07/12/2008 01:11:46 PM EST

CNN Is Terrible And Here Is The Proof

posted by Tom Hanc

I just watched something incredibly stupid from CNN. In fact, it was incredibly stupid and incredibly misleading.

According to CNN, withdrawing from Iraq will not only not save us any money, but it will actually cost more money.

And notice the indirect (but obvious) dig at Obama and the Democrats at the end by the anchor.

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Let's say I'm spending $3,000,000,000 a month with my credit cards (yeah I know, I've got great credit).

While it's technically true that I won't have any more money if I abruptly stop charging things, it's also true that I'm no longer adding to my huge pot of interest laden debt.

Even more ridiculous is the way they frame Iraq withdrawl as something that would cost us even MORE money.  Again, yes, that's technically true but my God, it's also technically insanely misleading.  I cringe at the thought of low-info voters passively absorbing and repeating this crap.

I mean really, instead of that dumb anchor at the end taking a jab and asking sarcastically "So you mean we shouldn't take at face value what politicians tell us(?)" why didn't she ask seriously "Well, obviously we're going to withdraw at some point, so isn't saying that it's going to cost more money to withdraw now misleading?"

It seems like they're more interested in having a controversial, ratings grabbing headline than they are in framing the issues in the most honest, accurate way (I wish this was a hyperlink with Cenk saying "Of coooourse!")

PS---It cracks me up that there are still a good amount of people that think CNN is "liberal".  Yeah, as you can see here they're crazy liberal, and shills for Obama. Oh well, we just have to keep doing what we can to share the facts and hope they win out.

Plus, there was one time where CNN was pretty good.

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CNN Is Terrible And Here Is The Proof | 18 comments (18 topical, 0 hidden)
omg (none / 0)
It totally frightens me that people are so dumb that they will now parrot this ridiculous factoid.  Thanks for providing the convenient analogy to fight it with.

by desertpear on 07/12/2008 02:17:49 PM EST

That's why it bothers me (none / 0)
That's why these things on tv news bother me, because most people get their news through TV and most people using television as the ir primary source of news are dopes IME (aka, low-info voters).

Is that too harsh? Maybe, but not by much.

by Tom Hanc on 07/12/2008 02:47:43 PM EST

[ Parent ]
well (none / 0)
As someone who only uses a TV monitor to play DVDs, and who hasn't watched TV aside from internet feeds in about 30 years, I will agree.  We must keep the internet free and neutral!!!!  Most people don't even pay attention to media consolidation and corporate ownership, and it is like a large portion of the population has no skepticism for what they read and see. 

by desertpear on 07/12/2008 06:40:39 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Liar (none / 0)
You totally watch Flavor Of Love.

by Tom Hanc on 07/12/2008 06:53:04 PM EST

[ Parent ]
wow (none / 0)
I have never heard of that!  I admit that I do voraciously devour entire TV series on DVD thanks to netflix, and I remembered a guilty pleasure--Friday Night Lights.  I bet KenTX likes it too. 

by desertpear on 07/12/2008 06:58:11 PM EST

[ Parent ]
If you don't have a DVR (none / 0)
Then Netflix (or something like it) is a must. I'm finishing the last season of The Sopranos. 

Two more episodes to go before I see the ending that was ruined for me when Cenk referenced it back when it happened.

I hate spoilers but he said it so fast I didn't have time to stop it.

by Tom Hanc on 07/12/2008 07:14:37 PM EST

[ Parent ]
HBO TV (none / 0)

Finish the Sopranos (Cenk is wrong, Tony does not die).

If you have not watched Deadwood, watch it!

If you have not watched The Wire, watch it.  Might be the greatest TV series ever.  No bullshit.

by ProfRich on 07/13/2008 12:27:06 AM EST

[ Parent ]
the Wire is great (none / 0)
Haven't tried Deadwood.

by desertpear on 07/13/2008 12:35:51 AM EST

[ Parent ]
We'll see (none / 0)
If I finish them tonight.

I've heard good things about Deadwood and Cheryl's friend was briefly in one episode (very small role). The only thing is, I'm not sure I could get her to watch that show, so I'd have to watch it when she wasn't around (unlike Lost which I got her into and which we love. We're about 35% through season 3, and don't you dare spoil it for me).

Maybe I can get her into The Wire but it seems like more of a guy show.  Speaking of which, if I look into The Wire I insist you look into The Shield. It's surprisingly good (and gritty). If you assumed it wouldn't be because it's on FX, thing again.  Trust me.

by Tom Hanc on 07/13/2008 12:36:30 AM EST

[ Parent ]
I have heard that about the Shield (none / 0)

My birthday is in a month and I might get a video/mp3 player.  Could watch the Shield on that.

As for The Wire being a guy show, my wife, sister and mother all love it as much, if not more than me.  Desertpear loves it too.

Its not a guy or girl show.  Its just good.  It is as accurate a representation of the real world as I have ever seen on a TV show.

Deadwood is a brilliant and outrageously watchable slice of American history.  Great characters and a wonderful setting but more importantly a fascinating look into the boom mining towns of the late 1800s western US.

I have said on here before, McCabe and Mrs. Miller (also about a mining town) is the single most insightful movie on US history ever made, Deadwood is similar in TV show format.

The Wire, on the other hand, is a no bullshit, no blinking, no glamor look at the state of America (particularly our cities) today.

by ProfRich on 07/13/2008 01:03:51 AM EST

[ Parent ]
I'm interested in both (Sopranos Spoiler) (none / 0)
And that Sopranos ending wasn't what I expected. I was nervous watching the last two episodes and kept waiting for Tony to get shot or have a heart attack or something.

Do people think Tony's dead because that guy sitting at the counter was staring him down a little and Phil was just hit (plus there was supposed to be a hit on Tony)?

I don't know, abrupt ending but honestly I'll take it over a long, drawn out and stressful court battle that leaves Tony in jail.

by Tom Hanc on 07/13/2008 12:59:58 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Not to get to academic (Soprano spoiler) (none / 0)

But ultimately, when dealing with a fictional story, all that happens is what we are told happens.  We do NOT see Tony die.  Period!  Speculating what happens the millisecond after the story stops is all well and good but it is NOT what happened in the story.

One of my two favorite movies of all time is Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.  If you haven't seen it, rent it immediately.  If you have you will understand what I am about to say. (Spoiler)

They don't die at the end.  They just don't.  It may be impossible to imagine them living but the movie clearly stops with them alive.  There is a reason for that kind of artistic choice.

Does anyone really think David Chase (Sopranos creator) chose to end the 80+ hours of one of the most intensely watched series EVER by conveying one of the most dominant 20th century American fiction died but he just didn't get around to showing it?

The point of the damn ending is that you figure out what you think happened.   Chase clearly didn't feel the desire or need to kill Tony or he would have killed him.  Nothing was stopping him.

Personally, I think the ending suggested life went on for Tony and his immediate family which is what I always understood the series to be about.  The daily mundane life of a suburban dad, wife and kids where the dad just happens to be a mob boss.  The final scene was clearly meant to be a typical all-American slice of life.  Something any of us might do with our families to celebrate a special occasion.  Why people need to insert a murdering gunman who was not shown in the scene into it says a lot more about them than Chase's script.

by ProfRich on 07/13/2008 02:33:02 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I hope and think you're right (none / 0)
We'll see how it plays out if they make a Sopranos movie. Then again, the movie might not even deal with the regular series finale.

by Tom Hanc on 07/14/2008 11:16:08 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Love Friday Night Lights (none / 0)

My family and I have been extras in it twice.  Those folks are all extremely nice!

What I watch on TV:

The Simpsons (seen every episode)

King of the Hill (what we call Reality TV down here)

Heroes (I love comic books, remember?)

Friday Night Lights

Lost

CSI (Original flavor only)

Scrubs

The Office

My Name is Earl

College Football

That is pretty much it except for election coverage.

by ProfRich on 07/13/2008 12:26:13 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Solid list (none / 0)
I don't agree with every choice (maybe if/when I move to TX I'll get into KOTH and college ball, but not until then) but overall pretty good.

And I haven't purposely watched a (full) new episode of the Simpson's for years.  Sometimes I watch a little to remind me of how unfunny it is *compared to* to what it used to be.

Yeah, yeah, you'll say it's STILL funnier than most shows on TV, etc., etc., but I just can't get into it anymore. It's dead to me (but lives on in 90's reruns, especially pre-98 reruns).

by Tom Hanc on 07/14/2008 11:19:37 AM EST

[ Parent ]
They want you to look left, when... (none / 0)
... the reala action is happening on the right.
these guys are so dishonest, it's unbelievable:

"reducing troops to 75.000 by 2013 could increase deficit by $214 billion over 10 years"

these last years Bush has been having deficits of $400-500 billion per year, $214 billion over 10 years would be a HUGE improvement :) $214 in 1 year would already be a 50-60% improvement :)

also how does $214 billion even compare to the national debt, which Bushco has doubled to 9,5 trillion!!!
it's like McCain bitching about pork barrel spending of a couple hunderd million per year, when Iraq is costing $720 million per day

National debt is increasing 1.73 billion per day, let's stop focusing on these fake/"unimportant in the face of the bigger numbers"-issues

also someone cut of CNN and replace the feed with CNN International, although not great, they tend to be mostly "okay" ;

by callisto on 07/12/2008 08:28:18 PM EST

CNN Said It, I Believe It, That Settles It (none / 0)
But Wolf Blitzer has told me on several recent occasions that CNN has The Best Political Team On Television. Now you are asking me to not believe that? Oh, bother.

by Verified1 on 07/14/2008 08:36:15 AM EST

Hmmm (none / 0)
Good point!

;)

by Tom Hanc on 07/14/2008 10:47:57 AM EST

[ Parent ]
CNN Is Terrible And Here Is The Proof | 18 comments (18 topical, 0 hidden)
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