Michael Jackson died and the media cried. But dont worry; they were tears of joy, not despair. After all, what better time to sacrifice journalistic integrity for the sake of high ratings and bloated ad revenues?

In the weeks following Jacksons death, the level and scope of coverage was and continues to be mind-numbing. Sure, MJs death was tragic, but tragedy doesnt warrant the widespread disengagement of American media outlets, nor does it permit the dumbing down of pertinent information. To borrow from John Ziegler, the obsessive coverage of Michael Jacksons death is yet another glaring symptom of the malpractice that is all too common amongst todays media elite.

Its no surprise that CNN and others are jumping on the bandwagon. Jacksons collapse and subsequent death fueled increased viewership and network interest.  According to CNN co-founder Reese Schonfeld:

Jacksons death brought all sorts of new viewers to the cable news networks, and it’s obvious that most of them turned to CNN. CNN is still seen, by most people who are not news junkies, as the place to turn to for news they really care about.

Schonfeld went on to say the following:

“It’s unfortunate that the news they seem to care about is the death of an entertainer, no matter how great, when there are things happening in the world that will affect them and their children much more significantly.”

So, Schonfeld is hypocritically rejoicing over increased ratings while his network abandons world events to cover the life of a man who has had and will continue to have little viable impact on society. He’s basically saying, “How tragic that people care about such irrelevant information, but hey – our ratings are through the roof!”

Railing against citizen love for the unimportant, while praising the effect such coverage has over CNN’s bankroll is nonsensical (from a journalistic perspective, at least). And this is only one example. CNN surely isn’t the only network at fault, as plenty of others have joined in and reneged on their responsibility to the American people.

In their classic spirit when dollar signs come into focus, the media abandon reporting the news that actually affects Americans in order to capitalize on the revenues they can expect from their self-perpetuated campaigns, with “All Michael Jackson, All the Time” being the most recent narcissistic example.  Frankly, it’s embarrassing and fraudulent. The Fourth Estate has become the court gesture – and that’s being kind.

But, it’s not only the media who are at fault. U.S. citizens – led by members of my own generation – have continued to fuel the fire. Eric Holder was way off base when he called Americans a “nation of cowards.” What he should have called us was a nation of idiots (please note the sarcasm here, as I’d rather watch MSNBC than give Holder’s comment credence — and that’s saying something).

Many young Americans are so blind to the domestic and international issues that will surely impact their world, that they’d rather fawn over a pop legend they never knew, than confront the important issues that directly impact their lives.  Why expend the energy needed to understand the difference between a deficit and the national debt when you can watch the mainstream media slobber over the advertising revenues they receive from exploiting the death of a former super star? It’s shameful.

CNN and other related outlets should have the nerve to report real news, as should the American people crave the information that will lead to greater transparency and personal betterment. Here are some events we missed out on during the MJ hooplah:

• Vice-president Joe “Gaffetastic” Biden said, “”We misread how bad the economy was,” a statement that should have sent the globe spinning. Instead, it quickly faded as the media contemplated which doctor should be blamed for MJ’s death.
• Calls for a second stimulus began to surface (although anyone who was paying attention to Obama’s budget would have noticed billions budgeted for another potential “stimulus” back in April).
• After the unprecedented connection that was established between Americans and Iranians, the media essentially abandoned the Iranian election story as Iranians continued to fight and protest in the streets of Tehran.
• The media showed wreathes and memorials set for MJ, while American soldiers sacrificing their lives overseas went unnoticed. After all, how would the American people know of their sacrifices without a media body committed to relaying such pertinent information? Lt. Brian Bradshaw died the same day as MJ and his aunt had this to say in response to the media’s outlandish coverage: “Mr. Jackson received days of wall-to-wall coverage in the media. Where was the coverage of my nephew or the other soldiers who died that week?” Good question.

Beyond my complaining, it is important to note that the media have a responsibility to serve as a check on our government. Each outlet is intended to add value and context to the democratic process. Whether it be inherent political bias or the abandoning of real news for elevated ratings, the media are continuously abandoning the American people. The only question that remains: Is there any turning back?

Article here, excerpt below; and this in from CNN? Need I say more? well, I would like to thank the Top Conservatives on Twitter #tcot - which has helped catupult the conservative movement on Twitter.  You can follow me if you like and join in on the fun.

Article Starts here:

WASHINGTON (CNN) Liberal bloggers established online political activism, besting their conservative rivals during President George W. Bushs eight years in office. But conservatives are now finding great success 140 characters at a time. Even this week, the conservative organization Club For Growth promoted their Twitter account on their $1.2 million ad campaign against health care.

Even though President Obama and national Democrats use Twitter – the social micro blog that everyone from Ashton Kutcher and Shaquille ONeal to Chuck Grassley and Newt Gingrich often use to directly speak to followers – Republicans have embraced the technology. And with major policy issues being debated and the midterm elections right around the corner, liberal bloggers acknowledge the GOP has the upper hand when it comes to using 140 character messages known as tweets to influence the discussion.

While it is obvious the progressive blogosphere is superior, we are being out-organized on Twitter, said Gina Cooper, a blogger who helped organize Netroots Nation, an annual gathering of online liberal activists that met last week in Pittsburgh. There is some catching up to do on the progressive side.

Tracy Viselli, who attended Netroots Nation, agreed with Cooper and admitted that liberal bloogers are ceding this valuable territory to conservatives.

Twitter is a news funnel, she said. Conservatives are very tightly knit and getting their message out very well.

With Republicans in control of the largest bullhorn in the world – the White House – there was little impetus for conservative activists to exploit a platform to express their views.

Conservatives have long had this inferiority complex in the online world, said Matt Lewis, a conservative who writes for PoliticsDaily.com. That is because Republicans have been in power when the blogosphere was invented.

Lewis added, The ability to effectively utilize the Internet in the political realm works very well for the have-nots. It does not work so well for the establishment.

To that end, Republicans are working overtime to establish a beachhead, online.

Twitter is the best example of the most modern technology and how folks are organizing, David All, a GOP new media consultant who has helped galvanize the party on Twitter, told CNN. He points to the success of hashtags – a popular way to keep track of a conversation – on Twitter. “#TCOT” (top conservatives on Twitter) has seen much more success on Twitter than “#P2 (progressives 2.0). See stats from Hashtag.org here: TCOT vs P2.

Cooper is quick to defend progressives: “Conservatives are always good at pushing that one concise message. The death panels are easy to tweet. The explanation for why there are no death panels and making that explanation takes much more explanation. You can’t do that on Twitter.”

Erick Erickson, managing editor of the popular conservative Web site RedState.com, said that conservatives efforts online are important but noted that people should continue to use traditional means to try and influence Congress.

It is all well and good to be banging on your key board, but if you are not picking up the phone and yelling at your congressman, it does not do you very good, he said.

Despite having an upper hand on Twitter, conservatives still have a ways to go when it comes to catching up to liberals in the blogoshpere. Take for instance last weeks competing online conferences in Pittsburgh. Former President Clinton and White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett addressed about 1,500 activists attending the Netroots Nation conference. At the same time, approximately 700 conservatives gathered at the RightOnline.com conference to discuss the future of online activism.

There was a time when Republicans stood for the principles that made the US  the superpower that it is today, the only remaining superpower I might add.

Those days sadly, are now a thing of the past.

There was a time when being a Republican meant being conservative; that too unfortunately has also gone by the way side.

Compare a liberal politician to a republican politician and you will be hard pressed to find a difference. As much as I would like to believe that none of this is true, it is regrettably the state we find ourselves in today.

So I put the question to you, “What has happened to the Republicans?”

Where is the righteous indignation from the republicans when conservatives are getting beat up by union bullies at townhall meetings merely for disagreeing with liberals?

Where is the righteous indignation when liberals ram one bill after another, without even reading them, through congress that increase national debt to astronomical proportions and strip freedom from citizens and states and put it in the hands of liberals?

Where is the outrage when our lying, socialist, corrupt president nominates a radical liberal for the Supreme Court in order to stack that court with self-righteous hypocritical liberals that feel it is their calling to legislate form the bench on how the rest of us should live our lives but continently exclude themselves on some made up pretext.

A recent comment on my blog asked why we, meaning conservatives, weren’t demanding our elected officials to do something to stop liberals, in their irrational zeal, from destroying our country.

You know what? I couldn’t think of an answer. When reading news and blog posts I see plenty on what this liberal is doing and what that liberal is doing but seldom do I see read anything about what republicans and other conservatives are doing. Nor have I seen anything on conservatives demanding form their elected officials to stop the liberal onslaught on our liberties.

I couldn’t answer him because we are NOT doing enough to stop liberals. Ask yourself what have you done to stop the liberal madness?

• Have you written your congressman?
• Have you written a letter to the editor of your local newspaper?
• Have you gone on popular blogs like Urban Conservative and left comments expressing your views. (You might not know this but the main stream liberal media does read Conservative blogs like Urban Conservative and The Conservative Spotlight. They like to keep tabs on what we’re up too!)
• Have you been to townhall meetings and expressed your opinions? And if you have, “Were you beaten up by liberal thugs?”

These are just a few things that I came up with that we as individuals and small grassroots groups can do to effect some changes. Lets face it, the politicians have for whatever reason abandoned their mandate to represent us the voters so its up to us to get those bums out of office and elect new representative that will do just that, represent the will of the voters.

John Michael Rivera writes for the conservative blog, The Conservative Spotlight.

With the aggressive Obama White House pushing their Health Care Reform proposal on the American people, tensions on this hot-potato topic are elevated to levels we haven’t seen in this country for decades. With every passing sound bite, to every new town hall discussion, some elected official on the left is condemning citizens’ inherent right to voice opposition, or at the very least, to question a bill that these elected officials themselves are exempt from having to participate in.

Lets start with the pathetic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi herself. Have you ever seen a more disgusting, vile or ignorant excuse for a representative than this woman? This ingrate, who would give away our country to illegal immigrants, yet classify those who elected her, as “simply un-American”, because they have the nerve to question a bill that is being shoved down their throats, has no right representing a cockroach, let alone the fine people of her district. I guess those on the left would prefer if the American citizens just followed her and morons like her as though we were a bunch of lemmings, anxious to follow these geniuses trapped in idiots bodies, and hang on to every word they say as though it were gospel (oh, I guess that’s politically incorrect to mention that word!).

She, and others democrats having these town halls (e.g. Arlen Specter, D-Pa, et. al) have been downright indignant at the every-day Americans who have been showing up to have their voices heard, simply writing them off as part of an organized effort on the part of the right, thus dismissing the message they are sending to these elected officials. This is where the democrats are making a huge mistake. People do not like to be dismissed as though their opinions on life and death matters are of no consequence, or that they do not deserve to be taken seriously.

Moreover, the suggestion that these town halls are full of people which are part of an organized effort on the right, are laughable at best, and fabrications at worst. All you need to do is watch any one of the many reports to see which side is in fact, organized. Those who are truly grass roots, have home-made, rudimentary signs evoking their passions about this health care initiative, while those on the left, who are proponents of this effort, have professionally printed signs. So again, the efforts to get this agenda pushed through has lines that won’t be crossed.

Although not without precedent in our history, it has been many decades since the American people have been looked upon as enemies by the elected administration. Every day, some word comes from the Obama White House which suggests their mistrust of the people, and has resulted into nothing more than bullying, by forcing people into subservience by using scare tactics, which are sanctioned and espoused by this administration. From efforts to encourage neighbors to spy on each other by reporting anything “fishy” to the White House, to having people physically escorted out of town hall meetings because they are fearful for their lives and those of their families lives, shows the lengths the Obama White House will go to facilitate instituting their socialist agenda. The only thing fishy going on is emanating from within the closed door offices of the White House and Senate floor. This administration is rabid in it’s dislike of everyday

Americans,whose only crime is that of wanting to be an informed citizen. Seemingly, they will not rest until they have broken the spirit of every person in this country, and beat them into submission to go along with the systematic destruction of life as we know it.

Barack Hussein Obama has been selling a ton of stuff: stimulus package, health care reform, getting the jobs back, etc. In this post, we’ll just mention ObamaCare. Now, President Obama has been on TV 24/7 ever since he was inaugurated; as a matter of fact since even before he was. More recently, he has been on TV multiple times a day talking about ObamaCare –his health care reform. Obama even had an infomercial on ABC selling it. Well, Americans are not buying it.

Rasmussen Reports wrote on July 28, Americans are fairly evenly divided on the health care reform proposals working their way through Congress. However, most remain convinced the plans will raise costs and hurt the quality of the care they receive.”

Their latest nationwide phone survey found the following:

• 41% strongly oppose ObamaCare
• 25% strongly favor the plan
• Just 23% believe passage of the reform legislation will lead to lower health care costs.
• Most voters (53%) say it will lead to higher costs
• 18% expect prices to remain about the same
• 76% of Democrats favor the proposal and 76% of Republicans are opposed.
• Among the unaffiliated, 35% are in favor and 60% are opposed.
• Only 16% of unaffiliateds Strongly Favor the legislative effort while 47% Strongly Oppose it.
• By 50% to 23% margin, voters expect that passage of the congressional health care reform bill will
• cause the quality of care to go down.

Obama has been unable to sell this monstrosity to anybody, even though he’s backed by the majority of those in the media.

Obama talks about his health care reform 24/7, and has been consistent in saying how it’s going to “cut costs,” and yet he’s convinced only 23% of Americans that he is not lying. Only 23% believe what Obama is saying about his own plan. A lot of people, and the number continues to go up, are finding out what’s in the health care bill. They are actually reading what’s in the bill and know more about it than their elected officials do. And the more they find out about ObamaCare, the more they want to stay away from it.

The new Buzz word for Liberals this week is “disinformation” the Merriam-Webster defines this word as:

“False information deliberately and often covertly spread (as by the planting of rumors) in order to influence public opinion or obscure the truth”

The liberals are just glowing about their new big word of the week. However, the event that drew out this word is neither false or covertly spread with rumors. It’s a video on youtube of the presidents own words. Here is the video of this speech:

So, the other day, it was brought to my attention that there is a web site liberals are being asked to report “disinformation” and encouraging people to email the United States Governement. I give you this so you can be sure to report me. Heck, I might even report myself!

An article in the Washington Times explains that the government wants YOU to report people that disagree with them. (Of course they are not going to say exactly THAT) what they DO say is :

“We’re asking for your help. If you get an e-mail or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to [email protected]”

Seriously, how close to a propaganda minister are we?! Anyone else getting flashbacks of Germany in the 1930’s? Is there anyone out there who isn’t going “OMG, FASCIST!!!!”

Iraqs search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to completely deter, and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power. Al Gore, 2002

In July, the FBI released summaries of more than 20 interviews and casual conversations the agency carried out with former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.  Aside from creating a more robust picture of the conditions that led up to the Iraq War, the discussions flagrantly expose Husseins motives in resisting U.S. pressure to cooperate with U.N. inspectors.  Furthermore, they provide an informative lens into his psyche during the months leading up to the invasion.

According to The Washington Times, The new documents paint a picture of the Iraqi dictator in the final years of his life as arrogant, defiant and often delusional. At points throughout the interviews, Hussein would often insist that he was still the president of Iraq. He denied ties to the al Qaeda and insisted that Iraq does not have orphans walking the streets.

While the aforementioned elements are offsetting, the most startling revelation was Husseins own admission that he purposely misled the world to believe that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMD).  Even more alarming is the motivation he attributes to this self-proclaimed action.  In the interviews, Hussein told officials that, in the months leading up to the Iraq War, he feared a nuclear-equipped Iran more than he did any reaction from the United States.

George Piro, Saddams FBI interviewer, wrote, Hussein stated he was more concerned about Iran discovering Iraqs weaknesses and vulnerabilities than the repercussions of the United States for his refusal to allow UN inspectors back into Iraq.  Thus, the reason for Husseins intended deceit a trickery that led to intense regional and global instability was rooted more in political posturing and survival than it was in his narcissistic desire to exponentially increase Iraqs power in the Middle East.

Importantly, this admission raises a number of red flags.  Since 2003, American liberals have railed against the U.S. government, stating that former President George W. Bush purposefully misled the American people in his affirmations that Iraq possessed WMD.  According to those on the left, Republicans used weapons-based rhetoric as an excuse to initiate military operations in the region.  However, the release of these transcripts devalues this notion.

Teamed with the countless pieces of evidence contradicting Bushs alleged purposeful deceit, Husseins own admission provides a basis for amplified understanding that sheds light on the bluffs and malfeasances that led the U.S. to invade.  It is with this information that a more rational understanding of U.S. operations can be processed.

Considering Husseins weapons bluff, it is not surprising that the United States was led astray.  When placing Iraqs violently aggressive history and non-compliance into context, there was surely reason to believe that the nation was, indeed, illegally cultivating and harboring WMD.  In fact, politicians were candid about their belief that Hussein did possess weapons in the decade preceding the Iraq War.

Prior to the commencement of military operations in 2003, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Nancy Pelosi and others, from both sides of the political aisle, publicly stated Iraqs threat to the international community.  Following Iraqs use of chemical weapons on the Iranians and the Kurds in the 1980s and Husseins vocal hatred for the West, this caution on behalf of American political minds was fully justified.

However, when the war broke out, liberal politicians were suddenly less vocal about these dangers and, collectively, their tone changed dramatically in the years following its inception.  Nonetheless, their prior warnings about weapons are well documented and corroborate the fears and insinuations that reinforced U.S. rationale in striking Iraq.  On an episode of Larry King in 2003, President Bill Clinton said, When I left office, there was a substantial amount of biological and chemical material unaccounted for.

In a 2002 speech to the Commonwealth Club of San Francisco, Al Gore reiterated Husseins insatiable lust for weapons when he said, Nevertheless, all Americans should acknowledge that Iraq does, indeed, pose a serious threat to the stability of the Persian Gulf region, and we should be about the business of organizing an international coalition to eliminate his access to weapons of mass destruction.

Husseins possession of WMD was universally accepted by Democrats and Republicans alike, as those individuals with access to privileged information whether they were former presidents or members of Congress all reached the same conclusion: Saddam Hussein either possessed or sought to possess dangerous materials.  This, teamed with Iraqs refusal to cooperate with the international community when questioning about said materials began, inevitably led to U.S. military action.

The historical record now shows that it was Hussein, not George W. Bush, who manufactured and allowed the fester the idea that Iraq possessed powerful weapons of mass destruction.

Second Amendment to the United States Constitution reads:

“A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”

If this man bought his gun legally and this man has a carry permit and the police have checked his credentials, why is MSNBC picking on him!!!??

Could THIS be “fear mongering “ the very thing I and other bloggers have been accused of? You know the reason we’re being called racists, Nazis, Brown Shirts, Teabaggers, or Pelosi’s USA Today op-ed where she said “Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American” (you know because beating the face off the poor guy who opposes YOUR view totally IS American?)

What exactly would you call showing a guy who happens to be carrying a gun on TV for at LEAST 6 mintues talking about how “our 44th president will be coming any minute!!!”? I would say you’re taking the fear mongering to a new level.

You’re fighting for a “right” the constitution DOES NOT GIVE YOU. And in doing so, you’re trampling all over the RIGHTS the constitution DOES GIVE YOU!!!

President Obama took an oath to uphold the constitution of the United States of America and this is a breech of oath. Healthcare is not a right. Owning a gun IS. If you didn’t believe in the oath or the document you swore to uphold in that oath, I ask respectfully that you step down and let us find someone who will respect them.

Last night (8/6/2023) there was a town hall meeting in St. Louis where black conservative Kenneth Gladney, was handing out “Don’t Tread On Me” flags. SEIU union members approached this man. They (according to David Brown—Attorney and witness for Mr. Gladney) demanded to know why a black man was handing out these flags. The union guys then began yelling racial slurs at Mr. Gladney and kicking him in the face!

You can see the video of these thugs here:

Seems no one was arrested for a hate crime. People were arrested, but for disturbing the peace and suspicion of assault. Why? White men screaming the N word and bashing in someone’s face on tape and NO ONE thinks this is a hate crime but me!?

Liberals have been screaming for days about conservatives traveling outside there voting block to protest but until now there has been no real violence. There was a town hall meeting in Tampa the liberals are calling “violent” but no one in Tampa was in the hospital beat down by union members like Mr. Gladney was. There was just a lot of screaming over the speaker and some pushing and shoving.

So, we are to believe that calling someone the N word as you bash their face in with the heel of your boot is OK, but holding signs and yelling over the house speaker (who left Tampa because she was not being listened too) is violent?

I want to know where the heck the ACLU and NAACP are?

I really feel for and respect the black conservatives of this country. Bad enough you had to deal with the massive civil rights battles your race has faced. All that work to get the “hate crime” bill passed and now you learn you can’t be part of it because you disagree with the president?! I don’t know where you draw your courage from my black friend but at least take solace in knowing there ARE people who stand with you. It’s just not Al Sharpton or Jessie Jackson anymore.

It is sad that America has gone so far down the road of statism that our President and many of our Congressional leaders are attempting to pass a bill that will nationalize our health care. This is yet another step towards socialism! The bill, H.R. 3200, will cost over $1 trillion. H.R. 3200 is even more costly than the economic stimulus bill passed earlier this year!

Those of you who think that the stimulus bill was a good idea, don’t you think that we might be spending just a tad too much? Our national debt has climbed to 11 trillion, and the liberals in Congress haven’t done anything to stop it’s climb. Instead they spend their time and energy passing bills that take away power from the people and give it to the government, and spend so much money that we can’t hope to pay it off any time soon. It is our duty as Americans to make sure that they do not pass this bill. Winston Churchill was one of the great politicians of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Churchill once said that whoever does not learn from history is destined to repeat it.

Throughout history, it ha been made clear that printing massive amounts of money to throw at all your problems temporarily solves problems, but in the end causes runaway inflation.. But the money being spent is not the most troubling aspect of this new bill. Everything about this new health care system would be regulated by the government. Government would also cut funding for Medicare and mandate “end life” counseling. This health care system would depend on a rationing mechanism, and this rationing would begin with the elderly.

No one should have the right to take away your right to life, even if you don’t have much longer to live. This bill is loaded with dangerous and unconstitutional items. Among these are included Government restriction of the enrollment of special needs people in Nationalized health care, as well as the exemption of individual taxes, purchasing mandates, and fines for non resident aliens, that are required of every legal, U.S. citizen.

This is simply outrageous.

A recent Rasmussen poll found that the majority of Americans oppose Obama’s plan for government-run health care. Yet these liberals continue to try to shove it down our throats. Certain Republicans who have the guts to fight back against this madness have proposed 31 amendments to H.R. 3200, all of which the Democrats have opposed. One would have allowed states to opt out, another would have prevented taxpayer-funded health benefits from going to illegal immigrants, yet another would have prevented bureaucrats from making personal medical decisions for patients. The list goes on and on. The fact that Democrats said no to all of these amendments makes their purpose clear: To take away more of our individual freedoms, and give it to themselves.

We as Americans must stop these bureaucrats from bringing this bill into effect. The consequences of anything less are dire. If your Senators and Representative have not announced plans to vote against this bill, please call or e-mail them and beg them to oppose it.