NPR Check: Q Tips

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Q Tips

NPR related comments welcomed.

32 comments:

Anonymous said...: Juan Williams doing his best to pump the meme.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99995422; 1/29/09, 9:43 AM
Porter Melmoth said...: I'm SO glad that we have Our Girl in Darkest Africa Gwennie (Thompkins) to make sense of that always-confusing (and hopelessly blighted) part of the world! Even though she regularly makes me want to blow serious chunks of sour stomach at my radio's speaker grille, in order to clog it up, I nevertheless have to admit, I am mollified to know that her NPR Storybook Style (TM) is comforting all those terrified white folks back home. C'mon kids, let her take you by the hands and she'll tell you all about those savages with word pictures that you can grab onto and digest without any dysentery symptoms!

Her little 'Casablanca' comparison this morning was very instructional for us greenhorns, so that - oh hell, why do I bother?; 1/29/09, 10:20 AM
Hubertg said...: Africa has been kept in omission.
It has too many crazies and complex problems to justify the expense of an invasion by the corporatocracy. Currently the power elite see Africa as a potential liability. There is no interest to bring Africa into modernity by design. When the time comes right for it to happen things will change. In the meantime Africa will be left to dangle. It is kept out of view because "they" don't want any attention drawn to it....an dats da way I seez it.; 1/29/09, 3:38 PM
Anonymous said...: Um, has anyone else been sort of amazed by the seemingly infinite largesse that NPR has been showing to Republican lawmakers in its coverage of the stimulus package? For several days now there has been a virtual cavalcade of GOP congressmen and senators offering largely unchallenged commentary on the bill and trafficking in discredited supply-side nostrums that seem to raise nary an eyebrow from ATC/ME hosts. The driving narrative on NPR concerning this bill now is: what do Republicans think about it? Will they vote for it or not, and why? Will it hurt them? (Of course not--it will only hurt Democrats.) What does Obama have to do to earn their favor? Once again NPR obligingly allows the GOP to frame their "reporting" on this issue and set the terms by which it is discussed and interpreted. Add to that Mara Liasson's gleefully snarky opinion piece (ATC 1/29) celebrating Obama's failure to achieve bipartisan consensus on the bill and you have coverage that is almost entirely right-wing in its basic assumptions and premises.; 1/29/09, 5:42 PM
Anonymous said...: I should add that Obama and the Democrats are of course in part responsible for this sad state of affairs by making friendly overtures to rigid obstructionists and backstabbers and thereby giving them a place in the media spotlight. The Democrats' usual abysmal failure to craft a sound media strategy to promote their interests is to blame as well. We all know that NPR (and other MSM outlets) will unquestioningly gobble up whatever swill the GOP is peddling with the alacrity of a loose hog foraging its way through an overturned dipsty dumpster. A little skepticism would be nice here and there, though.; 1/29/09, 6:00 PM
Anonymous said...: This participant has watered down his NoPR time to headlines only (as is my kant) so I'm hardly ever poised to join in on the discussion. Used to be I'd tune in as much as mortally possible (I s'pose as a way to reap a return on my well-intended membership support - kick me please!) and if certain segments began to curdle my stomach acids, I'd repeat the mantra "but it's PUBLIC radio, but it's PUBLIC radio..." Now sadder/wiser/saner, more than enough has turned me off to their bland, repetitive (true, I detest SSDD when it can be avoided), smarmy, slanted, doofy, sloppy etc. etc. etc. hijinx. And I STILL detest 'em with a raving, bloodthirsty passion and it's a comforting release to vent that build-up here.

Encouraged by seeing the new blood here lately - our numbers are only bound to grow if they don't trim the fat from their tired repertoire; and more 'Stepford Fans' begin to lose their taste for that crappy ol' pablum that they dollop out day after day after...; 1/29/09, 7:38 PM
Hubertg said...: It seems that awareness prevails in a certain circle of those who work hard to stay informed. No big thanks to PBS/NPR and such, any more than mainstream...which is all repetitive fluff. Blago's busted and George walks..details at eleven. It blows me away that powerful evil rich morons prevail, and the American public keeps voting them into office more than happy to accept the lowest common denominator.; 1/29/09, 8:23 PM
Porter Melmoth said...: I'm glad that bunny! wisdom lives yet! Proof that we are emerging, ever so slowly, from the 800 years of Bush Dark Aging. NPR? They don't WANT to emerge.; 1/29/09, 8:49 PM
Anonymous said...: WOW!!! Walmart is soooooo great. Lee Scott has been a fannnntasssstic CEO!!

Jeebus, I can only imagine how fast NPR employees have to get in the shower when they get home from work.; 1/30/09, 6:00 AM
Anonymous said...: artes_moriendi- Great post. You should add it to Mara Liaason piece on the NPR blog -anon; 1/30/09, 7:45 AM
Anonymous said...: David Wellna continues NPR's "bi-partisan beat" today.; 1/30/09, 8:23 AM
Porter Melmoth said...: And this morn John Ditzy, NPR's sudden choice to be an 'economics expert', was heard to utter that people, whole nations, in fact, were getting 'stingy' about their spending. I interpreted that to mean that we're all violating what our ex-Fuhrer commanded us to do: shop till we drop.

Oh, and Inscreep is 'on assignment' --- in IRAN!!! (I thought we weren't supposed to talk to 'terrorists'?!? There's another Bush/Cheney violation!) Just wait gang, Inspipsqueak just might be taking on the Antichrist of Tehran himself!; 1/30/09, 10:32 AM
Anonymous said...: Yeah, Wal-mart story. Courageous, corporate CEO - a new NPR series.; 1/30/09, 10:42 AM
Anonymous said...: See this story from Think Progress. I'd be willing to bet that NPR's ratio of conservative to liberal guests/commentators is similar.

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/28/cable-news-stimulus/; 1/30/09, 10:56 AM
Anonymous said...: Thursday's t.o.t.n. was quite amusing. Seems Thrusday was Unemployed Day. But on t.o.t.n., there was a really eerie tone to the callers, all of whom had been laid off, and all of whom were in some way grateful. Now I know, having tried to call in to npr shows, that there are little trolls at the gates keeping contrary conversation OUT. So NEO CONan was specifically hyping the 'it's a blessing to be fired' meme. Little shirley temple couldn't have done it better (and for alot less, no doubt). NEO CONan is a real creepy individual, and his show was startlingly, blatantly a snow job.
Following is a comment on Glenn's blog (Glennzilla, who has made attribution to our host, My T Words), so you can see how the message is controlled by the troll at the mike:
david ignatius
You failed to mention his role in the proceedings. He is a frequent guest on the Diane Rhem show. Another frequent guest and host is Steve Roberts.
I was listening when the sponsorships/ads were supposed to be running. Steve could be heard shuffling through papers and saying dismissively, "there's about 40 e-mails here all critical of Israel..." Well, I listened intently to the remaining 40 minutes of the program. Steve read several e-mails, took callers, but never read one representative anti-Israeli e-mail.
He had dismissed criticism of Israel out of hand. I really don't understand this. If you were interviewing Ollie North, and you got a 100 e-mails calling him a convict; I understand you might not throw those in his face and expect a productive interview. But, I do think some reference to his controversial past would be due.
But again, these letters weren't about a guest. Israel isn't on the panel. Israel is rather a subject of the show--I don't remember the exact topic, but it was related to the ME.
Likewise, Ignatius who I think seems to frequently apologize for the establishment US policy. How is he the choice to host the ceremonies in Davos, Switzerland? He showed interest in limiting criticism of Israel. Ignatius, on the show will often admit knowing some damning story showing utter American hypocrisy on many topics yet, he parrots the party line faithfully. Again, how is he chosen among all the likely candidates across the US, Europe, Asia and Africa?
-- -Scott; 1/30/09, 11:06 AM
Anonymous said...: Steve Roberts is a major POWER TOOL! He and his wife, Cokie Dokie, are a power tool couple.; 1/30/09, 11:12 AM
Woody (Tokin Librul/Rogue Scholar/ Helluvafella!) said...: It's official!

The Economy is "Broken."

So saith the sages of "Day-To-Day."

And Wan Williams has become the official NPR GOPuke Go-to Guy, discussing the 'race' to become RNC Chair.; 1/30/09, 12:13 PM
Anonymous said...: Juan Williams, "NPR's Senior Black Correspondent." Larry Wilmore on The Day Show is SO much funnier.; 1/30/09, 12:32 PM
RepubLiecan said...: Speaking of omission, has NPR ever mentioned a word about the Pentagon prepared propagandists disguised as retired military sages foisted upon us by our government and media? Would this selective blindsight have anything to do with their frequent use of them on NPR?; 1/30/09, 1:10 PM
Woody (Tokin Librul/Rogue Scholar/ Helluvafella!) said...: Be Still, My Heart!!!

Scott Simon will host an appearance by (gasp) LIZA MINELLI!!

Diabetics are urged to avoid overly glistening listening.; 1/30/09, 6:36 PM
Hubertg said...: Yes Republiecan...."...foisted upon us...." The National Security State in action...justifying all their evil activities around the world to save us from "them".; 1/30/09, 10:27 PM
Anonymous said...: Larry, thanks for your comment. I, unfortunately, heard NEO CONan's "taking unemployment lemons and making lemonade" show and was appalled. I couldn't help thinking about the size of NEO's paycheck while people out there are suffering. Two valuable hours of radio time wasted by that glib tool.; 1/31/09, 6:35 AM
Woody (Tokin Librul/Rogue Scholar/ Helluvafella!) said...: Sweet Leaping Chuy!!@!!

Scott Simon tongue-laving Rich Lowry's prostate today.

Nary a probing question. All softballs.

Next, the saccharine pleasures of Liza (with a "Z")...

Gag me with a spoon...; 1/31/09, 8:17 AM
Big Guy said...: artes_moriendi
THANK YOU, I agree.

This Saturday morning,January 31, I thought the same thing as Scott Simon sought comments from Rich Lowry, editor of the National Review.

Why not Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor of the Nation? Why must NPR go out of their way to give radio time to folks from the Right and give so little radio time to folks from the Center and the Left? Does Daniel Schorr need to be balanced by someone from the Right every Saturday? Dan's 90 years old. How about giving him a pass on his ideological bias and not insisting on having someone like Lowry to give balance?; 1/31/09, 8:31 AM
Anonymous said...: Oh please now people; IT'S FUND DRIVE TIME. At WHYY (Philly - the official voice of Mayor Michael Nutter) they are into the 4th day of a projected 10 day drive. They were down to 7 just a year ago but . . . "our news gathering sources have EXPLODED!!!!!" and of course you rubes can be expected to pay for more of the same pap you've come to expect from NPR in general and WHYY in particular.

I love it when they swoon about Market Place (Defending Capitalism till you can't afford to donate) by getting all jazzed up about . . . the tunes used in the interludes. Forget the fact that Market Place never saw the collapse coming until the roof fell in - they just play such great techno-punk or punk-techno or something.

Gasbag Gross was on with Mommy Most-Inane for a few short seconds and I thought about what a wonderful world this could be if only . . .; 1/31/09, 8:38 AM
Anonymous said...: 10 days for a fundraiser at whyy? Wow, they're really hurting. Maybe if they'd auction off one of Ed Cunningham's or Patrick Stoner's wigs (after decontaminating) they'd make some real $$.; 1/31/09, 9:40 AM
Anonymous said...: At the top of the hour several times last Thursday, January 29, 2009, NPR made mention of the Pope holocaust denier Bishop story but never aired the piece. NOTHING! Did the story get pulled but mention of this story was left in the story outline that proceeds the actual radio stories by oversight? A quasi neo-turd oversight? Spinning reality in the NWO is such a difficult task. I mean really!; 1/31/09, 12:28 PM
masbrow said...: Did I hear Jacki Lyden praising the Shah of Iran this morning on Weekend Edition Sunday, in her story on Women in Iran?
AAARRRRGGGGGGGHH!; 2/1/09, 8:43 AM
Woody (Tokin Librul/Rogue Scholar/ Helluvafella!) said...: Did I hear Jacki Lyden praising the Shah of Iran this morning on Weekend Edition Sunday

well, other than Savak, and the secret prisons, and disappearances and shit, he was a pretty decent guy, I hear. And that peacock throne was very nice...; 2/1/09, 9:37 AM
Hubertg said...: Yeah, the Shah of Iran was a real prince. Reminds me of the Pope riding around in a bullet-proof glass vehicle. Loved by all.; 2/1/09, 10:48 PM
Anonymous said...: Larry, dfh:

I think they may be priming the listeners for an additional few days here. The operative word all weekend was they "only plan" to fundraise once for their mostly crappy week-end shows. Even Fresh Air on Thursday couldn't get the 40/hour and I think that's a first (I gather Terry gets pretty peeved when her show doesn't get the numbers).

EDK; 2/2/09, 12:01 PM
Anonymous said...: Fresh Air fundraising is always terrible. In radio market in the timezones west of Eastern, the show is run at all sorts of hours, all day, and many times, twice a day. ME and ATC, the two Titanic NPR shows, carry most of the fund raising weight of member stations. In Colorado, the statewide network, called "Colorado Public Radio" b blasts its programming from Denver to just about every town in BFE. They have been known to do 5 fundraisers in a single year. Their latest gimmick is to have a pre-drive, fund drive. In essence, they raise money up front in order to shave days off of their regular 10-day drives. The time around, their pre-drive called "Warp Drive," lasts for 18 hours. Then, they return a week or so later to drive for the remainder of their goal. Like many other member stations, they are hurting for business and foundation dollars. Thus, they are balancing the budget on the backs of individuals. Sound familiar? Just like big business, they need us little 'ole liberals to pay the way. Considering how bad ME and ATC are, how long before member stations realize that NPR's cash cow not only isn't paying up, but that NPR is bypassing stations by distributing around them via the web?

-Juan Ensalada; 2/4/09, 6:46 PM