TEARDOWN: The Mainstream Media Turns on Bush "Scoop"/autorank

[kpete]

“Scoop” Link: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0610/S00155.htm

Teardown:
The Mainstream Media Turns on Bush

Disgraced Congressman Mark Foley, (Rep), FL


Michael Collins
“Scoop” Independent News
Washington, DC

What’s with the mainstream (corporate) media? George W. Bush had a free ride for six years. There’s been more than enough to investigate. Stories of early substance abuse, avoiding military service, and financial improprieties were all there before the 2000 election. In some cases, suspected insider trading at Arbusto Oil for example, the stories barely required a rewrite. These and the other scandal-rich leads were either never adequately pursued or ignored. Corporate media was infatuated with this amiable Texan ambling through history.

It looked like nothing would catch and sustain corporate media’s attention. America was defenseless on 911, but that didn’t matter. The press turned George Bush into the “Wartime President.” Bush made a series of strange comments to Bob Woodward, author of two favorable books on the president. Talking about being a “decider” and seeking advice from a “higher father” were tell tale signs of an oddball in the White House, but that didn’t matter.

Documented lies about weapons of mass destruction, disaster after disaster in Iraq, the starvation of Americans for days in New Orleans through gross negligence, to name a few unreported stories: none of that mattered to the corporate media. Bush was tolerated and lifted up merely by the press ignoring or failing to sustain any real attention to these or other tragedies laid at the feet of the American people by an administration that many call the worst ever in our history.

Now, six years into the Bush regime we see a sudden reversal by the press. The networks and major daily papers are locked on to a huge scandal and they won’t give up.

Bombshell

The initial bombshell came from ABC’s Brian Ross. An intelligent and intrepid reporter, Ross uncovered the Foley emails to underage Congressional Pages. What could be more damaging?

Sixteen-Year-Old Who Worked as Capitol Hill Page Concerned About E-mail Exchange with Congressman (ABC News)

Rhonda Schwartz and Maddy Sauer Report
September 28, 2006 3:06 PM

A 16-year-old male former congressional page concerned about the appropriateness of an e-mail exchange with a congressman alerted Capitol Hill staffers to the communication.

A senior Republican closely identified with Bush had been sending suggestive emails to a former Congressional page. The details of that disgraceful act were amplified over the next few days. This was only the beginning and make no mistake; this is about the Republicans and their leader, President George W. Bush.

We found out that Denny Hastert and the Republican House leadership had been aware of this for some time, perhaps as early as June or July of this year. Early on, the time line moved back to 2003 and its going further back daily. We were told that a purportedly deviant Congressman posing as a children’s rights advocate had contacted and possibly engaged in sex with current or former male minors who serves as Congressional pages. He had done so with the knowledge and seeming indifference of his master, Denny Hastert, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

Brian Ross and ABC continued to break news on this story. On October 5th we found out that there are three additional pages who report grossly inappropriate contact by Foley. ABC reported a page from the 2002 class saying, “I was seventeen years old and just returned to (my home state) when Foley began to e-mail me, asking if I had ever seen my page roommates naked and how big their penises were,"

What could be worse?

Ex-Page Tells of Foley Liaison (Los Angeles Times)
The young man says the then-congressman eyed males in the program.
He says he was 21 when he and the Florida Republican had sex

By Walter F. Roche Jr., Times Staff Writer
October 8, 2006

A former House page says he had sex with then-Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) after receiving explicit e-mails in which the congressman described assessing the sexual orientation and physical attributes of underage pages but waiting until later to make direct advances.

Just ten days into the story, we heard this from the Los Angeles Times: “A former Congressional Page has gone public in a recounting an alleged sexual encounter with the former Representative Foley.” The LA Times says that the “former page's exchanges with Foley offer a glimpse of possible predatory behavior by the congressman as he assessed male teenagers assigned as House errand-runners” (emphasis added).

Now, instead of a few pathetic encounters by an alcoholic worthy of the lead in The Blue Angel, we may just have a premeditated predator that “assessed male teenagers.” This raises the ante for the faulty Republican leadership. Instead of housing a deviant practitioner of epistolary erotica, they have become a faulty Republican leadership that failed to curtail the appetites of a Congressman with possible predatory behavior.

“He and other former pages were surprised that it took so long for Foley to get caught, he said.” LA Times

At this point, we have an alcoholic Republican Congressman from Florida “possibly” engaged in predatory behavior which includes the assessment of minors, the male pages on Capitol Hill, and who now stands accused of one sexual encounter with a former page. We also have Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House in charge and asleep at the switch due to failure to listen, according to sources gone public. Of almost equal importance, we have the reported enabling role Rep. Thomas Reynolds, Chairman of the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee. Reynolds is a symbol and a key real world actor in the effort to maintain a Republican majority. The leadership and other members see their names pop up in articles at a record pace.

As if that weren’t enough, look at the Time Magazine cover for this week:


Caption on cover: What a mess! Why a tawdry Washington sex scandal may spell the end of the Republican Revolution.

And on the inside, the lead story begins with this headline:

End of the Revolution

Sex, lies and power games are just the latest symptoms of a Republican party adrift from its ideals

It’s all about SEX!!! Or is it???

2600 American soldiers killed in Iraq and ten times that many with serious injuries didn’t motivate the corporate media. $300 billion spent on Iraq barely got their attention. 200 thousand citizens of New Orleans still living away from home with few visible repairs to their city hardly merit a story.

But Mark Foley’s long term problem with sexual boundaries and minors causes the media to snap to and do their jobs for the first time in six years. Why sex?

If you wanted to disable a party and derail an agenda, what’s the quickest way to do that? Sex with minors might do it. The dominant theme of the Bush Republicans has been religious values, values which are strangely symbolized through their anti gay marriage position. They’ve gone to great lengths to get this issue on state ballots. They were gearing up to making this the center piece of their campaign once again. After all, what else can they run on: sound fiscal management, effective response to natural disasters, helping the poor? This was their issue and they owned it free and clear. But now that issue is in shambles and so is the Republican campaign to retain control of Congress. The Republican owned voting machine companies are going to be very busy from now thorough Election Day. Even that may not prove sufficient to save this crew.

Sex is just the vehicle. It’s about something much bigger.

It doesn’t take a Ph.D. in the Obvious to conclude that there are powerful forces that simply can’t tolerate any more Bush disasters. How else do you explain the Republican controlled corporate media’s abrupt change from denial to a total focus on this story so utterly devastating for the administration and Congressional Republicans? How do you explain the timing just before the 2006 mid term elections? And, how do you explain the fact that this and other stories showing up (Iraq malfeasance, 911 neglect, etc.) are all old?

A month ago ABC was flouting a misleading documentary blaming Bill Clinton for 911 and Time magazine was announcing its new executive editor, formerly of the very right wing DeVos Foundation. All of a sudden, as if by magic, they and other corporate media are leading the charge against the ruling party.

The change is explained by simple logic. America is a very wealthy nation. There is immense potential here. It was just six years ago that both government and private sector researchers cracked the DNA code. However, anyone who is awake and paying attention can see that we’re headed for the cliff in a car driven by a juvenile leader who is cheered on by what appears to be the greatest collection of enablers in the history of governance. Stephen Colbert was right to say to the collected powers that be, “I have nothing but contempt for these people.”

We don’t need to resort to secret meetings during dress up day at the Bohemian Grove or some other obscure and mysterious venue or organization. Just think of those who control the great wealth of America as members of a trade association. Instead of a particular field like medicine or banking, the purpose of this trade association is to preserve wealth and investment in the United States of America. They’ve been meeting for years. Occasionally, when things get out of hand, they have to take action. This is one of those occasions. The outcome will be yet another great drama that is played out as a morality play when, in fact, it’s just about preserving and expanding wealth. It shouldn’t be that way, but it is. Hopefully, the people will begin to see The Wizard behind the curtain and take more control of their lives and country.

ENDS

Copyright: This material may be used in whole or in part with attribution to the author and “Scoop” Independent News plus a link to the story at “Scoop” Independent news if used on the internet.

[Vidar]

1. Great article. Thanks for posting, kpete.

[Joe Chi Minh]

42. Yes, great to read to be reminded to look beyond the beyond

the headlines and be reminded of the real power players. Thanks, Auto.

[autorank]

2. A double honor "Scoop" and kpete in one night. Thanks!! for posting

[kpete]

3. Thanks for the great post and the smiles!

Great work - Relavant and inspiring - and you KNOW I love the graphics!

[midnight]

4. I hardly know what to say to that Time Magazine title.

But it is about time someone start echoing what we all have known. These people in Washington have created one hell of a mess. Time to clean up.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

5. K & R The boy king seems to have a little PR problem...

...on the home front now---big corporate media doesn't want to shill for him anymore.

[autorank]

34. "Thank you" might do it;)

But they've been too damn lazy. This is just catch up.

Just say AOL in the presence of a Time employee. That will do the trick.

:hi:

[hang a left]

6. This has been bothering me all week.

It is like something is up. I don't trust the information we get. I am always wondering why?

[autorank]

12. Check out the last section for your answer;)

It's about stopping these screwballs from blowing the whole ballgame, imho. It's so obvous. Why now? Why with old news? Why with this story? Fascinating to watch but not a rational process by a long shot.

[Me.]

24. Hey Autorank...

is Management fracturing? They thought they knew who they had and the giant surprise for them is that they didn't and they can't control him. he's been blowing the whole gaff.

*shadow government*

[bloom]

7. "And, how do you explain the fact that this..."

...and other stories showing up (Iraq malfeasance, 911 neglect, etc.) are all old?"


That's exactly right. And it seems to me that there was a big thread around here that the Foley thing was revealed by Republicans. So that's pretty interesting.

At the same time - I have noticed a couple of Democrats in election debates that seem to be afraid to say that they are Democrats - emphasizing that they are "Independent". I don't know if that's a trend or not - but I think it's odd. Esp. with the Republicans in retreat.

[autorank]

13. Old is good sometimes...

Particularly when you reach back and find a gem like this.

If this story doesn't put an end to Republican control of Congress, we're doomed and the election
fraud industry is the place to put your money. This is a toxic, radio active, screaming bummer
story for the party running AGAINST gay marriage because said party is so moral and religious.

We'll see if Stalin was right, (approx) "It's not who casts the votes, its who counts them."

[Berry Cool]

8. I think this article is a wee tad exaggerated.

Yes, the Foley thing has been the biggest story to bring these guys down yet. But Katrina and Terri Schiavo sure didn't help them--as far as I am concerned, that was the beginning of the end.

And yes, there were a few in the MSM who said negative things about Republicans even when they were riding high.

[Kurovski]

11. But the sex scandal was held and ready to go to press at the first word.

if when, as Collins says "Americans take more control of their lives." we'll respond to things like Katrina the way do to a sex scandal. We'll pay unflagging attention. And we'll retain the memory.

The Ritchie Rich club spends a lot of time and money getting to know us and our motivations better than we ourselves do.

[autorank]

22. And that's why the good lord created "Madison Avenue"...

...programming from infancy.

What could be better...buy junk, it's good for you, and it tastes good too.

Did someone say "Supersize Me?"

[autorank]

15. I've been watching coverage of those events but this is different, imho.

The reporters on the scene in New Orleans were outraged then they came home and got their "half" wits about them again, held to the party line. Schiavo was another short lived story.

But this one is intense, relentless, and aimed at the heart of the Republican platform, image, and talking points. How is any candidate going to get up and talk anti-gay anything,let along anti-gay marriage with Foley and the enabling leadership looming over their shoulders? Click on Brian Ross's name above, the ABC reporter who kicked this off. he's got about 10 stories since 9/28 and they're damn good (the guy is a total professional).

It's a matter of what's allowed to surface. There are stories, great ones spiked or pulled all the time.

In this case, the storyline is so utterly devastating and debilitating, it makes you wonder...why not earlier, why now. Obviously, the restraints are off. And, after all, this is a story about sickness and illicit sex...that's a lot easier to understand than Abramoff (who is a real horror) or even the role of Foley in the theft of Florida in 2000, which kicked off our current nightmare.

Should be some real twists and turns over the next few days.

We'll see.

[Me.]

25. What I find Interesting

is the usually reticent James Baker giving interviews all over the place.

*shadow government*

[Laurab]

37. He's selling a book for one thing

also, he's apparently involved in a Halliburton investigation there have been several threads about. One poster thought his appearances were due to his conscience, I kind of think it's greed, although I'd like to think it was conscience.

[bleever]

9. The moment the apple cart actually passes the tipping point is quiet,

but still: apples everywhere.

Very nicely written, with an eye on the whole landscape.

[Joe Chi Minh]

43. A wonderful metaphor of yours, too.

[Kurovski]

10. "They" decide.

I'm just glad they decided either: 1) They've made enough money and inroads toward it. Or 2) Bush is too bat-shit nuts even for "us".

As I've posted elsewhere, they'll be back in 25 years or so to thoroughly stir the pot.

K&R!

[autorank]

16. How about 3) both of the above;)

:hi:

[Kurovski]

17. Sure.

Why the hell not? :hi:

[lyonn]

20. "They" never have too much money or power

They might be afraid they will lose all with this idiot at the helm. Notice the mention of the Bohemian Gardens (?) where the big boys meet and make plans. Scary stuff huh.

We have lost Iraq. The few real reporters left over there are pure doom and gloom. It is a horrific mess. Heads rolling in the streets, my gawd. Bodies stacked each morning to be hauled off. This is all unimaginable horror.

[Kurovski]

27. Then why not just let America go the way of fascism, with BushCo

unencumbered?

Complete control over wealth and all else.

They must retain some sentimentalists in their ranks, I guess.

Or perhaps you Are absolutely spot-on correct. Maybe the rest of the world will quit playing the game with us then.

Certainly those frolicsome souls in Bohemian Grove have it figured out either way.

[Swamp Rat]

14. k&r for autorank!!

:yourock:

[autorank]

18. Hey buddy...

Finally, some autorank artwork:


"Scoop"

ZOGBY POLL:
VOTERS QUESTION OUTCOME OF 2004 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0609/S00346.htm

Only 45% of Voters “Very Confident” Bush Won Election “fair and square”
More

And look at the doubters geographically, they're everywhere.



It's all good!

[Swamp Rat]

19. Yes indeed!

:bounce:

Here's a new one for you yoo: :D

[autorank]

26. Another gem...my god, that's viscious....thanks.

[Kurovski]

29. We're all grateful that you kept them clothed in their native costume.

The alternative would've resulted in widespread nausea. :hi:

[Patsy Stone]

21. Well, Dr. Obvious

Thanks for an excellent post!

It's all falling down:

[autorank]

23. Finally, after all these months, a nickname I can use in public...

Thank you so much ... and yes, the cards just require a slight breeze.

:hi:

[Patsy Stone]

28. Because I thought

The Honorable Senor Mister Reverend Doctor Obvious was a bit long. :hi:

Autumn breezes blow
A house of cards, made of lies
to oblivion.

[Kurovski]

30. HSMRDO has a ring to it.

Say it aloud and hear if it isn't so. :hi: Glorious darling.

[Ellipsis]

31. Spot on.

THe MSM worm has turned.

[civildisoBDence]

44. The MSM and hushpuppies...

The MSM remind me of a cowering puppy at the feet of its Master, hoping to be tossed a hushpuppy and scared to death it might be thrown off the farm like those loud, vigilant watchdogs.

"Hushpuppies" were used at cookouts to keep the dogs quiet--much like the little non-stories tossed to the MSM keep them quiet on the real issues of the day.

Newsprism

[Land Shark]

32. I tend to think we are just getting the message that personal lives are

what's really important and scandalous (whether depraved, salacious, or anything else) and that who's getting screwed by public policy decisions is a diffuse, hard to prove, conflicted mess compared to the clarity of a sex scandal. But, before I'm corrected, this is really an issue of abuse of power and violation of law with Foley, yet that reality still needs far more emphasis.

[kpete]

33. abuse of power and violation of law

you are as right about that as you are about so many things...

[autorank]

41. "Violation" is the pervasive theme of this crew.

Violation of law, decency, boundaries, simple common sense, logic, scientific principals, historical lessons, any degree of respect and reverence for humanity...we're experiencing a tidal wave of massive violations that doesn't stop. It's no wonder people are stunned into seeming silence. But in reality, the people know, they see this charade. We have no unifying voice which means consensus, while present, is not recognized and action becomes much more difficult. This is a very special period in our history and the history of governance and the compliance of those governed. I think a peek at "the Wizard" will have a salutary effect and start to free people form thinking that there are those who know better. The fact that * got $60 million in contributions in record time in 2000 from these "Wizards," belies their title.

[Festivito]

35. Naw, this is WISHFUL THINKING.

They are reluctant to report this Foley scandal, even as far as calling Foley and Hastart Dems.

They just want to keep their power. They know they cannot be as egregious as Republicans without us coming with pitchforks in the form of policies to revamp the airwaves and take back democracy for generations to come. To them, right now, democracy is a toy we let them manipulate as long as they don't go too far as to awaken the uninterested voter.

SS awoke even dunb voters. Gay sex hiding awoke moralists who were in safe denial saying to themselves that they were protecting America from gays and abortions.

They have guns and abortions left. We can remind about Katrina on guns and call their stance on abortion as wanting to criminalize it to reduce it, rather than successfully reduce it. A little weak, but workable.

[autorank]

38. "They just want to keep their power. " I agree.

The "they" are the people in power. They own the press, therefore the press is a manifestation of their power, imho. The disquieting part of this is, what if it doesn't work? It will, of course, since this administration as a very deep bench for scandal so the hits will just keep coming. I can't imagine what's next, if that's necessary. It is about power and letting the "hired help" know who writes the check.

To me the ultimate disgrace and outrage is Katrina. Starving people for days and all the rest is criminal . 911 is there too but we know, we saw pieces of all the relevant information about Katrina. The rest of it can be explained by politics: Iraq, guns, abortion, pseudo science in schools. Katrina has only two explanations: criminal negligence or eugenics. What a choice.

We'll keep working on this for a more comprehensive explanation. Thanks for your comments.

[Tigress DEM]

46. I disagree.

We have portions of the media beginning to move toward better coverage.

Your average reporter may not have a political ax to grind perse, just wants to have good stories and get to the top of the game.

Your high up media moguls are the ones who sell the whole media group out and qaush the stories that would make a difference.

But when the pressure on them and their advertisers keeps mounting and doesn't go away, eventually they have to do stuff to appear "fair & balanced".

[autorank]

47. Well, actually you and I do agree, i.e., "their advertisers"

The "advertisers" are the ones who own the companies that do the advertising, or the conglomerates that own the companies, or the investors with controlling interests. They are the real owners form the super 'trade association' and they're calling the shots. Some of this is a result of consumer pressure but the real change at the top of the pyramid is due to relentless recklessness by a the * crew. They failed and are being told to "seek opportunities elsewhere."

The problem of Fox is an interesting one. Murdoch is his own financial giant and he's got a problem. He'll capitulate in some way but he will be playing catch up. And that's where we, the consumption units have a big voice. Fox looks like a complete betrayal of the public will and well being. If just 25% of their viewers "get it," they're in trouble, huge trouble. We can only hope. Maybe the special citizenship deal Murdoch got from Newt (allowing him to buy certain media interests here) will merit a second look. We can only hope.

I also agree with you about the press also. "Spiked" is a term that applies here. I'm sure that there are a bunch of stories that are investigated or proposed that are routinely spiked. Those with the power to do this, news management, are responsible, not the individual reporters.

[katinmn]

36. K&R! Outstanding article.

:kick:

[autorank]

40. Thanks!!!:)

[Kurovski]

39. Kick.(nt)

[Tigress DEM]

45. How about years of pressure and a near boycott of ABC for reasons?

I attended a Media Fair (2 years ago May) in the Twin Cities and the Star Trib Ombudsmen, the only MSM at the fair, was initially proud that of all the media outlets at the time MN Strib only waited ONE MONTH to publish information on the Downing Street Memo.

My question was, "Do you agree with Reese Schoenfield's statement on National TV that it is the press's JOB to LIE for the pResident during times of war?" Reese was/is? co-founder of CNN.

"He said that?" One rep asked me? "On John Gibons'/Gibson's 'Big Show' he certainly did."

Then they proceeded to tell me what I already knew, that the things the press is required to keep quiet about relate to things that relate to something like troop positions that could endanger our soldiers, but otherwise there are no real wartime restrictions."

I also learned that most of the decision making power isn't from the bottom down based on what stories are really good and chosing among them, it's from the top down and if a story is not acceptable to the highest placed editors, that's where the problem lies. I met people working in the TV industry when I was in DC who confirmed that stories were being turned away to keep the administration from having a hissy fit.


How long did Leno & Letterman IGNORE the priceless comedic material being laid at their feet daily?

Then Katrina happened and the boys on the front line had the camermen hostage and begged to whoever would listen to have some humanity. Here were reporters with some carte blanche and
so people all over the country saw a non-combatitive black man being beaten and we stood up and demanded better treatment of our fellow citizens.

About 1/3rd of Air America air time is lambasting the lies and absurdities of the reich wing media, and people less thick skinned than O'Reilly & Hannity are beginning to waffle toward the side of truth.

Much of what is changing in American media is due to the slow erosion of their arrogance. Like snowflakes, we just keep pelting them in the face, first one by one, then in the hundreds and thousands. Even the greatest arrogance can only hold up to such an onslaught for so long.

Some day even O'Reilly will break down. Probably after his nephew is killed in Iraq and he feels the true cost of this illegal war. Or maybe we'll just switch the balance, clean up the mess and lithely sweep him away with the rest of the trash this administration has foisted upon us.