I don’t know what Milbank was doing but I don’t believe that journalists should be spouting off on topics that they aren’t in the midst of researching. But, come on, it’s a joke: the Vice President of the United States accidentally sprayed his friend with buck shot. We might have to go back to Alexander Hamilton to find a parallel- this is pretty unusual.

Left by Preston on February 13th, 2006 at 11:37 pm

Oh- this biased media:
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2006_02/008217.php

Left by Preston on February 13th, 2006 at 11:38 pm

Oh hell maybe the press is liberal after all:
“The [Cheney] shooting is unlikely one of a dispute over politics as Burka said Whittington has strong Republican credentials. However, he is also known as an exemplary individual.”

Who is spouting that liberal tripe that ’strong Republican credentials’ are not correlated with ‘expemplary individuals’? Fox News.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,184617,00.html

Left by Preston on February 13th, 2006 at 11:48 pm

I agree that it’s fair game for late night TV hosts and other comedians. I don’t think it’s much of a joke otherwise. A man was shot by his friend in a very unfortunate accident. I doubt either man thinks it very funny.

So let Leno and Dave make their jokes. That’s there job. But the media should stick to theirs — reporting, not acting like clowns.

As for bias — I don’t deny it occurs in both directions. But the regularity with which it occurs from the Liberal Media, and the lack of any attempt at all to even disguise it…it’s astonishing.

Left by Robbie on February 13th, 2006 at 11:53 pm

Preston, do you really believe that the media as a whole is more biased in favor of the Right than it is to the Left?

IF so, I think you’re much, much more naive than I previously thought. Even my most Liberal-but-honest friends laugh about the Left Wing Media of the NY Times, The Washington Post, and CNN.

Left by Robbie on February 13th, 2006 at 11:55 pm

I believe it’s more complicated than left-right bias but the Sunday shows are ridiculously biased to the right. The same can be said about just about any opinion show: all of Fox, most of CNN and MSNBC. Remember, for instance, when Donahue had the most highly rated show on MSNBC he was still canceled because the channel wanted to appear ‘patriotic’…

But bigger problems in journalism are a reliance on ‘he said/ she said’ stories; on impossible and irrelevant predictions rather than actual stories; and a general lack of focus on the news at all in favor of celebrity driven stories. Remember back to last year when television viewers were horribly misinformed about basic facts regarding the Iraq invasion. Radio and newspapers provided somewhat better coverage.

Left by Preston on February 14th, 2006 at 12:17 am

Have you all noticed that these days even congressional members are regularly referring to media stories as EVIDENCE in Hearings on everything from Katrina to Alito? News reporters therefore, are becoming the “source” for facts, but of course they don’t believe they should divulge THEIR sources and it goes around and around. Quite frankly, it is difficult for the average citizen to figure out who or what to believe. But, I think it’s downright scarey that our elected leaders are relying on the media to the extent they are.

Left by dianne on February 14th, 2006 at 8:03 am

Dianne:
Yipes! You think so? I wouldn’t mind, for instance, having a President who claims to read the newspaper rather than relying on people afraid to tell him bad news. I don’t think anyone thinks the media is perfect but it is a little frightening that the right has sought to undermine each institution that seeks ‘truths’: education, journalism, and science.

It’s starting to feel medieval around here.

Left by Preston on February 14th, 2006 at 8:56 am

Robbie:
To give you a bit of a more empirical answer to your question. How many news shows are there focusing on investors? Compare that with how many news shows there are about workers.

How many of the talk shows feature governmental officials? Compare that with how many programs feature the people influenced by governmental decisions.

You have set up the ‘legitimate’ spectrum of possible political ideas in the media to extend from Center-Left to Far-Right. When the balance is in the Center you complain because it’s not in the middle of your artificial spectrum. This ignores the the wide swaths of political opinion that never receive a bit of airing.

Left by Preston on February 14th, 2006 at 9:04 am

Preston, your broad and unsubstantiated accusations don’t relate to my post and I’m not in the mood to play defense attorney today.

Left by dianne on February 14th, 2006 at 9:33 am

Maybe its just satire. duh

Left by chris on February 14th, 2006 at 3:16 pm

What the hell is Cheney thinking? His ass ought to be ought there talking to the press and the country, especially after the heart incident with this guy. I have to agree it’s totally unacceptable unless Cheney himself is laying in the hospital somewhere.

Left by dianne on February 14th, 2006 at 5:34 pm

“out” there

Left by dianne on February 14th, 2006 at 5:41 pm

Hear, hear. Let’s line up these jokers against the wall…

The president’s brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, took a similar jab after slapping an orange sticker on his chest from the Florida Farm Bureau that read, “No Farmers, No Food.”

“I’m a little concerned that Dick Cheney is going to walk in,” the governor cracked during an appearance in Tampa Monday.

Clown prince, indeed.

Left by Sven on February 14th, 2006 at 5:59 pm

[...] What Media Bias? Part III [...]

Left by UrbanGrounds » Blog Archive » What Media Bias? Part VI on November 14th, 2006 at 9:06 pm