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Is Technology Or Ideology To Blame?
TalkingSides.com ^ | 05/09/10 | CaroleL

Posted on 05/09/2010 10:30:49 AM PDT by CaroleL

Speaking to the graduating class of Virginia's Hampton University today, President Barack Obama took another opportunity to whine about the quantity of information available to Americans: "Some of the craziest claims can quickly claim traction," in the clamor of certain blogs and talk radio outlets. "All of this is not only putting new pressures on you, it is putting new pressures on our country and on our democracy." Let's examine a few of those crazy claims and exactly who is spreading them.

(Excerpt) Read more at talkingsides.com ...


TOPICS: Government; Politics
KEYWORDS: bombing; obama; terrorist; timessquare

1 posted on 05/09/2010 10:30:49 AM PDT by CaroleL
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To: CaroleL

As soon as we can examine your Birth Certs Pal.


2 posted on 05/09/2010 10:33:52 AM PDT by screaminsunshine (S)
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To: CaroleL

Since TalkingSides is not an excerpt-only:

The morning after the failed bombing in Times Square, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano appeared on Meet the Press to say, “You know, at this point I have no information that it’s anything other than a one-off.” Later that day Senator Charles Schumer (D-New York) appeared on CNN and declared, “The odds are quite high that this was a lone wolf.” (source)

The next day New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) was happy to speculate for CBS News, “If I had to guess 25 cents, this would be exactly that. Homegrown, or maybe a mentally deranged person, or somebody with a political agenda that doesn’t like the health care bill or something. It could be anything,” he said. “There is no evidence here of a conspiracy, there is no evidence that it’s tied into anything else.” (source)

Shortly after that, the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attempted bombing and a Pakistani-born suspect was named and subsequently arrested.

Even after that, General David Petraeus, who oversees the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, told reporters the Times Square bombing suspect apparently operated as a “lone wolf” who did not work with other terrorists. (source)

It is apparent no more. Citing new evidence, senior White House officials said this morning that the Pakistani Taliban was in fact behind the failed Times Square bombing. Attorney General Eric Holder said the evidence shows that the Pakistani Taliban was “intimately involved” in the bombing plot. John Brennan, the president’s homeland security and counterterrorism adviser also linked the bomber to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP. (source)

And so as the president attacks “certain blogs and talk radio outlets” just as he previously went after “cable news,” we see that people within his own administration and members of the Obama-supporting mainstream media have led the way in providing the “craziest claims” and giving them traction. While I do not advocate jumping to the conclusion that every terrorist attack will prove to have been committed by Islamic extremists, it is equally inappropriate to jump to the defense of Islamic extremism. In doing so our government appears weak, naive and foolish to our friends and enemies alike.

Contrary to the president’s speech at Hampton, it is not new technology that’s putting new pressures on our county. It is a political ideology that promotes suspicion against peaceful dissenters while giving the benefit of the doubt to admitted terrorists.
Tags: bombing, charles schumer, david petraeus, hampton university, islamic extremism, janet napolitano, media, michael bloomberg, obama, pakistani taliban, times square


3 posted on 05/09/2010 10:34:47 AM PDT by Little Pig (Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici.)
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To: CaroleL

Isn’t it interesting how Progressive Fascists like Dear Reader are all gung ho for “Diversity” except when it comes to diversity of information.


4 posted on 05/09/2010 10:35:03 AM PDT by MNJohnnie (The problem with Socialism is eventually you run our of other peoples money. Lady Thatcher)
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To: CaroleL

In case anyone hasn’t noticed, liberal/progressives do NOT like free, plentiful speech.

The ONLY way they can get their way is if the public is asleep.

I still have one question for the “press” that covers Obama...why not just ask him to produce his long form birth certificate...and for that matter his college grades.


5 posted on 05/09/2010 10:35:14 AM PDT by kjo
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To: CaroleL
Little things get out....

Like Hasan had an association with Obama's campaign...

Like Faisal took advantage of the new Muslim rules for Naturalization...

Like Faisal almost got away because of FBI incompetance....

Like the Feds didn't have the booms in place when the BP accident occurred.

6 posted on 05/09/2010 10:36:54 AM PDT by Sacajaweau (What)
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To: CaroleL

FUbo!

LLS


7 posted on 05/09/2010 10:45:42 AM PDT by LibLieSlayer ( WOLVERINES!)
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To: CaroleL

His frustration is that he can’t muzzle who he wants.


8 posted on 05/09/2010 10:45:48 AM PDT by umgud (Obama is a failed experiment.)
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To: CaroleL

Free Speech really sucks, eh King Zero?

They thought they had it all wrapped up with their control of the FCC and all of the MainStream Media...

Then this pesky new mechanism for free speech came along called “The Internet”.

This is why the Soviets had required a license for typewriters. Obummer is trying to push us in the same direction.


9 posted on 05/09/2010 10:46:02 AM PDT by Bon mots
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To: Sacajaweau

Or as required by law, fire boom to ignite the spill. Think how mch CO2 we saved.
barbra ann


10 posted on 05/09/2010 10:50:11 AM PDT by barb-tex (REMEMBER NOVEMBER!!! Slim as it may be, it is our last hope.)
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To: CaroleL

It’s technology that allowed Iranians to communicate with us during their election. Technology is very imporatant

“With iPods and iPads and Xboxes and PlayStations, — none of which I know how to work — information becomes a distraction, a diversion, a form of entertainment, rather than a tool of empowerment, rather than the means of emancipation,” Obama said

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hcoyG-Ck3-VwZB7fqpUFXbffoObg


11 posted on 05/09/2010 10:50:36 AM PDT by HollyB
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To: CaroleL
certain blogs and talk radio outlets.

What about network TV and it's propaganda?
Notice how he didn't mention the left wing propaganda machine, as if there were some truth in it.

12 posted on 05/09/2010 10:51:12 AM PDT by concerned about politics ("Get thee behind me, Liberal")
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To: CaroleL
"Some of the craziest claims can quickly claim traction,"

Translation: I need to control all your communications.

13 posted on 05/09/2010 10:58:05 AM PDT by Navy Patriot (Sarah and the Conservatives will rock your world.)
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To: CaroleL

There is a lot of misinformation and outright lies out there. It’s up to us to separate the wheat from the chaff. Stay educated and informed. Read as many sources as possible. See what sources are the most reliable over time, and check to see if they print retractions or corrections when they are wrong.

Use your head and your common sense, and remember that you can’t make the right decisions with the wrong information.


14 posted on 05/09/2010 10:59:25 AM PDT by freethinker_for_freedom
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To: CaroleL

Obama is miffed that the new media is actually reports the truth about the regime and is not spewing White House propaganda. This man is dangerous and would not have any problem with quelling free speech.


15 posted on 05/09/2010 11:04:33 AM PDT by The Great RJ ("The trouble with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money'" M. Thatcher)
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To: HollyB
Slobama: With iPods and iPads and Xboxes and PlayStations, — none of which I know how to work...

So he gave the Queen of England a device he supposedly didn't know how to work, loaded with his own speeches.

And I love that part of the address where Nobama says free speech is destroying democracy. Because democracy isn't everybody saying what they want to say, democracy is everybody saying what Obamessiah wants them to say.

I believe in hope and change... I hope the next time he tells a lie, a lightning bolt changes him into a pile of smoking ash.
16 posted on 05/09/2010 11:06:30 AM PDT by angryoldfatman
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To: freethinker_for_freedom
remember that you can’t make the right decisions with the wrong information.

"Celestial navigation is based on the premise that the Earth is the center of the universe. The premise is wrong, but the navigation works. An incorrect model can be a useful tool. -- Kelvin Throop III "

Sometimes, you can. ;)

/johnny

17 posted on 05/09/2010 11:55:28 AM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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