tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post6055004278584096293..comments2024-03-29T06:44:19.414-04:00Comments on the daily howler: Supplemental: Millionaire’s Christmas in July!<b>bob somerby</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/02963464534685954436noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-87453999097839899932014-07-30T13:26:38.758-04:002014-07-30T13:26:38.758-04:00So, are we paying Maddow $7 million to keep us inf...So, are we paying Maddow $7 million to keep us informed about important issues (as a journalist) or are we paying her to entertain us (i.e., clown). If we are expecting journalism, we are being cheated. I want my money back.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-35239310518191708852014-07-30T13:09:18.908-04:002014-07-30T13:09:18.908-04:00Someone appears to have an obsession with finding ...Someone appears to have an obsession with finding something wrong about Hillar.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-50239752135385803952014-07-30T09:56:40.620-04:002014-07-30T09:56:40.620-04:00Yes, I see. Now, do you know what is wrong with ...Yes, I see. Now, do you know what is wrong with your Hillary obsession?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-11994295337868580162014-07-30T09:53:16.643-04:002014-07-30T09:53:16.643-04:00You left out the Facebook Blasphemy Rage.You left out the Facebook Blasphemy Rage.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-23689027591805919372014-07-30T09:49:39.533-04:002014-07-30T09:49:39.533-04:00If you know that their foundation is being misused...If you know that their foundation is being misused, say so. If you don't know anything, don't imply anything. That is unfair. <br /><br />For example, campaign funds can be misspent. It is illegal but someone can do it. Why not imply that Clinton misspent campaign funds? Cars can be used to run over pedestrians. Again, it is a misuse of a car and illegal to do on purpose. But, why not? Since a car can be misused in that way, why not imply that Clinton runs over people?<br /><br />She probably is innocent of both of these charges, but since they can happen, don't tell me she couldn't have done them.<br /><br />See what's wrong with your logic?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-37494040722638502812014-07-30T08:54:30.916-04:002014-07-30T08:54:30.916-04:00You trolls really cream when you squirt out vile t...You trolls really cream when you squirt out vile things about Somerby don't you? Hillary was broke and our minds are crumbling. Few can see it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-22479099434776803922014-07-30T08:24:09.774-04:002014-07-30T08:24:09.774-04:00Cop, prosecutor, jury and judge about her supposed...Cop, prosecutor, jury and judge about her supposed sentimental feelings? You're building your case around a bit of a minor point by Bob. What about the major points he discussed? (That story isn't important, the article was tabloid.) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-10448376404213603842014-07-30T08:16:21.077-04:002014-07-30T08:16:21.077-04:00Perhaps Bobfans can understand this in terms Bob h...Perhaps Bobfans can understand this in terms Bob himself might use.<br /><br />He seems to be accusing Maddow of the sin of journalistic masturbation while he violates every known rule of fair comment and reasoned interpretation in order to advance his personal "jihad" (and I think the Arabic word he really wants to use is "fatwa") against Maddow.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-35218645751249120942014-07-30T08:10:12.461-04:002014-07-30T08:10:12.461-04:00Well, let me help you here. The sins of Somerby an...Well, let me help you here. The sins of Somerby and Maddow, especially on the Gov. Ultrasound issue, aren't equivalent.<br /><br />Somerby has been increasingly stupid, as he continues to insist that even Gov. and Mrs. McDonnell are guilty of the crimes for which they are charged, those crimes really aren't all that bad, are they?<br /><br />No, not equivalent. Somerby's reporting on the reporting of Maddow on the Gov. Ultrasound case strains credulity well past the breaking point.<br /><br />In fact, you could quadruple the severity of the alleged "sins" he accuses Maddow of and not even come close to the sins of Somerby.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-84761547080716980982014-07-30T07:56:38.596-04:002014-07-30T07:56:38.596-04:00"I don't get the problem . . . What exact..."I don't get the problem . . . What exactly was the crime or embarrassment?"<br /><br />That question? Sounds to me that you already have your answer.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-64187265823433956782014-07-30T07:49:53.836-04:002014-07-30T07:49:53.836-04:00Please note this this common Somerby trick as he m...Please note this this common Somerby trick as he moves his presumption to solid fact:<br /><br />"At the end of McDonnell’s term, his wife asked if she could keep four boxes of Christmas ornaments, presumably for sentimental reasons."<br /><br />"You’re watching a person who gets paid $7 million per year chuckling over the idea that an outgoing first lady couldn’t afford to buy some ornaments which had sentimental value."<br /><br />"presumably for sentimental reasons" to "which had sentimental value" in just a few paragraphs.<br /><br />Did these ornaments have some sentimental value to Mrs. McDonnell? We don't know. There is nothing in the report that says that was her motive for asking for them. <br /><br />And further, did Mrs. McDonnell decline because she "couldn't afford" them? Again, we don't know. We weren't told the price she was asked to pay.<br /><br />It could be that these ornaments had no particular monetary value and she was asked to pay a token price -- not a big price to pay if there is "sentimental value" attached to them. Again, we -- including Bob -- don't know.<br /><br />Or they could be collectable antiques, Or jewell-encrusted. Or gold-plated for all we know. And rather than wanting them for "sentimental reasons", Mrs. McDonnell might have intended to sell them, with value added because they once hung in the Virginia governor's mansion. Again, we don't know. <br /><br />But if Bob is going with the "couldn't afford" reason, then he is also admitting a significant value beyond mere sentiment on these ornaments, especially since we are told that the The Citizens Advisory Council for Furnishing and Interpreting the Executive Mansion raised some undisclosed amount of money to purchase them, presumably for the primary purpose of furnishing and interpreting the executive mansion and not as gifts for the McDonnell family.<br /><br />And since we are also fond of counting words, Bob quotes Maddow as quoting 92 words out of a (taking Bob's word for it) 2,500-word article telling the Christmas ornament story. <br /><br />Was the ornament story the central focus of the Washington Post story, or was it an anecdote written in the context that Mrs. McD tried to milk everything she could before she had to leave.<br /><br />Was it also the central focus of Maddow's report? Or was it a story she simply told at the very end? Again, we don't know. Bob doesn't tell us. All he gives us is 92 words that could be spoken in under 30 seconds.<br /><br />But he sure did build an entire post around it as if it were.<br /><br />Which is a shame. Because Bob could have written a good post about the forest instead of this tree -- which is, the tendency of TV pundits in particular to proclaim a defendant guilty before the trial begins, or even charges are filed. I call that "Nancy Graceism".<br /><br />In my opinion, there is a very fine line between investigating, reporting and bringing malfeasance in office to light, and becoming cop, prosecutor, jury and judge. At the very least in this segment, Maddow seems to be pushing against that line, if she hasn't crossed it. And I also think she crossed it.<br /><br />Again, a very good topic for an excellent series about the role of a free press in a free society that also values fair trials. But instead, we are treated to yet another recitation of the character flaws Somerby perceives in Maddow, which of course includes her large salary.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-18088131403589742602014-07-30T01:54:02.566-04:002014-07-30T01:54:02.566-04:00Buying Facebook Fans is best use when you start to...Buying Facebook Fans is best use when you start to have you own Fb page. You used to promote your page and so other would like your page as well<br /><br /><a href="http://cheapfblike.com/" rel="nofollow">www.cheapfblike.com</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09991724936260636643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-75025179895818050622014-07-29T23:05:53.669-04:002014-07-29T23:05:53.669-04:00I'm creaming of a July Christmas.I'm creaming of a July Christmas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-54694506669882794142014-07-29T23:03:52.021-04:002014-07-29T23:03:52.021-04:00No, just a guy and his wife indicted on corruption...No, just a guy and his wife indicted on corruption charges while he served as Governor of one of our 50 states. A regular event in Illinois. Not so usual elsewhere, hence the attention.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-92169082632839699582014-07-29T22:49:26.069-04:002014-07-29T22:49:26.069-04:00I don't buy the argument that Somerby and Madd...I don't buy the argument that Somerby and Maddow's sins are equivalent, nor that his flaws excuse hers. Being in a highly visible position, she has far more responsibility than Somerby does as an obscure blogger. She has the potential to do more damage when she messes up. Critics don't have to meet the same standards as those they criticize, in any domain. So knocking Somerby seems like an empty exercise.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-45728363138646845012014-07-29T22:41:30.681-04:002014-07-29T22:41:30.681-04:00Not a helpful answer to my question.Not a helpful answer to my question.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-12785950500196351792014-07-29T22:39:15.347-04:002014-07-29T22:39:15.347-04:00Yes, clearly the crime of the century.Yes, clearly the crime of the century.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-42991732188586840332014-07-29T21:31:49.250-04:002014-07-29T21:31:49.250-04:00Jihad? How about criminal trial on 14 counts.Jihad? How about criminal trial on 14 counts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-33136724591129161822014-07-29T21:30:51.486-04:002014-07-29T21:30:51.486-04:00Who orbits planet Hillary that is on the Bill Hill...Who orbits planet Hillary that is on the Bill Hillary & Chelsea Gapin Maw Foundation Payroll? Any New Kid Ivy grads who were on the 2008 Clinton Campaign staff, then went to the State Department payroll, then went to the Foundation staff payroll, from whence they can then go back to the campaign payroll if and when one becomes available? <br /><br />Of course there are. Anything wrong with it? Not at all.<br />Just don't tell me there are no beneficial uses to the foundation for a possibly active future candidate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-70257325387416125992014-07-29T19:32:33.848-04:002014-07-29T19:32:33.848-04:00I'm saying pots wind up looking pretty damned ...I'm saying pots wind up looking pretty damned silly when they call kettles black.<br /><br />But of course that only applies to people with brains that still work. Certainly not to the fans of the One True Brilliant Bob.<br /><br />By the way, when was the last time he said, "So, Maddow is a human being. What does that mean in the context of this particular story?"<br /><br />Yep, only Bob is allowed the "human being" pass, no matter how dumb and repeated his mistakes are.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-89368723157566867202014-07-29T19:28:06.508-04:002014-07-29T19:28:06.508-04:00Yes, you see it that way, so it is the only possib...Yes, you see it that way, so it is the only possible interpretation, isn't it?<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-65485649895686396002014-07-29T19:27:05.301-04:002014-07-29T19:27:05.301-04:00Yes, this is no place for innuendo! It's a blo...Yes, this is no place for innuendo! It's a blog with a combox!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-63889927348079366642014-07-29T19:24:08.416-04:002014-07-29T19:24:08.416-04:00"Last evening, Maddow’s messy self-abuse . . ..."Last evening, Maddow’s messy self-abuse . . ."<br /><br />Bob's got some serious issues, doesn't he?<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-75453957678745949262014-07-29T19:03:03.957-04:002014-07-29T19:03:03.957-04:00So, Somerby is a human being. What does that mean ...So, Somerby is a human being. What does that mean in the context of this particular story? Are you saying something he said was wrong here, or are you saying people shouldn't read this blog? What is your beef?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-22505952830571322852014-07-29T19:01:46.731-04:002014-07-29T19:01:46.731-04:00Maddow herself said she gets off on this kind of s...Maddow herself said she gets off on this kind of story.<br /><br />I don't get what the problem was with asking for a box of ornaments, being told to pay for them and then saying never mind. What exactly was the crime or embarrassment?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com