IssuesConnect

Pop-up Window

The Main Stream Media Missed the Biggest Story at the Republican Convention

7/25/2016

Share this article on Facebook

While Melania Trump’s plagiarism, the Trump campaign’s refusal to acknowledge the plagiarism, Senator Ted Cruz’ non-endorsement speech, the delegates’ obedience to Trump and palpable hatred Hillary Clinton, and the dark and dystopian tone of Trump’s acceptance speech drew the attention of the Main Stream Media (MSM), the back story of the convention, was largely ignored. The MSM has yet to acknowledge the biggest story at the Republican Convention: its evolution to a white nationalist party.

Donald Trump has consistently retweeted anti-semantic and racist memes. His pathetically weak explanation that he only retweeted these memes is disproven by the fact they all originated from the same ill-defined, but tangible source: the alt right. The alt right is an amalgam of racists, neo-Nazis, fascists, nativists, and populists, and white supremacists who use the internet to promote their ideologies. The strong ties betweenthe alt right and Trump were demonstrated at the Republican Convention where prominent alt right leaders showed up to support Donald Trump. Also, Trump’s praise for Vladimir Putin has been reciprocated by Putin’s support for Trump. According to Franklin Foer in Slate, Putin support for Trump is part of a well-documented pattern of support for right wing populists who promise to support Putin’s geo-political aims . Of course, Paul Manafort, Trump’s campaign manager has long been associated with Putin allies. Afer reports that Russian Intelligence hacked the Democratic National Committee and leaked emails showing the Committed tried to sabotage Bernie Sander’s campaign, the scope of Putin’s support for Trump has become clearer. Closing the circle, the right wing populists supported by Putin, espouse the same kind of white nationalism that the alt right supporters of Trump advocate.

photo by Jason Davis

photo source: Kommerant.ru

Melania Gets Two for One

7/25/2016

After a rather predictable series of angry “red meat” speeches designed to create a patina of unity among the delegates, Melania Trump, introduced by her husband, Donald, proceeded to give a speech plagiarized from Michelle Obama. The reaction of the MSNBC commentators in real time exposed how two of the most common media narratives for explaining Melania’s plagiarism evolved. The first group was male dominated (Brian Williams, Lawrence O’Donnell, Steve Schmidt, Chris Matthews, and Rachel Maddow). They exonerated Melania as the victim of irresponsible speechwriters and incompetent campaign officials. This group explicitly opined that Melania did not write or review her speech because she was the candidate’s wife. In other words, as a woman judged by mostly white men, Melania got a break.

The second group was female dominated (Joy Ann Reid, Hallie Jackson, Kelly O’Donnell, and Jacob Soboroff) they excoriated Melania because it was, after all, her speech. As Reid, a black female, also noted, if Michelle Obama had given a speech that included two plagiarized paragraphs from Laura Bush, the media would have demeaned her mercilessly. In other words, as a white woman judged by mostly women, Melania was called to account for her behavior. Interestingly, both groups were very positive about Melania’s speech and gave it the highest marks of the evening. What does it say when the least angry, most positive speech is the one that the candidate’s wife plagiarized? Kudos to Michelle Obama.

Cops and Black Lives Matter - No Third Way

7/25/2016

In a period of 10 days, eight police officers were assassinated by lone wolf snipers. Amid the outrage that these attacks could occur “on all of us,” there were almost not diagnoses of why the attacks occurred other than the invalidated charge that they were ISIS-inspired. Of course, Rudy Giuliani and other right-wing observers suggest the attacks on police officers were due to Black Lives Matter and the failure of President Obama to proclaim support for police officers seen on video shooting unarmed blacks.

Lone wolf attacks, however, do not originate in organizations. Even if there were no Black Lives Matter, there would still be lone wolves. One of the implications of social media is its guarantee that neither the MSM nor organizations are needed to expose the images that drive lone wolves to act. Further, the cultural impetus to grabbing an assault rifle to solve problems is stronger in Dallas, and Baton Rouge than in many other parts of the U.S. And, after almost two decades of continuous foreign war, many people have the skills for taking violent action.

While acquiescence to the demand of vigilantes is never appropriate, ensuring justice for all is a much more important social commitment. From at least Biblical times, people have recognized the need for the civil society to inflict punishment rather than expecting aggrieved individuals to seek revenge. Such acts of individual revenge only perpetuate a cycle of escalating revenge and violence. But, society must be willing to ensure that police officers who use excessive force are punished proportionately to their crime.

Surprisingly, police officers in the field seem reluctant to avail themselves of community practices that might make their job easier and safer. Police supervisors and media commentators, on the other hand, insist that the key element of policing is working effectively with all communities. According to one commentator, the actions of police officers are consistent with their orders from the political establishment. Regardless of what standards the political establishment wants for police conduct, the establishment certainly is using the police to control excluded groups. To deter future attacks like Dallas or Baton Rouge, the police can be used to crush excluded groups, or the political establishment can take additional steps to include all of the society’s groups. The third way, using the police to control excluded groups, is simply not working.

Brexit: Will It Be a Redo or an Undo

7/25/2016

Europe and the elites in Washington and New York are still reeling from the decision of voters in the United Kingdom to vote to “leave” the European Union (EU) by a margin of 52 to 48 percent. Questions remain about whether the vote actually represents the will of the people, and even, whether the exit will actually happen. One explanation frequently cited in the Main Stream Media (MSM) is that older voters (over 50) were uncomfortable with the changes in the U.K. due to immigration. Also, these older voters were tired of bureaucrats in Brussels (the home of the European Union) imposing regulations on them. Younger U.K. voters, however, are comfortable with the new European culture as they seek and find employment all over the EU. A second less frequently cited explanation in the MSM is that the influx of immigrants to the U.K. was reducing incomes and the standard of living. Specifically, this explanation holds that because immigrants increase the available labor supply, wages are reduced, and strains are places on social services such as the National Health Service. Government sponsored studies, however, have found that an aging native U.K. population without immigrants will reduce the U.K.’s productivity and result in a net loss of income. Moreover, much of the strain felt in social services is due to reduced spending by the Conservative government, supposedly to demonstrate to bond markets that the government is serious about holding down inflation.

Following the election, many of the voters seem stunned by their collective decision while other voters turned to Google to find out what the EU was, and presumably why they voted to leave it. Over four million voters signed a petition to have a “redo” vote, although government officials quickly announced that there would be no redo. Nonetheless, Scottish officials were quick to point out that the previous referendum to remain in the U.K. passed only because the U.K. was a part of the EU. They quickly proceeded to file for another referendum that would almost certainly result in Scotland leaving the U.K. Further, one of the provisions of the peace agreement between Northern Ireland and the U.K. guaranteed unhindered passage between the two countries would be null and void once the U.K. leaves the EU. Northern Ireland is therefore expected to leave the U.K. and join Ireland. The loss of Northern Ireland and Scotland were unanticipated by the voters. In light of these reactions, the declaration by the newly chosen U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May to Scotland’s First Minister that the U.K. would not withdraw from the EU until Scotland agrees to the withdrawal seems to be a way to undo the vote without a redo.

Why Are Lone Wolf Killers So Deadly?

7/17/2016

In the last month long killers have been responsible for deaths in Orlando (49), Dallas (5), and Nice, France (84). While ISIS was not operationally responsible for these attacks, the Main Stream Media (MSM), with some corroboration from the authorities, have called them “ISIS inspired.” None of the attackers seemed to be particularly knowledgeable about ISIS, although the attackers in Orlando and Nice were from Muslim families and the Dallas attacker said he hated white people. What seems to especially raise concerns among authorities is the difficulty of identifying attackers who are not a part of any network and who cannot be infiltrated. By lumping these attacks together under the rubric of “lone wolf ISIS inspired terrorists” the MSM, including their paid consultants who provide color commentary, play into a more exciting narrative.

These attacks were certainly deadly, but not because they were “ISIS inspired” or carried out by “lone wolves.” The attack in Orlando, and possibly the Dallas attack, was deadly because of the availability of military style weapons. The attack in Nice was deadly because a vulnerable street was not secured with impenetrable barricades. Lone wolf attacks can be very deadly even though the attackers do not have help in planning and executing the attack, nor anyone to critique their operational plan. Nonetheless, attacks planned, resourced, and executed by trained terrorists are likely to be even deadlier. Since 9/11 there have been no such attacks in the U.S. due to the extraordinary efforts of law enforcement and the help provided by various civilian communities.

Turkey: The Political Implications of a Failed Coup

7/17/2016

From what we learned about the failed coup in Turkey, the military officers attempting it were so concerned about secrecy, they did not enlist help from most of the military, any of the political parties, or any of the other institutions that would be needed to pull off the coup. The need for secrecy is understandable, but if there are no allies that can be trusted to help out, then maybe a coup is a bad idea.

Now we hear that over 3,000 military officers and 2,445 judges have been arrested. The ability of 5,445 people to keep a secret on the one hand and yet fail to pull off the coup on the other hand is most surprising. Rumors have now started that the coup was staged by President Erdogan as a way of seizing more power in what has been a steady drive to accumulate power. There will be more to this story.

France and Terrorism

7/17/2016

One explanation for the terrorism that has been directed against France is its failure to implement policies for the inclusion of Muslims—the presence of whom in France is a holdover from France’s colonial past. The largest Muslim population in Europe is in France (7-8 percent of the population) with a prison population of 70 percent. If so, then one question is what happens if France continues to follow its exclusionary policies.

Main Stream Media Still Does Not Know What to Make of Bernie and Trump

7/17/2016

The dissociative personality disorder of the Main Stream Media (MSM) is apparent in the dual memes now being pushed by it. On the one hand, the MSM has pushed the notion Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders represent the same anger and rejection of the establishment among voters and owe the success they have achieved to that anger and rejection.
On the other hand, some elements of the MSM media seem to have delighted in pronouncing the failure of Bernie’s Progressive Movement. At the same time, other elements of the MSM express some bemusement that Trump is now leading or tied in several swing states. If Bernie’s Progressive Movement was fueled by same ingredients as Trump, then how can Trump be a success while the Progressive Movement is a failure?

Media Ignores Rape Charges against Donald Trump Like It Initially Ignored Bill Cosby Rape Charges

7/12/2016

Another lawsuit has been brought against Donald Trump, this time by a woman who claims that she was raped multiple times by Trump when she was thirteen years old. While it is certainly possible for frivolous law suits to be filed, according to attorney Lisa Bloom (Huffington Post, 6/29/2016), this one has two characteristics that warrant serious consideration. First, two other rape accusations have been made against Trump, although in both cases, settlements seems to have been reached, precluding other legal actions. Second, Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted pedophile billionaire and friend of Trump, whose party planner was responsible for procuring adolescent girls for Mr. Epstein, witnessed the rape by Trump.

Regardless of whether Trump is guilty of these charges, the Main Stream Media has decided to be extremely circumspect in reporting the law suit. It is, however, reminiscent of the media’s reluctance to report on the charges of rape made by Bill Cosby’s victims. In the Trump case, is it because it is so unlikely that the charges are true, and thus, do not warrant widespread reporting or is it to keep the Trump campaign competitive against Hillary Clinton? This case will not be tried until after the Presidential election.

Hillary Needs Joe Biden to Refute James Comey’s Negative Opinions about Her

7/12/2016

The Director of the FBI, James Comey, recommended against indicting Hillary Clinton for mishandling classified information. While explaining the reasons for this recommendation—contrary to Department of Justice procedure — Mr. Comey decided to characterize Ms. Clinton’s legal behavior in various derogatory ways. Comey said that Ms. Clinton’s handling of classified information was extremely careless and she should have known when information was classified even if it was not marked as classified. Three of Ms. Clinton’s some 30,000 emails were marked as classified; at least 2 of those emails were not classified and the third was not correctly marked as classified. Other State Department employees may have sent Ms. Clinton classified information, even if it was incorrectly marked; Ms. Clinton would have had no way of knowing it. According to Comey, the security culture State Department was “lacking in the kind of care found elsewhere in the government.” Perhaps, Mr. Comey does not understand what kind of security is needed and appropriate for the State Department.

Comey’s opinion that Ms. Clinton did not commit a crime was based on legal standards; his opinion about the rectitude of Ms. Clinton’s legal behavior was not based on any consensual standard. Comey’s questionable and unprecedented assault on the Democratic Presidential candidate must be answered by the party to prevent the outcome of this election from being affected and ensure the administration is not considered soiled. Despite the Main Stream Media’s (MSM) confusion about Comey’s charges and whether they conflicted with what Hillary claimed about her use of private email, much of what Comey said can be refuted. These charges need to be refuted, but Ms. Clinton is not in a position to do it. The most suitable surrogate to combat this assault if Vice President Joe Biden.

Pop-up Window