By Donna Cole. MediaPolitical Editor at Large, Passionate Pachyderms Senior Editorial Columnist.
As a media critic, and a journalist, I have discussed many times in posts about ethics and integrity. I have discussed the difference between off the record, and on the record, and how sometimes you have to weigh things, whether or not at times one should just eat things and when it is in the better public interest to just lay it out there. These are not easy decisions to make, and because I was recently put in one of these positions I have decided to make what I feel is the right choice, and lay it out there. In thinking about this, it opened me up to a broader topic, and that is why I made the final decision to openly discuss this subject.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Freedom of the Press, President Obama, and the Truth
By Donna Cole, MediaPolitical Editor at Large
The Committee to Protect Journalists, a worldwide organization that usually covers things like Third World dictatorships imprisoning reporters, has just released a scathing special report titled "The Obama Administration and the Press" on the relationship between the two. This is not a partisan news organization, so it is not a right wing hit piece.
The Committee to Protect Journalists, a worldwide organization that usually covers things like Third World dictatorships imprisoning reporters, has just released a scathing special report titled "The Obama Administration and the Press" on the relationship between the two. This is not a partisan news organization, so it is not a right wing hit piece.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Hail to the Redskins No More
By Donna Cole
The Washington Post editorial board sends we peasants a message from their perch on the heights of moral superiority. An editorial characterizing their unhappiness with the name of the local D.C. professional football team, the Washington Redskins. Like Iron Eyes Cody crying in a 1970s anti-littering public service announcement, they are despondent that team owner Dan Snyder has said as long as he owns the team the name Redskins will remain, and the ultimate decision is his and his alone.
The Post board are happy N.F.L. commissioner Roger Goodell has changed his tune on the name of the football team. It is clear the P.C. nanny squad has gotten to Goodell who last June wrote with regard to the Redskins, "the name is a unifying force that stands for strength, courage, pride and respect". Now, just a few months later, Goodell, in what The Post calls a "nuanced pivot" says, "if we are offending one person, we need to be listening and making sure that we’re doing the right things to try to address that."
Ah yes, the 'ole if just one person is offended to hell with want the rest of you think contrivance. I understand that it is wrong for white people, but not blacks, to use the "N" word, and if a white person does then it is a real problem. But these things also must be taken in full context. I am not hearing about all these problems with white people running around calling indigenous Americans redskins. I grew up a Redskins football fan, I never thought of the name being a slur, if anything, I thought it was an honor to the first inhabitants of this great land. Is the name dated ? Yes, but it has a long football history that is part of it too. And I do not put the word redskins on the same level with the "N" word, as far as racial slurs go, they are on totally different planes.
I am sure the liberal crowd will say because I am white, besides inheriting some mysterious privilege that I've yet to be able to tap into, I certainly didn't have affirmative action to get me into Harvard or anything like that, I am born a racist simply because of the color of my skin, and thus I cannot ever fathom how offensive these things supposedly are. To me, that thinking is far more racist than the name of the Washington football team, and just a cheap liberal trick to dismiss dissenting opinions and will of the majority. I will also remind you that while we hear all this talk of human equality and a colorless society from the left, it is in fact they who always bring up race as a measure of a person and use it to pummel their political opponents with false accusations of racism.
The most perplexing thing of all is that white liberals tell me I am a racist because I am white, and even though we share the same skin color they are not. They say they are not racist because somehow they, and only they, have achieved some enlightened state of post-racial consciousness. How they made this transition from the racist Siddhartha to the all loving Buddha has never been explained to me. Like faith in a higher power, which most liberals reject, we are expected to just take their word for it.
Putting all that behind, these two sentences are what bothered me the most from The Post's editorial; "We understand that changing the name is not a trifling matter. There is a cost (estimated by some to be as high as $20 million), but surely the owner of the NFL’s third-most valuable franchise can afford it."
Now I see where the board members coming from. Dan Snyder is made of money, he cannot use the cost as an excuse. He can afford $20 million bucks to change a name he does not want to change. Why that is mere chicken scratch for a man who owns a football team, he probably has the cash in his desk drawer. So, what's the big deal here ? Cough up the cash, change the name, and we will quit dragging your name through the mud on the pages of our newspaper.
The pompous arrogance of The Post's editorial board on the money issue is more nauseating than their stance on changing the name. Obviously, they are so disconnected from reality up in their ivory tower they do not understand a football team is a business, and businesses do not make $20 million expenditures without good reason. Just because The Post, along with a few A.C.L.U. liberal types and the Indian tribes they ginned up, claim they are offended by the name is not a good enough reason to change it.
I hope Mr. Snyder has the fortitude to remain strong in the face of these politically correct nagging ninnies and not cave on the name Redskins, but I fear in the end he will. Perhaps changing the team's name to the "Washington Honky Crackers" will appease The Post and calm their delicate sensibilities.
The Washington Post editorial board sends we peasants a message from their perch on the heights of moral superiority. An editorial characterizing their unhappiness with the name of the local D.C. professional football team, the Washington Redskins. Like Iron Eyes Cody crying in a 1970s anti-littering public service announcement, they are despondent that team owner Dan Snyder has said as long as he owns the team the name Redskins will remain, and the ultimate decision is his and his alone.
The Post board are happy N.F.L. commissioner Roger Goodell has changed his tune on the name of the football team. It is clear the P.C. nanny squad has gotten to Goodell who last June wrote with regard to the Redskins, "the name is a unifying force that stands for strength, courage, pride and respect". Now, just a few months later, Goodell, in what The Post calls a "nuanced pivot" says, "if we are offending one person, we need to be listening and making sure that we’re doing the right things to try to address that."
Ah yes, the 'ole if just one person is offended to hell with want the rest of you think contrivance. I understand that it is wrong for white people, but not blacks, to use the "N" word, and if a white person does then it is a real problem. But these things also must be taken in full context. I am not hearing about all these problems with white people running around calling indigenous Americans redskins. I grew up a Redskins football fan, I never thought of the name being a slur, if anything, I thought it was an honor to the first inhabitants of this great land. Is the name dated ? Yes, but it has a long football history that is part of it too. And I do not put the word redskins on the same level with the "N" word, as far as racial slurs go, they are on totally different planes.
I am sure the liberal crowd will say because I am white, besides inheriting some mysterious privilege that I've yet to be able to tap into, I certainly didn't have affirmative action to get me into Harvard or anything like that, I am born a racist simply because of the color of my skin, and thus I cannot ever fathom how offensive these things supposedly are. To me, that thinking is far more racist than the name of the Washington football team, and just a cheap liberal trick to dismiss dissenting opinions and will of the majority. I will also remind you that while we hear all this talk of human equality and a colorless society from the left, it is in fact they who always bring up race as a measure of a person and use it to pummel their political opponents with false accusations of racism.
The most perplexing thing of all is that white liberals tell me I am a racist because I am white, and even though we share the same skin color they are not. They say they are not racist because somehow they, and only they, have achieved some enlightened state of post-racial consciousness. How they made this transition from the racist Siddhartha to the all loving Buddha has never been explained to me. Like faith in a higher power, which most liberals reject, we are expected to just take their word for it.
Putting all that behind, these two sentences are what bothered me the most from The Post's editorial; "We understand that changing the name is not a trifling matter. There is a cost (estimated by some to be as high as $20 million), but surely the owner of the NFL’s third-most valuable franchise can afford it."
Now I see where the board members coming from. Dan Snyder is made of money, he cannot use the cost as an excuse. He can afford $20 million bucks to change a name he does not want to change. Why that is mere chicken scratch for a man who owns a football team, he probably has the cash in his desk drawer. So, what's the big deal here ? Cough up the cash, change the name, and we will quit dragging your name through the mud on the pages of our newspaper.
The pompous arrogance of The Post's editorial board on the money issue is more nauseating than their stance on changing the name. Obviously, they are so disconnected from reality up in their ivory tower they do not understand a football team is a business, and businesses do not make $20 million expenditures without good reason. Just because The Post, along with a few A.C.L.U. liberal types and the Indian tribes they ginned up, claim they are offended by the name is not a good enough reason to change it.
I hope Mr. Snyder has the fortitude to remain strong in the face of these politically correct nagging ninnies and not cave on the name Redskins, but I fear in the end he will. Perhaps changing the team's name to the "Washington Honky Crackers" will appease The Post and calm their delicate sensibilities.
Monday, September 9, 2013
For Lynn and friends, on Liz Warren
By Donna Cole
Yesterday, my Facebook friend Lynn, and some of her left leaning friends, had a discussion about a post I made on Massachusetts' Senator Elizabeth Warren. They did not agree with my opinions of Warren, like she is a near Marxist nut job, even nuttier than most liberals (meaning she is way out to the extreme of leftism). Lynn et al. said I had no evidence to base my thoughts about Sen. Warren on and challenged me to produce it. That is why I am here. Let us begin.
Yesterday, my Facebook friend Lynn, and some of her left leaning friends, had a discussion about a post I made on Massachusetts' Senator Elizabeth Warren. They did not agree with my opinions of Warren, like she is a near Marxist nut job, even nuttier than most liberals (meaning she is way out to the extreme of leftism). Lynn et al. said I had no evidence to base my thoughts about Sen. Warren on and challenged me to produce it. That is why I am here. Let us begin.
Friday, June 7, 2013
A Democrat To Vote For
By Donna Cole
The following is a speech I prepared in anticipation of being invited to speak at the Wisconsin Democrat Party Convention in Oconomowac this weekend (June 7-8). Sadly, the invitation never came. Probably a clerical error. So, I share my prepared remarks, which I worked very hard on, with you. Note: This speech was written to be delivered in a high energy style. Please read it that way for full effect.
The following is a speech I prepared in anticipation of being invited to speak at the Wisconsin Democrat Party Convention in Oconomowac this weekend (June 7-8). Sadly, the invitation never came. Probably a clerical error. So, I share my prepared remarks, which I worked very hard on, with you. Note: This speech was written to be delivered in a high energy style. Please read it that way for full effect.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Long reads
By Donna Cole
Here are the better long reads and essays I have ran across in the last week or so.
Here are the better long reads and essays I have ran across in the last week or so.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Weekly Top Long Reads
By Donna Cole
MediaPolitical tries to avoid politics as much as possible on the weekend and do my long form reading on other subjects I find interesting. These are the better articles, reviews and essays I came across last weekend, and I thought I'd start sharing them. Some of the stuff linked here is borderline political, and it's all lefty stuff, but I like to understand how my adversary thinks. So, if you see something here that might interest you and have time for a long read, give it a shot. Remember: Read, it makes you smart. Read stuff out of your normal comfort zone and it makes you even smarter.
MediaPolitical tries to avoid politics as much as possible on the weekend and do my long form reading on other subjects I find interesting. These are the better articles, reviews and essays I came across last weekend, and I thought I'd start sharing them. Some of the stuff linked here is borderline political, and it's all lefty stuff, but I like to understand how my adversary thinks. So, if you see something here that might interest you and have time for a long read, give it a shot. Remember: Read, it makes you smart. Read stuff out of your normal comfort zone and it makes you even smarter.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Benghazi Facts and Fiction
By Donna Cole
The Washington Post's "Fact Checker" Glenn Kessler looks at the most recent Benghazi hearings and tries to dig out what is new and what is not. While Kessler is one of the better fact checkers in the media, many times what are facts can be quite subjective when put in the wrong person's hands. So, what did Kessler find out? And what does it all mean?
The Washington Post's "Fact Checker" Glenn Kessler looks at the most recent Benghazi hearings and tries to dig out what is new and what is not. While Kessler is one of the better fact checkers in the media, many times what are facts can be quite subjective when put in the wrong person's hands. So, what did Kessler find out? And what does it all mean?
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Goodbye Jodi
By Donna Cole
I am SO glad this Jodi Arias trial is over. My husband won't admit it, but he loves Nancy Grace on Court TV (or whatever they call that channel now). I tease him about it and talk about what a wacko she is, and that is an insult to other wackos, but she gets ratings by saying holier than thou over the top nonsense. That aside, I knew nothing about this trial, other than it was going ON and ON and ON, and Nancy was ranting and raving for what seemed forever.
I am SO glad this Jodi Arias trial is over. My husband won't admit it, but he loves Nancy Grace on Court TV (or whatever they call that channel now). I tease him about it and talk about what a wacko she is, and that is an insult to other wackos, but she gets ratings by saying holier than thou over the top nonsense. That aside, I knew nothing about this trial, other than it was going ON and ON and ON, and Nancy was ranting and raving for what seemed forever.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
I knew this would happen.
By Donna Cole
Wait a minute. The way I understood things when Obama's Pentagon decided to let women into full combat rolls, being in the infantry, like Marines or 101st Army Airborne, was that the deal was they had to carry the same load, hack out the same training, and at the end of the day be just as bad ass as the men.
Wait a minute. The way I understood things when Obama's Pentagon decided to let women into full combat rolls, being in the infantry, like Marines or 101st Army Airborne, was that the deal was they had to carry the same load, hack out the same training, and at the end of the day be just as bad ass as the men.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Love, Egyptian Style
By Donna Cole
Luckily, I have never had the need for marriage counseling, but if I did I would hope to get better advice than what passes for counseling in Egypt today. When the so called Arab Spring spread from Tunisia to Egypt the liberal media fawned over what they believed was a flowering of democracy in the autocratic nation. The same liberal media that bends over backwards not to be critical of Muslim society. President Obama remained silent and offered no support for America's long time loyal ally, Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak, as his secular regime fell.
The American left falsely believed some sort of liberalization was happening in Muslim society, and held up what was a relatively peaceful transition to a democratic process in Egypt as proof this was happening in the Islamic world. Those on the right were more skeptical of what democracy might bring for those countries, warned to be careful what you wish for, and questioned just how democratic those elections were. Tunisia is no better than before, Libya is a mess that we all know about, Syria is a bloodbath, and Egypt is, well, you can decide.
Luckily, I have never had the need for marriage counseling, but if I did I would hope to get better advice than what passes for counseling in Egypt today. When the so called Arab Spring spread from Tunisia to Egypt the liberal media fawned over what they believed was a flowering of democracy in the autocratic nation. The same liberal media that bends over backwards not to be critical of Muslim society. President Obama remained silent and offered no support for America's long time loyal ally, Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak, as his secular regime fell.
The American left falsely believed some sort of liberalization was happening in Muslim society, and held up what was a relatively peaceful transition to a democratic process in Egypt as proof this was happening in the Islamic world. Those on the right were more skeptical of what democracy might bring for those countries, warned to be careful what you wish for, and questioned just how democratic those elections were. Tunisia is no better than before, Libya is a mess that we all know about, Syria is a bloodbath, and Egypt is, well, you can decide.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Government Funded Fraud
By Donna Cole
"Doctors at the prestigious John Hopkins Medical School have breakthrough genetic research that could lead to a quantum leap in cancer treatment published in the esteemed scientific journal Nature." That headline sounds like the makings of a Nobel Prize winner, and it probably had a good chance for one except for the fact that the research is fraudulent. In other words, the books were cooked.
"Doctors at the prestigious John Hopkins Medical School have breakthrough genetic research that could lead to a quantum leap in cancer treatment published in the esteemed scientific journal Nature." That headline sounds like the makings of a Nobel Prize winner, and it probably had a good chance for one except for the fact that the research is fraudulent. In other words, the books were cooked.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Friday, March 8, 2013
The past explains the present, and the future.
By Donna Cole
Many on the right thought that due to the dismal state of the economy that had shown no improvement under President Obama's leadership, and his failed policies leading to a bleak future outlook, the Republican candidate would win the 2012 election. No president had ever won reelection with such terrible economic numbers and after four years voters would no longer blame former President Bush is what they believed. While I had high hopes, and my prediction was that it was really possible for Romney to win, I knew it was a long shot and wouldn't be surprised or stunned if Obama won. And I wasn't.
Many on the right thought that due to the dismal state of the economy that had shown no improvement under President Obama's leadership, and his failed policies leading to a bleak future outlook, the Republican candidate would win the 2012 election. No president had ever won reelection with such terrible economic numbers and after four years voters would no longer blame former President Bush is what they believed. While I had high hopes, and my prediction was that it was really possible for Romney to win, I knew it was a long shot and wouldn't be surprised or stunned if Obama won. And I wasn't.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Like Noonan, Like Parker, Like RINO
By Donna Cole
In her latest Washington Post op-ed, Kathleen Parker proves again what I have long said of her, "She is a Peggy Noonan Republican." That would be the former Reagan speech writer and current somewhat liberal for a conservative Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan. Parker's column is on the new Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and the outrage over her decision to end telecommuting (working from home) by telling workers they have to come into the office and do what they get a paycheck for at the place that signs those paychecks. The people most upset, and thus most vocal, about this are work at home moms.
In her latest Washington Post op-ed, Kathleen Parker proves again what I have long said of her, "She is a Peggy Noonan Republican." That would be the former Reagan speech writer and current somewhat liberal for a conservative Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan. Parker's column is on the new Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and the outrage over her decision to end telecommuting (working from home) by telling workers they have to come into the office and do what they get a paycheck for at the place that signs those paychecks. The people most upset, and thus most vocal, about this are work at home moms.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Zielinski Unglued
By Donna Cole
This morning it was announced that the two and a half year long politically motivated John Doe Witch Hunt investigation of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker by the over zealous liberal Democrat Milwaukee County D.A. John Chisholm finally ended with no witches being found. Gov. Walker was cleared, and said to have done no, or been involved in any, wrong doing. This after D.A. Chisholm wasted millions of the county taxpayer's funds dragging in so-called witnesses before his not so secret grand jury, then allowing those witnesses names to be leaked to the Milwaukee Journal, which had it's own political motivations, and smeared on the this rag's pages.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Eat your peas. NOW!
By Donna Cole
First Lady Michelle Obama has taken to the pages of The Wall Street Journal with an op-ed telling the business world that it is good business to sell healthy food if you know what is good for you because she would hate for anything to happen to this nice business you have here.
First Lady Michelle Obama has taken to the pages of The Wall Street Journal with an op-ed telling the business world that it is good business to sell healthy food if you know what is good for you because she would hate for anything to happen to this nice business you have here.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
ACU's Wisconsin Congressional Ratings
By Donna Cole
The American Conservative Union (ACU) has released it's yearly Ratings of the United States Congress (pdf) leading into next months Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) beginning March 14th. These rankings are for last year, 2012, the second session of the 112th Congress. ACU uses a 100 point scale, and ranks members based on their voting record. The higher the number, the more conservative the member is.
The American Conservative Union (ACU) has released it's yearly Ratings of the United States Congress (pdf) leading into next months Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) beginning March 14th. These rankings are for last year, 2012, the second session of the 112th Congress. ACU uses a 100 point scale, and ranks members based on their voting record. The higher the number, the more conservative the member is.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Lt. Gov. Kleefisch discrimination accusations; Answers and more questions
By Donna Cole
Last Friday (Jan.25th), Milwaukee Journal political watchdog reporter Dan Bice broke a story on his No Quarter blog that Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch's ex-chief of staff, Jeanne Tarantino, accused her former boss of age and sex discrimination. The accusation came in Waukesha County court, under oath, while being questioned by the lawyer for Mrs. Tarantino's ex-husband back on Dec. 28th, 2012. Upon review of the court documents, the case is all part of long drawn out divorce with money and support as the central issue.
Last Friday (Jan.25th), Milwaukee Journal political watchdog reporter Dan Bice broke a story on his No Quarter blog that Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch's ex-chief of staff, Jeanne Tarantino, accused her former boss of age and sex discrimination. The accusation came in Waukesha County court, under oath, while being questioned by the lawyer for Mrs. Tarantino's ex-husband back on Dec. 28th, 2012. Upon review of the court documents, the case is all part of long drawn out divorce with money and support as the central issue.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)