In my effort to always give credit where credit is due, I recently included a great quote by Dylan Ratigan about children. I have to admit that I had to really think twice before including him in a quote. While I appreciate many of his words, his style often overwhelms the substance and this can be a major turn off. Here is a great example:
I have written here often about the behavior of newcasters, pundits and analysts. Ratigan did not disappoint in his outright disrespect of congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. His behavior was descipicable. Many times it seems like these guys, liberals and conservatives, are trying to catch Limbaugh in ratings. Ratigan behaved like a bully towards a respectable member of congress, not to mention that she was a guest on his show. How rude!
Showing posts with label Pundits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pundits. Show all posts
Friday, December 18, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Being a Pundit, Newscaster and Analyst X
It seems that Lou Dobbs of CNN has been lying, or at the very least stretching the truth. The Huffington Post reports that on his radio show he said that "'They've threatened my wife, they've now fired a shot at my house while my wife was standing next to the car.' Concluding with a call for 'truth, justice and the American way,' Dobbs cautioned 'if anybody thinks that we're not engaged in the battle for the soul of this country right now, you're sorely mistaken. And during an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Thursday, Dobbs spoke again about the gunfire incident, linking it to 'threatening phone calls tied to the positions I've taken on illegal immigration.'"
The problem with Dobbs' statements is that the New Jersey police differs in their assessment of what happened. "In a phone interview conducted yesterday, Sgt. Stephen Jones, a NJ State Police spokesperson, chuckled out loud after he heard about Dobbs' account of the gunfire incident. Jones commented that he 'wouldn't classify it [the gunfire incident] as very unusual." He also confirmed that there are hunters in the area, and stated that, "at this time of year hunter [shooting] complaints go up.' Another policeman
"Another New Jersey State Police spokesperson, Sgt. Julian Castellanos, noted that 'it's a wide open area and there are hunters in the area.' Castellanos explained that the bullet had hit the house in vicinity of the attic; it 'hit the vinyl siding and fell to the ground' without penetrating the vinyl, he said. While Lou Dobbs' wife, Debi Lee Segura, was standing outside the house at the time of the gunfire, the bullet did not come close to her; it 'struck at the apex of the house, near the roof,' and thus considerably higher than a standing person, Jones observed."
It's shameful what newscasters will do for attention. CNN is looking pretty bad, right about now, especially after their intense following the balloon box hoax. Whatever happened to the dignity of the likes of Walter Cronkite? Dobbs' story seems to have all to do with ratings. I guess he's trying to compete with the Glen Becks and Rush Limbaughs of the world. Does CNN think that we want this kind of news?
Why else would Lou Dobbs think that he can titillate us with such deception? I skimmed passed a Dillon Ratigan article on the Huffington Post today. He was dressed as Thomas Jefferson and I just didn't even feel like reading it. A few weeks ago Ratigan was dressed as Dracula during one portion of his show. I stayed tuned anyway and I was happy to have done so. Some excellent points were made. However, this time I just wasn't up for it. I did not read the article. I wonder how others feel about the decline in ethics and news.
The problem with Dobbs' statements is that the New Jersey police differs in their assessment of what happened. "In a phone interview conducted yesterday, Sgt. Stephen Jones, a NJ State Police spokesperson, chuckled out loud after he heard about Dobbs' account of the gunfire incident. Jones commented that he 'wouldn't classify it [the gunfire incident] as very unusual." He also confirmed that there are hunters in the area, and stated that, "at this time of year hunter [shooting] complaints go up.' Another policeman
"Another New Jersey State Police spokesperson, Sgt. Julian Castellanos, noted that 'it's a wide open area and there are hunters in the area.' Castellanos explained that the bullet had hit the house in vicinity of the attic; it 'hit the vinyl siding and fell to the ground' without penetrating the vinyl, he said. While Lou Dobbs' wife, Debi Lee Segura, was standing outside the house at the time of the gunfire, the bullet did not come close to her; it 'struck at the apex of the house, near the roof,' and thus considerably higher than a standing person, Jones observed."
It's shameful what newscasters will do for attention. CNN is looking pretty bad, right about now, especially after their intense following the balloon box hoax. Whatever happened to the dignity of the likes of Walter Cronkite? Dobbs' story seems to have all to do with ratings. I guess he's trying to compete with the Glen Becks and Rush Limbaughs of the world. Does CNN think that we want this kind of news?
Why else would Lou Dobbs think that he can titillate us with such deception? I skimmed passed a Dillon Ratigan article on the Huffington Post today. He was dressed as Thomas Jefferson and I just didn't even feel like reading it. A few weeks ago Ratigan was dressed as Dracula during one portion of his show. I stayed tuned anyway and I was happy to have done so. Some excellent points were made. However, this time I just wasn't up for it. I did not read the article. I wonder how others feel about the decline in ethics and news.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Being a Pundit, Newscaster and Analyst IX
"Memo to the media: Time to check in for a serious round of 'right vs left' rehab. When it comes to torture, the only appropriate framing is 'right vs wrong.'"
--Arianna Huffington
Read Arianna Huffington's entire piece,"The Torture Moment," here.
--Arianna Huffington
Read Arianna Huffington's entire piece,"The Torture Moment," here.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Being a Pundit, Newscaster and Analyst VIII
Sam Donaldson seems like the only level-headed pundit in this group. Listening to George Will, Peggy Noonan and Cokie Roberts I was amazed at the outright sanctioning of irresponsibility and the lack of accountability. These well-spoken clean cut pundits are those that we have listened to and read for years, yet there is a disturbing eeriness to their words. But perhaps I'm taking this too far some might say. "Everything is fair in love and war"--hence, the declaration of the war on terror and the abdication of national and international treaties?
"The problem with transparency is that it's transparent for the terrorists as well," said Will. He continued that "intelligent people of good will" believe the President of the United States can do whatever he wants to "defend the country." What??? Donaldson rightly repeated the infamous Richard Nixon line, "When the President does it, it's not illegal." Brilliant response!
Noonan chimed in, "It's hard for me to look at a great nation issuing these documents and sending them out to the world and thinking, oh, much good will come of that. Sometimes you need to just keep walking." She also believes that some things should be "mysterious." Cokie Roberts added that it was bad that those at the CIA destroyed documents pertaining to torture but she was glad that they did.
Here is Jon Stewart's ever brilliant take on the discussion of torture and Peggy Noonan's comment in particular.
What concerns me here is the desire not to hold others responsible and accountable. There is also a recklessness and injustice about the statements of Will, Roberts and Noonan that's rather alarming. It seems like a desire to intellectualize wrong doing and to simply make it go away without acknowledgement or retribution. With this kind of mentality, the ills of history will most likely be repeated.
Responsibility and accountability are essential to a healthy society.
"The problem with transparency is that it's transparent for the terrorists as well," said Will. He continued that "intelligent people of good will" believe the President of the United States can do whatever he wants to "defend the country." What??? Donaldson rightly repeated the infamous Richard Nixon line, "When the President does it, it's not illegal." Brilliant response!
Noonan chimed in, "It's hard for me to look at a great nation issuing these documents and sending them out to the world and thinking, oh, much good will come of that. Sometimes you need to just keep walking." She also believes that some things should be "mysterious." Cokie Roberts added that it was bad that those at the CIA destroyed documents pertaining to torture but she was glad that they did.
Here is Jon Stewart's ever brilliant take on the discussion of torture and Peggy Noonan's comment in particular.
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | M - Th 11p / 10c | |||
| We Don't Torture | ||||
| ||||
What concerns me here is the desire not to hold others responsible and accountable. There is also a recklessness and injustice about the statements of Will, Roberts and Noonan that's rather alarming. It seems like a desire to intellectualize wrong doing and to simply make it go away without acknowledgement or retribution. With this kind of mentality, the ills of history will most likely be repeated.
Responsibility and accountability are essential to a healthy society.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Being a Pundit, Newscaster and Analyst VII
It looks like Jim Cramer is being lambasted for his financial ignorance and apparent arrogance yet once again. But this time by a respected economist, Nouriel Roubini. "Cramer is a buffoon," said Roubini, professor of economics at New York University. "He was one of those who called six times in a row for this bear market rally to be a bull market rally and he got it wrong. And after all this mess and Jon Stewart he should just shut up because he has no shame."
Like Nassim Nicholas Taleb in the Black Swan, Roubini predicted that we were heading for the worst recession in many decades. His truthful, though gloomy, prediction of the global financial meltdown garnered him the name of Dr. Doom. In an interview with the Associated Press Roubini said this about Cramer: "He's not a credible analyst. Every time it was a bear market rally he said it was the beginning of a bull and he got it wrong."
Cramer responded by writing a blog entry that Roubini was "intoxicated" and full of his own "prescience and vision." He also asserted that things are getting better since the stock market reached bottom in early March. I'm no economist, but this seems unlikely. I have not even heard this from any economist or financial analyst. Most are uncertain of where the bottom is. In a Youtube video roundtable discussion with economic expert, Linda Yueh and Harvard economist Kennth Rogoff, Taleb says, "I tell you one thing. You tend to think that the current crisis is in the middle or toward the end. I think we may be in the very beginning." This was a few months back.
Cramer also wrote that Roubini and Paul Krugman, a Nobel Prize Laureate in economics--not that this means much these days, are a part of "the nationalization jihad." Roubini responded by saying that he is in support of Treasury Secretary Geithner's plan. (Hmmm, there maybe some qualms with this. There is a reason the banks stress test report has been completed but not released. The TARP probably has not helped many of these banks; many seem to be failing in spite of it.) "He keeps insulting me personally and saying a bunch of lies," Roubini said. "He doesn't even know I was supporting it so he says lies." Maybe CNBC should find another financial analyst. I wondered after the Stewart evisceration if he would last a week after. He appears to be hanging on, but maybe not for much longer.
Like Nassim Nicholas Taleb in the Black Swan, Roubini predicted that we were heading for the worst recession in many decades. His truthful, though gloomy, prediction of the global financial meltdown garnered him the name of Dr. Doom. In an interview with the Associated Press Roubini said this about Cramer: "He's not a credible analyst. Every time it was a bear market rally he said it was the beginning of a bull and he got it wrong."
Cramer responded by writing a blog entry that Roubini was "intoxicated" and full of his own "prescience and vision." He also asserted that things are getting better since the stock market reached bottom in early March. I'm no economist, but this seems unlikely. I have not even heard this from any economist or financial analyst. Most are uncertain of where the bottom is. In a Youtube video roundtable discussion with economic expert, Linda Yueh and Harvard economist Kennth Rogoff, Taleb says, "I tell you one thing. You tend to think that the current crisis is in the middle or toward the end. I think we may be in the very beginning." This was a few months back.
Cramer also wrote that Roubini and Paul Krugman, a Nobel Prize Laureate in economics--not that this means much these days, are a part of "the nationalization jihad." Roubini responded by saying that he is in support of Treasury Secretary Geithner's plan. (Hmmm, there maybe some qualms with this. There is a reason the banks stress test report has been completed but not released. The TARP probably has not helped many of these banks; many seem to be failing in spite of it.) "He keeps insulting me personally and saying a bunch of lies," Roubini said. "He doesn't even know I was supporting it so he says lies." Maybe CNBC should find another financial analyst. I wondered after the Stewart evisceration if he would last a week after. He appears to be hanging on, but maybe not for much longer.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Being a Pundit, Newscaster and Analyst VI
While watching President Obama's press conference yesterday evening, I was struck by his customary calm and thoughtful responses. I was also, as many others, struck immediately by the tone of Ed Henry's question, let alone the question itself, even outright bringing the President's daughters directly into the conversation.
In a two-part question about New York Attorney General, Andrew Cuomo, Ed Henry, CNN's Washington Correspondent, questioned whether President Obama's reaction to the AIG bonuses was feigned or not, and asked why the Office of the President was doing nothing while Attorney General Cuomo's office was doing all the work. The question to me was bordering disrespectful, but if asked another way without the reference to his daughters, perhaps not.
The President responded calmly as is his nature. "Of course I do, Ed," President Obama replied. "Which is why we're doing everything we can to reduce that deficit. . . ." "This is hard," he added, especially as he was given a 1.3 trillion dollar yearly deficit. The President also spoke of the need to reduce health care cost and reform education. But this was not enough for Henry, as he appeared to be on a mission to either look smart, get a rise, or openly shame the President.
Since President Obama did not respond verbally to Henry's earlier question that pitted the Office of the President against the Office of the Attorney General of New York, Henry pressed the issue. Although the President did not respond verbally, there was definitely a slight dismissive smile. But Henry would not be denied. He would leave there with the answer he wanted or his achieved intention.
Henry pressed the issue, asking why the President waited so long to respond to which he was promptly put in his place: "It took us a couple of days because I like to know what I'm talking about before I speak," he replied, with a look of steal that quickly dissolved as he called upon the next questioner. There was laughter among the reporters. The long shot of Henry shortly after the exchange revealed a somewhat dejected reporter. I suppose he will not try that tactic again--at least not with this President.
In a two-part question about New York Attorney General, Andrew Cuomo, Ed Henry, CNN's Washington Correspondent, questioned whether President Obama's reaction to the AIG bonuses was feigned or not, and asked why the Office of the President was doing nothing while Attorney General Cuomo's office was doing all the work. The question to me was bordering disrespectful, but if asked another way without the reference to his daughters, perhaps not.
The President responded calmly as is his nature. "Of course I do, Ed," President Obama replied. "Which is why we're doing everything we can to reduce that deficit. . . ." "This is hard," he added, especially as he was given a 1.3 trillion dollar yearly deficit. The President also spoke of the need to reduce health care cost and reform education. But this was not enough for Henry, as he appeared to be on a mission to either look smart, get a rise, or openly shame the President.
Since President Obama did not respond verbally to Henry's earlier question that pitted the Office of the President against the Office of the Attorney General of New York, Henry pressed the issue. Although the President did not respond verbally, there was definitely a slight dismissive smile. But Henry would not be denied. He would leave there with the answer he wanted or his achieved intention.
Henry pressed the issue, asking why the President waited so long to respond to which he was promptly put in his place: "It took us a couple of days because I like to know what I'm talking about before I speak," he replied, with a look of steal that quickly dissolved as he called upon the next questioner. There was laughter among the reporters. The long shot of Henry shortly after the exchange revealed a somewhat dejected reporter. I suppose he will not try that tactic again--at least not with this President.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Being a Pundit, Newscaster and Analyst V
On "Real Time With Bill Maher" Keith Olbermann said that Glen Beck is "nuts." I can't disagree with this; he definitely does not seem to be well, the hype for ratings aside. But I must admit to laughing until tears rolled down my cheeks when on "Fox and Friends" Beck said to the host, "Gretchen, name the monster. There are more of us than there are of them." Uh...yeah!
Here are other highlights:
"We don't in the country recognize evil anymore...We are a country heading towards socialism, totalitarianism beyond your wildest imagination...I wanted to debunk these FEMA camps...I can't debunk them...If you trust our government, it's fine. If you have any kind of fear that we might be heading to a total totalitarian state, look out, buckle up; there's something going on in our country that is...ain't good."
Beck is obviously off his rocker; while I laugh aloud, it's actually sad that he has a show, as some might take him seriously. Rupert Murdock and the producers of his show should be ashamed of themselves for allowing such a wingnut to have a platform.
Here are other highlights:
"We don't in the country recognize evil anymore...We are a country heading towards socialism, totalitarianism beyond your wildest imagination...I wanted to debunk these FEMA camps...I can't debunk them...If you trust our government, it's fine. If you have any kind of fear that we might be heading to a total totalitarian state, look out, buckle up; there's something going on in our country that is...ain't good."
Beck is obviously off his rocker; while I laugh aloud, it's actually sad that he has a show, as some might take him seriously. Rupert Murdock and the producers of his show should be ashamed of themselves for allowing such a wingnut to have a platform.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Being a Pundit, Newscaster and Analyst III
Why Jim Cramer agreed to go on Jon Stewart's show is beyond me.
Jon Stewart is brilliant!
Will Jim Cramer survive? I don't know.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Being a Pundit, Newscaster and Analyst II
Recently I wrote a piece, Being a Pundit, Newscaster and Analyst. Included is a classic Jon Stewart clip. Here's another. Check him out; he's really funny.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Being a Pundit, Newscaster and Analyst
I have written here about pundits, newscasters and financial analysts, the likes of Santelli and Cramer, who often enrage me with their arrogance and ignorance. Here Jon Stewart pokes fun at them:
But is he dead serious?
But is he dead serious?
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