For Those Of You Who Missed The Cold War...

[AGBF]

For those of you who missed The Cold War where people mocked the propaganda used in the Soviet Union (and also did not have the privilege of growing up in a totalitarian society) here is your chance to sample what it sounds like. All of these speakers were forced by their employer parent company to read the same script on the air. In it they stress how important it is for democracy to follow their lead. One can see the Fox News logo in the background of many of the screens. It is frightening to watch. And it reminds one of nothing more than the Soviet Union. Only this is pro-Trump.

Sinclair Made Dozens of Local News Anchors Recite the Same Script...https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/02/business/media/sinclair-news-anchors-script.html

AGBF

 

[Calliecake]

Like you Deb, I found this extremely disturbing. Scary times!

Trump is on another twitter tirade tonight. How the hell did we elect this moron?

 

[tkyasx78]

I had no idea my local tv station was owned by sinclair before today! I ended up looking it up becuase I never really thought too much about it before the news broke. What is even more weird is I thought the “promo” warning of fake news was in reference ABOUT fox news as they are leaps and bounds beyond any level of basic sanity in airing fake news almost non stop.
I thought, wow — it is nice they are warning people to turn off fox and be sure to listen to people who are focused on relevant facts and who get that hillary LOST and obama ISN’T president anymore. Fox never gets that there is no need to refer to them every single stinking time they want to change the subject from the problems of the day. I will never get the idea that two wrongs make a right in fox land and simply becuase they can find someone to call “worse” , then what is happening now is ok.

I went to a political meeting for a local republican candidate last week who is running for senate here and we had an open mic. to ask questions. Most were the basic line - immigration, job growth, blah blah, blah but I kid you not, — one nut job asked the candidate what he planned to do about the deep state and prosecuting the uranium one scandal. Eyes rolled and I had to shake my head and put my hands over my face. The canidate was polite and said there is no deep state and if anyone breaks laws he supports enforcing them but there is no uranium one scandal.
It was a reminder that some people locally here ,literally think fox is acutal “news”
As unhappy as I was with the dems in charge, I cant tell you how much I wish they were back in charge at this point.

To sleep at night knowing regardless of political views, there was a sane, stable, focused, mature adult who cared about the nation in the white house would be a relief.

My husband is travelling out of the country right now till the end of the week. He has had to explain to many people that MOST of the USA did not vote for trump and do not support nearly anything he says.

The uncertainity that is caused by china tariffs placed today in response to trump and knowing the jobs that are going to be lost ... I just can’t even right now sad I then saw trump is now unhappy at amazon and wants to somehow mess with jeff bezos. I had to turn the tv and social media posts. Too many lies, corruption and idiocy today.
I am going to make a cup of tea and try to get to sleep before midnight. It will be a long day tomorrow.

 

[AGBF]

Like you Deb, I found this extremely disturbing. Scary times!

Trump is on another twitter tirade tonight. How the hell did we elect this moron?

What is he up to?

 

[OoohShiny]

Didn't he moan that China were 'distorting world markets' by imposing their tariffs?

Somewhat ironic given he's doing exactly the same... lol

 

[perry]

Deb; and everyone else. My wife is from Ukraine and grew up in the Soviet Union (in a closed military production city) somewhat close to the Russian border. She has been very positively amazed by many things in America (with the exception of Health Care Insurance).

Her reaction to this was essentially disbelief that this could ever occur here. She worries about many things now - and I'm not sure her concerns are false. She has lived the cold war from the other side... she has lived with the lies, distortions, abuses, etc.

I'm not sure anyone who does not have a democracy minded very close friend from that part of the world really understands how scary this is.

Have a great day,

Perry

 

[Calliecake]

The truly sad thing to me is Ryan and McConnell stay silent when they should be very vocal about how wrong this is.

 

[AGBF]

The truly sad thing to me is Ryan and McConnell stay silent when they should be very vocal about how wrong this is.

I cannot tell you how disillusioned I am by them and by other so-called Republican "leaders". It throws into relief the true leaders like John McCain, whose political leanings I still loathe. (The man voted for the tax "cut" that cut only the taxes of the wealthiest individuals and the corporations, after all. I am not asleep. I saw that!)

I will never vote for John McCain as long as there is a reasonable alternative who is not in the pocket of the wealthy. But I know someone who respects the rule of law; The Constitution; and The Geneva Accords of 1954 when I see him. John McCain is an old school American politician who actually believes in the rule of law. That he is a patriot is incidental, although, of course, laudable.

Deb/AGBF

 

[perry]

I cannot tell you how disillusioned I am by them and by other so-called Republican "leaders". It throws into relief the true leaders like John McCain, whose political leanings I still loathe. (The man voted for the tax "cut" that cut only the taxes of the wealthiest individuals and the corporations, after all. I am not asleep. I saw that!)

I will never vote for John McCain as long as there is a reasonable alternative who is not in the pocket of the wealthy. But I know someone who respects the rule of law; The Constitution; and The Geneva Accords of 1954 when I see him. John McCain is an old school American politician who actually believes in the rule of law. That he is a patriot is incidental, although, of course, laudable.

Deb/AGBF

While I agree that I do not agree with every position John McCain has; the other thing is that he is also a real compromiser to get things done. He knows that solutions are found somewhere between the extremes - and will actually work with people from other parties and with other beliefs as long as they are respectful and seeking a solution (or at least a "betterment"). To me, this is what the primary job of people elected to political office is. To find common ground and move things towards better.

Unfortunately, it seems that trait is also "old school" and out of favor with most of the "modern" politicians - of all parties.

Have a great day,

Perry

 

[Tekate]

This is all to do with Citizens United, corporations are people too! Sinclair is owned by fools who want to influence people with their beliefs and stands, the problem is they can because they are a person a bigger problem I think is in places where only Sinclair broadcasts (if any) and the merger Sinclair is looking to accomplish.. this is VERY scary to me.

 

[Johnbt]

I see a difference between an employer requiring an employee to do or say something and the government requiring a person to follow the party line. They aren't at all the same.

And yes, I'm old enough to remember the Cold War. Truman was President during the first 3 years of my life.

 

[AGBF]

I see a difference between an employer requiring an employee to do or say something and the government requiring a person to follow the party line. They aren't at all the same.

It's not so simple. The government has it's thumb in the news broadcasting pie. The government licenses television networks and approves mergers. Sinclair will have even more power (more of a monopoly of the airwaves) if its proposed merger (subject to government approval) goes through.

Here's the argument that government should protect the people from monopolies...https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/02/business/sinclair-videos-renew-debate-over-media-ownership.html

 

[Arkteia]

Like you Deb, I found this extremely disturbing. Scary times!

Trump is on another twitter tirade tonight. How the hell did we elect this moron?

We did not. But the ones who voted for him should not be complaining now about his trade wars, or the never-ending-round of fired executives, or anything else. They own him. They know it.