(Gold Vs Paper Debate) Ron Paul Co Hosting CNBC’s Squawk Box – April 23rd 2012
April 23, 2012 by Jack Blood
Filed under Media
Comments are kinda nasty….
Even conservative inflation charts say we have lost 80% of the value of our US Dollar!
Just like compound interest compound inflation grows faster and faster. The average annual inflation since 1913 is "only" 3.24%. See Average Annual Inflation Rates by Decade But as you can see from the chart above compounding something for almost 100 years at 3.24% will result in over 2000% inflation. The Consumer Price index (CPI-U) for January 1913 was 9.8. The CPI-U for April 2011 was 224.906. This means that something that cost $9.80 in January of 1913 would cost $224.91 today! If that isn't bad enough, actually the situation is even worse than that. If you look at the chart carefully you will see that inflation was fairly steep during the "teens" from 1913 - 1920 actually almost 100% (See: Total Inflation by Decade). Then during the 1920's and 1930's inflation actually declined. The CPI-U index stood at 13.9 in January of 1940. So actually most of the 2000% inflation occurred since 1940
Obama Justice Department Now Referring Reporters to Media Matters (Soros) for Information on Fast and Furious
April 21, 2012 by Jack Blood
Filed under Media
- Katie Pavlich
News Editor, Townhall
Late Friday afternoon, Free Beacon reporter CJ Ciaramella requested a comment from the Justice Department about my new book Fast and Furious: Barack Obama’s Bloodiest Scandal and Its Shameless Coverup. This was the response he received.
That’s right folks. Media Matters, the far Left website funded by George Soros, is now serving as a mouth piece for the United States Department of Justice. Not only did DOJ refer Ciaramella to Media Matters for information about Operation Fast and Furious, but didn’t even refer him to material that had anything to do with his original question about the FBI covering up the existence of a third weapon found at the murder scene of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry. Ciaramella writes:
The Department of Justice is using the liberal “watchdog” group Media Matters for America to deflect questions about the Fast and Furious scandal, including those regarding a gun that might have been used in the murder of a U.S. Border Patrol agent.
A new book raises questions as to whether the FBI hid the existence of a weapon recovered at the scene of murdered U.S. Border Patrol agent Brian Terry. Conservative commentator and author Katie Pavlich lays out evidence she says points to a FBI cover-up to protect a confidential informant in her recently released book, Fast and Furious: Barack Obama’s Bloodiest Scandal and Its Shameless Cover-up,
In response to an inquiry from the Free Beacon, a Justice Department spokeswoman said in an email that she “was told to direct your questions to the FBI, and also to provide you with a link to this story: http://mediamatters.org/research/201204190011”
The link was to a story at the George Soros-funded Media Matters for America supposedly refuting many of Pavlich’s claims. Media Matters is a partisan organization whose founder, David Brock, is also running a pro-Obama super PAC.
For more than a year now, Americans have been stonewalled, ignored and disrespected in our quests for information about the Obama administration’s lethal Operation Fast and Furious. The fact that the Obama Justice Department, headed by Attorney General Eric Holder, is now sending reporters to the far Left, George Soros funded, Media Matters for factual information about one of the bloodiest scandals in U.S. history, is no surprise and totally predictable. This is just an extension of the Obama administration’s shameless coverup and refusal to tell the truth about Fast and Furious. The claims made by Media Matters match up nearly exactly with claims made by Justice Department officials in their defense against involvement in Fast and Furious.
The Justice Department has blood on its hands, there are at least 300 Mexican citizens dead and two of our federal agents have been murdered as a result of this program. The Obama administration as a whole refuses to take responsibility and provide transparency for an American public outraged by this scandal. The Justice Department is responsible for upholding the law in a fair, unbiased and non-political manner, but the current politically appointed DOJ leadership has chosen to engage in promoting a far Left and controversial agenda. Apparently, the new spokesperson for the Justice Department is Media Matters, and just in case you’re wondering, Media Matters is headed by David Brock, who just so happens to be in charge of a pro-Obama super PAC. Media Matters also enjoys tax exempt status as a non-profit, despite being a mouth piece for the White House and the DOJ.
If you want the truth, read my book Fast and Furious: Barack Obama’s Bloodiest Scandal and Its Shameless Coverup. It is clear we won’t be getting it from the Justice Department on this crucial issue.
Radio Host Kicked Off Stage For Supporting Ron Paul at a Tea Party!
April 17, 2012 by Jack Blood
Filed under Media
Tea Party Rally in Watkins Glen, NY. Local Ron Paul advocate did a great job convincing the organizers that a Ron Paul speaker should be allowed speak as there would be a straw poll at the conclusion of the rally. They accepted but did not like the message of liberty and freedom. Weak Tea!
Why are the Feds Forcing Media to Use Government Computers
April 14, 2012 by Jack Blood
Filed under Media
They are no longer reporters… They are merely REPEATERS now…
Ministry of "information" - eliminate the old speak, promote groupthink... Double plus good.
Unrest is simmering in some quarters of the Washington news universe regarding changes in the way the Department of Labor (DOL) manages its pre-release media “lockups” on sensitive data like weekly jobless benefits and unemployment.
For years, journalists participating in the lockups have shown up at DOL at the appointed time, then entered a limited-access area to receive the new data and prepare news stories for release as soon as official embargoes end.
The system insures that major news organizations get the data as soon as possible and allows journalists covering the release get a jump on providing analyses and opinion about the data.
But Carl Fillichio, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis’ top communications advisor, circulated a memo earlier this week to interested media informing them that everybody is being required to re-submit their credentials requests.
Fillichio reminded participants that there are only 20-30 seats available for the lockups and that priority will be given by DOL in selecting participants to those that “are primarily journalistic enterprises.”
He also offered a one-sentence assurance that “the department will not consider editorial or political viewpoints in making credentialing decisions.”
Whatever grumbling might be occasioned by being forced to go through the credentialing process again, the element of the Fillichio memo that has journalists worried is this paragraph:
“Second, as a measure toward enhancing security in its main lockup facility (the DOL news room), the department will supply and maintain standardized equipment with a standard configuration for all participants. This change means that privately owned computer and telephone equipment, including hardware, software, cabling, wiring and Internet and telephone lines will be replaced with equipment owned by the department.”
In other words, journalists will no longer be allowed to bring their laptops or other equipment to the lockups, they will have to use government-supplied equipment, described by Fillichio as including “a virtualized desktop running a Windows operation system, a web browser, word-processing software, an Adobe Reader application and secure file transfer capability. Equipment provided will not have wireless networking capability. Provisions will be in place for news organizations to transmit their stories over the Internet.”
The changes evidently are in response at least in part to worries that some of the non-traditional news organizations allowed in recent years to participate in the lockups may not be using their access simply for journalistic purposes.
Since the stock market can rise or fall by hundreds of points as a result of such a data release, making sure nobody gets an advance peek at the data is critical to insuring the integrity of the process.
But some news organizations worry about having to use government equipment that could compromise their editors and reporters in preparing publishable charts, consulting previous stories and charts for comparison purposes, and reviewing prior stories for context and analyses.
They are also concerned that the whole process will slow down delivery of the news at a time when unemployment is high, the economy is in the doldrums and public concerns about future job prospects are unusually high.
Delays will make it more difficult for independent analysts to understand the new data and could give White House and DOL political appointees more time to blunt the impact of the negative news resulting from the data.
In addition, Fillichio’s promise not to consider editorial or political viewpoints is somewhat less than reassuring in view of his boss’s recent appearance in a poster distributed throughout DOL show Solis arm-in-arm with Rev. Al Sharpton, solidarity-style.
There are also rumblings about transferring control of the whole process from political appointees in DOL to career employees within the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The BLS has a spotless record of maintaining data integrity and insulation from political pressures to manipulate data content or release timing. Solis and Fillichio are said to be quietly resisting efforts in Congress to shift control of the lockups to BLS.
Fillichio has scheduled a conference call for Monday with interested media to discuss the memo and implementation of the new system.
MSNBC-GE- Comcast Panel Laughs in Jesse Benton’s Face
April 13, 2012 by Jack Blood
Filed under Media
- He just sits there and takes it? “With all due respect….” MY ASS!
BONUS:
Miami Marlins MLB manager “suspended” for Pro Castro / Cuba comment (there is no free speech only PC)
April 10, 2012 by Jack Blood
Filed under Media
America’s pastime huh? Apple pie and fascism…
MIAMI -
Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen has been suspended for five games amid controversy over a comment he made about Fidel Castro.
The Marlins released a statement Tuesday morning, saying, “The Marlins acknowledge the seriousness of the comments attributed to Guillen. The pain and suffering caused by Fidel Castro cannot be minimized, especially in a community filled with victims of the dictatorship.”
Time Magazine reported that Guillen said he loves Castro and respects him for staying in power so long.
An emotional Guillen spoke at a Tuesday morning news conference, apologizing again in Spanish before fielding questions in English. He said he was “very embarrassed, very sad.”
WATCH: News conference (English)
WATCH: News conference (Spanish)
PHOTOS: News conference, protest
“I apologize to the people here, outside, and I’m very, very, very sorry about the problem, about what happened. I will do everything to make it better, everything in my power to make it better,” Guillen said.
Guillen has been accused of saying he loves Castro, but when asked at the news conference if he loves the former Cuban dictator, he said, “No.” The Marlins manager said the reporter in the article misinterpreted his remarks and claimed what he really said in Spanish was, “I cannot believe that someone who has hurt so many people over the years is still alive.”
Guillen, who is from Venezuela, repeatedly told reporters he is not pro-Castro or pro-Hugo Chavez.
“I’d prefer to die than vote for Chavez,” Guillen said in Spanish.
A Miami resident, Guillen said that fixing his problem with the community is more important to him than his suspension.
“I don’t blame those people to think what they think right now because they have all the right, because I hurt a lot of people, and I’m aware of that. It’s something, it’s another thing that’s not in my hands,” Guillen said. “If I’m going to be a Miami guy for the rest of my life, I got meet the community every day even if I want to or not, because I live here. I want to walk on the street with my head up and feel not this bad, the way I feel right now.”
RELATED: Marlins struggle to overcome PR missteps
Slideshow: Guillen’s best (or worst) quotes
Will Manso’s Blog: Why Guillen works, doesn’t work for Marlins
Special Section: Miami Marlins
The manager said before Monday’s game he’s had sleepless nights because of his comments and wants to make amends.
“I’m going to make everything clear what’s going on,” he said. “People can see me and talk. I’ve already talked to people. But I think it’s the proper thing to see my eyes. They can see me and ask whatever question they want. I think sooner is better. Better for the ballclub, better for me.”
Guillen said that he will no longer talk politics and that he will stick to baseball.
Members of the Cuban-American community, as well as Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman Joe Martinez and Miami Commission Chairman Francis Suarez, have called for Guillen’s removal.
A group of protesters gathered outside Tuesday morning’s news conference. Some held signs saying, “Boycott the Miami Marlins.”
The protesters were not satisfied by the suspension and the public apologies by Guillen. Some were activists belonging to groups such as Vigilio Mambisa, but others were not.
“There’s no apology. Lack of common sense and stupidity has no room,” said protester Sylvia Unzueta. “How can he guide a group of people to win anything?”
Survey: Do you think Guillen’s apology was…
Quick Clicks
- PHOTOS: Ozzie Guillen news conference
- Ozzie Guillen news conference (English)
- Ozzie Guillen news conference (Spanish)
- Guillen expected to apologize for…
Veteran CBS journalist Mike Wallace dead at 93: CBS
(Reuters) – CBS journalist Mike Wallace, who earned a reputation as a tough interviewer on the network’s “60 Minutes” show, died at the age of 93, the network said on Sunday.
Al Gore, Current TV fights back against “ego-maniacal jerk” Keith Olbermann “Empire”
April 7, 2012 by Jack Blood
Filed under Media
Note that the same words (Allegedly) used by KO “Assassinate” “Kill” are metaphorical terms worse than what he objected to many times on his broadcasts while labeling “Tea Baggers” as dangerous extremists…. And yes Keith’s production company was called the “Olbermann Broadcasting Empire” – good riddance fool.
Via Media Bistro
As expected (again) Current TV has counter-sued Keith Olbermann, laying out its argument that it was Olbermann who was in breach of contract, and not network executives.
Just as Olbermann portrayed Current executives in a negative light in his filing, Current paints Olbermann as an ego-maniacal jerk in its filing.
Current argues that Olbermann refused to promote the network or its shows, and would order staff not to promote “Countdown” when he wasn’t anchoring. It also pulled some embarrassing emails and events from Olbermann’s tenure at the network. After a picture of the “Countdown” set leaked to the press by the designer, Olbermann asked Current CEO Joel Hyatt “Can you assassinate him, please?” Another incident saw Olbermann throw a glass mug against the wall of the studio, shattering it.
The full suit is embedded after the jump.
NBC Fires Producer in Flap Over Manipulated 911 Call in Trayvon Martin Case
April 7, 2012 by Jack Blood
Filed under Media
The controversy erupted after “Today” aired a segment that made shooter George Zimmerman sound as though he was racially profiling the 17-year-old black youth.
NBC News has fired the producer it deemed most responsible for the airing of a selectively edited 911 call placed by George Zimmerman the night he killed Trayvon Martin.
Sources at NBC who asked not to be identified confirmed a New York Times story saying that a Miami-based producer was fired Thursday, though the sources refused to identify the former employee.
The offending segment aired on NBC’s Today show March 27 but went widely unnoticed until it was highlighted by conservative outlets such as the Media Research Center and Breitbart.com.
Two days after the Today gaffe, Sean Hannity ran a segment about NBC’s manipulation of the 911 call on his Fox News Channel show. The story went viral when the Drudge Report linked to a Hollywood Reporter story about the growing controversy last week.
In the original 911 call, Zimmerman is heard describing Martin as such: “This guy looks like he’s up to no good. Or he’s on drugs or something. It’s raining and he’s just walking around, looking about.”
The dispatcher then asks: “OK, and this guy – is he white, black or Hispanic?”
“He looks black,” Zimmerman responds.
The version NBC ran, though, was much shorter and did not include the question posed by the 911 operator.
“This guy looks like he’s up to no good. He looks black,” Zimmerman is heard saying in NBC’s edited version.
The difference is significant, since activists have been claiming that Zimmerman had racially profiled Martin. Critics have argued that NBC set out to purposely advance that narrative by condensing the 911 tape to make it appear that Zimmerman’s motivation for assuming Martin was “up to no good” was based on his skin color.
NBC announced Saturday that it had launched an investigation into the matter, and on Tuesday it apologized for its “error” and said it had completed its inquiry.
“We will be taking the necessary steps to prevent this from happening in the future and apologize to our viewers,” NBC said Tuesday.
NBC News Admits ‘Error’ of Edited 911 Call in Trayvon Martin Controversy (Video)
NBC issues apology on Zimmerman tape Doctoring
April 4, 2012 by Jack Blood
Filed under Media
NBC apologizes to viewers, but not directly to this viewer. (AFP/GETTY IMAGES) NBC has completed its investigation into the mishandling of the police dispatcher’s conversation with George Zimmerman in the Trayvon Martin case. And the process ends with a finding of error, plus an apology. Here is the statement just issued by the network:
During our investigation it became evident that there was an error made in the production process that we deeply regret. We will be taking the necessary steps to prevent this from happening in the future and apologize to our viewers.
That apology addresses the “Today” show’s failure to abridge accurately the conversation between Zimmerman and the dispatcher in this high-profile case. This is how the program portrayed a segment of that conversation:
Zimmerman: This guy looks like he’s up to no good. He looks black.
And here is how it actually went down:
Zimmerman: This guy looks like he’s up to no good. Or he’s on drugs or something. It’s raining and he’s just walking around, looking about.
Dispatcher: OK, and this guy — is he black, white or Hispanic?
Zimmerman: He looks black.
No matter how you feel about Zimmerman, that bit of tape editing was unfair to the truth and to Zimmerman’s reputation, such as it is. Reaction on Twitter and elsewhere to my previous post on this matter, was brutal toward NBC, with many comments suggesting the worst about the network’s motivations, reliability and so on.
Does the statement adequately address those concerns? On the good front, it acknowledges the mistake and apologizes to viewers for the bad editing. It’s a forthright correction and spares us any excuses about the faulty portrayal. On the bad front, the statement is skimpy on the details on just how the mistake unfolded. Nor does it articulate an apology directly to George Zimmerman, the “viewer” who is most aggrieved by the screw-up. In light of all that’s happened, Zimmerman may be a tough person for a news network to apologize to, but that’s just the point: Apologies are hard.
View Photo Gallery: The fatal shooting of an unarmed black 17-year-old by a neighborhood watch volunteer in Sanford, Fla., has led to a federal investigation, numerous protests and a national spotlight.
Supporters of Zimmerman wary of speaking out, fearing public backlash
Trayvon Martin’s parents commend Bobby Rush for wearing hoodie on House floor
