What did Peter Kent think of Israel before he was an MP?
it is an interesting question for both public and private individuals. What is your level of responsibility for things said many years ago. What is the statute of limitations for contrition?
In this case, Peter Kent reported in a way that is at best unbalanced and at worst anti-Israel. So I have to ask, was Peter Kent reading a script he did not believe in 1987 or is he reading one now as a candidate in Thornhill.
I know where Karen Mock stands on the issues.
[FLOWPLAYER=http://clarify.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/47968031.flv,400,300]
Categories: From Twitter, Karen Mock Campaign, Media, Politics, Technology, Television Tags: bob-rae-as-opposition-leader, finding-clarity, israel, karen-mock-israel, karen-mock-peter-kent, peter-kent, peter-kent-anti-israel, peter-kent-before-politics, peter-kent-israel, peter-kent-mp, peter-kent-mp-anti-israel-report, peter-kent-mp-phone, peter-kent-twitter-mp, peter-kent-what-does-he-do, where-did-peter-kent-go-to-school, why-did-peter-kent-be-mp
Vampire Show – Frightening for a Different Reason
Recently under the weather, I spent a few days on the couch resting, drinking fluids and hoping not to throw up yet again. This last was made more difficult by some of the show I ended up watching on TV.
At a low point, I watched some vampire shows, including True Blood and Vampire Diaries. I also tried to watch one of the Twilight movies but failed to stay awake through it. It seemed the recurring theme of these was:
- Vampires are real
- Other supernatural creatures are real
- One girl or another is in love with the leading man vampire
What struck me in all of these shows is the rather perverse view taken of human life and personal responsibility. Much of these shows seem to focus on helping to hide the killings committed by the vampires, ostensibly because they are trying to improve and not kill other people. When I think back, the theme of dialog seems to be, "I know you killed that person. But I love you so I will cover it up and not tell anyone as long as you promise not to do it again."
I sometimes wonder whether the incredibly moronic people shown in entertainment represent real humanity. In the case of these shows, apparently very popular with young women, do they represent a real morality? Do the watchers truly believe that their adolescent feeling are more important than a respect for human life?
I know these shows are fiction. The show would be much different if the characters did what they should, which is to call in the authorities to address the killing and capture the killer. Far less angst there.
Stop Catering to Our Worst Impulses
The arrival of the MV Sun Sea carrying @400 potential Tamil refugees has given our media an opportunity to start fanning the flames of our worst natures. This is a symptom visible across the political spectrum. Please let me give a considered rant for a moment.
Categories: Politics, Talk Radio, Television, VoteTO Tags: fanning the flames, immigrant canada, jerk, knee jerk, law, political refugee, RACIST, refugee, tamil refugees, threat
Maher – Obama needs some GWB swagger
Bill Maher focused on Obama’s seeming need to be popular with everyone in this particular monologue.
It seems the true believers have discovered what seemed obvious all the time, that Obama is a very conservative liberal.
Perhaps it is necessary to observe from outside (I am in Canada) to understand how odd the US political landscape looks. Considering the political spectrum in most of the western world (i.e. Canada, UK, Sweden, France) both the Democrats and Republicans are well on the right. The Dems are just not quite as far to the right as the GOP.
Maher talks about health care, bank reform, climate change and ending the wars. He mentions that none of Obama’s plans seem to go far enough to impact any of these issues. This is not surprising. Obama seems to go out of his way to try to not offend. He is running again.
The US seems to be structured to avoid real change.
Categories: Politics, Television Tags: bill maher, conservative liberal, democrats and republicans, political landscape, political spectrum
CNN Obama coverage interrupted by police killings
Saturday mornng and I wanted to check the news. It seems that CNN had to interrupt its wall to wall Obama coverage to report on some killing.
CNN – Public relations for insane murderers.
Categories: Media, Television Tags: CNN, Media
CNN – A Joke or What Americans Deserve?
It was to be a long day, with meetings in the morning and a company event in the evening. As I often do, I turned on CNN for background information while I brush my teeth and shower.
I learned a few things. Barack Obama was in London for the G20 meetings. He met with Prime Minister Brown. He was planning to meet with the Soviet Prime Minister. He and Brown had done a press conference. Michelle Obama was there. Carla Bruni Sarkozy decided not to come to London because she knew she would compare badly to Mrs. Obama. And, of course, there were protesters near the Royal Bank of Scotland.
The protester story was made more interesting by the tone of voice of the CNN anchors. The unspoken desire for a bloody riot was audible. They wanted blood. The lack of it made the story less interesting.
I knew all of this because it was repeated at least 4 times. Likely it was repeated more, but I turned to the Canadian stations (CBC and City-TV) and the BBC station to check what was occurring locally, globally and in the US. Not surprisingly, there were many stories occurring around the world. For the non-US stations, Obama in London was a short story, especially as the G20 summit has not yet started. During these repetitions, multiple talking heads found their way to the screen to spout meaningless opinion on the same topic.
I came back home at about 1:30 the next night. That made it almost 18 hours since I had turned off CNN. I could not resist. I turned on the tube to hear Anderson Cooper retelling the exact information that had been news 18 hours ago. I would not have written anything about this, as all Obama all the time seems to have become the CNN format. But then I heard what brought me to write this. Cooper had the temerity to use the word historic in relation to this news day.
Historic? An American president in London? What could possibly be historic?
So as I write this, I listen to Cooper and other journalists(?) and talking heads spouting opinion about the economy, the dinner by Jamie Oliver and the meeting with the queen.
I know that this is what CNN does. The have made the rational decision that this is what will drive the most viewers and revenue. It is not dissimilar to other US cable news stations in content or structure. It is more of an issue when I am in the United States for business. When I am in any other country, I can access non-US news to learn what is happening in the world, including the US.
Is this what American citizens deserve, shallow prattling and opinion being shown as news? Or is it a joke, with the watchers patiently awaiting a punchline?
