Here's a startlingly credulous dispatch from the Chicago Tribune's Charlie Madigan, covering the Bush "butt kicking" campaign in Michigan. (Don't tally MI as a Red state yet, though; as Madigan points out in an apparent Freudian slip, those pesky Detroit residents have a rude tendency to vote Blue and carry the state.) His title is "senior correspondent," which used to connote journalistic intent. Now, it evidently means "sycophant." A few excerpts:
Bush looks a lot better under a blue sky than he did in the
artificial confines of Madison Square Garden.
Check out the dispassionate analysis! I wonder what color shirt Dear Leader was wearing.
Describing a pleasant encounter with his "handler" -- remember when journalists rebelled against being handled? -- good ol' Charlie wrote: It was a great conversation and a good look into that most dependable segment of Bush support. The easy label would be 'conservative Christian,' but that almost seems too superficial. What she believes, she believes in her heart."
Far be it from me to call Madigan or any other Bush backers superficial. But if believing with all one's heart is the litmus test, we're in big trouble, because proponents of radical Islam seem equally fervent about the need to kill Americans. Technically, Christ counseled against violence and retribution -- yes, He was a smart guy when you come right down to it -- though you'd never know it by all those who take His name in vain. The most dependable segment of Bush's support is intent on giving him carte blanche. Just imagine what he'll dream up if he actually wins an election.
From the Trib's bio of Madigan, we learn he is an all 'round great guy who writes and performs Celtic-style music on the side, when he isn't busy being an arschloch.
Posted by Vernam at September 15, 2004 07:06 AM | TrackBackWhere is VC's outrage at the CBS / Rather / Mapes / Lockhart coordination. Imagine if this was Fox / O'Reilly / O'Reilly's producer / Rove.
Let's harken back to something VC said: "The inclusion of blatant lies tends to undermine one's credibility. It doesn't mean nothing the liar says is true. It means we have reason not to trust anything said by the liar."
This would appear to apply to Kerry and his entire campaign. Wouldn't it?
Posted by: Olamdom at September 21, 2004 09:57 AMHere's an intergalatically objective news source.
Posted by: deano at September 16, 2004 10:14 AMWith all the poker adds popping up, I'll see your "senior correspondent" and raise with two "anchors." CBS' Rather going completely in the tank against Bush and NBC's Lauer spending three days with Kitty Kelly. That's two major networks against one regional newspaper. You don't want to fight this battle.
Posted by: olamdom at September 15, 2004 02:03 PM