The Press and the Rush to Judgment

New York Sun ^ | 6/6/06 | Alicia Colon

[Coop]

Remember those January newspaper headlines heralding the survival of... 12 trapped miners in West Virginia? ... but only one miner had actually survived. ... reporters failed their journalistic responsibility, and this penchant to rush to judgment before all the facts are verified is again occurring on two recent hot button issues...

...one that is being disgracefully hyped by Rep. John Murtha, who has just been salivating for another My Lai incident to bolster his call for our retreat from Iraq. "Civilians in Haditha murdered by Marines," the headlines screamed, and of course a case still under investigation was tried in the press... ... all the facts were not in, nor did anyone question where the reports were emanating from...

The London Guardian['s]... report about Haditha last year gives an insight into what our brave Marines were up against... Omer Mahdi was given access to the city by the insurgents because they did not realize he worked for a British newspaper... That Islamist guerrillas were active in the area was no secret but only now has the extent of their control been revealed... It is a miniature Taliban-like state."

... routine dawn beheadings and savage beatings, which are all videotaped... entire city is ruled by savagery, terror, and fear, but it has electricity, so it obeys whatever the insurgents decree... Families of the victims have refused to let their bodies be exhumed to determine how they died. Given the routine slaughter of disobedient residents, it's not inconceivable to imagine who the killers really may be. These cowardly savages have been known to use civilians as cover because they know that Americans are decent warriors and that civilian casualties have been kept at an extremely low level. What a pity that Mr. Murtha and the mainstream press don't realize this...

[Coop]

Tough last name for an author, but still a very nice comparison between Murtha's lynch mob and the miner media tragedy.

[Coop]

The only way to truly send a message to Murtha, his America-hating leftist groupies and the military is to send Murtha packing in November. Please consider supporting his gutsy and worth opponent - Diana Irey - in whatever manner you can.

FReepmail me if you'd like on or off the Irey/Murtha ping list.

[Mo1]

the headlines screamed, and of course a case still under investigation was tried in the press... ... all the facts were not in, nor did anyone question where the reports were emanating from...

BTTT

[pissant]

With any luck, he will kick the bucket before november.

[Logical me]

Murtha reminds me of Kerry. Sorry, but one vet to this jerk, you should be ashamed.

[Coop]

With any luck, he will kick the bucket before november.

No way. I want that SOB to live to be humiliated in November, and then give him a long retirement to think how far he's fallen because of his lust for the spotlight.

[Coop]

If you haven't already seen this site, please check it out and sign the roll call.

www.vets4irey.com

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[Just A Nobody]

I would much rather see his bucket kicked!

-

[pissant]

Maybe its just me, but the faster he starts burning in hell, the better.

[Steve_Seattle]

"nor did anyone question where the reports were emanating from"

Surely not a pimple-assed bozo like Anderson Cooper. For all the MSMs alleged, self-proclaimed new willingness to ask the tough questions, they still accept at face value anything as long as it's anti-Bush or anti-American.

[pissant]

That would be my 2nd choice.

[jazusamo]

Congratulations to Alicia C. for being one of the few journalists that has the integrity to at least try to police her own.

[april15Bendovr]

I'm watching the Senate hearings in regards press leaks on Cspan right now. One journalist stated in most cases it was the person giving the information to the press that was doing anything wrong.

As if the press wasn't chomping at the bit to recieve the classified leaks for their own gain knowing it could hurt the country?

[namvet66]

"Please consider supporting his gutsy and worth opponent - Diana Irey - in whatever manner you can."

Thanks. The check is in the mail.

[Coop]

Thanks for supporting her, and a belated "Welcome home!" My father served in the Mekong Delta, 68-69. Brown Water Navy -- NOT a big Kerry fan! (Shocking, I know)

[Beckwith]

I keep reading posts promoting the candidacy of Diana Irey.

I would be interested to know what the pollsters think of her chances?

[Coop]

There have been no public polls. So here's the gist, as I've seen it:

• Murtha's an entrenched, powerful incumbent
• He's got a huge fundraising lead - although Ms. Irey has benefitted tremendously from his recent verbal vomit
• In a recent poll 57% of the district's respondents did NOT agree with Murtha's stand on Iraq
• His district only went for Kerry 51-49%.
• She's been in public office in Washington County (she's the county commissioner) for about a decade

It's quite obvious to me that, while an underdog, she's got a definite chance to knock off this SOB. Murtha has really ticked off a lot of veterans and troop supporters. Heck, I'm in Virginia, but I have made defeating Murtha a pet project of mine.

I'd ask you and everyone to please not sit around waiting for "experts" to tell you if Diana Irey can or cannot win. Do what you can to promote her candidacy (signing up for E-mails, writing letters to the editor, forwarding her site's URL to friends/family, and/or donating). Nothing would send a more powerful message to our troops in harm's way than for them to see Murtha sent into early retirement.

[HarleyLady27]

All the MSM and liberals do day after day is try to make everything a panic situation....

The Marines, panic; the miners, panic; the bird flu, panic; wilson and his mouth about his wife, panic; scooter libby, panic.....

Don't fall into the trap.....they want you to vote for democrats and this is the way they are getting it done, by panic.....

Throw it back in their faces, vote Republican.....no matter what!!!

[HardStarboard]

I'm not sure if it was Murtha's continual call for surrender and denegration of our military, or the basic solid convertavism of Diana Irey, but I sent her campaign a nice donation yesterday.

Nothing would make me happier to see Murtha floundering in the slime he has uttered about the War On Terror, and those on the front lines fighting it!

[Coop]

Glad to hear it. Thanks for supporting her efforts to defeat that EX-Marine Murtha.

[rake]

Families of the victims have refused to let their bodies be exhumed to determine how they died.

Case closed. Marines not guilty.

[Coop]

Case closed. Marines not guilty.

If only it were that easy.

[Coop]

Bump

[Mrs. Ranger]

"There have been no public polls. So here's the gist, as I've seen it:

Murtha's an entrenched, powerful incumbent
He's got a huge fundraising lead - although Ms. Irey has benefitted tremendously from his recent verbal vomit
In a recent poll 57% of the district's respondents did NOT agree with Murtha's stand on Iraq
His district only went for Kerry 51-49%.
She's been in public office in Washington County (she's the county commissioner) for about a decade"

To which I'd add that, with the selection of Gleason(from Johnstown-hmmm? ;) as the head of the state GOP, she can forget about help from them. Although, if you read the following

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1644407/posts

that may not be a bad thing. :)

[Coop]

I guess we could also add that this year there's a proven anti-incumbent sentiment in PA.

[Coop]

Congratulations to Alicia C. for being one of the few journalists that has the integrity to at least try to police her own.

Well said.

[Just A Nobody]

I would be interested to know what the pollsters think of her chances?

Luckily I have been unavailable and Coop handled your question very diplomatically.

Personally, I could care less what the fraudulent pollsters have to say about her. I researched her positions on most of the major issues and was very impressed with what I learned. Then I met her!

Now all I have to say is ...............................

Congress first and then *** Irey for President! ***

[Coop]

We may have to lower the Presidential podium if she makes it to the White House. :-)

[jazusamo]

I could vote for her then. :-)

[trooprally]

reporters failed their journalistic responsibility
They always fail their Duties.
MSM is B**^&H$T!!
[Mrs T]

[Just A Nobody]

LOL! You guys are great!

I have been trying to find the pic of President Bush standing behind the podium and all you can are his eyes and up. Would have been perfect..........

[jazusamo]

You rang?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1641813/posts

[Just A Nobody]

LOL! Thanks Jaz! It may need to be lowered before Diana gets a chance to stand behind it. ;*)

[jazusamo]

LOL...That is funny.

[Coop]

Funny visual!

[Coop]

Bump

[jwalsh07]

BTT

[Valin]

Rule #1 America is always wrong
Rule #2 in the unlikely event that America isn't wrong see Rule #1

[Valin]

My My My That's a pleasant! I want him defeated...soundly. I want him beaten like a bongo drum.

(If I may paraphrase) Jacob 'Big Jake' McCandles: And now you understand. Anything goes wrong, anything at all... your fault, my fault, nobody's fault... it won't matter - I'm gonna blow your head off see you defeated. No matter what else happens, no matter who gets killed defeated. I'm gonna blow your head off see you defeated.

[Coop]

:-) Clue me in - who's Big Jake?

[Valin]

Big Jake (1971)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066831/
The McCandles ranch is run over by a gang of cutthroats led by the evil John Fain. They kidnap little Jacob McCandles and hold him for a million dollar ransom. There is only one man who is brave enough and smart enough to bring him back and that man is Big Jake

John Wayne .... Jacob McCandles
Richard Boone .... John Fain (gang leader)

A great John Wayne movie!

[Coop]

Thanks for the education. :)