Posted on 05/02/2002 9:59:39 AM PDT by Starmaker
"Whom G-d wishes to destroy he first makes mad."
— Seneca
No cliche merchant here. I prefer to gravitate toward original thought, though each time discovering tomorrow that someone else has done a better job making my point for me, yesterday.
Most of us are fascinated by apocalyptic works of fiction wherein humanity, or an important part of it, is threatened with destruction. CNN viewers are firsthand witnessing a real-life drama, and the sorry implosion of a once very informative and respected network.
Here are some recent verbatim quotes from CNN programs, enjoy the show:
Begala: "Congressman Davis, Who has a more legitimate claim to the office they hold, Hugo Chavez, the President of Venezuela, who won an election, or George W. Bush in America?" Davis (R-VA): "George W. Bush. That's easy." Begala: Really? George W. Bush didn't win anything more than a five to four vote on a Supreme Court that his daddy helped pick. I don't like Chavez, either. I think he's a thug and he's a clown. But he was freely and democratically elected..."
Brown declared in a memo to bosses last week: "I am the face of CNN!" to which a top network source noted: "I hate to be the one to break the news to Mr. Brown, but has he looked in the mirror lately?" Better yet, has the entire network examined the magnitude of their self-imposed denial?
For edification, I watched Brown host an excellent panel of guests on his program "Black and White in America" on Tuesday 4/30. The show focused on the Cincinnati riots of a year ago. The speakers were as he said, not the "usual suspects" in the sense that liberal and conservatives squared off in typical format, but instead consisted of four African-Americans, one Latino man, and a White woman, all with conservative perspectives on race issues and solutions. The guests must have been chosen by a common sense network head scrambling for competitive content, because Brown clearly was uncomfortable with what they were about to say.
Reverend Eugene Rivers spoke eloquently about the failure in the black community with 70% of children being raised fatherless, to which Aaron asked "why haven´t we talked about this before?" A very sharp Rivers replied: "because it was politically incorrect to do so." Blank-faced, non judgmental Brown, never agreeing or disagreeing, could only say: "Really."
Another articulate guest, columnist Delroy Murdock stated that "the majority of arrests in the Cincinnati case were of black males who were committing crimes, prompting Brown to interrupt, "we reported on that, this isn´t new news, and I´m not being defensive." What?
Heather McDonald of the Manhattan Institute intoned that "during the riots, the media always has to find the angriest of black makes to interview. When I was there, I met many responsible black males who were upset about the behavior of the rioters, and yet they weren´t the ones interviewed." The camera then panned to Aaron Brown, who could offer nothing more than silence, and a smirk.
The Latino man (and I apologize for not writing down his name) intoned: "I am amazed at the lack of influence by the church, and the prominence of influence coming from rap. Laws are race neutral, but the results of the enforcement of laws seem injurious to blacks. This is what the rappers capitalize on." Again, when the camera focused on Brown, he seemed entirely out of his element, and squirmed in his seat.
Here an extremely bright panel were never offered the opportunity to share and debate the merits of their findings, because the host refused to offer an opinion, any opinion. Either way, the entire segment was left dangling, dangling like most CNN presentations, as no moral judgment is permitted. Brown closed off with a puzzling: "there´s a lot of leadership crises around the table." Does that include you too Aaron?
CNN is failing because they employ painful and predictably prepackaged renditions of reality wherein the conclusion to their stories is reached prior to an association with the facts. Since moral absolutes are non-existent, there are absolutely no morals. Facts, in a sense then, are details. Sacred agendas are hermetically sealed and impenetrable, reinforced by once deft interpretations that coagulate around the summary. The dexterity is now nothing more than a vacuous pretense defended by a peevish wine taster, Aaron Brown.
CNN deliberately excises ever bringing up the one word that signifies both their frustration, and their demise: truth. Americans are thirsting for it, and in CNN they have found a barren desert. Truth to CNN is relative. And therein lies the source of their internal crisis. Truth is an honest, factual, description of reality. It´s not an invention. It isn´t malleable based on what one wants it to be. You´ve been discovered CNN. Get it? Like going to the doctor for a diagnosis one strives to avoid, the lack of moral compass, and the refusal to acknowledge it, can only lead to further bleeding.
To comment on this article or express your opinion directly to the author, you are invited to e-mail Patrick at gohabsgo@cox.net .
In Brown's defense, the allegedly biased quote seems to be sarcasm, and well-directed sarcasm at that.
I don't know the context in which it was said -- and thus whether or not it was appropriate.
Today, however, too many "reporters" believe that not only the best way, but the *only* way, to present news is to simply parrot what someone else (even those with clear agendas) said happened, or to just sit back and let two people with opposing accounts of the events disagree with each other on the air about what happened, and then leave viewers having to guess which one might be the more accurate.
Bingo.. Today 'reporters' merely get on their computer and recite what others have written. They are lazy. When have we seen a 'reporter' question some outragous claim from a special interest group or find the real facts? Digging out the facts is a thing of the past.
I think it points out that 'reporters' are now chosen by looks. If they can actually read and write, that's a plus. Know journalism? They don't need no steenkin journalism
It is a matter of time before the long knives, the bean counters at AOL, decided to divide up CNN and sell the parts, equipment and properties to the highest bidders. There will be no bids for their shrieking heads, their leftist talking heads and the lefty maggots who put these Bravo Sierra shows on tv posing as news or news talk shows.
AOL is getting pounded in the market for being a typical left wing run (ruined company). Time Warner was an AA type of asset fantasy, and CNN is nothing but a Rat Spin tv net posing as a news tv outlet.
The loss of all three AOL, Time Warner and CNN will be just another left wing organization going broke without Jake Reno or the Clintoon doing illegal things to save them.
Nope, no bias noted.
They ran it where they thought most people would see it ... on Fox News.
Liberal vermin such as CNN have been so dominant and arrogant for so long, that they have absolutely no comprehension as to what is in store for them. Their ratings are insidiously, day by day, heading into the sewer.
The evil duo of Carville and Begala are steel nails in the coffin of CNN ratings.
I don't believe I've ever seen this Brown fellow myself; just as well. My advice to CNN: Take two or more aspirin for the bleeding; call CCRM in the morning for a followup ; ) I wouldn't waste a tourniquet on the dim bulbs at CNN. I suppose they will all go down with the ship never quite knowing what happened; clueless bunch that they are.
Hey Lan, I'm taking some(more) time off from FR to get some things done around the place; much of which has been put off since last Spring. Continue the good fight my friend.
FGS: Texan-American
Nor I; & yes...just as well, indeed.
"My advice to CNN: Take two or more aspirin for the bleeding; call CCRM in the morning for a followup."
HA!
Ahhhh...listen my friend; you forgot the most important PRx to that outfit would be for 'em to put some ice on it, too. ;^)
~eh?
"I wouldn't waste a tourniquet on the dim bulbs at CNN."
Not anymore than I'd would I waste my valuable time watching the consummate asshole purveyors of gobbledegook propaganda, either.
Although terrible as it sounds?
I must admit to deriving a certain, undefined pleasure from watching CNN bleed to death.
The slower the better, the more zinnngggg I could extracate.
Real nourishment to the soul they've helped to the truth-starved state I find mine in, today.
"I suppose they will all go down with the ship never quite knowing what happened; clueless bunch that they are."
Yup.
But down they're going to surely go, nonetheless.
"Hey Lan, I'm taking some(more) time off from FR to get some things done around the place; much of which has been put off since last Spring."
Good for you, bud.
Besides & oddly enough?
The only cure for a case of acute FRS (Free Republic Syndrom) is a vacation; whereby, one occupies their time doing *something* with their hands.
Gives JR, his kid & the good admin moderators a little break, too.
(btw: I choose weaving baskets & lemme tell ya... :^) )
"Continue the good fight my friend."
Of that you may be sure, my Texan friend.
...enjoy yorself now; c'ya again somewhere down the line some. OK?
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