Letters to the Editor
Margalis
Published Letters: 614 Editor's Choice: 16
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If I sign my name will you answer me?
[Read the article: Integrity and slime, in old media and new]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Any thoughts on Camille Paglia?
You once wrote that Imus being purposely being an agitator was not an excuse but part of the problem. Yet you run Camille, and her entire shtick is being a clueless agitator. I won't regurgitate the lengthy list of complaints against her, you can read any one of the her letters sections.
You are guilty of the same thing the mainstream media often is - ignoring problems in the hope they will just go away rather than fessing up.
Your readers constantly complain about her and not once have you bothered to defend her or any one of her hundreds of inane statements. It makes it hard to take you seriously when you tut-tut about media irresponsibility, and it sure looks to me that you aren't "woman enough" to deal honestly with your readership and answer questions that might make you slightly uncomfortable.
Intead of being a coward and putting your fingers in your ears why don't you try listening to your readers and responding to their very valid criticisms of your resident idiot.
James Margaris
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The Democratic debate with Russert was worse in that regard
[Read the article: The godawful GOP debate ]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]At least CNN has the excuse that the questions were submitted by concerned citizens.
Russert, apropos of nothing, asked the Democratic candidates what their favorite bible verse was.
http://margalis.blogspot.com/2007/09/what-is-your-favorite-bible-verse.html
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I guess Joan really isn't woman enough
[Read the article: Integrity and slime, in old media and new]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I signed my name -- didn't help.
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The LoWV doesn't want the "debates"
[Read the article: The godawful GOP debate ]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]They pulled out because the "debates" are crap press conferences that they didn't want to be associated with.
I have to laugh at the notion that not having a favorite Bible verse makes someone illiterate.
I also have to laugh at the notion that a guy submitting a question via YouTube, which is then selected based on whatever wacky formula CNN uses, is somehow a "plant."
The whole point of the YouTube debates is that anyone can ask a question. Including people with questions you don't like. Sucks.
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The saddest part of this
[Read the article: The NYT's Michael Cooper demonstrates what real reporting is]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]is the following sentence could easily appear in virtually any newspaper in the country and would not stand out in the slightest:
"Some claim that Giuliani has exaggerated his record of accomplishments as Mayor, while Giuliani campaign aides insist that his statements are accurate."
That is absolutely the standard method of reporting, he-said/he-said.
"Critics say the moon is bigger than an elephant." That's my jokey name for that style of reporting.
http://margalis.blogspot.com/2007/10/critics-say-moon-is-bigger-than.htm
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Disruptive influence is not always a bad thing
[Read the article: The NYT's Michael Cooper demonstrates what real reporting is]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I love the name 'Common Nonsense' and need to learn how to not have a disruptive influence.
I'm banned at a half-dozen liberal blogs. Har. So don't ask me.
The great thing about comments sections is that you can quickly skim what you don't want to read. I have a very high tolerance for comments-section "disruption."
Personally I enjoy some of your posts and the ones I don't I skip ;). Works for me.
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To answer the question
[Read the article: Is rape off-limits for laughs?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]No.
Everything you said in the video was right-on. But can we get text transcripts? I'd much rather read than watch a talking head read to me.
The visual medium is fine if there is some point to it other than dictation. I fail to see what video is adding here.
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Another problem with video blogs
[Read the article: Is rape off-limits for laughs?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]If I want to quote something insightful instead of copy/paste I have to transcribe by hand. Not fun.
Please provide text transcripts.
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Couple of independent points
[Read the article: The NYT's Michael Cooper demonstrates what real reporting is]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]1.
It is not the job of the journalist to assess the truth or falsehood of assertions. It is the job of the journalist to report that such assertions have been made
Wrongo! Walter Lipmann called this sort of thing the "accidental witness" -- someone who stumbles upon a scene without any understanding or insight and just writes down who says what.
The essence of journalism, in theory, is verification. Verifying not only what people said but the truth of those words and beyond that the verifiable truth of the situation.
The idea that the job of journalists is merely to write down what "both sides" say is a recent invention, a bastardization of journalistic principles. It makes no sense on any level - there are infinite sides saying infinite things, and if people in government want to say something to us they can do it directly via press release without the middleman.
2. My standard line about conspiracy theories is "it's not a conspiracy if it happens in plain view." That AIPAC has much influence on our policies is a good example of that. They are clearly a major lobbying group and they spend money for a reason, not because they are charitable.
It's not a conspiracy, it happens out in the open in plain view of everyone. AIPAC spends a lot of dollars attempting to buy influence -- that is their mission.
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That's some fine logic Nablllrazzfrazer
[Read the article: The NYT's Michael Cooper demonstrates what real reporting is]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]My first name is James, a biblical name, yet I'm not Christian.
Or am I???????????? Someone get Michelle Malkin on the case!
Little known fact: most people don't choose their own names. Amazing but true!
Little known fact 2: Apple Paltrow is not an apple or even a vegetable of any kind. She should probably change her name to "Fleshbag" to avoid confusion.
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Unrelated but can somebody help me out?
[Read the article: National Review reporter caught fabricating; where is the "liberal media"?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'm looking for the exact quote by the white house reporter that said something like:
"We didn't want to question the President because we didn't want to cause trouble at this very important time..."
Related to the invasion of Iraq. Anyone?
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Never mind I suck
[Read the article: National Review reporter caught fabricating; where is the "liberal media"?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Found it via search when I remembered that the description of the press conference was "disastrous."