posted on February 20, 2005 06:21:00 PM new
WASHINGTON -- If America's mainstream media really were as liberal as conservatives claim we are, we would be ballyhooing the fiasco of James D. Guckert, a.k.a. Jeff Gannon, with Page 1 banner headlines and hourly bulletins.
Sure, Guckert-gate may seem like a tempest in a teapot, at first. But so did the Whitewater land-development deal. Yet conservative commentators and editorialists, aided by their allies in Congress, rode that Arkansas pony until it ended far afield from a land deal with the impeachment of a president for lying about sex.
Imagine, then, how the conservative choir would sing out at this point if a Democratic White House knocked long-tenured journalists off its press room access lists so that it could give access to a fellow like Guckert, 47, who dependably asks softball questions because he reports for a partisan Web site that supports the Bush administration.
Imagine how they would question the access given by the Secret Service and the White House press office for two years to a guy who used a driver's license that said James Guckert to get into the White House, then switched to his alter ego of Jeff Gannon. The best explanation for this that Bush's press secretary, Scott McClellan, could give to Editor & Publisher magazine was, "People use aliases all the time in life, from journalists to actors."
Guckert wrote under the name Jeff Gannon for Talon News, a conservative online news outlet associated with GOPUSA, a conservative Web site based in Houston and dedicated to "spreading the conservative message throughout America."
He attracted the attention of liberal "bloggers," short for Web loggers, when he asked President Bush a squeezably soft question at a news conference in January: How, he asked the president, could he work "with people who seem to have divorced themselves from reality?" (My answer? "Hey, I'm working with you, am I not?"
Liberal bloggers also uncovered links between Guckert and gay-oriented Web sites with such interesting names as Hotmilitarystud.com, Militaryescorts.com and Militaryescortsm4m.com, where he apparently advertised his escort services by describing himself as "military, muscular, masculine and discrete [sic]," according to Howard Kurtz, The Washington Post's media reporter.
But all that's a titillating sideshow compared to the charges that House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) has called to the attention of the special prosecutor investigating the leak of Valerie Plame's identity as a CIA operative to columnist Robert Novak. In 2003 Guckert wrote in Talon News that he had asked Plame's husband, Ambassador Joseph Wilson, about "an internal government memo prepared by U.S. intelligence personnel" that revealed his wife's CIA role.
Revealing a CIA agent's identity is a federal crime. A Time magazine reporter and a New York Times reporter face possible jail sentences for refusing to say who revealed Plame's CIA role to them in an apparent effort to discredit Wilson's criticism of the Bush administration's Iraq war policy. Is the prosecutor putting Guckert's feet to the fire too? If not, why not?
Of course, every administration tries to manipulate the media. Team Bush has elevated it to a high art. Before Guckert, there was the disclosure that three conservative syndicated columnists had been paid handsomely to promote administration programs--payment they had failed to disclose to their readers.
And remember those pre-packaged, government-sponsored video news releases featuring fake reporters so local news outlets would be tempted to run them as legitimate news stories, as some did?
We have grown accustomed to those pre-screened rent-a-crowd "Ask President Bush" town-hall-style meetings during last year's campaign and during this year's effort by Bush to promote his proposed Social Security changes.
But I thought the last straw was the unprecedented herding of reporters covering this year's inaugural balls into pens from which they could only venture to interview ball guests if they were escorted by "minders" in the fashion of Saddam Hussein's Iraq.
Tell me again: What was that war about? Oh, yeah: freedom and democracy. Great. I'd like to see a little more of that back here at home.
Unfortunately, this administration and its supportive chorus are getting away with less accountability, more secretiveness, partly by demonizing the media. If they succeed in intimidating us from watchdogs into lap dogs, they will have succeeded where previous administrations from both parties failed.
That's why, despite the Guckert fiasco, I do not begrudge Web journalists from the right or the left or the squishy middle their access to government press rooms. I want to see more access, not less, granted to a press corps that is as diverse as the people we serve.
More media access means more government accountability. But, when media watchdogs are intimidated into becoming lap dogs, as some wise wit once said, that's not reporting: That's just taking dictation.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- Bush will fix Social Security just like he has fixed Osama Bin Laden and Iraq. Bush can't be trusted to run this country and you want to trust him with your retirement?
posted on February 20, 2005 09:18:02 PM newGuckert and gay-oriented Web sites with such interesting names as Hotmilitarystud.com, Militaryescorts.com and Militaryescortsm4m.com
Crusing your usual haunts looking for a date, huh dad?
We know you're just jealious you aren't a White House Lap dog.
A word to the wise ain't necessary, it's the stupid ones that need the advice."
- Bill Cosby
posted on February 21, 2005 04:44:27 AM new
Hey Logan, Its a hoot seeing that its getting harder and harder for people like bear to support this White House. All they can do is attack people that expose it. People like bear have become so transparent.
posted on February 21, 2005 06:20:26 AM new
Hotmilitarystud.com, Militaryescorts.com and Militaryescortsm4m.com
Bear you better go and make sure your picture is not up there. It might show you in a compromosing position with classic or twinkle toes.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- Bush will fix Social Security just like he has fixed Osama Bin Laden and Iraq. Bush can't be trusted to run this country and you want to trust him with your retirement?
posted on February 21, 2005 08:18:55 AM new
heres a guy who constantly takes it up the ass and he spouting off about other people being caught in a compromising position LOL! whats wrong with this pic??
posted on February 21, 2005 08:40:31 AM new
Looks like Logansdad likes too hide behind words.
Why don't you try working on YOUR life? Teach your children respect others and a respect for life.
Try being happy for a day, maybe the child will hug you?
posted on February 21, 2005 08:48:26 AM newheres a guy who constantly takes it up the ass and he spouting off about other people being caught in a compromising position LOL! whats wrong with this pic??
Classic when have I ever discussed what I do in the bedroom. You are the idiot that has assumed what I liked to do sexually because I am gay. Get a clue, straight people also engage in anal loving as well. Don't knock something until you have tried it.
If I am not mistaken you are the one that bragged about being able to turn men on while you were on shore leave while in SF. What is wrong with that picture? This coming from a supposedly straight married man.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
----------------------------------
Bush will fix Social Security just like he has fixed Osama Bin Laden and Iraq. Bush can't be trusted to run this country and you want to trust him with your retirement?
[ edited by logansdad on Feb 21, 2005 08:54 AM ]
posted on February 21, 2005 08:52:06 AM newWhy don't you try working on YOUR life? Teach your children respect others and a respect for life.
Sister, What a rude comment to say. What don't you tell Bush and company the same thing? I suppose that would not agree with your agenda then? If you dont like what I say then you can worry about your own life.
Perhaps if you have been around these you would really know that I do teach my kids to show respect and to be tolerant of other people.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- Bush will fix Social Security just like he has fixed Osama Bin Laden and Iraq. Bush can't be trusted to run this country and you want to trust him with your retirement?
posted on February 21, 2005 09:47:26 AM new
Dad, I KNOW my photo isn't there, more than you can say.
By the way. the British Navy is recruting pererts of your sexual persuation, join up and help them give new meaning to the motto of the Brit Navy, Yo Ho, Blow the Man Down.
A word to the wise ain't necessary, it's the stupid ones that need the advice."
- Bill Cosby
posted on February 21, 2005 04:47:26 PM newBy the way. the British Navy is recruiting pererts of your sexual persuation, join up and help them give new meaning to the motto of the Brit Navy, Yo Ho, Blow the Man Down.
At least they don't have a problem with gays in the military unlike our hyprocritcal government. Gays can't serve openly unless there is a draft. They are good enough to serve when the government needs them, but otherwise we will just keep them down.
How do you know my picture was there Bear? Did you look or did you order yourself a gay escort. If you did, I bet Classic showed up.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- Bush will fix Social Security just like he has fixed Osama Bin Laden and Iraq. Bush can't be trusted to run this country and you want to trust him with your retirement?
posted on February 21, 2005 05:06:06 PM new
LOL - that just takes the cake. logansdad claims he TEACHES tolerance to his children....but he SURE doesn't live that value himself.
Least I didn't think so when he kept accusing me of sleeping with my son.
When he gets upset because someone doesn't agree with gay marriage being made legal.....he shows his tolerance to differing opinions by starting to post sick, perverted statements like he has to me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Four More Years....YES!!!
posted on February 21, 2005 06:27:02 PM new
"At least they don't have a problem with gays in the military unlike our hyprocritcal government. Gays can't serve openly unless there is a draft. They are good enough to serve when the government needs them, but otherwise we will just keep them down. "
well its a good way for you pansy ass's to stay out of the military-just admit you're gay.
posted on February 22, 2005 06:54:18 AM newLeast I didn't think so when he kept accusing me of sleeping with my son. When he gets upset because someone doesn't agree with gay marriage being made legal.....he shows his tolerance to differing opinions by starting to post sick, perverted statements like he has to me.
Playing the role of the victim again, Linda. You are the one that attacked me first, by suggesting I am the one that sleeps with women. My response was along the same lines as yours. I must have hit a nerve since you responded like you did. Yet here again you have turn a simple post into a debate of gay marriage. Nothing else to complain about today?
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
----------------------------------
Bush will fix Social Security just like he has fixed Osama Bin Laden and Iraq. Bush can't be trusted to run this country and you want to trust him with your retirement?
[ edited by logansdad on Feb 22, 2005 06:54 AM ]
posted on February 22, 2005 06:57:29 AM newwell its a good way for you pansy ass's to stay out of the military-just admit you're gay.
Then why did the military allow you in? Did you just hide your feelings while on ship since you really seemed to express your feelings for men while off ship? Did you go around the ship seeing who would look at your ass?
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- Bush will fix Social Security just like he has fixed Osama Bin Laden and Iraq. Bush can't be trusted to run this country and you want to trust him with your retirement?
posted on February 22, 2005 08:13:57 AM new
"Playing the role of the victim again, Linda. You are the one that attacked me first, by suggesting I am the one that sleeps with women."
hey daddy-0 why dont ya sue her for defamation of character ROFLAMO!!
posted on February 22, 2005 08:22:39 AM new
logansdad has been very tolerant when one considers how many crude remarks he has had to endure here and none ever relate to the topic at hand.
It's silly to see someone play victim after they cheer on and winky-poo those remarks at times and then add a few of their own. If you poke long enough don't cry when you get poked back.
posted on February 22, 2005 08:30:14 AM newhey daddy-0 why dont ya sue her for defamation of character ROFLAMO!!
I have morals. Besides I do not want to take Linda's SS check, she will need it.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- Bush will fix Social Security just like he has fixed Osama Bin Laden and Iraq. Bush can't be trusted to run this country and you want to trust him with your retirement?
posted on February 22, 2005 08:38:08 AM new
Logansdad has made many a good post with strong points....but when neocons can't face the truth their very unsophisticated narrow minds attack the fact that he's gay.
Why don't you get over it ?
Why not TRY to address the point, the issue, the topic instead of showing your ignorance.
If you knew how many gay people you see or deal with on a daily basis....doctors, your co-workers, football players, sports announcers, your boss, the tow truck driver, the cop, the nurse, the teacher, the check out clerk, the chef, Republicans,the lawyer, your nieghbor,the guy hired by bush to illegally infiltrate the press corp to asked loaded questions at a press conference,,..... you'd be surprised and maybe learn a little tolerance .
Oh, I forgot to add....soldiers who fight and have fought and died for YOU and this country!
posted on February 22, 2005 09:19:44 AM new
Again, classic, you , like so many neocons, can't answer the question but segue off into something totally irrelevant.
posted on February 22, 2005 11:01:35 AM new
Dad, now we know your poor demented mind has reached new heights of perverseness. I can just see your lustful glee while scanning photos of your potential dates on those perveted sites and hallucinating in an attempt to project your preceived image of me to anyone of them.
Try again when you sober up.
A word to the wise ain't necessary, it's the stupid ones that need the advice."
- Bill Cosby
posted on February 22, 2005 11:46:11 AM newI can just see your lustful glee while scanning photos of your potential dates on those perveted sites and hallucinating in an attempt to project your preceived image of me to anyone of them.
Trying to pass off fiction as the truth, Bear? I don't need to be looking for potential dates. I have a partner that I love and care about, I don't need to be looking for anyone to replace him.
Try again when you sober up.
And what is your excuse for your behavior? I will just chalk it up to old age and stupidity.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- Bush will fix Social Security just like he has fixed Osama Bin Laden and Iraq. Bush can't be trusted to run this country and you want to trust him with your retirement?
posted on February 22, 2005 11:50:40 AM newwhy you people posting in the middle of the day?? dont you guys have JOBS????????
The same can be said of you.
Are you just sitting at home collecting your social security from Uncles Sam, or are you collecting your veterans benefits?
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- Bush will fix Social Security just like he has fixed Osama Bin Laden and Iraq. Bush can't be trusted to run this country and you want to trust him with your retirement?
posted on February 22, 2005 12:06:03 PM new
" Again, classic, you , like so many neocons, can't answer the question but segue off into something totally irrelevant."
well crow-just following your example,as you know we all love,admire and look up to you. you.Btw-what question were you referring to,nobody directed at question at me.
and you didnt answer my question-why are you here? your welfare hasnt run out yet?
posted on February 22, 2005 12:17:51 PM new
"Are you just sitting at home collecting your social security from Uncles Sam"
Well no dad,I am retired,and collecting a well deserved pension.So you avoided my question-why are you here? Sucking the government out of money and collecting welfare like the typical democrat??
posted on February 22, 2005 01:48:08 PM newSo you avoided my question-why are you here?
Depends on your meaning of here?
Here as in posting on vendio?
Here as in why I am living in the US?
Here as in my existence on this planet?
Yes I do have a job if that is what you mean?
But I guess than means I can't post here while working, right?
Did it ever occur to you not everyone works 9-5? Have you ever heard of the graveyard shift? Did it occur to you I may have the day off? Did it occur to you I may be on vacation? Did it occur to you, I may work from home?
So I guess by your standards only retirees that have nothing to do all day can are allowed to post here?
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- Bush will fix Social Security just like he has fixed Osama Bin Laden and Iraq. Bush can't be trusted to run this country and you want to trust him with your retirement?
posted on February 22, 2005 01:56:49 PM new
"Yes I do have a job if that is what you mean?
But I guess than means I can't post here while working, right"
well no-if thats what your doing,I assume your job isnt that important in the scheme of life if you got time to post here all day long.If your job is that important,and your still posting here all day long,you should be fired.
And you STILL didnt answer the question,all you gave was a bunch of rhetorical questions-typical democrat-bunch of rhetoric
posted on February 22, 2005 03:04:02 PM newPlaying the role of the victim again, Linda.
No, not at all. I was just pointing out the vulgaraties you have thrown my way in your past posts.
You are the one that attacked me first, by suggesting I am the one that sleeps with women.
No, again you are incorrect. I said I DIDN'T think watching male/female sex was up your alley as you spoke about some furture hoped for, yet-undiscovered sexual tape with this President in it. Quite an outrageous thing to say....but no surprise coming from you.
My response was along the same lines as yours. I must have hit a nerve since you responded like you did. Yet here again you have turn a simple post into a debate of gay marriage. Nothing else to complain about today?
Gee....let me think...do I have anything else to complain about today? Nope...just mentioned why you spew all the 'sex with my son' statements my way. Because YOU are intolerant that I don't support gay marriage - but CLAIM you're teaching your child/children to be tolerant. They don't learn by being told...but rather by observing YOUR behavior....which to me...show anything BUT tolerance towards others.
I didn't think that I deserved all the vulgar, sexual crap you threw my way for NO reason other than I opposed gay marriage. Your hatred of those who don't share your mind set is VERY clear. But you ask for peace, acceptance and understanding from others. Ever heard of 'karma' or 'do unto others as you would like them to do unto you'? Apparently not.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Four More Years....YES!!!
Get a clue, straight people also engage in anal loving as well. Don't knock something until you have tried it.
when you get poked back.