Greg Mitchell, The Nation: 'Newsweek' Cover: Niall Ferguson Hates Obama, Has Man-Crush on Ryan

[highplainsdem]

http://www.thenation.com/blog/169453/newsweek-cover-niall-ferguson-hates-obama-has-man-crush-ryan

Newsweek turned into a parody of itself months ago--call it what you will, NewsBeast, The Daily Weak, whatever--but is anyone even bothering to laugh now? This week, it follows (as if to balance the scales) its "Is Romney a Wimp" cover with a blast at Obama by ever-more-rightwing Niall Ferguson, titled "Hit the Road, Barack." Since Newsweek seems inspired by Ray Charles, perhaps it will put Rep. Todd Akin on next week's cover under the heading, "What'd I Say?" Or the GOP congressman who skinny-dipped in the Sea of Galilee and "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying."

-snip-

Paul Krugman, just back from vacation, last night in a blog post slammed Ferguson for severe and "unethical" factual errors. Getting to just one for now, he pointed to a grossly misleading claim about the CBO saying Obamacare will be adding to the deficit when in fact it said no such thing. Krugman says an official correction of this "cheap shot" by Newsweek is warranted. I'm guessing he will blog about it some more today.

-snipping several paragraphs listing Ferguson's mistakes and obvious biases-

--And then the inevitable: "I know, like, and admire Paul Ryan. For me, the point about him is simple. He is one of only a handful of politicians in Washington who is truly sincere about addressing this country’s fiscal crisis." Unsaid, of course, is that Ryan supported every major budget-busting move of the past decade. I love this: He writes of a dinner with Ryan in 2010, "Ryan blew me away. I have wanted to see him in the White House ever since."

Get a room, guys! This is the Kristol-Palin affair, redux, with a little Rich Lowry on the side. Send Niall one of the shirtless Ryan shots, please.

-snip-

[Dkc05]

1. ban the magazine. fairness doctorine

Trying to throw the election

[WooWooWoo]

2. agreed

and lock up everyone who disagrees with you, and while we're at it, please cancel The Real Housewives of New Jersey. I never liked that show.

[pinboy3niner]

9. Right on, brother!

And ban Jersey Shore and send Snooki to Gitmo for waterboarding. If anybody deserves it, SHE certainly does!

[pinboy3niner]

3. Fairness Doctrine doesn't apply; First Amendment does

Good luck repealing the 1st Amendment.

[Dkc05]

4. president issue an executive order to ban it

That would work ok to get rid of dishonest journalism

[pinboy3niner]

5. An Executive Order cannot contravene the Constitution

Do you really want to see the U.S. government (under Democratic or Republican administrations) banning political speech it doesn't like? Really?

[Dkc05]

6. to eliminate lies and falsehoods. yes

[pinboy3niner]

7. No. Absolutely not.

You'll convince me only when you can cite the Article of the Constitution that prohibits "lies and falsehoods."

Good luck...

[Dkc05]

8. then we need to change or eliminate that part

From the constitution. It needs to be a live living document. Things have changed over the years and this should have too

[pinboy3niner]

10. Change or eliminate what part?

The Constitution not only did not ban "lies and falsehoods," it specifically protected freedom of speech in the First Amendment.

The notion of the Constitution as a 'living document' normally refers to its interpretation by the courts over time.

And if you think extreme political speech is something new, check your history. In the time of the Founders and ever since, publication of extreme and outrageous political speech has always been there. It's hardly new at all.

Personally, I'd be more afraid of some new government power to determine what is a lie and what is the truth than I am of some magazine cover.

[sweetapogee]

11. better idea

don't buy it and they go away.