FAIR.org (Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting) has a great article about Fox News Channel's hit show "Hannity and Colmes". The article, written by Steve Rendall, debates the actual "balance" of the show.
He speaks of how the show was originally "Hannity and Liberal-to-be-determined" because Hannity was hired for the show before they ever even auditioned a liberal.
Fox news president Roger Ailes suggests that "Hannity and Colmes" is a very balanced show because it features both sides of the argument - you have the conservative (Sean Hannity) and the liberal (Alan Colmes).
Many people on both sides of the political spectrum argue that the show is not as balanced as Fox News would have you believe.
Sean Hannity is very aggressive, especially when compared to his co-host, who tends to be milder and closer to a "moderate" than a "liberal".
My views on Sean Hannity:
First of all, I disagree with Sean Hannity most of the time. He has said many things on the show that just go against what I believe this country should be about...
...and God forbid you bring up something about the 2000 election where the man in the White House did not get the most votes. Hannity will look at you, as he does any guest who brings this up, and say "Get over it." (For the record, Alan Colmes will usually agree that it is time to move on when it comes to that subject, but not all Americans can just "get over" the fact that the Commander-in-Chief was appointed by the Supreme Court instead of elected by the voters.)
Sean Hannity is not a bad guy. Really, he's not. I think he tries his best to be good, and maybe he's truly saying and doing what he thinks is right. He seems to be proud of his country, and very supportive of anything labeled "American".
Hannity's problem is that he has two very distinct sides to his personality. On his radio and television shows, he comes across as this aggressive, ultra-right-wing-conservative bulldog, who's ready to pounce on anyone who shows one drop of what he considers "unpatriotic" blood.
Opposite his "bulldog" side is his "lost-puppy-dog" side. There is a large part of Hannity that acts like a little, lost puppy dog, who's willing to just blindly follow our President, no matter what half-truth is told, or what war he gets us into, or which one of his CEO buddies just screwed his employees out of pensions and healthcare. In a way, you almost want to feel sorry for Mr. Hannity.
Like I said, Hannity is not a bad guy, he just seems a little lost sometimes, but luckily, he has his good friends Ann Coulter and Laura Ingraham to stand up for him.
Speaking of Hannity and Colmes, tonight's episode was great! Of all the episodes I've seen, I have never seen a guest just get up and walk away like one did tonight. I don't remember the guy's name, but the entire time he was on the show (which could have been longer had he stayed), he was yelling at Colmes, and then at Hannity about Michael Jackson.
He was attempting to argue that the only reason Michael Jackson was brought up on charges was because he's black. He argued that Jackson's bail was set at $3 Million, while some murderer's bails (he mentioned Robert Blake for one) were set at only $1 Million. He said it was because of modern-day racism, and that they are targeting Jackson because he's black. He then challenged anyone who could explain the bail discrepancy.
Colmes said he would agree that maybe they went after Jackson because of his celebrity status, and maybe it would be a good mark on the prosecutor's record, but there is no basis for race.
Of course, the yelling-guy did not listen and continued to ask why the bail was different.
When Hannity started saying the same thing to him, he stood up, took his microphone off, and walked away. His mouth was moving and he was still yelling something as he left.
OK, I have a question:
When is the last time you can remember Michael Jackson being black?
more info:
FAIR.org's article about Hannity and Colmes
The Hannity and Colmes homepage
11.20.2003
Did your vote count: How Florida 2000 could become US 2004 and beyond...
In the year 2000, America saw disaster. This disaster came in the form of a "hanging chad" - when our voting rights got tossed out the window like yesterday's trash.
Yes, it was a sad time in this country's history - the choice came down to two candidates - George W. Bush and Al Gore. Was this really a choice for the country? It was Dumb vs. Dumber - and from that so-called "election", America got its first Supreme-Court-Appointed President - a man we've all come to know as "Dubya".
In most elections, the person with the most votes wins, but Florida changed all that in 2000. But with the next presidential election less than a year away, can we be sure that history won't repeat itself?
The question is: Will your vote count?
October 2002: Congress passed the HAVA - the Help America Vote Act. This act was supposed to solve the problem by getting rid of the punch card ballots. This act is getting most states to implement new touch-screen voting machines, which is definitely a step up from the punch-card ballots...........or is it?
Because of the rush to pass HAVA, a key element was left out: "voter verifiable paper receipt".
With touch-screen voting machines, there is no paper trail. So what if the machine does not record your vote accurately? What if the software has a bug? What if your vote doesn't count?
New Jersey Representative Rush Holt has this to say: "Imagine, it's Election Day 2004. You enter your polling place and go to cast your vote on a brand new touch screen voting machine. The screen says your vote has been counted. As you exit the voting booth, however, you begin to wonder. How do I know if the machine actually recorded my vote? The fact is, you don't."
These new machines would not be a problem if there was a "voter verifiable audit trail". With this audit trail, there would be a permanent record of the vote in which the voter could verify that the machine counted his or her vote correctly. Also, this would be a wise thing to have in the case of a recount. Without this paper trail, any "recount" would just be another print out of the wrong vote.
Contact your congressmen and tell them to support the Voter Confidence Bill HR2239.
Here are some facts from VerifiedVoting.org:
*Computer experts say today's voting machines are prone to errors and vulnerable to fraud.
*Even thorough testing can't reveal malicious programs that could subvert an election.
*Courts have ruled that secret software can be used to record and count our votes.
*Defective hardware and bugs in software could decide who wins an election.
*Many election officials don't realize the risks inherent in using electronic voting machines.
*Manual recounts will be impossible in districts that don't allow voters to inspect a paper record of their votes.
Take action. Let's not let the Supreme Court pick our president again. Let's make our vote count.
visit these sites for more info:
Verified Voting
Stop Bush in 2004
Bush Recall
Misleader
Yes, it was a sad time in this country's history - the choice came down to two candidates - George W. Bush and Al Gore. Was this really a choice for the country? It was Dumb vs. Dumber - and from that so-called "election", America got its first Supreme-Court-Appointed President - a man we've all come to know as "Dubya".
In most elections, the person with the most votes wins, but Florida changed all that in 2000. But with the next presidential election less than a year away, can we be sure that history won't repeat itself?
The question is: Will your vote count?
October 2002: Congress passed the HAVA - the Help America Vote Act. This act was supposed to solve the problem by getting rid of the punch card ballots. This act is getting most states to implement new touch-screen voting machines, which is definitely a step up from the punch-card ballots...........or is it?
Because of the rush to pass HAVA, a key element was left out: "voter verifiable paper receipt".
With touch-screen voting machines, there is no paper trail. So what if the machine does not record your vote accurately? What if the software has a bug? What if your vote doesn't count?
New Jersey Representative Rush Holt has this to say: "Imagine, it's Election Day 2004. You enter your polling place and go to cast your vote on a brand new touch screen voting machine. The screen says your vote has been counted. As you exit the voting booth, however, you begin to wonder. How do I know if the machine actually recorded my vote? The fact is, you don't."
These new machines would not be a problem if there was a "voter verifiable audit trail". With this audit trail, there would be a permanent record of the vote in which the voter could verify that the machine counted his or her vote correctly. Also, this would be a wise thing to have in the case of a recount. Without this paper trail, any "recount" would just be another print out of the wrong vote.
Contact your congressmen and tell them to support the Voter Confidence Bill HR2239.
Here are some facts from VerifiedVoting.org:
*Computer experts say today's voting machines are prone to errors and vulnerable to fraud.
*Even thorough testing can't reveal malicious programs that could subvert an election.
*Courts have ruled that secret software can be used to record and count our votes.
*Defective hardware and bugs in software could decide who wins an election.
*Many election officials don't realize the risks inherent in using electronic voting machines.
*Manual recounts will be impossible in districts that don't allow voters to inspect a paper record of their votes.
Take action. Let's not let the Supreme Court pick our president again. Let's make our vote count.
visit these sites for more info:
Verified Voting
Stop Bush in 2004
Bush Recall
Misleader
11.17.2003
No More Moore
If you have not already heard, Alabama's Chief Justice is now Alabama's Former Chief Justice.
That's right, Roy Moore has been fired - not for his stance on the 10 Commandments, but for his failure to comply with a federal court order. It seems that a lot of people seem to get those two things confused.
Fact 1: He was not fired for putting the monument inside the building.
Fact 2: He was fired for his deliberate disobedience of a federal court order.
Those are two separate things, so let's keep the facts straight.
Now that Moore's not in office, maybe we can let this whole thing go and focus on some more pressing issues right now - like maybe keeping people employed during this "budget crisis" - which many groups still consider to be nonexistent.
Maybe if Congress would give up that high-as-hell raise that they get every year, some of their constituents could stay employed.
Fire the Liars.
That's right, Roy Moore has been fired - not for his stance on the 10 Commandments, but for his failure to comply with a federal court order. It seems that a lot of people seem to get those two things confused.
Fact 1: He was not fired for putting the monument inside the building.
Fact 2: He was fired for his deliberate disobedience of a federal court order.
Those are two separate things, so let's keep the facts straight.
Now that Moore's not in office, maybe we can let this whole thing go and focus on some more pressing issues right now - like maybe keeping people employed during this "budget crisis" - which many groups still consider to be nonexistent.
Maybe if Congress would give up that high-as-hell raise that they get every year, some of their constituents could stay employed.
Fire the Liars.
11.07.2003
All of a sudden, Roy Moore is worried about the Alabama tax payers.....Stop the Press!!!
If you haven't already heard, the US Supreme Court has said it will not hear Roy Moore's 10 Commandments case. No begging and pleading could change their minds, and Judge Myron Thompson's order will stand.
Moore has bigger issues though, as he is being brought up on an ethics violation for his deliberate disobedience to Judge Thompson's order. He is set to stand trial on November 12.
Moore's opponents (well, the opponents who sued him over the monument) are now asking for $832,000 in fees from the federal judge.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Moore expressed concerns about the state's declining revenues and high legal costs for other cases. He said, "I imagine the state would have to pay for it."
Moore is contesting the request, which he considers "outrageous", and also notes that one of the plaintiffs in the case, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, have raised money for their fight against the monument.
Wow, Roy Moore really cares about the taxpayers of this state....it almost brings a tear to my eye....boo (expletive) hoo. Moore didn't seem too concerned about the taxpayers when it was reported that he might have to pay a fine for every day he violated the federal court order to remove the 5,300 pound rock.
Then, he was suspended WITH pay. In other words, he got a paid vacation out of this, during which time he traveled across the US, speaking at every stop to further his cause (and maybe even his ego). So, the taxpayers have now paid for his traveling expenses and his speaking engagements by allowing him to continue to receive a paycheck while he's suspended.
If Moore cared about the state and the taxpayers, he wouldn't have violated the court order, and if he had any respect for his "cause", he wouldn't have put that monument there in the middle of the night anyway. Why the middle of the night? Did he know he was wrong? Was he ashamed? Did he forsee this happening?
How many reasons is Alabama going to give Hollywood to joke on this state? Hey Jay Leno, get out your notepad - Alabama's at it again! Howard Dean, maybe that confederate flag comment didn't shove your foot as far into your mouth as you thought!
Oh, and as far as stupidity goes, you'll love this!
Roy Moore thinks he is being "silenced" and has not had a proper forum to explain his actions. He said, "These officials don't want you to know why I didn't move it."
If multiple press conferences are not considered a "proper forum", then I really don't know what is! Wait! Maybe a proper forum would be his various TV appearances - you know - the ones where he is the guest speaker at a televised church service. Or maybe the proper forum is every stop he made during his "suspension" - well let's just call it a vacation like it really is.
Bill O'Reilly would be so proud - this would have to be the most ridiculous item of the week.
More Info:
State may pay for fight
No one is trying to muzzle Moore
Moore has bigger issues though, as he is being brought up on an ethics violation for his deliberate disobedience to Judge Thompson's order. He is set to stand trial on November 12.
Moore's opponents (well, the opponents who sued him over the monument) are now asking for $832,000 in fees from the federal judge.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Moore expressed concerns about the state's declining revenues and high legal costs for other cases. He said, "I imagine the state would have to pay for it."
Moore is contesting the request, which he considers "outrageous", and also notes that one of the plaintiffs in the case, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, have raised money for their fight against the monument.
Wow, Roy Moore really cares about the taxpayers of this state....it almost brings a tear to my eye....boo (expletive) hoo. Moore didn't seem too concerned about the taxpayers when it was reported that he might have to pay a fine for every day he violated the federal court order to remove the 5,300 pound rock.
Then, he was suspended WITH pay. In other words, he got a paid vacation out of this, during which time he traveled across the US, speaking at every stop to further his cause (and maybe even his ego). So, the taxpayers have now paid for his traveling expenses and his speaking engagements by allowing him to continue to receive a paycheck while he's suspended.
If Moore cared about the state and the taxpayers, he wouldn't have violated the court order, and if he had any respect for his "cause", he wouldn't have put that monument there in the middle of the night anyway. Why the middle of the night? Did he know he was wrong? Was he ashamed? Did he forsee this happening?
How many reasons is Alabama going to give Hollywood to joke on this state? Hey Jay Leno, get out your notepad - Alabama's at it again! Howard Dean, maybe that confederate flag comment didn't shove your foot as far into your mouth as you thought!
Oh, and as far as stupidity goes, you'll love this!
Roy Moore thinks he is being "silenced" and has not had a proper forum to explain his actions. He said, "These officials don't want you to know why I didn't move it."
If multiple press conferences are not considered a "proper forum", then I really don't know what is! Wait! Maybe a proper forum would be his various TV appearances - you know - the ones where he is the guest speaker at a televised church service. Or maybe the proper forum is every stop he made during his "suspension" - well let's just call it a vacation like it really is.
Bill O'Reilly would be so proud - this would have to be the most ridiculous item of the week.
More Info:
State may pay for fight
No one is trying to muzzle Moore
11.04.2003
11.02.2003
Some newspaper quotes just make you wonder....
Here's a quote from the Montgomery Advertiser in the Sunday, November 2 edition, from an article called "Water Crossing":
"'In the next decade, Montgomery will not only be a regional hub for business and entertainment, it will also serve as a central supply for water and sewer,' said Buddy Morgan, general manager of the Montgomery Water Works and Sanitary Sewer Board."
OK, I've got 2 questions:
1. Since when did Montgomery ever become a regional hub for entertainment?
2. What does Mr. Morgan consider "entertainment"?
Just wondering.....
"'In the next decade, Montgomery will not only be a regional hub for business and entertainment, it will also serve as a central supply for water and sewer,' said Buddy Morgan, general manager of the Montgomery Water Works and Sanitary Sewer Board."
OK, I've got 2 questions:
1. Since when did Montgomery ever become a regional hub for entertainment?
2. What does Mr. Morgan consider "entertainment"?
Just wondering.....
11.01.2003
A letter to Jeff Sessions, Richard Shelby, and Terry Everett - Alabama's Congressmen
Dear Congressmen,
I recently read in the Montgomery Advertiser that some
of Roy Moore's supporters are attempting to petition
you to impeach Judge Myron Thompson because of his
ruling against Moore's 10 Commandments display.
As a constituent, I sincerely hope that you would not
consider that option.
Alabama has many more important issues to worry about
than a 5,300 pound rock. This state is in a huge
budget crisis, schools are closing, people are losing
jobs, and it's a shame that people are putting that
kind of effort to support a piece of granite rather
than supporting the actual people of this state.
If you would like to read the article, it can be found
online at this address:
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/NEWS/StoryAlabamaJUDGE01W.htm
Sincerely,
Joshua Carples
* * * * * * * * * *
Take action:
Email Senator Jeff Sessions
Email Senator Richard Shelby
Email Congressman Terry Everett
Find your state senators
Find your Congressmen
Read the Montgomery Advertiser Article
I recently read in the Montgomery Advertiser that some
of Roy Moore's supporters are attempting to petition
you to impeach Judge Myron Thompson because of his
ruling against Moore's 10 Commandments display.
As a constituent, I sincerely hope that you would not
consider that option.
Alabama has many more important issues to worry about
than a 5,300 pound rock. This state is in a huge
budget crisis, schools are closing, people are losing
jobs, and it's a shame that people are putting that
kind of effort to support a piece of granite rather
than supporting the actual people of this state.
If you would like to read the article, it can be found
online at this address:
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/NEWS/StoryAlabamaJUDGE01W.htm
Sincerely,
Joshua Carples
* * * * * * * * * *
Take action:
Email Senator Jeff Sessions
Email Senator Richard Shelby
Email Congressman Terry Everett
Find your state senators
Find your Congressmen
Read the Montgomery Advertiser Article
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