Monthly Archives: November 2009

More on Jon Meacham's Strange Cheney Attraction

Posted on 11/30/2009 by Jim Naureckas

Newsweek editor Jon Meacham's enthusiasm for Dick Cheney is not a new thing. Appearing on MSNBC back in 2004, Meacham praised the Republican National Convention speeches of Cheney and Sen. Zell Miller: If I taught at the Kennedy School, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Why Jon Meacham Earns the Big Bucks

Posted on 11/30/2009 by Peter Hart

Newsweek's editor apparently believes this is the way to make a "provocative" argument: I think we should be taking the possibility of a Dick Cheney bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012 more seriously, for a run would be … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 10 Comments

WP (Re)inventing a Green Nuclear Renaissance

Posted on 11/24/2009 by Jim Naureckas

How many times does nuclear power get to have a "comeback"? At least one more, the Washington Post Anthony Faiola reports today (11/24/09), under the headline "Nuclear Power Regains Support," and the subheads "Tool Against Climate Change" and "Even Green … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment | Tagged , , , , , | 15 Comments

Illegally Obtained Info Is a Big Scoop–or a Non-Story

Posted on 11/24/2009 by Jim Naureckas

The New York Times' reporter on the climate beat, Andrew Revkin, had a front-page story this weekend (11/20/09) detailing the contents of climate scientists' private emails discussing global warming. Predictably, the emails are being taken out of context by climate … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

For Parade Magazine, the Middle Class Starts at 100K

Posted on 11/23/2009 by Jim Naureckas

Claiming that "something needs to be done–and fast" to save Social Security, Parade magazine's Gary Weiss (11/22/09) suggests a downside to the idea of raising the ceiling on taxed income, so that income above the current $106,800 would be subject … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

NYT Non-News Story Says It's Time to Tighten Belts

Posted on 11/23/2009 by Jim Naureckas

The New York Times (11/23/09) has an editorial on its front page today disguised as a news story. Appearing under the headline "Federal Government Faces Balloon in Debt Payments," Times business reporter Edmund Andrews makes an impassioned plea for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

David Broder's (Selective) Deficit Worries

Posted on 11/23/2009 by Peter Hart

Washington Post columnist David Broder rounds up some "non-partisan" budget experts– one of whom, oddly enough, was John McCain's Social Security adviser during his 2000 campaign — to agree with him that the Democrats' healthcare bills are too expensive. He … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Healthcare, War/Military | Tagged , | 9 Comments

The Unimaginably Awful Japanese Media

Posted on 11/23/2009 by Peter Hart

The New York Times (11/21/09) describes Japan's elite "press clubs" as a century-old, cartel-like arrangement in which reporters from major news media outlets are stationed inside government offices and enjoy close, constant access to officials. The system has long been … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Media Criticism | Tagged , | 15 Comments

Sarah Palin in the No Spin Zone!

Posted on 11/20/2009 by Peter Hart

Sarah Palin's highly anticipated visit to Fox News Channel's O'Reilly Factor saw the famously tough-as-nails host ask the tough questions of the right-wing leader: O'REILLY: OK. The latest poll has you with a 23 percent favorable, 37 percent don't know. … Continue reading →

Posted in Fox News, Politics | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

LAT: 'Risky' Tax Hikes on Wealthy

Posted on 11/20/2009 by Peter Hart

A headline in today's Los Angeles Times (11/20/09): "Democrats Risk Taxing the Wealthy for Healthcare." The paper explains: Embracing the progressive–and sometimes politically risky–principle that the cost of carrying out public policies should fall to the well-off more than the … Continue reading →

Posted in Healthcare, Media Criticism | Tagged | 5 Comments

NYT Charts the Choices of Selfless Politicians

Posted on 11/19/2009 by Jim Naureckas

The remarkable ability to engage in in-depth discussion of lawmakers' opposition to healthcare reform efforts without ever mentioning the massive contributions such lawmakers tend to receive from the healthcare industry is not confined to the Washington Post–as Dan Ward noted … Continue reading →

Posted in Healthcare | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Rule of Law–Who Cares?

Posted on 11/18/2009 by Jim Naureckas

One of the odder outbreaks of outrage from conservative pundits is the horror expressed at the idea that people accused of being connected to the September 11 attacks would actually be put on trial. Here's Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson … Continue reading →

Posted in War/Military | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Post Polling, Afghanistan (Again)

Posted on 11/18/2009 by Peter Hart

The Washington Post reports its latest polling on the Afghanistan war, and once again have managed to put together a baffling question that seems intended to muddy up the debate over a troop surge. The lead and headline("Poll Finds Guarded … Continue reading →

Posted in War/Military | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Israeli Settlement Isn't, Says Washington Post

Posted on 11/18/2009 by Peter Hart

The big news out of the Middle East yesterday was the Israeli government's decision to approve an expansion ofthe Gilo settlement near Jerusalem. The White House's muddled position on settlement expansion has been a key part of Israel-Palestine negotiations. Many … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Israel/Palestine | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

Torture Still Qualified at NY Times

Posted on 11/16/2009 by Peter Hart

New York Times on the pending trial of Khalid Sheik Mohammed ( 11/15/09–emphasis added): Mr. Mohammed's initial defiance toward his captors set off an interrogation plan that would turn him into the central figure in the roiling debate over the … Continue reading →

Posted in Media Criticism | Tagged , | 4 Comments