"I hate people who tell me I hate real Americans.  In fact, I hate people who use terms like 'Real Americans'."

**

Since we're playing Pet Peeves: Political Rhetoric Edition, it bugs me when politicians invoke the "Americans" straw man ... as in, "Americans want/don't want [fill in the blank]", "Americans aren't/are [fill in the blank]" and simply fill in their talking points.  Usually, about 1/2 the country doesn't agree with whatever they say.

William is my kind of guy!

So, Drudge, Hannity, Savage, FOX - they were all outraged when Ashley Todd claims to have been attacked...

Where's their outrage over this real confessed attack?

http://www.yestodemocracy.com/yes_to_democracy_no_to_pu/2008 /10/in-all-the-faux-and-fox-outrage.html

I can't speak for Savage, since thankfully he's not on in my area, but I don't recall Hannity or FOX all up in arms over the Ashley Todd case.  In fact, all the reports I saw were skeptical about it from the beginning.  As for Drudge, that's just an outlet for current news headlines.

I put Savage in the same boat with Randi Rhodes, scremers that will say anything no matter how outrageous to their audience.  Only Savage never was viciously attacked by a sidewalk while drunk.  <joke!>

Turning on FOX today after getting home from a birthday party, the first story I saw was about some homes being spraypained with anti-McCain graffiti.  The very next story was about Obama yard signs being stolen or vandelized.  I would call that "Fair and Balanced".  Granted, this was a NEWS program, and not a comentary show.  Once you pass 8pm, it's all commentary programming.

Jesus!  I already appologized about spraying those things on that person's home!  Why won't FOX leave me alone!!

I grant you, Jeff - I only heard Hannity mention it a little - he comes on in my area at 6, and so I'm usually just getting home when he starts - I catch him off and on as I go out in the evening to go to dinner or run errands.

But here's the thing - Hannity was the first talk radio show to pick it up - I heard Savage make noise about it with my own ears, but Hannity might've just mentioned it.  Likewise, FOX is the first major news network that broadcast the story.

The story was originally reported to the local news, who passed it on to Drudge, who ran the headline in a larger font than he usually uses, and in a red font - attention was meant to be called to the story.

I will confess - let's cut back the hyperboyle - Hannity and FOX are kind of off the hook in terms of "outrage" - that term only applies to Savage as far as I know - but considering how many of these stories have been making the rounds, I wonder why both were interested in giving it any attention - especially when even right-leaning types like Malkin or CA Miller were suspect of it from the get-go.

So, watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQXcImQfubM

Ok, so... is it REALLY a "gotcha" question to ask what news sources inform one's foreign policy opinions?  Or what your opinions are on certain Supreme Court cases?

If this is the liberal media, I'd hate to see the conservative media!!