Disqus - Latest Comments for donpublius

Re: Ayn Rand Inspires Republican Attack Ad - GalleyCat

donpublius — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 23:53:33 -0000

My point was the portayal as AVN's positions as conservative just because they are flying a Christian banner. Their positions are clearly not conservative (unless you want to play with semantics and not use the standard platform of positions used by conservatives). It appears, judging from their "About Us" page the only self-identified politically active people are Democrats (that is not to say none of them are registered Republicans).

This ad merely is what it is - an ad attacking conservative Republicans. Like any other ad, it's a dime a dozen and any practicing journalist (as opposed to cable-TV flame-throwing talking head) will tell you doesn't merit the headline it was given.

The bottom-line: This is not about whether you agree with the statement of AVN, it is whether you agree with the characterization of them in the article.

Re: Ayn Rand Inspires Republican Attack Ad - GalleyCat

donpublius — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 23:44:00 -0000

Then we are agreed.

Re: Ayn Rand Inspires Republican Attack Ad - GalleyCat

donpublius — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:25:47 -0000

If that is true, then you need to get out more. Christians - like most other large groups - come in all flavors. Unless you readily seek out both sides of any issue - not that your have to agree with any particular side - you're dooming yourself to the life of a cultist, not an intellectual.

Re: Ayn Rand Inspires Republican Attack Ad - GalleyCat

donpublius — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 17:03:38 -0000

This is actually the far left pretending to be the far right attacking
Republicans (right and not-as-right). Look at the site that created the
ad. Read the causes they support. Those are not conservative causes.
Read the About Us and count the Democrats. What's most amazing is that
they've done such a poor job of hiding their true identity.

Re: Ayn Rand Inspires Republican Attack Ad - GalleyCat

donpublius — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 17:02:40 -0000

oops! double post.

Re: Ayn Rand Inspires Republican Attack Ad - GalleyCat

donpublius — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 17:00:09 -0000

These aren't Republicans. Go to their site and read the "About Us."

Re: Ayn Rand Inspires Republican Attack Ad - GalleyCat

donpublius — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:58:48 -0000

These are not conservative Christians. There board is filled with Democrats. They support Democrat causes. This is clearly a guerrilla attack meant to give the appearance of Republican infighting. It really shows how to use media (particularly internet) illiteracy for pure propaganda purposes.

Re: Sun Sets On 'Reading Rainbow' - mediabistro.com: FishbowlLA

donpublius — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 08:40:37 -0000

T'would seem this would have been a wonderful opportunity for a consortium of publishers to have sponsored.

Re: Bartiromo or Burnett: "Who Will Be the Face of CNBC?" - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

donpublius — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:33:34 -0000

I thought the face of CNBC has been and always will be Jim Cramer. After all, he gets to do the commercial with Al Roker on TWC.

Re: Miss California Organization Bought Miss USA Contestant Big Fake Boobs - mediabistro.com: FishbowlLA

donpublius — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:42:02 -0000

Wow, Jeff. You need to read a history book. Actually, just read Aristotle. In general, the definition of "civil" norms in constant flux. There are strong social arguments on both side of this particular issue - either of which can win a debate if presented properly. You need to check you bias at the door before entering the debate and acknowledge there is a chance for either side to be right.

That being said, there is also a scientific argument.

The difference is like this: Sociologists might argue ad infinitum ad naseum on whether you can fit a square peg in a round whole - technically, depending on the effort you put in, both sides of the argument can be correct. A scientist would simply say "Why bother? That's not what a square peg was built for in the first place; therefore, your statement represents a non sequitor."

Society is filled with many more sociologists than scientists. Scientists understand that. I don't think sociologists even give it a second thought.

Re: Reading The Tea Leaves... - mediabistro.com: FishbowlDC

donpublius — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:14:28 -0000

Wow. This guy is incredibly out of touch. Even Bush showed more compassion to the opposition than Obama. I feel sad for our country - the President is almost daring it to Balkanize.

Re: Give Women The Right To Vote And The Whole Country Goes Down The Toilet - mediabistro.com: FishbowlLA

donpublius — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:10:43 -0000

Not sure about the women and libertarian "anti-connection" considering last I heard Ayn Rand put her panties on one leg at a time.

And wasn't FDR (the father of the Welfare state) a man?

Re: 100 Days News Conference: Coverage Notes - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

donpublius — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:38:19 -0000

Hasn't this 100 day celebration been going on for, say, 100 years or so? Enough already. Get back to work.

Re: Evening Newscasts Have Covered Obama More Than Bush & Clinton Combined - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

donpublius — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:58:20 -0000

Ya think?

Re: Got Questions for Kerry? USA Today Taking Requests - mediabistro.com: FishbowlDC

donpublius — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:10:48 -0000

Yes: I am deeply concerned at the extra-ordinary loss of the horse and buggy sector. This once vital sector connected a growing nation but is on the verge of becoming nothing more than a hobbyist supplier. Mr Kerry, what can you do for our nation's horse and buggy trade?

Re: CNN Reporter at Chicago Tea Party: It’s “Anti-CNN Since This is Highly Promoted By the Right-Wing, Conservative Network Fox” - TVNewser

donpublius — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:18:58 -0000

What a terribly racist thing the say. You should apologize to all black people for insinuating this has anything to do with race. Otherwise, the Department of Homeland Security has its eyes on you...

Re: Why Doesn't the <i>NYT</i> Have a 'Serious' Female Columnist? - mediabistro.com: FishbowlNY

donpublius — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:28:46 -0000

Funny, I always wondered why the Times doesn't have any serious male columnists.

Re: Journalists Say Internet Hurts - mediabistro.com: FishbowlNY

donpublius — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:02:43 -0000

How can I comment? The horse and buggy says it all.

Re: The Limbaugh Challenge - mediabistro.com: FishbowlLA

donpublius — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 23:02:26 -0000

Wow. All I can say about Marc Cooper is that he needs to get out and experience America. Limbaugh pulls no trick. He understands perfectly every little-guy in America wants to be a big-guy. And what Limbaugh says addresses their biggest concern: "It's OK to be a big-guy. Congratulations. You earned it. And nobody should ever take that away from you."

A the Marc Coopers in Cooperville will never understand (nor duplicate) the success of Limbaugh until they understand this basic American Credo taught to me on my immigrant grandfather's knee: In America, anybody can be a big shot.

Re: What The Next Quarter Holds For CNBC - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

donpublius — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:13:12 -0000

CNBC stopping being about financial news long ago. The Santelli "rant" and Cramer's slap at Obama merely spoke for a segment of its audience long ignored. But those weren't the only examples of "getting back to basics" that occurred in the first quarter. There was the Warren Buffet interview and the constant rattling at Washington in defense of Wall Street that someone needed to do.

Why? Because, in the end, who really is better at looking out for "Main Street" America - Wall Street or Washington? That CNBC's ratings were up while Obama's were down states the obvious answer. Jon Stewart may have hurt CNBC by counter-punching Cramer, but CNBC didn't do itself any favors by cowering. That's the real reason it's ratings have fallen in the last few weeks.

Re: Will Long-Form Journalism Survive? - mediabistro.com: GalleyCat

donpublius — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:32:57 -0000

Long-form journalism? Don't we call that a "blog" nowadays? Or at least a potentially boring blog because of its length.

Re: Santelli "Not Involved" In Any Tax Day Tea Parties - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

donpublius — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:29:25 -0000

Clearly there is something in Santelli's FBI files. Oh, wait! Those things only matter to the State Department now. In today's White House, someone probably gave Santelli an offer he couldn't refuse.

Re: O'Reilly Appears on GMA, Olbermann Ombuds - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

donpublius — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:30:53 -0000

Bill, I knew Lorne Greene. You are no Lorne Greene....

...on the other hand, you're also no Keith Olbermann.

Re: Say it Ain't So! <i>NYT</i> to Cut City Section? - mediabistro.com: FishbowlNY

donpublius — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:18:38 -0000

You are not alone in saying "the City Section is the one part of the paper we would be willing to pay for."

Maybe it'll be the next pay-per-view on-line business model?

Re: Democratic North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan Saw Into The Future, It Was Dark, We Didn't Listen - mediabistro.com: FishbowlLA

donpublius — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:00:11 -0000

Technically, you're correct. What I'm referring to, though is the mentality of merely reporting (and printing) what sounds like it'll sell. From a finance and markets standpoint, this article (not the original NYT article, but the synopsis above) is not well thought out as the premises don't match the argument. They sound good and a lot of people will shake their heads in agreement, but any business school finance professor (let alone anyone experience in banking) would give it a big fat F. Nothing personal. It's simply a non sequitor.