It was only a matter of time. Having achieved the highest news network ratings in the United States, the time has come for the Fox plot. The asset is former Alaskan Governor and Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. The goal is to employ her at the network, providing her the perfect platform from which to preach to tens of millions on a routine basis. The news no longer needs to cover Palin, now Palin is inside of it and can ostensibly ‘cover herself’.

If Palin leaves the network, which she has just joined, and returns to the political arena in the future, then this step can be viewed as the first in a highly orchestrated coup d’état. Using a position within the conservative media sphere, Palin, the asset, will be transformed into the new face of the movement, backed by an unknown amount of money written off as a ‘salary’ rather than a political investment. In short, Palin’s agreement to work for Fox could very well represent a move by a major media conglomerate to not merely support, but literally control, a possible candidate for the Presidency in 2012. Because if Palin receives the right sort of response and exposure while working for the network over the next few years, the Republicans will have no choice but to seriously consider her as their frontrunner.

Am I being a conspiracy theorist? Time will tell.

January 11, 2010

As of late last night my number one fear was the possibility of being forced to wear a thong to the beach. That changed this morning when I discovered that Fox News is currently the most watched news source in the United States. In fact, it’s numbers dwarf those of CNN and MSNBC. In short, guys like Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly are watched by more Americans than anyone else. I would have included Glenn Beck in there but it seems that he’s been forced to take an unscheduled holiday due to sponsors dropping his show like a maggot infested piece of dog shit.

One wonders what took them so long.

The contradictions of Fox’s primary talking heads could fill a library. When President Bush was in office, protestors were unbalanced, un-American terrorist sympathizers. Now, of course, showing up to a Presidential event with a loaded semi-automatic rifle is perfectly acceptable. “The people” should be taking to the streets in protest, and should make their voices heard – about what, in particular, no one seems to know anymore.

On Fox it’s all about “liberal loons” and “decent Americans”. In short, imagine news programs for people with a 5th grade education that like to yell at inanimate objects – that being their televisions (just in case a diehard Fox viewer is reading this and doesn’t know what “inanimate” means).

Fox News is not the relation of objective information. Truthfully, almost every major news network on this continent is guilty of transforming information into infotainment to tantalize the weak minded and weak willed. The fourth estate is dead. It has been for some time now. To someone such as myself that is a terrifying realization.

One wonders what Edward Murrow would say were he alive today? The truth is that he probably wouldn’t be able to find work, and that’s saying something given that someone like Glenn Beck can.

I don’t know what to say to those of you that can’t see it, to those of you that actually believe that Fox News is something more than just an echo chamber for the uneducated and easily frightened. Because if you haven’t figured it out by now, chances are that you never will.

That said, someone get me a thong.

August 21, 2009

This whole Greg Gutfeld thing is seriously spinning out of control. I posted the video here on the site a few days ago and pulled it fifteen minutes later because, having left my computer to get a coffee, it dawned on me that giving Gutfeld any sort of attention was a waste of time. Unfortunately, our government doesn’t seem to think that the best course of action, as Peter McKay announced today that the government will be demanding an official apology from those on the show and Fox News.

For a man that seemingly has the wit and class of a washed up high school football star that’s turned to routinely beating his wife and kids in an alcoholic stupor to ease facing the daily reality that in his adulthood no one cares what he thinks or does, his idiocy is churning up the sort of attention that gets you promoted by the likes of Fox News, not fired. If the government of this country is actually going to give Gutfeld, an utter nobody, the time of day by demanding an apology then it’s playing directly into his hot little hands. The government of this country should be above such things – it’s the government for Christ sakes.

I completely understand that many Canadians are offended by the comments made on the show about our military, but is the opinion of such a media peon so important that we should give it credence? As Canadians we know what our military has accomplished, and the truth of the matter is that this country rarely receives the credit that it deserves for the sacrifices it has made. But that is what makes us Canadians, the fact that we act without the desire to achieve power or prize.

When one thinks of the term ‘Stormtrooper’, in a historical sense, images of elite German SS units are usually what first come to mind. The truth, of course, is that the term, which was first coined by the Germans – Stoßtruppen – was initially made in reference to Canadian soldiers during the First World War because of a trench raiding tactic developed in 1915 by Victor Odlum of the 1st Canadian Division. In short, they feared our audacity.

On June 6th, 1944, Canadians went ashore at Juno Beach, the second most heavily defended of the five landing zones. Despite the fact that within the first hour of the landing elements of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division suffered 50% casualties, equal to those sustained by the Americans at Omaha Beach, those that stormed Juno Beach that day were the only ones to achieve all of their objectives. The seawall faced by Canadian troops was twice as high as that faced by the Americans at Omaha, the waters were heavily mined, and none of the German defenses along it had been damaged by pre-invasion bombardments. They faced eleven 155mm guns, nine 75mm guns, pillboxes, and Wilhelm Richter’s 716th Division. And yet, up until June of 2003, no significant historical site existed to commemorate what was accomplished there that day.

Most of you know my position regarding this country’s involvement in Afghanistan – it’s policy that I take issue with, not the service of our soldiers. That said, it should never be overlooked that compared to any member of the NATO force currently involved in combat operations in Afghanistan, Canada has lost more soldiers based on the size of our contingent than any other nation. But even that horrible reality does not require the government of this country to disrespect itself by asking for an apology from four morons and a news network.

In conclusion, the Canadian government needn’t defend the reputation of this nation’s military because the overall reputation of the Canadian Armed Forces can more than defend itself without a word being uttered.

March 23, 2009 55 Comments

As I have repeatedly stated in the past, there is a distinct difference between supporting those that serve this country and the policies that place them in harms way. My personal opinions regarding Canadian involvement in Afghanistan are well documented on this website, but that does not mean that those that have lost their lives fighting there should not be afforded our utmost respect for their service.

That said, it pains me to report that another four members of this country’s military lost their lives outside of Kandahar yesterday in two separate incidents involving roadside bombs. An Afghan interpreter was also killed and another wounded.

The four soldiers were Master Cpl. Scott Francis Vernelli, Cpl. Tyler Crooks, Trooper Jack Bouthillier, and Trooper Corey Joseph Hayes. Eight others were also injured, all of whom are reported to be in stable condition in Kandahar.

To date, 116 Canadians have lost their lives fighting in Afghanistan since direct combat operations began in 2002. Given the size of the Canadian contingent, some 2,400 soldiers, Canada has lost more troops in Afghanistan based on the size of those ISAF forces deployed than any other nation.

Updated for content @ 3:29 PM, PST (for the sake of not giving attention to those seeking it).

March 21, 2009 16 Comments

You know, one wonders how long the people of the United States are going to tolerate the complete shit factory that is Fox News. There is absolutely no questioning that Fox has played a significant role in the degradation of the American media, and you seriously have to wonder when someone is going to have the fortitude to stand up to them.

Barack Obama, like him or not, might be the best, last hope when it comes to putting Fox News in its place. He has refused to grant them interviews since February of last year when they ran a smear piece on him. Since then, Fox has gone out of its way to attack Obama, but are now faced with the reality that he could become the Democratic Presidential candidate and that they could have no access to him whatsoever, which would mean that they would not be granted the right to host a Presidential debate, as both candidates have to agree on the format beforehand.

If that occurs, Fox News’ true colours will become abundantly apparent, as they would most likely become the number one source for anti-Obama news, revealing themselves as the Republican media proxy that they actually are. Not that that’s a big secret, but if it does happen, and Obama does continue to refuse to speak with Fox News, it will most likely end up producing one of the most telling case studies of media bias in US history.

January 8, 2008 46 Comments