The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Jan Scruggs' Vietnam Wall?

3.22.04 @ 12:01AM

(Page 4 of 4)

I suppose what I would wonder is why you don't highlight the fact that the Bush Administration has scratched your back as a real estate agent. To own your own business under a Republican administration is a joy. Frankly, you have as much bias as the rest of us, considering how the tax cuts and incentives passed through the republican government benefit you.

You presented a one-sided attack of liberal media. Why not temper it with articles from all sides instead of assaulting a specific group? That way, we get a view of the whole picture -- that thing you claim to be advocating.

When you have a polarizing administration, I expect that bias is somewhat expected, though aiming for a lack of it in the media should always be the focus. Fact is, this president panders to the polar ends, playing up fear of the masked, nameless Muslim who's coming for you and your bible reading children. He talks of the dirty homosexuals who are waiting in the shadows to mug straight couples and take away their marriage license. He makes all manner of excuses and smoke shields to cover for his failing economy, pathetic job growth, ambiguous war, ambiguous intelligence, and Christian Protectorate policies.

I don't think there's anything wrong with bias, as long as it is affirmed from the beginning. On that note, I'll concur that certain news agencies should indeed preface their coverage with a liberal disclaimer, as should those agencies who are conservative.

The difference between you and me is that I will write this editorial and tell you up front: I'm a dirty liberal. Have the courage to stand up for your convictions, and if you are conservative, Republican, or a follower of Pat Robertson, then bloody-well say so. Don't build an argument against your opposites while maintaining your impartiality, especially when your writing reeks of bias.
-- Matthew J. Viator

Mr. Crocker's most disturbing observation is not of left-wing media bias, but of the paucity of actual media talent on the political right. Crocker's analysis fails to take the next step, leaving out that the left-wing media has its choice of token conservatives, as with its choice of stories.

Why would those liberals hire the most effective conservative voices? So much better to put on mediocre minds, which will leave viewers more confused than convinced, allowing the left the freedom to behave as Franken did in Crocker's example. The result is sham debate.

With exceptions, many of TV's "conservative commentators" (such as Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Tucker Carlson, and others) go positively limp (linguistically) facing the fast-talking, twist-artists on the left, whether Donna Brazile, Al Hunt, Al Franken, Begala, Carville, etcetera, ad nauseam. And Bill O'Reilly -- the biggest joke of all. Conservative? Far more bluster than brains (I don't give a damn where he went to school), he is easily bested -- even by Rosie O'Donnell! His only defenses are shouting and the mute button. He probably is some kind of neo-theo-Fascist at heart. He sure isn't conservative. I don't know what he is. Neither does he.

You'll have to go to Fox to find Kristol, Krauthammer, Barnes, or (God bless 'im!) Brit Hume, and it's gratifying to notice the demeanor of liberals around them -- it's downright respectful. They'll get their say, but not their way. I doubt Carville, or Begala, or Franken would dare share the camera with Hume. That's quite possibly why they never do. But even on Fox, outside of Hume's little circle. there is very little true talent. For example, on his own show Hannity couldn't begin to match debate with Donna Brazile. She completely dominated him, even though everything she said was pure crap. Very depressing over all.

Why are liberals such difficult adversaries for so many "conservative commentators?" They cowering before liberal sophistry, they concede the intellectual high-ground, they run for the cover of "family values," or "patriotism." (Sean Hannity, sound familiar?)

Anyway, good article by Mr. Crocker. He's preaching to the choir, of course.
-- J. Mohr
New Jersey

STANDING ON THE CORNER
Re: Jed Babbin's letter ("For the Record") in Reader Mail's The New Derrida and Kevin McGehee's letter ("Foxettes ") in Reader Mail's Games People Play:

I heartily second the opinion of the learned Mr. Jed Babbin. Kiran Chetry is indeed the most comely and vivacious lady in the universe! Were I young, and she single, I would forthwith take her home to Mother; if, that is, mon Pere were ensconced securely within a straitjacket!
-- Frank Stevenson
Williamsburg, Virginia

Reader Kevin McGehee, in his answer to reader Ken Shreve's response to Kelly Jane Torrance's comment on the Fox News women all being blonde, makes a distinction between "anchor babes" and "news babes." Respectfully, I think he is picking a nit. The news personalities substitute for the anchor personalities all the time.

Oh, and Kiran Chetry is no blonde, and sure as heck is no bag of bones either.
-- Paul DeSisto
Cedar Grove, New Jersey

No Way! Patty Ann Brown of Fox News head lines is the absolutely most beautiful girl on Fox News or any other News for that matter
-- Albert Wilson
Valley, Alabama

Letter to the Editor

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