Stirring the John Edwards Cover-up Pot
DBKP is not the only one stirring the John Edwards affair and cover-up pot. Others are adding in tasty bits which have all the makings of a rich, filling scandal stew.
Deceiver has not only a complete coverage of who's saying what, it also is adding to the impressive collection its own "Rielle Hunter Film Library".
You’ve seen her star turn opposite Denzel Washington in Ricochet. You’ve thrilled to her bikini-clad dancin’ in Overboard. Now TMZ has unearthed what may be Rielle’s finest moment onscreen: Her 2002 appearance on the Game Show Network’s Lingo! (If only To Tell the Truth hadn’t gone off the air…) Introducing herself to host Chuck Woolery, Rielle claimed to be “a writer” and added, “I also do a lot of yoga and chant. Mostly about how Elizabeth Edwards is a total bitch.” Okay, I might have thrown in that last part. No word yet on how much she won, but it couldn’t be nearly as much as she’s getting from this latest game.
Rush Limbaugh gave DBKP a shout out Wednesday on his show!
LBG's "John Edwards Affair: Dr. Strangelove, the “Favorite” Film Edwards Never Saw" caught the attention of El Rushbo and he used it as a modern-day parable. From Rush Limbaugh.com: Story #2: A Shining Example of the Breck Girl's Phoniness
RUSH: A fascinating story today on a blog called Death by 1,000 Paper Cuts. This story, I think, is a microcosm by the Democrat Party and their willing accomplices in the Drive-By Media. Let me just share the details with you. In August of 2004, John Edwards, the Breck Girl, participated on a program the Turner Classics Movie channel, and they are doing a series, Party Political and the Movies. This aired in 2004. And what these political personalities, people, were asked to do by Turner Classic Movies was to pick their all-time favorite movie and explain why. So Edwards picked Dr. Strangelove. "I believe that one of the messages Stanley Kubrick was trying to send was putting this kind of power and this potential Holocaust in the hands of human beings no matter who they are is an extraordinarily dangerous thing."
Well, here's the thing. Edwards had never seen the movie. Edwards had never seen Dr. Strangelove when he picked it, and the next element of the story is that he didn't even pick it, is his wife Elizabeth did.
Rush then quotes from LBG's story and emails started coming into the mailbox from well-wishers alerting us to the EIB notice. [Note: Thanksx100 to IC at KG3 and Snoop at PPP for the audio clips of the broadcast. We were busy on a story and missed it live!]
PJ Gladnick, of NewsBusters, lauded our coverage of the John Edwards-Fred Baron travel records in Edwards Scandal: Blogosphere Leads Investigation That MSM Neglects.
As NewsBusters editor Matthew Sheffield recently wrote, the John Edwards scandal demonstrates why the public is moving to the Web for news. A big reason for the public relying more and more on the Web for news is that the blogosphere is willing to do the investigative footwork that the mainstream media often neglects. A perfect illustration of this are the revelations made today by the DBKP blog about the suspicious aircraft leasing arrangements made by John Edwards' moneyman, Fred Baron:
The entire article is worth the price of admission, but some of the comments that follow the article could have very well been written by sheepish MSM reporters trying out spin at NewsBusters what they practiced around the water cooler--when they should have been out investigating the myriad threads of what's turning into the madcap cover-up of Edwards, et.al. (Yeah, I know it's a long sentence--but it's late, or early.)
A thousand thanks to Gladnick and NewsBusters: sometimes you feel like you write in a vacuum. Pieces, such as PJ Gladnick's, (as well as the response of readers) assure you that that vacuum only has power around the MSM.
Frank Nedelkoff, The New Nixon, notices another of the ever-growing collection of coincidences that have popped up in the John Edwards scandal(which Nedelkoff labels "Riellegate") at almost every turn.
I’ll point out once again that, when it comes to coincidences, I’m still intrigued by the fact that the Center For Promise And Opportunity, the well-funded nonprofit foundation set up by Edwards ostensibly to fund a mammoth scholarship program for poor students across the nation, abruptly went out of business (along with the scholarships it sponsored at the single high school where it manifested concrete results) a week or so before Rielle Hunter fled to St. Croix (a place with easy air access to various discreet financial institutions) and the former vice-presidential nominee went on ABC to confess his “liason.” Whither went its assets?
While Fred Baron may not exactly be an idiot savant in the memory department (if readers remember Baron responding to the questions of the NY Times), Nedelkoff reports that Baron will likely remember where he's to be next week: the Democrat Convention in Denver.
Update: the blog of the Dallas Morning News reports that although John Edwards seems to be skipping the Democratic convention next week, Fred Baron will continue his 20-year tradition of attending it. The post also quotes an Obama campaign source as denying that Baron is involved with planning events for the campaign in Colorado, as had been previously reported.
Need a quick non-Edwards break? The Morning Scramble goes around the Net in five minutes--or less.
AND
Political Party Poop has the scoop on Obama: Obama the same today as yesterday (1995, that is) and The Incredible Disappearing Candidate.
Back to the Edwards scandal.
Doug Ross has an "Exclusive Photo: Denver offers haircuts for the homeless" that proves guess that "There's a John Edwards joke lurking somewhere in that story."
Radar reports that the "NYT Hot On Story Of John Edwards And The Mysterious Duke Graduate".
New York Times reporter Serge Kovaleski is on a story. Serge, you'll remember, is the reporter who brought us the tale of Ashley Alexandra Dupré, the young working lady who consorted with former New York governor Eliot Spitzer. What's Serge up to?
Since December, DBKP heard plenty of whispers, buzz and other talk on this subject. When it came time to "name names", however, the only thing we (mostly) heard was [crickets].
Apparently, the NY Times is trying to out-hustle the National Enquirer--for once.
From Williamson Republic (TX), comes the story of "Maldonado Refuses to Give Up Money Associated With John Edwards Scandal's "Hush Money Man".
After a request by Williamson County Republican Party Chairman Bill Fairborther that HD 52 candidate democrat Diana Maldonado return money associated with John Edward’s “hush money man” Frederick Baron her campaign said that they will not be returning the money.
Baron has been at the center of controversy for paying what has been characterized as “hush money” to Edwards’ mistress and he has admitted to moving her into hiding.
There's more to this story at WR.
There's a LOT more, but two big developments await before 0600 EDT.
Stay tuned for more curious circumstances.
by Mondoreb
image: DBKP
August 10-16, 2008
Volume 27
I'm Trench Reynolds.
I blog about crime.
This is DBKP's This Week in Crime for August 10th-August 16th, 2008.
At craigscrimelist I made another short post about more teens involved in prostitution. And again more people think they're not victims.
The most interesting link I posted at CrimeNe.ws this week was a rare occurrence, someone on death row who actually took responsibility for his crimes.
At News of Doom we had several disturbing stories this week but the one that disturbed me the most was a story about a Florida DJ who had his eyes cut out.
The news was light this week at MyCrimeSpace but the story that was in the national media spotlight for a bit was about the missing Malibu twins. Luckily they were unharmed for the most part.
At TheTrenchcoat Chronicles the story that righteously raised my ire was a story about two parents who sued a school district for their son getting shot and killed there. You'd think they would have a case but read the post to find out why I think they're trying to collect blood money.
Speaking of blood money at Bad Breeders I posted a story about how I think there are some who are trying to collect their own blood money in the case of missing child Caylee Marie Anthony.
This weekend I've also opened a message board called The Open Trench. You can discuss any story from my blogs or any topic at all.
As usual if you want to follow my blogs you can use Twitter, the RSS feed, or Netvibes, and also Friend Feed.
That's it for this week. I'm Trench Reynolds for DBKP.
You will come to know when the bullet hits the bone.
by Trench Reynolds
image: Trench Network
August 3-9, 2008
I'm Trench Reynolds.
I blog about crime.
This is DBKP's This Week in Crime for August 3rd-August 9th, 2008.
At craigscrimelist I made a short post about a woman who forced a girl into prostitution and yet some people still say that prostitution is a victimless crime.
Readers of DBKP may find this story from CrimeNe.ws interesting. Animal rights activists are believed to have firebombed the houses of two medical researchers.
At News of Doom the dismemberment theme continues as a woman in Greece was beheaded by her boyfriend. I also post weekly kitten pictures to help cleanse the mental pallet after reading these kind of stories.
The big story this week at MyCrimeSpace was the story about Mercades Nichols. You my remember her name from the infamous recorded beating of Victoria Lindsay. She's back in the news again because she was arrested again. This time on unrelated charges to the beating.
At my flagship site, TheTrenchcoat Chronicles, I posted a story that seems to have fallen off the media's radar lately. It's about an 18-year-old kid who may not only have been a would be school shooter but may have also been a would be presidential assassin.
And lastly at Bad Breeders while the coverage of the disappearance of Caylee Marie Anthony chugs on like the train that could the other story I want to feature this week is about a 14-year-old father accused of brutal child abuse.
As usual if you want to follow my blogs you can use Twitter, the RSS feed, or Netvibes, and now I also have Friend Feed for those of you who really want to stalk me online.
That's it for this week. I'm Trench Reynolds for DBKP.
Where good thrives, evil survives, and evil has plans for survival.
by Trench Reynolds
Culture Watch, Vol. 27
Nancy Morgan
Right Bias
John Edwards has been caught with his pants down. The recipient of the 2007 Father of the Year Award was finally exposed by 'tabloid' National Enquirer as having an affair and allegedly fathering a child as his wife Elizabeth is dying of cancer. Conservatives weren't surprised but some are amazed at the absolute sincerity Edwards evinced as he lied about the affair before he was forced to admit the truth. The old media remained silent as long as they could, until forced by events to actually report the downfall of their golden boy.
The Edwards scandal was a somewhat welcome relief from all Obama, all the time, but the Messiah still got his share of face time before retiring to Hawaii for a week long vacation. Phew. Most notably with his solution to America's energy crisis - inflate your tires. Obama also stated, with a straight face, "for the sake of our economy, our security and the future of our planet, we must end the age of oil." Good grief.
Obama accuses McCain of being in the pocket of big oil, even though Exxon company execs have contributed more to Obama than to McCain. Hmmm.
The Denver City Council has passed an ordinance barring protesters from carrying buckets of feces during the Democratic National Convention. For the second week, Rasmussen Daily Presidential Tracking Poll reports both candidates are tied at 44% each. In a much needed break from the eternal campaign, the media has turned its focus on:
THE OLYMPICS:
The Summer Games in Beijing are in full swing. The opening ceremony garnered record ratings for NBC. The smog hanging over Beijing is getting so bad that the International Olympic Committee may have to consider postponing or shifting events.
With the eyes of the world on China, I figured this week's article would deal, once again, with 'China's Dirty Little Secret.' Most Americans would be shocked to know that China has, for years, engaged in the trafficking of organs and other body parts from their executed prisoners. Actually, this practise is not a secret, its just ignored.
GOOD NEWS:
On the energy front, the Department of Interior last week published proposed regulations to establish a commercial oil shale program that could result in the addition of up to 800 billion barrels of recoverable oil from lands in the western US.
The price of oil has dropped almost 20% in only three weeks. If the trend continues into September, its possible most of the inflationary spike of the last 12 months will disappear. Cool jeans. Meanwhile, the GOP is continuing their protest against the Democrats absolute refusal to allow a vote on offshore drilling.
'The Obama Nation' has been at the top of the best-seller charts since its release. Meanwhile, Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi's book 'Know Your Power' sold only 2,737 copies in its first week. No wonder Democrats hate and fear the free-market system.
A state appeals court has reversed itself and ruled that parents in California have the right to home-school their own children, even if they don't have a teaching credential. Good thing, too, as the California legislature just approved AB 2567 which calls for an official day of commemoration in all government schools of homosexuality, bisexuality and transsexuality.
In Iraq, the good news continues. Iraq has resumed oil exploration after a 20-year break. Anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr intends to disband his once-feared Mahdi Army militia and remake it as a social services organization. Translation: We whipped his b***. God Bless America. Meanwhile, Iran has decided to scrap death by stoning.
CULTURE:
Publisher Random House has pulled a novel about the Prophet Mohammed's child bride (experts differ as to whether she was 8 or 10 years old) fearing the book 'could incite acts of violence.' In response to this blatant appeasement, RightBias.com has decided to feature Muslim Cartoon Week all this week. Because we can. Hope you check it out and forward to your friends.
Greyhound has scrapped an ad campaign that extolled the relaxing upside of bus travel after one of their passengers decapitated a fellow passenger and proceeded to eat him. Animal rights fanatics PETA jumped on this story and posted an ad on its website comparing this horrific beheading to how humans kill animals for food. Yech.Institute for Internet Addiction Recovery and a death row inmate scheduled for execution says he's too fat to be put to death.
ESSENTIAL TRIVIA:
An astute stamp collector recently discovered that one of the Old Glorys in the U.S. postal Service's "Flags 24/7" series appears to have 14 stripes. Oh, lest I forget, the Post Office had a net loss of more than a billion dollars in the third quarter of this fiscal year. That's our money they're talking about. Sigh.
Chicago has been voted the worst nanny state in the U.S. - the city with the most stringent regulations interfering with the exercise of personal freedoms. Hey, isn't that where Obama is from?
Airlines are set to cut 60 million seats by years end and Forbes has come out with their list of the fastest dying cities.
IDIOT OF THE WEEK:
Again, a tie. First place has to go to another Father of the Year - a Gulf Coast man who was charged with murder after he said he gave his 15 year-old son powerful prescription drugs because he wanted the boy to know "how to party right."
Second place goes to the idiot that confessed to a 7 year-old murder on a national radio show. Ah, the eternal quest for those fleeting 15 minutes.
Till next Monday, keep smiling,
by Nancy Morgan
RightBias.com
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July 27-August 2, 2008
[Editor's Note: DBKP apologize for the lateness of this week's Trench on Crime. We mistakenly thought this was posted earlier in the week. Look for new Trench's DBKP This Week in Crime on Sunday or Monday, as is usual.]
I'm Trench Reynolds.
I blog about crime.
This is DBKP's This Week in Crime for July 27th-August 2nd, 2008.
This week at craigscrimelist I the most amusing story was this one about a male temp that was running a prostitution ring in a veterinarian's office.
My favorite link from CrimeNe.ws this week would be this one which just happens to go to a guest post I did for Investigation Discovery.
Business has definitely picked up at News of Doom where we had not one but two particularly grisly stories.
At MyCrimeSpace the story of the week was about a 17-year-old rapist who was sentenced to 3 years in juvenile detention. The real story is in the comments section of that post.
At TheTrenchcoat Chronicles we had a story about a school shooter who is spending his life in prison who wants you to feel sorry for him.
And lastly at Bad Breeders while the coverage of the disappearance of Caylee Marie Anthony continues I do want to point out this post about a newborn that was mauled by a dog? Freak accident or inattentive parents?
As usual if you want to follow my blogs you can use Twitter, the RSS feed, or Netvibes. If you have another way you'd prefer to follow my blogs let me know.
That's it for this week. I'm Trench Reynolds for DBKP.
So until the next time have a good sin.
by Trench Reynolds
| Culture Watch, Vol.26 Nancy Morgan RightBias.com August 4, 2008 |
[WARNING: Explicit Language]
The good news is, Congress is adjourned for the next five weeks. The bad news is, Pelosi and pals were successful in avoiding a vote on offshore drilling. Just because 70% of the American people want to drill doesn't mean that the Democrats are going to hand the Republicans a political victory this close to the election. This endless, eternal, ongoing:
 San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and new bride, Jennifer Siebel |
Last, but not least, the House issued an unprecedented apology to black Americans for the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who suffered under slavery. Mea culpa. Next step: reparations. Sigh.
CULTURE:
Workers at Tyson Food's poultry processing plant in Shelbyville will no longer have a paid day off on Labor Day. Instead, they will take the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr in the fall.
The new 'smart car' gets 40 MPG but isn't heavy enough to set off the sensors that activate left-turn signal lights at intersections.
Memo to McDonalds: The Palestinian Authority is facing a severe financial crisis due to a lack of donor countries to fulfill their pledges to fund the Palestinians.
A record 9,000 Chinese couples plan to tie the knot to celebrate the opening of the Olympic games and to take advantage of the lucky date, 8/8/08. The World Bank has designated Linfen, China as the most polluted city in the world.
Academics have unearthed what they believe to be the world's oldest joke, a double entrendre about men's sexual desire. Saudi Arabia's religious police have announced a ban on selling cats and dogs as pets. [Guess you can still buy them for food] The reason? Men are using them as a means of making passes at women. Did you know there is no word for humor in Islam?
Last week, US Airways announced - no more free water on their flights. Delta, meanwhile, is doubling its charge for checking a second bag on all domestic flights.
IDIOT OF THE WEEK:
This week's award goes to all those ingenious suicide bombers who are starting to wear explosive 'underwear briefs' to evade body searches.
Before I sign off, I have an interesting tidbit. For all of you who have been impressed by T. Boone Pickens commercials touting wind power, you might want to read this article.
by Nancy Morgan
Nancy Morgan is a columnist and a news editor for RightBias.com
She lives in South Carolina, where she writes "Culture Watch" weekly.
Article may be reprinted with attribution. Bio available on request.
July 20-July 26, 2008
I'm Trench Reynolds.
I blog about crime.
This is DBKP's This Week in Crime for July 20th-July 26th, 2008.
This week at craigscrimelist I posted a story about how proponents of the so called 'victimless crime' harassed a man who was actually trying to clean up craigslist.
I think the DBKP readers might get a kick from a link I posted at CrimeNe.ws about some Barack Obama supporters.
Things are still slow at News of Doom except for one story I posted about yet another woman who had her baby cut from her womb.
A story from MyCrimeSpace that DBKP readers may also find interesting is the latest legal wrangling in the upcoming trial of Lori Drew.
At TheTrenchcoat Chronicles I posted about the most recent shooting to take place at a college campus. Even during the summer this still happens.
And lastly at Bad Breeders, I know I mentioned it last week but the blogging continues about the disappearance of Caylee Marie Anthony. Especially with the weird things that her grandmother, Cindy Anthony, keeps saying to the press.
Remember, if you want to follow my sites the best way is to use Twitter, the RSS feed, or Netvibes. Considering how often I change things around these ways are the best ways to keep up with me.
That's it for this week. I'm Trench Reynolds for DBKP.
Remember that the evil you brew, is waiting outside to be paid by you.
by Trench Reynolds
image: Trench Network
* Editor Muzzles Reporters From Discussing
Edwards-Hunter Love Child on LA Times Blogs
* Rielle Hunter Speaks!
* MSM Congregated Just Doors Away from Edwards-Hunter Tryst
John Edwards-Rielle Hunter Love Child: Day #3
It's not enough for the MSM to ignore and protect John Edwards--a much different role for the press than the one envisioned by the Founding Fathers--now comes news that one member of the Mainstream Gatekeepers is instructing its writers NOT to address the John Edwards issue on the paper's blogs.
The on-line blogs of the MSM are one of the only places their shrinking readerships could go to obtain news that MSM editors routinely deny their customers.
Slate's Mickey Kaus: LAT Gags Blogs...Editors ban discussion of Edwards love-child charges.
In a move that has apparently stirred up some internal discontent, the Los Angeles Times has banned its bloggers , including political bloggers, from mentioning the Edwards/Rielle Hunter story. Even bloggers who want to mention the story in order to make a skeptical we-don't-trust-the-Enquirer point are forbidden from doing so. Kausfiles has obtained a copy of the email. [I've excised the recipient list to protect my source or sources, and omitted Pierce's email address]:
From: "Pierce, Tony"
Date: July 24, 2008 10:54:41 AM PDT
To: [XXX]
Subject: john edwards
Hey bloggers,
There has been a little buzz surrounding John Edwards and his alleged affair. Because the only source has been the National Enquirer we have decided not to cover the rumors or salacious speculations. So I am asking you all not to blog about this topic until further notified.
If you have any questions or are ever in need of story ideas that would best fit your blog, please don't hesitate to ask
Keep rockin,
Tony
Proof positive--though one wonders how much more was needed--that consumers of MSM news are too stupid to decide the "validity" of a story when presented with facts.
The Enquirer's reporters weren't the only media represented at the Beverly Hilton Monday when the meeting between Edwards and Hunter occurred--just the only ones whose paper exhibited any curiosity about the Edwards-Hunter affair.
Philadelphia Daily News' Howard Gensler notes that the place was "crawling with reporters".
Yes, he'd still be an ass, but in a post-Clinton, post-Spitzer age, could he be such a stupid ass as to carry on with a political confidante who produced movies for his campaign? And could he be so monumentally moronic as to meet said mistress at a hotel as public as the Beverly Hilton?
As Daily News TV critic Ellen Gray informed us from the Television Critics Association summer press tour, what makes the Beverly Hilton choice even more bizarre is that the place was crawling with reporters Monday night for the TCA, including newspaper people from the New York Times, USA Today the New York Daily News, the Washington Post, and us.
But no one but the National Enquirer seemed to spot John Edwards.
--Tattle: 'Enquirer' links John Edwards, Rielle Hunter
Yet, the Enquirer got the story while the rest were presumably comparing notes on which candidate's press luncheon served the best appetizers.
Rielle Hunter has issued her standard denial, via ExtraTV:
"Completely unfounded and ridiculous" is how Hunter describes a National Enquirer story claiming she has a love child with Edwards -- and that she was recently visited by the married Edwards at a Los Angeles hotel.
In early 2007, Hunter opened up about her relationship with the former presidential candidate...
"Meeting John Edwards was interesting," she told us. "He was very real and authentic. He was inspirational to me." She added, "I was around him a lot. It was great. We went to Africa. The whole experience was life altering for me."
-- John Edwards' Alleged Mistress Speaks!
Even a few left-wing blogs are realistic enough to realize that 1) a preponderance of the facts nails Edwards and 2) running away and locking yourself in a men's room when confronted by the Enquirer's reporters/photographer isn't exactly the actions of someone wishing to be considered "presidential". They discuss other issues as well that the story raises.
the shame of John Edwards
There's a definite pattern here: Bill Clinton, Elliot Spitzer, and now John Edwards. Is there something inherently misogynistic about a white male lawyer who enters politics? Since all three have (to varying degrees of success) been considered presidential material, I speculate that they were seduced by a kind of celebrity syndrome. After all, this sort of behavior is usually reserved for the Hollywood scene (where it is practically the norm).
Let's note that the pattern extends backwards as well - Gary Hart, JFK. And it extends across the aisle - Newt Gingrich, and of course John McCain, who much like Edwards, ditched an ailing wife for a fresher model.
Still, the Republican dalliances are less of a concern to me than these Democratic icons, who are supposed to be progressive when it comes to women's issues and also who invoke moral values as one basis for their leadership acumen. Is there a deep flaw here, in progressive ideology, that makes it blind to morality and family values? Or are we just being played for fools?
--Daily KOS, azizhp's diary: The Shame of John Edwards
azizhp then had the thankless task of defending the view that having an affair is misogynistic to the KOShoards of "progressive" readers, "blinded by hero worship".
Of course, after having to defend DBKP's Debunking Larry Sinclair articles [Debunking Larry Sinclair: Obama Accuser Allegations Based on Time Travel & Debunking Larry Sinclair: Part II - The Limo Driver; Part 3 to be published later today] from the unthinking few on the right blinded by "hero hatred", we can sympathize.
When the reporters ambushed Edwards upon leaving the room, he ran into a basement bathroom and remained holed up there for 15 minutes until hotel security was summoned to escort out the reporters. Click here to read the details. In any instance, Edwards will now be eliminated from any serious VP consideration.
--ENQUIRER NAILS JOHN EDWARDS VISITING MISTRESS, BABY
The Mainstream Media's attempts to decide what's "right" for their readers to see may be on it's last legs. Ryan Tate of Gawker smacks the nail on the head and buries it.
...parse these three revealing sentences from Washington Post "gossip" columnist Roxanne Roberts, in response to one of many persistent questions about the scandal in an online chat yesterday:
The Enquirer is not going to sell papers with nuance or sensitivity. I need more reporting from a credible source before I'm prepared to pass judgment. I'm not sure Edwards is a real candidate for the VP job, but if so will have to address this one way or another.
It's important to keep in mind, when reading this odd answer, that traditional news media used to have something of a lock on the dissemination of information, and allowed themselves to be convinced that they had a bizarre duty to filter even accurate information of interest to their audiences, and to do so in the service of reinforcing various social institutions and norms, even though their jobs, their Constitutionally-protected jobs, were to do just the opposite, to disseminate information and challenge long-cherished moral codes.
---
But to the extent the silence is due to publishers, like [Washington Post "gossip" columnist Roxanne] Roberts, intent on dictating news interest to their readers, so much so that they will ignore certain hot topics, these news organizations are mortgaging their future, and in many cases ceding valuable ground to competitors already eating deep into their profit margins.
On the bright side, for the rest of us, this process does have a way of weeding out news outlets that are all-too-eager to suppress news stories rather than publish them.
--Ryan Tate, Gawker: What John Edwards Scandal?
The story may become too big for the gatekeepers to keep from their readers/viewers.
If the Mainstream Media ignores a story, their customers will look elsewhere. Many are the hand-wringing sessions of "why the major news organizations are doing badly" that could be answered by a timeline of the coverage in the Edwards-Hunter affair.
Since the advent of the Alternate "New" Media, people have a choice. Cable, tabloids and, especially the Internet--the favorite whipping boy of the MSM--give readers/viewers somewhere else to go. For years, the supply of news has been artificially limited by the Gatekeepers. The Mainstream Media is exempt no longer from the laws of supply and demand.
If they won't supply news, consumers will find someone who will.
by Mondoreb
images: National Enquirer; ExtraTV
CULTURE WATCH, Volume 24
by Nancy Morgan
Right Bias
Expect the coming week to be one huge Obamafest as all three of the major network anchors join Obama on his much feted (taxpayer funded) Middle East and European tour. We're already seeing stories about how the troops are "overjoyed"...you get my drift. For my take on the media coronation of Obama, check out 'Obama's Magical Mystery Tour.'
Obama gave his first speech in Afghanistan, decrying the lack of political progress in Iraq. Our media anointed president in waiting must have missed the news that Iraqi lawmakers have approved the appointment of six Sunni cabinet ministers after a yearlong boycott by the Sunni political bloc. Sounds like political progress to me.
John McCain on Thursday took the courageous step of stating the obvious, "We have succeeded in Iraq." Food for thought: What if we win a war and the media doesn't report it?
GOOD NEWS:
More proof that the earth isn't melting as nearly 50,000 physicists reversed their stance on human-induced global warming. Additionally, a major peer-reviewed, paper in Physics and Society shows the computer models used by the UN's climate panel (IPCC) were pre-programmed with overstated values resulting in a 500-2000% overstatement of CO2's effect on temperature. Oops. Would someone please tell algore.
A stunning sell-off dragged oil prices to their biggest weekly drop ever and Canada finally deported the first of some 200 American deserters who fled to Canada instead of serving their country in Iraq.
The old media continues its rapid decline with the editor of the Chicago Tribune and the publisher of the LA Times resigning as parent company Tribune Co. cuts staff and shrinks its papers nation-wide. Other papers are following suit. RIP.
 |
GOVERNMENT AT WORK:
Cost of Government Day: Most Americans worked until July 16 to pay the total costs of federal, state and local government. That's 197 days of our toil that goes to Uncle Sam.
Big surprise in Boston as the $2.4 billion Big Dig is now up to $22 billion and counting. Federal reimbursement is down from 85% to 27%, leaving MA taxpayers with an unpayable bill due by 2038.
After spending $5 million bucks on five automated toilets, Seattle has decided to call it quits, putting them up for sale on EBay. This hasn't deterred other cities, who are forging ahead with their own auto toities.
New Hampshire has decided to accept free heating oil from anti-American tyrant Hugo Chavez and lawmakers are considering another tax on gasoline.
CULTURE:
San Francisco is at it again. Speaker Pelosi proclaimed to the world that Bush has been a "total failure" in everything from the economy to the war to energy policy. Another San Francisco measure seeking to diss Bush even more by slapping his name on a SF sewage plant has qualified for the November ballot. Lastly, petitioners in San Francisco have succeeded in placing another measure on the ballot that would effectively decriminalize prostitution. Is it something in the water or just an excess of 'rights'?
Barbie Doll is launching a new look for Barbie. Look for Biker Barbie, complete with fishnet stocking, boots and black leather to hit the store this fall. At least they don't have Barbie kneepads. Yet.
A developmental biologist, writing in the journal Nature, claims that developments over the next 30 years will make it possible for women of any age, even 100 years old, to give birth. Scary stuff.
Nearly two-thirds of Egyptian men admit to having sexually harassed women but the majority agree: it was the woman's fault. Those sluts!
Massachusetts senate votes to allow out-of-state gays to marry in Massachusetts. Just in time, it appears, HIV researchers believe they may have pinpointed the Achilles heel in the HIV virus, which continues to kill millions.
The jobless rate for teens is increasing, with the jobless rate in June the highest in six decades. And across the pond, French president Sarkozy laid the first stone of the Louvre's new Islamic art wing.
ESSENTIAL TRIVIA:
In a two in a million shot, twins with different skin colors have been born - one black, one white.
New research shows that car crashes shoot up in summer as male drivers get distracted eyeing babes in sexy summer outfits. NASA has released the most detailed photos ever of Mars and China gets the prize for the world's most crowded swimming pool.
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IDIOT OF THE WEEK:
This week's honor goes to the makers of a new video game that features President Bush as the target of suicide bombers. Justifying this outrage, they claim, "This is to raise awareness about the civilian toll in Iraq, and how a lot of them have been forced by the consequences of the invasion to become suicide bombers." Looks like suicide bombers may become the next cause du jour of the idiots on the left.
Take heart, it could be worse. For a little perspective, take a look at this amazing and amusing video posted by Pat Condell. It might make you feel better to know that Britain suffers more political correctness than America does. A little Schadenfreude doesn't make you a bad person.
Till next week, keep smiling,
Nancy Morgan is a columnist and a news editor for RightBias.com
She lives in South Carolina, where she writes "Culture Watch" weekly.
Article may be reprinted with attribution. Bio available on request.
July 13-July 19, 2008
I'm Trench Reynolds.
I blog about crime.
This is the DBKP Week in Crime for July 13th-July 19th, 2008.
This week at the newly redesigned craigscrimelist the story this week was about an Idaho man who was tried and convicted for using craigslist to try to rape someone. You won't believe what his defense was.
My favorite link that I posted at CrimeNe.ws this week was about how some police departments are using injections to subdue some suspects.
Things slowed down this week again at News of Doom but I did post an update to the Megan Williams torture case.
At MyCrimeSpace the story of the week was about Joseph Genovese Jr. He killed a woman while driving under the influence then basically bragging about it on MySpace. You won't believe this one.
At TheTrenchcoat Chronicles a man who threatened a Columbine investigator only received probation. Yet people wonder why there are so many repeat offenders.
And lastly the Bad Breeders story of the week was the search for 2-year-old Caylee Marie Anthony who has been missing for over a month but her mom never reported it.
If you want to follow all my sites there are three different ways. You can subscribe to my Twitter feed, or the RSS feed, or my Netvibes page.
That's it for this week. I'm Trench Reynolds for DBKP.
Here's hoping I don't blog about you.
by Trench Reynolds
image: Trench Reynolds
