if they do, those monitors will be off playing cards somewhere.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at February 20, 2014 02:31 PM (IXrOn)

82 Posted by: wheatie at February 20, 2014 06:29 PM (DEUoo) Do you really believe they would force CNN or MSNBC to have a rational Anti Gay Marriage opinion on their Network? 'Fairness' is in the eye of the beholder...

Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 02:32 PM (84gbM)

83 It isn't insidious at all. It is in. Our. Faces. It is outright thuggery.

Posted by: blaster at February 20, 2014 02:32 PM (4+AaH)

84 Does the FCC regulate the cables? Would FOX even be affected?

Posted by: --- at February 20, 2014 02:32 PM (MMC8r)

85 ttyl

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at February 20, 2014 02:32 PM (IXrOn)

Federal and State Withholding of taxes from paychecks...started out as 'voluntary'.

Now, most people don't even know that it was ever voluntary.

Posted by: wheatie at February 20, 2014 02:33 PM (DEUoo)

87 Posted by: --- at February 20, 2014 06:32 PM (MMC8r) FCC does not regulate Newspapers of Magazines... but that's not stopping them.

Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 02:33 PM (84gbM)

88 FCC does not regulate cable. Yet. Fox Broadcast would be affected. As well as all terrestrial radio.

Posted by: blaster at February 20, 2014 02:33 PM (4+AaH)

89 Here is what they defined as the eight Critical Information needs: "1. emergencies and risks, both immediate and long term; 2. health and welfare, including specifically local health information as well as group specific health information where it exists; 3. education, including the quality of local schools and choices available to parents; 4. transportation, including available alternatives, costs, and schedules; 5. economic opportunities, including job information, job training, and small business assistance; 6. the environment, including air and water quality and access to recreation; 7. civic information, including the availability of civic institutions and opportunities to associate with others; 8. political information, including information about candidates at all relevant levels of local governance, and about relevant public policy initiatives affecting communities and neighborhoods. We have identified two broad sets of critical information needs: (1) those fundamental to individuals in everyday life, and (2) those that affect larger groups and communities. They take different forms across the eight core areas of need that we have identified. Among the most basic are needs for information about the myriad elective offices in even a small American community: without basic information about candidates and their positions Americans do not even have the opportunity for informed participation in democratic life. Similarly, as public policy decisions are made across the range of areas we have discussed, citizens need access to the policy choices that face them, notice about opportunities to participate, and information on decisions that will affect them. That goes much further than the Fairness Doctrine , I think and has much more potential for an abuse of power.

Posted by: tasker at February 20, 2014 02:33 PM (RJMhd)

90 There is one other point that was missed - most of the MSM wouldn't mind, because they already report in the fashion the administration wants. Therefore they know it would simply be great tool to be used against their ideological enemies, so they would be thrilled to comply.

Posted by: RomneyBot since 2007 at February 20, 2014 02:34 PM (ubkrT)

91 I guarantee you the left MSM outlets will barely see a presence. And, if they do, those monitors will be off playing cards somewhere. The intimidation factor of an 'audit' would bring most of them into line PDQ.

Posted by: --- at February 20, 2014 02:34 PM (MMC8r)

92 82 Does the FCC regulate the cables? Would FOX even be affected? Posted by: --- at February 20, 2014 06:32 PM (MMC8r) ********* It's actually about regulating local stations and owners--which in my opinion is worse. IIRC the 'study" was going to start with-- North Carolina.

Posted by: tasker at February 20, 2014 02:35 PM (RJMhd)

93 Can we re-hat those 16,000 new IRS agents and sic them on the press? Winning!

Posted by: Chaos the other dark meat at February 20, 2014 02:35 PM (oDCMR)

94 This is not "potential" for abuse of power. It is abuse of power. Larry O'Connor is a Breitbartian who does local talk radio here in DC, he had the topic today, asked if these people had any self awareness. They aren't doing this because they don't know how bad it looks, they are doing it precisely because they do know how bad it looks.

Posted by: blaster at February 20, 2014 02:36 PM (4+AaH)

95 there are days when I'm not too sure I, at least, can walk away from the computer. Posted by: artisanal 'ette at February 20, 2014 06:23 PM (IXrOn) It's why we're here. Not so much to post, but to let Ace know it matters. Shit. We all have down days/weeks. What keeps you up and moving, what makes you ruck up every morning, are the people who depend on you. You pick the right staff, and they'll cover for you on your down days.

Posted by: tangonine (Entropy sucks) at February 20, 2014 02:37 PM (x3YFz)

82 Does the FCC regulate the cables? Would FOX even be affected?

----------

It would affect their broadcast channels.

Technically, the FCC shouldn't be in the business of regulating cable networks.

So this is overreach.

They are proposing installing 'monitors' in Newspapers and Internet News outfits as well.

Posted by: wheatie at February 20, 2014 02:37 PM (DEUoo)

97 "Without a curious press interested in protecting its own freedoms, there is no there, there. We might as well just put down the mics and turn out the lights, because itÂ’s over."

The press corpse aren't interested in protecting their freedoms.

They're interested in protecting their perquisites.

That's not just getting to ride in the nice part of Air Force One and eat for free at the cushy lobster-and-Wagyu-beef buffets.

It also includes stuff like the huge media combines getting access to extremely valuable broadcast spectrum without having to pay the going market rate for same.

It also includes the corporate parents of the press having their shenanigans not called: e.g., Democrats discreetly shelving any antitrust objections to the new proposed Comcast merger, because of the hugely favorable coverage Democrats enjoy courtesy of Comcast's NBC/MSNBC doubleheader.

You remember that old saying about how freedom of the press belongs to the guy who owns one? Well, today, the people who own most of the media also own a bunch of other things. And they'll happily trade off good press for government-conferred business advantages in those other areas. Witness NBC/MSNBC's former owner, General Electric, getting huge subsidies for its wind power business.

Posted by: torquewrench at February 20, 2014 02:37 PM (gqT4g)

98 Wow, the reach and depth of Candy Crowleyism is stunning.

Posted by: Chaos the other dark meat at February 20, 2014 02:39 PM (oDCMR)

99 This program will start in South Carolina. Because the genius behind it is Mignon Clyburn, daughter of Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina. The only Dem in the SC delegation. Because apparently the problem in SC is that the news is too conservative. It's like they don't even watch the news in Columbia. They are reliably leftist, just like anywhere.

Posted by: blaster at February 20, 2014 02:39 PM (4+AaH)

100 Think about it--they really do not have to rein in the MSM- for awhile Republican strategist were trying to do a go around the MSM one of the ideas was to circumvent the MSM and go to the local markets which have to be more responsive to their audiences and their advertisers. Since local stations are not ruled by the East and West Coast Liberalism---they are almost always more moderate. Well--la voila --now you have this "answer".

Posted by: tasker at February 20, 2014 02:39 PM (RJMhd)

101 After The Burning Times there will be the annual Drag the Dead Journalist's Corpse Through the Town Day. A remembrance of their treason if you will.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 20, 2014 02:40 PM (oFCZn)

102 96 Wow, the reach and depth of Candy Crowleyism is stunning. Posted by: Chaos the other dark meat at February 20, 2014 06:39 PM (oDCMR) The MSM has swallowed the red pill

Posted by: MikeH at February 20, 2014 02:40 PM (bRL1M)

103 Howie called this "insidious". So maybe he's starting to 'get it'. Posted by: wheatie at February 20, 2014 06:30 PM (DEUoo) Thanks wheatie. I had it on mute and unmuted too late.

Posted by: Tami [/i][/b][/u][/s] at February 20, 2014 02:40 PM (bCEmE)

104 If we all know the press is the problem what can we do about it? We've pointed out the press is the problem over and over and over, how about some solutions, a course of action before it's too late, if it isn't already.

Posted by: Dr Spank at February 20, 2014 02:41 PM (hn70M)

105 I think the journalists are a lot like the judges in that they have lost a lot of respect simply because they are not doing their jobs. And they blame us for noticing.

Posted by: WalrusRex at February 20, 2014 02:41 PM (XUKZU)

106 97 This program will start in South Carolina. Because the genius behind it is Mignon Clyburn, daughter of Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina. The only Dem in the SC delegation. Because apparently the problem in SC is that the news is too conservative. It's like they don't even watch the news in Columbia. They are reliably leftist, just like anywhere. Posted by: blaster at February 20, 2014 06:39 PM (4+AaH) ************ Wow--did not know that. Thanks.

Posted by: tasker at February 20, 2014 02:41 PM (RJMhd)

107 Because the genius behind it is Mignon Clyburn, daughter of Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina. Always classy to name your child after meat. Any relation to Cory Booker's friend t-bone?

Posted by: --- at February 20, 2014 02:41 PM (MMC8r)

108 Today She was Breitbart

Posted by: Thunderb at February 20, 2014 02:41 PM (zOTsN)

109 102 If we all know the press is the problem what can we do about it? We've pointed out the press is the problem over and over and over, how about some solutions, a course of action before it's too late, if it isn't already. Posted by: Dr Spank at February 20, 2014 06:41 PM (hn70M) A possible solution is execution by being beaten to death with Andrea Mitchell. Seriously though a start would be to break these media companies up. They own way too many outlets in my opinion. After that I don't know.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 20, 2014 02:42 PM (oFCZn)

110 That's some classy meat.

Posted by: eleven at February 20, 2014 02:43 PM (fsLdt)

111 93 there are days when I'm not too sure I, at least, can walk away from the computer. Posted by: artisanal 'ette at February 20, 2014 06:23 PM (IXrOn) 18 years ago I was a buck sergeant. Our commander was headed home (he was a Col then). We'd just gotten deployment orders. The command was split in half, he was going, I was staying. Dark night, like 1900 hrs. Just me and him. The conversation we had is just between me and him and I won't share it here. Why did I tell you that? well, because there are times when that buck sergeant shakes the colonel's hand and stares him in the eye and we press on. That's why.

Posted by: tangonine (Entropy sucks) at February 20, 2014 02:44 PM (x3YFz)

112 105 Because the genius behind it is Mignon Clyburn, daughter of Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina. Always classy to name your child after meat. Any relation to Cory Booker's friend t-bone? Posted by: --- at February 20, 2014 06:41 PM (MMC8r) ********* omg

Posted by: tasker at February 20, 2014 02:45 PM (RJMhd)

113 Is like to fillet Mignon

Posted by: Thunderb at February 20, 2014 02:46 PM (zOTsN)

114 Speaking of journalism:

During the final installment of his year-long sermon series Â“Time and What Must Be Done,Â” The Minister Louis Farrakhan called on President Barack Obama to Â“open up Area 51,Â” a government location known for sparking conspiracy theories surrounding aliens and UFO landings.

Â“President Barack Obama, call the scientists. Open up Area 51 to the scientists to the world, because you America are the leader that Allah God has raised and made you powerful that he might make himself known through you,Â” Farrakhan said. Â“And if America calls the scientists of the earth to such place, they will respond.Â”

The Nation of Islam leader said that calling Â“the scientistsÂ” to the location would Â“show them the sign of the presence of God to right the wrongs of the earth and heal it.Â”

Farrakhan maintained that Obama would place the Â“shadow governmentÂ” Â— a coalition that is purportedly Â“controlled by the global eliteÂ” and has seemingly veiled Area 51 and UFOs in secrecy Â— in danger of being exposed if he complies.

The faith leader believes that this secretive government force has hidden the presence of UFOs from American presidents and the public alike for decades. This includes The Mother Wheel, a massive spaceship that he believes remains in orbit and will eventually rescue Nation of Islam adherents from earth.

Posted by: WalrusRex at February 20, 2014 02:46 PM (XUKZU)

115 Ace is going to clutch his meat department.

Posted by: tasker at February 20, 2014 02:46 PM (RJMhd)

116 Nood

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 20, 2014 02:46 PM (oFCZn)

117 Most of the damage this administration and the progressives do can be undone with another election, but the damage the press has done to itself is much more serious. They've lost their way, and don't even care anymore whether the press serves a vital truth-to-power role, or if the people trust the press or even if newspapers make money. The press is come undone, and I wonder if it can ever be fixed.

Posted by: MTF at February 20, 2014 02:46 PM (F58x4)

118 Hey, not everybody can be named Jack Daniels.

Posted by: WalrusRex at February 20, 2014 02:47 PM (XUKZU)

119 Pixy is hating on my cell phone hash - XCfYI. And I can't get it to clear. Wifi to 3G to 4G to 3G, then WiFi all day, the 3G & 4G all the way home from work.

Posted by: rickb223 at February 20, 2014 02:47 PM (d0Dmj)

120 Okay everyone, wrap it up. New post. Move up blog. Nothing to see here.

Posted by: blaster at February 20, 2014 02:48 PM (4+AaH)

121 "Here is what they defined as the eight Critical Information needs"

Where every single one of the eight are provided with vastly more scope, depth and comprehensitivity by the Internet.

Instead they want to have Ron Burgundy dutifully reciting mass transit schedules.

Do note that when the Obamaphone giveaways came to light, critics asked why.

Liberals said, "People have to have phones! For emergencies, and job opportunities!"

Critics then asked why the giveaway is of _smartphones_ with data plans, which are not required to dial 9-1-1, and which are not required to speak to a prospective employer.

Liberals said, "So that people can get important information from the Internet!"

Such as, er, mass transit schedules and the rest of the Eight Critical Information Needs? Why then press into service the television studioes to do the same damn thing?

(BTW, I would love to see an anonymized survey of which Internet sites those free Obamaphones connect to the most frequently. I am absolutely certain that sites providing the Eight Critical Information Needs are taking a back seat to Farcebook, Twatter, pop music, sports, games, and "adult" sites.)

Posted by: torquewrench at February 20, 2014 02:48 PM (gqT4g)

122 Posted by: MTF at February 20, 2014 06:46 PM (F58x4) Sorry... but I don't believe the current leadership of the GOP... ie those who will still be in power if they win both houses and the Presidency, will fix anything. The Problem is Washington... not which party happens to be running it this year.... Its the culture of Cronyism.... the payoffs... the Government Picking winners and Losers.... And that is not going to change with an election.

Posted by: Romeo13 at February 20, 2014 02:49 PM (84gbM)

123 I ain't shitting you people. Police up your dicks and lets hit this new topic.

Posted by: blaster at February 20, 2014 02:50 PM (4+AaH)

124 11 What a lot of people don't realize about this...is that it is not just 'monitoring' from afar. The FCC will be installing agents in newsrooms, as 'monitors'...to oversee the day-to-day decision making as to "what is news". That's right. FCC agents, installed in newsrooms, to monitor their content. Posted by: wheatie at February 20, 2014 06:07 PM (DEUoo) In the Soviet military, they were called "political officers".

Posted by: rickl at February 20, 2014 02:52 PM (sdi6R)

125 Related: I have two theories about Jharles Cohnson of LFG. One is that he was in the middle of a nasty divorce and decided to nose-dive his enterprise into the ground. If that was the case, he succeeded. I find that theory a little tough to swallow, as he continued to attempt to make money. The second, and I say this as a person who was there for years, brought him millions of hits, helped him with an international story that was noticed by the NYT, is that 'they' got to him. There were people there who made statements that 'brought him to the attention of authorities' -- one of the ancient Chinese curses. Once they got in the door, and convinced him how miserable they could make his life, he knuckled under. I'd like to proclaim how brave I was under similar circumstances. But I can't. When a cadre of yellow hatted OSHA folks pounded on my door and demanded I prove to them how safe a business I ran, I couldn't -- key data was suddenly (and suspiciously) missing from the safe. So I knuckled under -- just to get them the hell away. Not my proudest moment. So I'm gonna buy something sweet from Amazon in the next week through Ace's link. Vote with my dollars for him to keep a firm spine through the inevitable efforts of the lefties to suppress all opposition.

Posted by: SE Pa Moron [/i] at February 20, 2014 02:57 PM (CnA98)

126 So is this like that Nazi political officer in "Das Boot" when they were sitting around eating lemons?

Posted by: Codec717 at February 20, 2014 02:59 PM (jXG+o)

127 sigh.. the agean stables. and we need a hercules to clean them totally out.

Posted by: I'd rather be surfin at February 20, 2014 03:00 PM (0KmDt)

128 Now Greta has on the person who blew the whistle on the FCC on this.

Posted by: Tami [/i][/b][/u][/s] at February 20, 2014 03:01 PM (bCEmE)

129 In the Soviet military, they were called "political officers". Posted by: rickl at February 20, 2014 06:52 PM (sdi6R) My political officer was put into the past tense too

Posted by: Capt Ramius at February 20, 2014 03:04 PM (aTXUx)

130 I worked on a much smaller story for him-nothing like the history maker I think you were involved in. Had to stop posting due to life events = no time, for a year or so. Made a visit and could not recognize the place. I thought the pod people had taken over his brain and devoured all the regulars.

Posted by: I'd rather be surfin at February 20, 2014 03:04 PM (0KmDt)

131 65 Kurtz is pretty frigging stupid. He gets surprised at an awful lot of things everyone else has known for a millennium.

Posted by: AmishDude at February 20, 2014 03:06 PM (xSegX)

132 Greta and Kirsten Powers are going on and on about how the FCC doesn't understand press freedom or the First amendment. Silly Greta, they don't understand freedom plain and simple.

Posted by: MTF at February 20, 2014 03:11 PM (F58x4)

133 They understand. They don't care.

Posted by: blaster at February 20, 2014 03:13 PM (4+AaH)

134 Greta doesn't think there's a newsroom anywhere that would allow a new "monitor" from the fascist tyranny into their news room. Silly Greta, of course they would. Most of the press would be delighted to know better how to hew closer to the preferred line of thinking.

Posted by: MTF at February 20, 2014 03:13 PM (F58x4)

135 Kiev: coming soon to a city near you.

Posted by: major major major major at February 20, 2014 03:14 PM (Mk0pF)

136

130...Silly Greta, they don't understand freedom plain and simple.

--------

Oh, they understand Freedom alright.

That's why they are trying to kill it.

They don't want people to have Freedom of Information...or Speech.

Posted by: wheatie at February 20, 2014 03:17 PM (DEUoo)

137 Daily reminder: Our children will live under communism.

Posted by: Daily Reminder Guy at February 20, 2014 03:30 PM (6j8ke)

138

It's ok, Communism is just about sharing, and being nice to gays, and other people.

Posted by: Rev Dr E Buzz Commissar at February 20, 2014 03:37 PM (HQml1)

139 Howie Kurtz clobbered on his toupe with an Anchor. .....story at eleven......

Posted by: ontherocks at February 20, 2014 03:38 PM (S7c6z)

140 104, 104, and 110: Yup. Mignon Clybourn is behind this heinous assault on freedom of the press. She's the daughter of a powerful congressional democrat. And it's probably racist to do the math here.

Posted by: obeline at February 20, 2014 04:03 PM (zYgqi)

141 Dead thread but it pisses me off that she has conceded 2016 to Hillary. Defeatism or she wants Hillary. Either sucks ass.

Posted by: Jimmy Delock at February 20, 2014 04:22 PM (3aj5/)

142 "Our biggest problem is that the press has voluntarily surrendered its freedoms for the sake of idols and ideologies.. : Well, no it's not. The existence of political parties is the biggest problem. They shouldn't exist at all. A politician is supposed to work for constituents and country - not party leaders. But we all know that's how it is. The reason? Money.

Posted by: justsayin222n at February 20, 2014 04:32 PM (u3kDc)

143 Mark Levin has been aware of this and talking about it live on the radio for months and months. Maybe a year or more. Naming names... the Clybourn father/daughter duo.

Posted by: BareNakedFace at February 20, 2014 04:44 PM (EmhkB)

144 What could go wrong?

Posted by: Prepare to be Boarded at February 20, 2014 04:47 PM (7v8o1)

145 139: If you are talking about Greta, I've watched her for some time and she previously made it well known that she and Hillary were personal friends and often fluffed Hillary stories. Greta lost me when she continued to ask how this could even happen. Over and over: 'What do they want? Who thought of this?" Duh. Ever watch one of the old WW II movies late at night? Raids on private homes looking for guns or anything verboten, frisk and search at the airport and train station, stopped on highways and asked for papers while dogs sniff you, political officers in the Press and military and local government. Nahhh. Could never happen here.

Posted by: Daybrother at February 20, 2014 05:00 PM (quBLd)

146 So, in my other life, I occasionally work at a tv station. In a technical job.

They did this story last night. Ran a Fox news package. The reporter who read it said afterwords that he was "surprised that Obama was doing this" and indicated his general dismay with this shocking turn of events.

He is a liberal black man who is a HUGE Obama supporter.

Then, the anchor babe next to him read the next story; she was a bit tense.

The director (a Republican) said "she's nervous because of the FCC monitor off camera pointing the machine gun at her head."

Other comments? "Welcome to Mother Russia."

Posted by: shibumi at February 20, 2014 05:23 PM (25HWz)

147 >>>123 Related: I have two theories about Jharles Cohnson of LFG. One is that he was in the middle of a nasty divorce and decided to nose-dive his enterprise into the ground. If that was the case, he succeeded. I find that theory a little tough to swallow, as he continued to attempt to make money. Elaborate, but my theory is that a conservative chick dumped him. Would better explain his psychology.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at February 20, 2014 05:37 PM (V4CBV)

148 Tyranny "for the children" and "diversity" and "fairness" and to serve "the underserved." How do you even begin to unpack that without going full Tourette's? At a certain point "up yours sideways with a pineapple" becomes the only suitable response.

Posted by: NYC Parent at February 20, 2014 06:15 PM (w7+Jh)

149 Grrrr. Last Pixy hash eating test from the cell phone - Take 4,237.

Posted by: rickb223 at February 20, 2014 07:13 PM (xorT2)

150 I want you all to look at the website for Social Solutions International as well as the website for the President and CEO Susanna Nemes. This is the contractor for Project Forced Propaganda. She and her company live very well on the govt tit. These pseudo intellectuals are the first line of attack on the 1st Amendment. Read their entire website full-o-shit. They make their livings off your tax dollars and basically come up with what is, at best, opinions. They have a "Contact Us " link on their homepage. Can we please contact them and let them know we, as taxpayers, do not require their services? let them know that Venezuala and Kiev really require much more attention in their newsrooms

Posted by: Nunyobidnezz at February 20, 2014 08:30 PM (VsGnu)

151 They're called 'political officers.'

Posted by: Warren Bonesteel at February 21, 2014 04:36 AM (klGLB)

152 No one gave a rip as long as it was Fox. Howie's concern is more of a function of his employment than principle.

Posted by: boned to the bone at February 21, 2014 04:38 AM (FPGgj)

153 You will get no compliants from the media. They would prefer Paul Pot as President.

Posted by: burt at February 21, 2014 06:33 AM (1+kJ5)

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