It was a bold move on the front steps of the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse steps, said one abc 33/40 news reporter. To step in what everyone refers to as Shelby Country and bring the Barnes Campaign here. Why did you do it, asked the reporter? Why not, replied Bill.
I wouldn't expect anything less than that coming from a man who has stood in the line of fire in the Vietnam war, been told repeatedly that he has no chance of winning and it just can't be done, yet managed to win 60 counties in the primaries on $600.00 and hasn't bowed down to a single politico yet. The man isn't intimidated by $17 million and he certainly has no reason whatsoever to fear Shelby's experience or his hometown. Sometimes I get frustrated at the lack of sincerity in the tone of so many that claim to want what is best for Alabama and then I am reminded, some do... but not until they get their portion of the pie first.
After an incredible press conference that could have educated and provided the citizens and voters of Alabama a solid and informed insight to their alternative to Richard Shelby, it was disappointing to realize that too would be hindered by unfair media. However, I could not think of a better way to share more of Barnes with you than to come straight to Left In Alabama and bring an incredible perspective on the press conference to you from Tommy Stevenson at Tuscaloosa News. Here's a few inserts from the article, but it's A MUST READ FROM BEGINNING TO END.
William G. Barnes, 61, called himself “Your alternative to Richard Shelby.” The first-time candidate characterized his foe in the Nov. 2 general election as someone whose votes in Congress “do not reflect the best interests of the people of the state of Alabama, but rather that of big business and big oil.”
Barnes, a Democrat who says he has raised about $1,000 for his campaign, said contributions from such special interests had allowed Shelby, a Republican, to amass a $17 million campaign war chest.
A supporter of President Barack Obama’s health care legislation, Barnes said Shelby has become a key member of “the party of ‘no’ ” in the Senate.
“He voted ‘no’ on establishing aid to small banks to aid small businesses. He voted ‘no’ on the bill for student loan overhaul because he believes it would destroy the banking industry.”
“Folks, it’s simple,” he said. “We need to ask ourselves if we are better off than we were six years ago when we sent Sen. Shelby back to Washington for a fourth term. I don’t believe we are.”
After the press conference, I approached the reporter to answer his question about the bold move to hold Barnes' Press Conference in Tuscaloosa. I was more than happy to tell him part of his campaign team lived in "Shelbyville", and Bill was thoughtful enough not to have to make us drive far. But even more anxious to advise him that we lived here, we know what Shelby has done for us... but we also knew what he HASN'T done for 63 other counties in this state and it's time Shelby camehome to sit on his Tuscaloosa front porch and sip on some sweet tea with the rest of us unemployed home bodies. Because he was clearly disconnected to the needs of Alabamians.
I went on to tell him, that Alabama didn't need a cheerleader to make them hoop and holler. If they wanted a loud roar, to call Nick Saban and Roll Tide Roll... but if they wanted to pay their bills and get a happy meal from McDonald's, then send Barnes to Washington to fight for the right to work again.
I hope everyone realizes what this man is sacrificing and how much he's putting on the line to restore our dignity and hope in regaining the American Dream that was taken from us. We deserve to be happy again. We've earned the right to smile, not worry and make good memories.
The Selma Times Journal failed miserably if they believe today's update provided any more information or insight to this story. Yes, Williamson is on the record admitting that he attended this rally honoring Nathan Bedford Forest. That should have been the headline as that's the real issue and not what was said at a city council meeting. Basing this entire story around a city council meeting is analogous to writing a story about a Jerry Springer Episode.
Williamson in his response admits that he belonged to the League of the South, a hate group still monitored by the Southern Poverty Law Center
Williamson said he was a member when the group organized about two decades ago.
"It was organized more as an academic exercise by people who were professors, primarily," Williamson said. "They were men who taught at The University of Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, and at first it seemed to be academic exercise about Southern independence, and they wrote a series of articles about Southern independence now, not about the 1860s. I was a member of the League of the South for about eight years, and then when I started law school in 2001, there were some things I had to give up because of the time constraints, and that was one of the things. I have not belonged to the League of the South since 2001. And, of course, there was a split in the League of the South between those who wanted to make it more political, those who seemed to want to make it more radical, certainly more than I wanted it to be. Because as I have said, I have not been associated with it since 2001."
The Selma Fox Times Journal should have gone further. A simple google internet search raises some red flags about Williamson's claim he abandoned the League of the South in 2001.
I don't have much to say about anything, but I have a little to say about a lot of things. Stand by for a piggie rant and then use this thread to rant right back at me.
It occurs to me - as it has to just about anyone who is folllowing the story- that whoever taught Faisal Shazad (sp?) to make bombs was a bad bomb maker or a bad teacher. But if you want to see a really good teacher, who is currently training the next Times Square Bomber, or Hollywood and Vine Bomber, or other American landmark Bomber, check out CNN. They have done a rather constant series of shows on "What went wrong with the bomb?" So, whatever went wrong with this one, we can assume it won't go wrong with the next one. Thanks, John, Anderson and the rest. When the next one goes off, you will be there to report on it - breathlessly. And Larry King can interview the survivors- if there are any. I guess you call that job security.
And... Dear US Census Bureau: I want this census thing to work; I really do. If I didn't I wouldn't be working on it again, for the second time. But, dear God in heaven, if it does work, it will be in spite of the efforts of all the idiot, morons and ego-driven fools you have working for you. I truly hope it is only the Montgomery office where common sense is considered contraband and barred from the offices. I hope it is because these dweebs do not really know anything about Alabama, being "horizontal Carpetbaggers." But I have this deep-seated fear that in every local office in the country, there is a total lack of communication, co-ordination and common sense, and that every medium-to-high level official in these offices is an ego-driven megalomaniac with an unlimited capacity for buck-passing and a non-existent capacity for accepting responsibility for their actions and decisions.
Bill Moyers hangs 'em up tonight with the broadcast of his final Bill Moyers Journal program. He will be sorely missed as a source of facts on television in a sea of baloney and noise.
We've seen and heard the so-called "Dean Scream" too many times since the Iowa Presidential Caucuses 6 years ago this month. Many people have tried to put the truth out about what a fraud the media perpetrated on Howard Dean and, more importantly, the people of this country. Well, there is no better evidence of this than the above clip.
I've owned a DVD of the film for years, but discovered just recently that a clip from the documentary is up on YouTube. The scene captured is a pretty damning indictment of the role of the media in this country in the creation and perpuation of a lie.
Our favorite irascible media tyrant is in the news once again, and once again it’s time for me to bring you a story of doing one thing while wishing for another.
We have heard a lot about the…how can I put this politely…challenges Murdoch seems to face associating factual reality with his reality, and we could have lots of fun going through his factual misstatements—but instead, I want to take on one specific issue today:
Rupert Murdoch says he hates it when people steal his content from the Internet to draw readers to their sites…which is funny, if you think about it, because he has no problem at all stealing my content (and lots of yours, as well) for his sites.
Psst President Obama! Your poll numbers are taking a hit because you aren't doing what we the people elected you to do. Yet. Start taking kicking some gop butt and taking names and your poll numbers will go up. Ask Representative Alan Grayson.
First we had the birthers, Then came the deathers. Now we have the oathers. Are we in trouble yet?
Weallll what do ya know. You remember the fake Pimp, I mean *ahem* Independent Filmaker James O'Keefe who made ACORN look bad? He has a Sugar Daddy, and guess what else.....his Sugar Daddy is gay.
The media, conservatives and the democratic deficit hawks are telling America that the cost of reforming America's health care system better not add one red cent to the deficit. Why doesn't the librul media explain to America that we are paying 10 billion dollars a month on two wars that Americans hate?
I hope President Obama is putting the Patriot/FISA Acts to good use listening in on the phone calls and emails of those who hate us for our freedoms.
If we had our guns, we would have fought a bloody battle. So, keep your guns, and buy more guns, and buy ammunition. [...] Take back America. Don’t let them take the country into Socialism. And I refer again, Hitler’s party was National Socialism. [...] And that’s what we are having here right now, which is bordering on Marxism.
I don't blame republicans, I would rather talk about transparency and accountability for COMMUNITY service grants than access the healthcare, or education, or peace, or freedom, or equal rights, or civil rights, or human rights, or jobs, or forclosures, or poverty, or coal ash dumps, or racism, too.
It's 14 months until the 2010 general election and 8 months before the Democratic Primary, but Artur Davis is already using broadcast media to reach voters in the Wiregrass in his bid to become Alabama's next governor. His campaign calls it the first broadcast ad of the gubernatorial campaign, a 60 second radio spot running on urban and gospel stations "with a particularly heavy rotation during local high school football broadcasts." That's smart targeting!
"It is not too early for him to introduce that message to a group of voters who may not know Davis as well," said Davis spokesman Alex Goepfert. "The more people hear about his life and his goals for Alabama, the more support his campaign for Governor gains."
Davis has made it clear he doesn't intend to leave any potential votes on the table -- campaigning across the state, introducing himself and making his case to voters of all backgrounds. Running this ad in the Wiregrass -- not exactly a Democratic stronghold -- is another sign he intends to fight for votes in every part of the state, not just where he's already popular or well-known.
This ad buy also signals that Davis' fundraising is robust enough that he does not need to hoard funds for a media blitz next spring. That strategy is overrated, imho. If you lose the early battle to define yourself, the media blitz at the end won't be enough to save your bacon anyway. Voters are paying attention earlier and campaigns have to adjust for that.
A transcript of the ad is below the fold, but the basic message is a simple one. Here's my take on it:
Humble beginnings.
Family.
Faith.
Hard worker.
High achiever/accomplishments.
Public service.
Fights for working families.
Reduce the drop out rate. Jobs.
Artur Davis for governor.
All of you who followed the advice of an alcoholic and a drug addict like mice following the Pied Piper.
All of you who rushed to judgment about the contents of President Obama's speech based on the ravings of an alcoholic and a drug addict.
All of you who put their petty politics before the best interest of students.
All of you who were afraid to stand up to the white wing bigots and defend the RIGHT of the President of the United States of America to speak to school children.
I'm asking the Superintendent of Huntsville City Schools if she feels stoopid for allowing the white wing bigots to use her as a tool to help spread bigotry and disrespect by allowing teachers to make the decision if student listen to the President? What's next, letting them opt out of teaching Biology, Chemistry, Math, English?
I'm asking the Huntsville City School Board is they feel stoopid for not standing up for what is right and good and fair and letting HCS parents down who support the President and his education agenda and who taxpayers elected represnt them too? Would the "concerns" of African American taxpayers recieve the same consideration? I think NOT. Strike that. I KNOW NOT.
I'm asking the Huntsville City School Teachers who "opted" out of letting students hear the speech if they feel stoopid for not letting students receive motivation and inspiration from the first African American President of the United States of America. A President that "pulled himself up by his bootstrap" and succeed despite his circumstances? What lesson did those that opted out teach students?
I'm asking the parents of HCS school students who didn't want their students "brainwashed" by the President's political agenda if they are happy they taught their students about bigotry, racism, pettiness live and in living color? Children are our future, how can they move forward and make this world a better place if they are taught to hate someone because of the color of their skin? How are we going to move forward together, one nation, under God, with Liberty and Justice for ALL, if the children of the future are full of the prejudice and racism of the past?
I'm asking the stoopid media we have if they feel stoopid for inflaming and enabling the white wing bigots at the behest of an alcoholic and a drug addict? I don't recall democratic controversies garnering the same media attention. As a matter of fact, democratic dissent was suppressed. Rush and Glenn start something and the media gladly finishes it.
WE (including the media) need to start treating the white wing bigots like we treat the alcoholic uncle or the drug addicted aunt who show up drunk or high at the family gatherings and IGNORE them. If they refused to be ignored WE SHOULD CALL THEM OUT. Start standing up to the right wing bullies.
Redeye tiptoeing away from the computer to go print up some I'm with Stoopid T-Shirts to give to Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck followers.
Throughout the Southern system's history, the region's media have almost invariably been part of what Atkins labels the "solid phalanx" of powerful interests: a unified business community, elected officials, the clergy and other opinion shapers. Southern newspapers and radio stations joined the forces relentlessly battling unions, the New Deal and advancements in civil rights for African-Americans.
Southern media acted as uncritical stenographers transmitting and amplifying the crudely racist views of segregationist politicians ...
As Atkins' book vividly shows, another crucial component of genuine democracy has been grievously lacking in the South: independent mass media willing to challenge and investigate corporate power and to serve as the voice of those shut up by bosses, shut out of power and shut down by multinational corporations seeking ever cheaper labor.
Toadying to the rich and powerful in order to maintain "influence." Yeah, that sounds familiar and all too common in Southern media circles. What is it about the South that makes it so hard for the media to be the champion of the underdogs?
When polled regarding the primary source for news about their region of Alabama, a majority of those surveyed (56 percent) said from local television newscasts. Daily newspapers and the Internet trailed at 15 percent and 14 percent, respectively, followed by local radio, chosen by 6 percent, weekly newspapers, 3 percent and friends and neighbors, 1 percent.
The percentage of 18 to 34 year old Alabamians who rely on the internet as their primary source of regional news is even higher -- 20%. This is no surprise to most of us since internet news is more usable and user friendly than newspapers, TV or radio (the tiny amount of local news left on radio) but there's a darker side to the survey's findings.
The research also uncovered evidence of a so-called "digital divide," where the better educated and more affluent are more likely to be using the Internet. Polling manager Patrick Rose said that his analysis shows that "persons with annual incomes over $70,000 are two to three times more likely to get news from the Internet than those with incomes under $50,000."
Broadband internet should be available to everyone in the state, the PSC should be able to require that instead of wasting time and money mapping the underserved areas. Everyone has electricity and phone service; internet is just as important. The threat of a well informed upper class existing side by side with an information starved lower/middle class is extremely troubling. Broadband access not only opens up opportunities for desperately needed economic development, but a well informed populace plays an essential role in demanding more competent, more open and more responsive state and local government -- something Alabamians of all income levels have a stake in.
The South is different from the rest of the country -- we vote more Republican and we believe less in science. The question posed at the NN09 Southern Caucus was "What makes the South different and how can we use that difference to elect progressives and further progressive policies in the South?" I'm still looking for an answer to the second part of that question, but this sheds some light on the "why" part of the question.
QUESTION: How often do you watch Fox News channel; daily, at least once a week, a few times a month, rarely, or never?
Daily
Week
Month
Never
Not Sure
All
12
13
5
66
4
Non-South
9
10
5
72
5
South
19
20
6
51
4
QUESTION: How often do you watch CNN; daily, at least once a week, a few times a month, rarely, or never?
Daily
Week
Month
Never
Not Sure
All
15
14
7
61
3
Non-South
18
17
8
53
4
South
7
6
5
80
2
QUESTION: When it comes to accuracy and trustworthiness as a source of news would you say that Fox News Channel is extremely reliable, reliable, unreliable, or extremely unreliable?
Ext. Rel.
Rel.
Unrel.
Ext. Unrel.
Not Sure
All
11
24
26
15
24
Non-South
9
21
30
18
22
South
15
31
17
8
29
Here in the South, we're the last people in America who still believe Fox News is a reliable news source instead of a propaganda outlet. Wool, meet eyes.
Updated to add Non-South responses per drg's suggestion.
Boy, to hear them tell it, Americans are rising up in unison to resist Obama's Socialist agenda. On CNN this morning there was a brilliantly conceived and orchestrated interview with a woman named Katy. Our girl, Katy, explained several times that she doesn't know much about health care, or politics, or government or history, but nonetheless wants her totally uninformed views noted and broadcast by the media. And of course, since increasing the ignorance of the electorate is the apparent goal of our media, she got a full airing of her air-headed views. Hooray once again for the media we have!
As I type this, I am still watching CNN (You probably ask "Why?") as they show a Town Hall meeting with Sen. Grassley, (R-Iowa). The brilliant talking heads marvelled at how comparitively well behaved the crowd was at this event, and how reasonable the discourse was. Well, DUH! The morons are not going to disrupt a gopper's meeting. That might give the idea that there is some balance here.
Well what do you know? The Cambridge Police Department released recordings of the 911 call that started this saga in an attempt to prove they weren't "acting stupidly" when officer Crowley arrested Dr. Gates for being uppity, I mean disorderly in his own damn home, and it proved Crowley indeed "acted stupidly".
The Cambridge Police, via the media, said they receieved a call from a concerned neighbor that two black menlooked like they might be trying to break into a house.
"I just saw it from a distance, and this older woman was worried, thinking somebodies breaking in someones house and they've been barging in,..... She interrupted me, and that's when I noticed. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have noticed it at all, to be honest with you. So I was just calling because she was a concerned neighbor, I guess."
That's not the only DIRECT LIE.
"In the police report, filed by Crowley, he says he spoke with Whalen outside the home before he approached Gates' house. 'She went on to tell me that she observed what appeared to be two black males with backpacks on the porch of Ware Street,' the report says. 'She told me that her suspicions were aroused when she observed one of the men wedging his shoulder into the door as if he was trying to force entry.'"
Walen disputes Crowley's version:
"Let me be clear: She never had a conversation with Sgt. Crowley at the scene,' Murphy told CNN by phone. 'And she never said to any police officer or to anybody 'two black men.' She never used the word 'black.' Period.'
She added, 'I'm not sure what the police explanation will be. Frankly, I don't care. Her only goal is to make it clear she never described them as black. She never saw their race. ... All she reported was behavior, not skin color.'
So, what exactly does President Obama owe the Cambridge Police Department and "Police Departments all over the country" an apology for?
Why did the the media not investigate and report the facts instead of allowing Gates to be painted as a raving lunatic that deserved to be arrested in his own home?
When is the media going to apologize for getting it wrong?
Why is President Obama inviting Gates and Crowley to the White House for a "beer"?
The only thing I've learned so far is the media will report whatever they want to report, facts and truth be damned. In this case they reported a DIRECT LIE. Crowely filed a false police report. Are they reporting that? Nooooo. Now they promoting Whalen being invited to the White House for a beer with Gates and Crowley, after all she's the real victim in all this. Snark.
What about you? What have you learned if anything from this "teachable moment"?
Stop Cap and Trade. You know, it isn't that folks worried about climate change "don't like" coal, it's that burning coal is damaging this planet -- the only home we have -- and the people who live on it. The bias against coal isn't a preference, it's an imperative for survival.
Clear Channel just laid off another 590 radio employees after cutting 1850 back in January.
Do you miss having a local, local radio station since Clear Channel bought yours and started playing cookie cutter muzak-lite carefully designed to appeal equally to everyone, everywhere? Which is to say they play pap, utterly devoid of local interest, appealing to no one. If so, don't despair. Rush Limbaugh is doing his darndest to drive Clear Channel out of business. He's doing it out of greed, of course, not any concern for the public welfare but who cares about the motive if it breaks the airwave monopoly and gives us better, locally relevant programming.
Clear Channel's fall from business grace remains epic in its proportions. In 10 years time the company has gone from dominating a flourishing radio industry to a corporation that now teeters on the brink. (Clear Channel stock traded for $90 a share in 2000. When the radio company went private last year, pre-crash, the stock was already down in the $30s.) Lots of over-extended, debt-ridden media conglomerates are struggling through today's deep economic recession, but few face a future quite as perilous as the one staring back at the San Antonio radio giant.
And yet Clear Channel's most famous employee, Rush Limbaugh, remains oblivious to it all. I sometimes wonder what Limbaugh thinks when he reads about the not-so-slow-motion collapse of his radio employer while lounging in his 24,000-square-foot Florida estate or motoring in his $450,000 car to the airport to ride in his $54 million jet. Does Limbaugh feel bad? Does he feel a little guilty? And does he ever think about giving some of his riches back so that thousands of radio colleagues wouldn't have to be bounced to the curb?
Heck no! Rush doesn't think about helping his laid off radio colleagues. What, you think he's some kind of socialist or something?
I really don't have time to examine this as closely as I would like to, but I'd like to get some other opinions on our media coverage in Alabama. I started thinking about this last night after I left a comment on this thread questioning whether the MSM in Alabama would hold Sen Sessions to what he's said in the past.
In Birmingham, the Birmingham News doesn't go in-depth into the Mayor's doings and proposals (with the glaring exception of John Archibald's column). The city does have the Birmingham Weekly as a foil - but it's coverage is much more idealogically slanted (slanted in my direction, but still slanted). And it has nowhere near the readership that the News has, so it has much less impact.
Today I went to al.com, and clicked over to their politics section.And what is their "Top Story" in a pink box at the top of the screen?
It's all about torture. Every channel, every hour, every pundit and commentator - talking about waterboarding, sleep deprivation, forced standing, insect and rodent infestation...
This may not be a really coherent rant, but try to stay with me here. John McCain was tortured, at least he says he was and I have no reason to doubt him. He became a lying weasel later in his life (unless you ask his first wife). So why is he defending the people who tortured in our name? Why does he think investigating further would be just political reprisals against an administration we don't like anymore?
Dick Cheney's motives are clear - he really doesn't want to go to prison, where he obviously belongs. Likewise KKKarl Rove, Mukasey, Rumsfeldt and the rest. So, let's set aside for the moment all the goppers who are trying to protect themselves from prosecurion. Let's try to understand the others: the "news analysts" and pundits who are sharing their what-passes-for-wisdom on every tee vee channel. Here is the refrain I am hearing the most "I have to see the rest of the classified memos - need to know how much good stuff we got from the torture - before I can decide whether torture was a crime or not:".WTF is that?
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