BP “Settles,” Poll: Romney Leads Again, More on Breitbart, See “HEIST” At the Quad In NYC
March 3rd, 2012 - by: Danny
Listen: Podcast of this week’s News Dissector Radio Show on PRN.fm with Sgt Shamar Thomas on Occupy and Priya Reddy on the debate over anarchism and the film “When Trees Fall.” WATCH: I was a guest on Laren Lyster’s excellent RT Business Program, Capital Account <iframe width=”420″ height=”315″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/UyqKA8KFIhA” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe> Related: Scott Schneider writes. I hope you don’t find this disparaging. “RT has absolutely the hottest babes – they understand that aspect of media better than anyone, and I mean anyone. What makes it doubly delicious is their highly intelligent, pithy reporting. Here’s just one example from my favorite Lauren Lyster. (Alyona is also very hot.) (DS: Both Anchors Are Mainly Very Sma RT covers economic and political news far more openly and critically than the USA presstitute media, often probing subjects and engaging analyses that are otherwise censored or receive grossly inadequate coverage even from the so-called independent and progressive media within the United States. www.rt.com => From Russia With Love – it’s better than anything 007 imagined.” Press TV:I am Commenting on Warrantless Surveillance of Cell Phones NYTeXaminer.com: Dissecting Stories Via Skype from The NY Times In the News BP Settles Case,:No Trial, No Execs To Go To Jail New York Times: Accord Reached Settling Lawsuit Over BP Oil Spil Judge Carl J. Barbier of Federal District Court in New Orleans issued an order late Friday night stating that the two sides “have reached an agreement on the terms of a proposed class settlement which will be submitted to the court,” and announcing that the first phase of the trial, scheduled to begin on Monday, is adjourned indefinitely while the next steps are worked out. BP issued a statement from the company’s chief executive, Robert Dudley, saying, “The proposed settlement represents significant progress toward resolving issues from the Deepwater Horizon accident and contributing further to economic and environmental restoration efforts along the Gulf Coast.” The company estimated that paying the claims would cost $7.8 billion — but it did not state that the estimate represented an upper limit on what it would pay. It said it had already paid out more than $8 billion to claimants, and had spent some $14 billion in responding to the spill. The two lawyers who led the plaintiffs’ steering committee, Stephen J. Herman and James P. Roy, said, “This settlement will provide a full measure of compensation to hundreds of thousands — in a transparent and expeditious manner under rigorous judicial oversight.” The plaintiffs’ group that reached the agreement with the company represents businesses and individuals affected by the spill. WallStreeter; FBI Sees Hactivists As The New Terrorists Earlier this week 25 suspected members of the “hacktivist” group Anonymous were arrested by the Interpol. Anonymous is known by hacking several government websites in order to make a statement. They team up with WikiLeaks to make public five million emails from a known company of geopolitical analysis Stratfor. Now the FBI is making statements regarding these types of attacks. Cyberterrorism doesn’t exist in a formal way, but Security experts think that it is a real threat. The FBI claims that hackers might replace terrorists. Robert Mueller, FBI Director talked to group of cybersecurity experts, that this online attacks will replace terrorism and are real threat to the U.S. Mueller also said at the RSA Digital Security Conference in San Francisco: “We are losing data, we are losing money, we are losing ideas and we are losing innovation”, “Together we must find a way to stop the bleeding.” Related on Fluent News: ‘Hackers had ‘full functional control’ of Nasa computers’ NYT: Obama Says Iran Strike Is an Option, but Warns Israel WASHINGTON — President Obama, speaking days before a crucial meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, stiffened his pledge to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, even as he warned Israel of the negative consequences of a pre-emptive military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Seeking to reassure a close American ally that contends it has reached a moment of reckoning with Iran, Mr. Obama rejected suggestions that the United States was willing to try to contain a nuclear-armed Iran. He declared explicitly that his administration would use force — a “military component,” as he put it — only as a last resort to prevent Tehran from acquiring a bomb. The president also said he would try to convince Mr. Netanyahu, whom he is meeting here on Monday at a time of heightened fears of a conflict, that a premature military strike could help Iran by allowing it to portray itself as a victim of aggression. And he said such military action would only delay, not prevent, Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons. What I wrote on the Obama No War/Yes War Back And Forth The Military At Work” ’Soldiers to be reprimanded for Koran burning’ on Fluent News. The TSA At Work: ’Mom With Breast Pump ‘Humiliated’ by TSA’ Obama Backs Law Student After Attack By Limbaugh The Hill: President Obama called Georgetown University law student Sandra Fluke on Friday to express his support for her in the wake of conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh’s attacks. Video: Latest from Planned Parenthood Democrats.com: Condemn Rush Limbaugh! Dear Activist, Rush Limbaugh, in response, launched a ruthless and completely disgusting attack. He said that she wanted to be “paid to have sex.” Then this: “What does that make her? It makes her a slut, right? Makes her a prostitute.” And then he said that he wants her to post videos of her having sex online so that he can watch. Fitz Atweeke: Limbaugh Attacking Electric Car Relentless attacks on the Chevy Volt from Rush Limbaugh and Republican politicians have taken their toll, as General Motors has announced a five-week suspension in production of the range-extended electric car. Conservative enemies of clean energy and the Obama administration seized on isolated reports Volts with battery fires, calling the cars “Obama-mandated death traps.” Limbaugh even said GM was a “corporation that’s trying to kill its customers.” Daily Beast: New Poll Puts Romney Ahead: Is Romney Back on Top for Good? Fox News: GOP lawmakers criticize $750,000 Gitmo soccer field’ Veterans March on White House for Ron Paul Fair: How Breitbart Got Away With his Lies Matt Taibbi in Rolling Stone: “I say this in the nicest possible way. I actually kind of liked Andrew Breitbart. Not in the sense that I would ever have wanted to hang out with him, or even be caught within a hundred yards of him without a Haz-Mat suit on, but I respected the shamelessness.” Washington Times: “On his top-rated show Thursday, Michael Savage played an audio clip of Andrew Breitbart telling an audience at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington last month that he had obtained videos that shed light on Obama’s ties to radicals who helped propel him to the presidency’ In Case You Missed It: My Take On Andrew Breibart and Olympia Snowe Occupy News Occupy Bat Signal Creator Has New Batmobile Idea Huff Post; Occupy New Challenges Salon, Arun Gupta: Occupy Seeks To Reinvent Democracy Amped Status: Is the Tea Party And Occupy Similar? EWall Streeter: How Did You Not Notice 24-Year-Olds Were Being Paid $2 Million A Year Who Clearly Didn’t Know Anything?” Michael Lewis’ scathing, aphoristic, uber-sarcastic style need no introduction. As such we will leave this brief clip from Slate, in which The Big Short author is asked how to avoid a new financial crisis, without much commentary (the answer is that under the current status quo system it is impossible to guarantee no more financial collapses, even if Glass-Steagall were to be unwound, but that is the topic for another story), suffice to point out the punchline: “future generations will wonder, “How did you not notice 24-year-olds were being paid $2 million a year who clearly didn’t know anything?” That pretty much sums it up right there. Greece: The Tip Of A New Global War: Greece at war in 2012, as Spain was in 1936 for the people of Europe! Greece at war in 2012 Huge $275 Million Auto Fraud Ring Busted. LBN: Bernanke Sees Moderate Growth Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said Monday that the U.S. economy faces a long and bumpy ride ahead to overcome the deepest recession since the Great Depression, though the worst is over. Speaking to politicians attending the annual meeting of the Southern Legislative Conference in Charleston, S.C., Bernanke said the nations economy is growing at a moderate pace, but has a considerable way to go to achieve a full recovery. Knight News Challenge Gives Away $5 Million On Tumblr Culture Wars: Hollywood and The Right Hollywood is a complicated thing for the right, which hates it for sex and moral ambiguity but celebrates or declines comment on the glorification of war and crass commercialism. And they blame liberals for everything, including stuff that most liberals dislike. Left-wing forces cannot be held responsible for the music video of 17-year-old pop star Miley Cyrus writhing on a bed in her underwear. The conservative hysterics about Hollywood ignore the role big business plays in keeping the system conservatives so cherish up and running Daily Beast: Disney’s $250 Million Folly - Did you see how, just by chance, Disney CEO Bob Iger, and wife Willow Bay, just happened to be interviewed on the Red Carpet of the Oscars, an event that just happened to be broadcast by Disney Owned ABC. He was with Monoco’s Prince Albert and his new South African born Princess wife who the host forgot to introduce. Films and Filmmakers Heist opened at the Quad on 13th Street today> It’s a new doc on the financial crisis and how it might be solved. Since I have a film on this subject, I want to be charitable and urge you to see it. It was co-directed by Don Goldmacher who I worked with as a teenager at Circle Lodge in Hopewell Junction NY. Don was a waiter–and a good one, as his tips proved–and I was a busboy. We find ourselves doing work in a similar area again a half a century later, and I wish he and his team well. Tom Hartmann narrates and Nomi Prims, Van Jones. Bob Kuttner and Senator Sanders are among the experts who discuss the issues that include ways to fight back. There is footage of Occupy Wall Street in what at times feels like an illustrated lecture. but its one we can all learn from. Documentarian Eugene Jarecki Wins Sundance Award for his film on the war on drugs.. More on his new film including the trailer. My Brother Bill Schechter writes about his years as a Teacher COMMENTS TO DISSECTOR@MEDIACHANNEL.ORG Gareth Porter on That Bombing In India Attributed To Iran The magnet bomb that exploded on an Israeli Embassy diplomat’s car in Delhi on February 13 seemed on the surface to be consistent with an Iranian-sponsored action. It was carried out with same method by which Israel’s Iranian proxy, the Mujahedin-e Khalq, had assassinated an Iranian scientist in mid-January. It occurred on the anniversary of the 2008 assassination of Hezbollah operations chief Imad Mugniyeh, which Hezbollah had vowed to avenge. And it happened at the same time as what appeared to be attempted bombings in Bangkok and Tbilisi. But a review of the evidence uncovered thus far makes the link to Iran begin to look very dubious. Instead, it points to the distinct possibility that the Israelis planned a carefully limited bomb attack that was not intended to cause serious injury to Israeli diplomatic personnel, but that would advance the larger Israeli narrative on the need to punish Iran. Mahboob Kjawaja writes: Good to see your rational concerns. The perpetuated madness of war by the Obama admin is increasing day by day without any RETHINKING of the unknown consequences for the global community. Drowning in War- President Obama commands chariots against Iran” Bradley Laing on Breitbart I do not think Andrew Brietbart deserved much criticism, because there is no indication that he thought, said, or wanted anything that ten other Conservative commentators had not said earlier. On February 24, 2009, he went on the FOX News’s “FOX & Friends” morning show. They asked him a question about the Academy Awards. He ignored the question, and procceded to say that terrorists would never attack Los Angeles, because Los Angeles does not have any “Iconic Buildings,” and the instead the terrorists would kidnaped and decapitate actor Sean Penn, who had just won a Best Actor oscar for his role in the film “Milk.” Dr.Joseph Eusterman writes: Has Mr. Breitbart provided a “teaching moment”? I don’t believe the few media pundits who commented on his recent public hate-filled rant to an OWS gathering (“you freaks and animals!; stop raping the people!; learn to behave yourselves!; filthy, filthy freaks!”) got it right. They opined his (wine-assisted?) verbal violence was just “evidence the 99% are getting under under the skin of tthe 1%”. In my opinion it represents much more-a great sickness in our American society-the disrespect for, dehumanizing and demeaning and demonizing of, THOSE PEOPLE who are “different”. The Marie Antoinette mindset. IMHO, he is just another of many current poster boys and girls-Limbaugh, the Fox videologue cabal, Rick and Newt-to name only a few (as if that were necessary). It appears our nation’s Conservative minions harbor more of such ilk than the Progressives and Independents-and appearances alone can, and doubtless will, be powerful in November. On our 2009 Mad As Hell Doctors cross-country tour for Single Payer-Improved Medicare For All, a Canadian gentleman visiting in Spokane asked one of our group, “Why don’t you Americans take care of your own people?” Breitbart has glaringly answered that question, and it doesn’t bode well for our ever achieving an optimum health care system for America. Our diversity (unlike all the other advanced industrialized countries in the world) is preventing it. We as a people allow it to divide us rather than celebrating its enormous riches. Andrew is just another of our many fear-mongering McCarthyites. Suzanne Moore (Guardian UK, 2/16/12) writes that instead of being disgusted by poverty and income inequality, too many of us are disgusted by the poor themselves. I believe Mr. B is, also like too many of us, very afraid. Fearful of those “others” who are different from him. It would be interesting to learn how he acquired that fear. The code words used, of course, are: freeloaders, deadbeats, irresponsible, irreligious-and therefore unworthy-of any concern or help. And yes-those liberals too-EEEK! FDR’s caution against unreasoning fear is as timely
“He encouraged me and supported me and thanked me about speaking out about the concerns of American women,” Fluke told Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC. “He said I should tell my parents that they should be proud.”
Sandra Fluke is the Georgetown Law student who was denied the right to testify in front of the sham, no-women-allowed hearing that Republicans held on access to birth control. When Democrats gave her the chance to testify, she was a very brave, intelligent, and articulate advocate for women.
These conspiracy-tinged partisan attacks have now cost American jobs, with 1300 workers temporarily laid off in the face of lower than expected demand for the innovative cars, even as gas prices rise. In January, GM CEO Dan Akerson bemoaned the effect of the barrage of ideological criticism on the popularity of the 37 – 93 mpg car:
MA new poll shows that Mitt Romney has regained most of the ground against Rick Santorum in Ohio-a state that’s going to the polls on Super Tuesday next week. He’s trailing only 35 to 31 percent in a state where he was losing by double digits just last month. The candidate is looking better and better after his Michigan and Arizona wins this week, and he could be back on top for good, as a different poll shows him way ahead in Virginia also, another big Super Tuesday state.
www.internationalviewpoint.org
The 2012 Knight News Challenge is looking for a few good journalism projects to receive $5 million in funding… but applicants have to share their ideas with Tumblr’s user base.The Knight Foundation, one of America’s best known journalism non-profits, is holding their sixth annual Knight News Challenge (KNC). Journalists, publications, web sites and media organizations worldwide have until March 17 to submit ideas for innovative news projects. Winners will receive grants, zero-interest loans, and investments from an approximately $5 million purse at the Knight Foundation will disburse. The catch? In order to apply, journalists have to post their ideas on Tumblr for the world to see.Applications to the KNC must be submitted via Tumblr–they include a short description of the potential project, who’s behind it, and how the project would be funded post-Knight.
- About Danny Schechter
Danny Schechter is an Emmy award winning journalist, television producer and independent filmmaker who also writes, blogs and speaks about media issues.
His latest film is PLUNDER The Crime Of Our Time.
Mr. Schechter is NOT the Godfather of Soul.
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