As the New Year approaches and we all make our 2011 resolutions, I have a suggestion.
Since the 2010 election and SB 1070 polls have shown, Arizona is a “red” state. So local print and television media should quit trying to force the voters’ conservative square peg into a liberal round hole. There is a total disconnect between the local media’s commentary and reporting and the facts on the ground.
Why do we read articles and watch televison so-called “news” programs that espouse the liberal/left-wing politics — not an unbiased reporting of the facts. Let us decide what conclusion to reach. Even our local PBS television channel’s evening political programs push their liberal views down our throats, and we taxpayers are paying for this publicly-owned entity.
One TV channel which professes to be part of our “family” has the audacity to tout their Sunday afternoon political commentary show as “unbiased.” I don’t think that through any streatch of the imagination could one call the constant attacking of Sheriff Arpaio, Sen. Pearce, Speaker Adams or Gov. Jan Brewer unbiased.
The hosts on many of our local political commentary shows help feed the liberal/leftist feeding frenzy of the reporters being interviewed. Just watch the reporter’s body language as Sheriff Joe’s name is thrown out for discussion. It’s like watching the “Hulk” morph right in front of your eyes. A chicken would have more of a chance in a lion’s cage!
Leon Ceniceros, Mesa
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lionel posted at 6:13 am on Fri, Dec 17, 2010.
If the EVT would start censoring the news, as you have suggested, Arizona would truly be a "Red" state. Walking around with blinders on is always a bad idea.
abimopectore posted at 7:23 am on Fri, Dec 17, 2010.
It's hard to find news that is not biased today. They have gone to sensationalizing and editorializing the news instead of just "telling" us the news with no spin or agenda. Both sides are guilty. Nevertheless, you need critical thinking skills to filter the wheat from the chaff. A person wanting the news to side with the currently elected leaders of this state, especially when controversy (i.e., politics) appears to be their only political tactic, is not thinking.
Dale Whiting posted at 9:32 am on Fri, Dec 17, 2010.
Leon and ambiopectore, Not even the Texas School Board generates objective information. Life is about reading, checking the facts, and then making up your own mind. The Tribune does a pretty good job of printing the opinions of both "liberals" and "conservatives" giving those with background an opportunity to share their backgrounds with others.
How one processes the facts they understand through their own thought process to from opinion seems to determine who is liberal and who is conservative. All the time we hear phrases like "Conservative family values." What does that mean? It means that the thought process places greator value and emphasis on some facts and less on others. When the facts are weighed, and a decision is made, the weigher shows his values in the balance.
So quite trying to critisize the ones bringing you the message. Look at your values and reach your own conclusions, allowing others to reach theirs, too. Sensorship is not an American Value!
Dale Whiting posted at 9:33 am on Fri, Dec 17, 2010.
So quit trying!
abimopectore posted at 10:35 am on Fri, Dec 17, 2010.
Dale,
I wasn't criticizing the news as you say; however, I was pointing out a fact, which isn't anything different than what you stated.
LinMesa posted at 2:04 pm on Fri, Dec 17, 2010.
"Why do we read articles and watch televison so-called “news” programs that espouse the liberal/left-wing politics"
I don't know. Why do you? After all you have Fox News available. Isn't that where all you Republicans get all your lies? There are several fact check sites online. Check them out sometimes. As for our state leaders, they are only elected by people who believe that racism is still alive and well, not only down south, but in Arizona as well. Hopefully, when their terms are over, the people in this state will have seen the error of their ways and be willing to vote for candidates that actually care for the people of Arizona and know how to make the state prosper.
Unfortunately, we do not have that kind of leadership at this time.
Only people who are filled with hate for those less fortunate.
Dale Whiting posted at 4:32 pm on Fri, Dec 17, 2010.
Ok, ambiopectore, I'll stop reading into your words frustration at not finding unbiased news reports. I suppose that since Nielson Ratings started being applied to news programs and advertizers started paying bigger bucks, news broadcasts have had incentive to segment their markets by being more biased, i.e. expressing views.
However I do find some decent news broadcasts. CNN is not too bad. I do not see problems with the major 1/2 news programs on NBC, FOX, CBS or ABC. And Fareed Zakaria's opinion program is excellent on Sunday mornings. Shepard Smith on Fox used to be good but lately he has become "conservative' in his expressions of value.
Glen Beck is crazy as is most of the rest of the Fox line up. I think the commentators and opinion leaders on MSNBC are openly biased but own up to their biases.
The trick is to listen to what facts are reported, check out the ones which seem out of line and make up your own mind. For example, when Fox reported the President's trip to India was costing $200 million per day, vs. $5 million under Bush, didn't anyone doubt Fox's sources? The Conservatives eat Fox up. And Fox eats up the ratings misrepresenting the facts gives to them.
When is the last time any of us heard a retraction from Fox News. I can recall several from MSNBC.
Accuracy posted at 6:37 pm on Fri, Dec 17, 2010.
If you do not want to hear "BAD NEWS" do not lessen to to the news channels.
All broadcast networks and cable news channels (FOX News, ABC, MSNBC, CBS, and CNN News) only have "BAD NEWS". And you never see good news and felicity on the TV News networks.
Dale Whiting posted at 9:36 pm on Fri, Dec 17, 2010.
Accuracy, your observation is just another "value judgement."
I really enjoyed tonight's Parker-Spitzer interfiew with Economist Jeffrey Sachs. He was against both last year's stimulus and this week's stimulus 2, the return of the neo-cons on tax cuts. Both cutting taxes and spending money are a part of Keynesian economics. Republicans only complain about the spending part.
Sachs points out that if we are not going to be fiscally responsible, we are doomed. One wonders whether even the Tea Party has the guts to gut [not "cut" but "gut"] government spending and keep taxes high enough to pay our debts. Sachs points out that where we have funded two wars without demanding any financial sacrifices from our citizens, we are bankrupting our nation. His rirst priority is to get out of Afghanistan now!
Has anyone reading this ever read Toynbee's "Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire?" I think its time we started writing its secquel! Wonder if Bob Romantic would consider printing short chapters?
Dale Whiting posted at 4:43 pm on Sat, Dec 18, 2010.
Now that we have had a day to watch CNN, FOX and MSNBC on the defeat of the DREAM act and on successful repeal of DADT, anyone care to comment on who was the most objective. I heard more debate between opponents of these two measure on MSNBC than on FOX. Heck FOX had no one debating. CNN was also good. So just how can anyone lable the media as "Liberal?" FOX clearly is conservative. [Forgive me Barry Goldwater, FOX has given the term "conservative" a bad name.] And many of the commentators on MSNBC are unabashedly Liberal. But they do give some time, if not equal time, to opposing parties and views.
On CNN Elliott Spitzer is paired up nicely with Parker [forgot her first name] and the two do a fair amont of sparing. Elliot being the gentleman that he is often defures. And Joe Scarborough is paired up nicely with Mika Brezenski. There are no pairs on FOX! So if anyone knows of some, please point them out. CNN and MSNBC are getting a bit boring!