Monday, December 04, 2006

don't forget Dan Rather on O'Reilly Factor Fox News Memo-gate?

sometime soon... Dan Rather was invited to be a guest on Bill O'Reilly's The Factor to explain his statement that Fox News Network people receive talking points from the White House.

Archives fox news

http://www.foxnews.com/archive/

My suspicion is this is going to have something to do with the internet noise about a reported (Huffington Post find) Fox News Network executive's (John Moody) internal memo to anchors.

The memo was reportedly revealed by the Huffington Post and includes an image of the reputed internal memo.

EXCLUSIVE UPDATE December 5, 2006 9:14 a.m.

A visit to the site shows not only are comments closed, but the image of the internal Fox News memo does not display! Well maybe it's a conspiracy to prevent us from finding the truth but we have another link up our sleeve.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/11/14/fox-news-internal-memo-_n_34128.html

Will John Moody be Forced Out of Fox Like Dan Rather from CBS? (5 comments )

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur/will-john-moody-be-forced_b_34162.html

Fox News VP Moody is Back Jim Gilliam

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-gilliam/fox-news-vp-john-moody-is_b_34140.html

Fox News Internal Memo

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/11/14/fox-news-internal-memo-_n_34128.html

The HP portrays the Moody memo as "leaked."

newshounds picks up the story of the leaked fox news memo

The site includes a You Tube video of Martha MacCallum's report (listen carefully as the referenced video is an interview with Erick Stakelbeck). During the interview with Erick Stakelbeck, MacCullum clearly poses:

MacCullum (from the You Tube video):
there are some reports of cheering in the streets on behalf of the supporters of the insurgency in Iraq, that they're very pleased with the way things are going here and also with the resignation of donald Rumsfeld
what does that signal for us and how does a country like Iran look at that situation in terms of what opportunity that presents for them?


The Guardian picks up the "story" of the memo and MacCallum's reference to "some reports of cheering..."

TV news is up for grabs
Murdoch obviously has his eye on taking over ITN - but is that really a reason to be worried? Peter Preston Monday November 20, 2006

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1952148,00.html

reposts the News Hounds piece

http://reclaimthemedia.org/media_literacy_bias/fox_news_anchors_faithfully_follow_propaganda_script

News Hounds analyzes and elaborates... read both reports...

'Live Desk' Follows Script of Fox News Memo
Reported by Judy - November 15, 2006 - comments
How closely did Fox News reporters follow the script laid out for them last Thursday (November 9, 2006) in that leaked memo obtained by Huffington Post? The evidence from Martha MacCallum's "Live Desk" for that day indicates she is one of the most loyal foot soldiers Fox News has. Updated with video
The memo, by Fox's vice president for news, instructs staff members to be on the lookout for any information from insurgents in Iraq, who, the memo says "must be thrilled" at Democratic victories in last week's midterm elections.

The memo's wording may explain where Martha MacCallum got the idea for her report later that day that insurgents were "cheering in the streets" over the Democratic victories.
During the "Live Desk" show that aired the same day as the memo, MacCallum claimed without
providing any details or sources that there were "some reports of cheering in the streets on the behalf of the supporters of the insurgency in Iraq, that they’re very pleased with the way things are going here and also with the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld."

Then she asked guest Erick Stakelbeck, a terrorism analyst for CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network), "What does the Democratic leadership mean for the war on terror?"

Stakelbeck referred to Palestinians who advised Americans to vote Democratic, but he did not refer to any Iraqi insurgents celebrating a Democratic victory.

Was MacCallum's "source" for the happiness of insurgents in fact nothing more than the morning memo from her boss? We'll never know, but the coincidence is certainly suggestive...


http://www.newshounds.us/2006/11/15/live_desk_follows_script_of_fox_news_memo.php

MacCallum: Terrorists Dancing in Streets After Dems Win
Reported by Judy - November 9, 2006 - 75 comments
Guess Fox News doesn't realize that the campaign is over. Martha MacCallum on Thursday (Nov. 9, 2006) kept up the news channel's attacks on Democrats, claiming terrorists are dancing in the streets over Democratic congressional victories and wrongly accusing Democrats of being against all wiretapping for national security purposes.

On the "Live Desk," MacCallum also presented guests who claimed, without any Democratic rebuttal, that Democrats have no legislative agenda. And in a sign of disrespect, MacCallum also avoided referring to House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi with any title, calling her only "Nancy Pelosi," rather than even current House Minority Leader. In a word, MacCallum and the "Live Desk" was less gracious than George Bush was to the leaders of the majority party.

Throughout her show, MacCallum aired three clips from a documentary called "Obsession: The Threat of Radical Islam," but failed to provide any information as to who produced it, forgetting even to mention that it aired on Fox News. The clips were designed to scare viewers, including one of people shouting "Bomb, Bomb, USA."

And MacCallum asked several times: "What does a Democratic victory mean for the war on terror?” Without providing any details or any sources, MacCallum claimed that Al Qaeda is planning new attacks on the United States and that there are "some reports of cheering in the streets on the behalf of the supporters of the insurgency in Iraq, that they’re very pleased with the way things are going here and also with the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld."


http://www.newshounds.us/2006/11/09/maccallum_terrorists_dancing_in_streets_after_dems_win.php

News hounds posts two different MacCallum descriptions: "cheering in the streets" and "dancing in the streets."

News hounds posits the source for MacCallum's report may have been the morning reported (Huffington Post) Fox News internal memo from Moody.

So, Net the Truth Online is on the trail - where'd MacCallum obtain the reference "some reports?"

MacCallum (from the You Tube video):
there are some reports of cheering in the streets on behalf of the supporters of the insurgency in Iraq, that they're very pleased with the way things are going here and also with the resignation of donald Rumsfeld
what does that signal for us and how does a country like Iran look at that situation in terms of what opportunity that presents for them?


Newsmax? Drudge Report? World Net Daily?

For date of November 9, 2006.

Net the Truth Online cannot determine at this time whether the is a faked memo...

But it looks like it may be...

Motive: The Fox News memo is Rather-gate (memogate) payback.

Suspects with motive: Coming as an "expose" from the Huffington Post, the Fox News internal memo legitimacy is questionable. The Huffington Post has a clear anti-Bush bias and agenda. (image of the memo no longer appears on Huffington Post)

Dissection of image of memo:

As any internet user should be aware, misspellings and incorrect grammar are indications of fakery and often employed on so-called conspiracy type sites. Mix a bit of truth in with the faked items and people will begin to believe everything they read on the net.

Not only that, the story becomes entwined with more so-called "details" as it crisscrosses the internet, more often than not using snippets from just such sites as News Hounds analysis!

Indications the Fox News memo is faked include:

grainy header

grainy unreadable time for date 11/8/200(5)(6) (17:_:08)

non capitalization of surname, bush

misspelled isnt'

capitalization is incorrect: THis and HO in HOyer

the first line of the memo which is poor communication style reads:

A couple of thumpees -- to use a variation of Bush's term -- speak today.

If the memo writer is supportive of Bush the first line is an odd way of communicating that.

thumpees is not referenced - what are anchors supposed to do? Read Moody's mind? If Moody is altering Bush's term, what is Moody's meaning of his own substitution? Who are the thumpees? Someone in the business of conveying important information would not leave room for misinterpretation of words.

It would not be difficult at all to fake such a memo, as the fact of internal Fox News communications are well known.

Keep in mind the basis of the book, OUTFOXED.

And, when using ,wikipedia as a resource for news, reference, and columns, beware, anybody can put anything in (lies)(misinformation), and take anything out (truth)(evidence).

Internal memos
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_News_Channel_controversies_and_allegations_of_bias

Items of Interest

posts the image of the internal memo

http://minor-ripper.blogspot.com/2006/11/fox-news-internal-memo-from-day-after.html

Fox News spins GOP election defeat
CommentaryBy Al Owens
11/19/2006
There's an internal Fox News memo that's circulating around the Internet these days that's getting a lot of attention. It was sent to Fox personnel by a news executive two days after the Nov. 7 election.

According to that memo, the elections were "a major event" with all of those Republican losses and the resignation of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, but they didn't represent the "end of the world."

Let me translate that for you. Fox News' higher ups considered a Democratic victory on election night to be a loss for Fox News. Well, well, well. I would have never dreamed those fine folks at Fox, who claim (with a straight face I might add) they're so "fair and balanced," would be so near mass suicides if the Republicans lost that they'd have to dispatch an inter-office memo to prevent it.

That memo went on to urge the on-air staff, "to be on the lookout for any statements from the Iraqi insurgents, who must be thrilled at the prospect of a Dem-controlled congress." No wonder a few hours later, Martha MacCallum (a Fox News afternoon host) announced insurgents were "dancing in the streets" because of the Democratic victory.

She offered no information to support that claim. She just said it.

That's the kind of thing Republicans might have said. Yet, so far they haven't. Fox News is saying it for them, I guess.

Republicans are, however, preparing themselves for what they feel will become massive buckets-full of revenge hurled at them by angry Democrats - who'd been out of control of congress for 12 years. Maybe it's because Republicans know a thing or two about revenge.

There's an old set of NBC news stories that are also circulating around the Internet. They reveal Republicans who were eager to take over control of Congress before the 1994 elections, and show their willingness to hand out punishment after they took control of it...

http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17488020&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=468562&rfi=6

World view

http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2006/11/09/world_welcomes_shift_in_us_politics/?page=2

http://wizbangblog.com/2006/11/10/breaking-al-qaeda-emboldened-by-democrat-win.php

Democrats win senate

Democrats win control of Senate
NBC: Webb apparent victor in Va.; win solidifies Democratic power on Hill
NBC, MSNBC and news services
Updated: 12:12 a.m. PT Nov 9, 2006

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15620405/

White House Press Conference

Bush's comment (thumpin) What time did President Bush make the statement "it was a thumpin." ? 1 PM

Bush cracks 'em up at news conference
Despite his hard work, Bush described the results of the midterm elections as a "thumpin'" for the GOP.

http://www.politicalgateway.com/news/read/46552

Bush takes blame for election "thumping"
Nov 08 1:56 PM US/Eastern
"I'm obviously disappointed with the outcome of the election," Bush told reporters at a White House news conference.

"As the head of the Republican Party, I share a large part of the responsibility," Bush said.

"You look at it race by race, it was close. The cumulative effect, however, was not too close. It was a thumping."

"I told my party's leaders that it is now our duty to put elections behind us and work together with the Democrats and independents on the great issues facing this country."

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/11/08/061108185622.1vbexy9n.html

Press Conference By President Bush
Wednesday November 8, 4:28 pm ET


WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a transcript of remarks by President Bush:

The East Room
1:00 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. I say, why all the glum faces?

continued...

Look, this was a close election. If you look at race by race, it was close. The cumulative effect, however, was not too close. It was a thumping. But nevertheless, the people expect us to work together. That's what they expect. And as I said in my opening comments, there comes responsibility with victory. And that's what Nancy Pelosi told me this morning. She said in the phone call she wants to work together. And so do I. And so that's how you deal with it.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/061108/dcw055.html?.v=69


http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/11/20061108-2.html

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2006/11/09/rumsfeld/index_np.html

Iraqi insurgents cheering

Al Qaeda welcomes Democratic victory
TODAY'S COLUMNIST
By Walid Phares
November 22, 2006
The latest audio by al Qaeda's Iraq commander -- posted 48 hours after the midterm elections -- sends a clear signal to the readers of the jihadi strategic mind: Al Qaeda and its advisers around the world want to provoke an "American Madrid." Portraying the United States as a bleeding bull in disarray, the war room projects its wish to see America's will crippled. The video attempts to do the following...

http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20061121-083639-1601r.htm

Iraqis Cheer Rumsfeld Departure

By SAMEER N. YACOUB
The Associated Press
Thursday, November 9, 2006; 6:33 AM

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraqis on Thursday cheered the resignation of U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, blaming him for policy failures and scandals they say helped spawn the daily sectarian carnage wracking their nation.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/09/AR2006110900279.html

Iraqis cheer Rumsfeld departure, look for shift
Many blame outgoing defense chief for policy failures, abuse scandals
Updated: 7:03 a.m. PT Nov 9, 2006
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqis on Thursday cheered the resignation of U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, blaming him for policy failures and scandals they say helped spawn the daily sectarian carnage wracking their nation.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15634188/


Iraq War Critics Cheer Rumsfeld Resignation
Thursday, November 09, 2006
The departure of U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld cheered critics around the world who saw him as a symbol of a failed war in Iraq, while supporters of the military mission pledged to work closely with his successor.

"The U.S. has to get out," declared Chandra Muzaffar, president of the International Movement for a Just World think-tank in Malaysia. "The occupation will have to end. There is no other way."

Rumsfeld resigned on Wednesday after Democrats won a narrow majority in the Senate and regained total control of Congress, dealing a powerful blow to the government of Republican President George W. Bush.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,228318,00.html

Daniel say what?

November 11, 2006
Are Iraqi rebels cheering Dems big election wins?
Posted by David Postman at 01:48 PM

I awoke this morning to hear it suggested that the Democratic election landslide was good news for enemies of the United States. Apparently Iraqi insurgents are popping the bubbly.

This time though it wasn't President Bush or Vice President Cheney making the connection, but NPR's Daniel Schorr, the thoughtful, veteran political analyst. He's certainly no GOP partisan. Here's what he said on Weekend Edition Saturday as part of his answer to host Lynn Neary's question, "How is the rest of the world reacting to the news of this election?"

I suspect that the insurgents are probably sitting around drinking champagne, and saying, 'Hey look, we drove a cabinet secretary out of office, we got the president all upset' and so on. This must look very good in terms of the rebels in Iraq.
If Bush, Cheney, Rush or O'Reillly had said that I bet there would be outrage from Democrats.

http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/davidpostman/archives/2006/11/are_iraqi_rebels_cheering_dems_big_election_wins.html

"Are Iraqi rebels cheering Dems big election wins?"
A provocative question. David Postman discusses here, based on coverage he heard on NPR. In discussing the issue, Postman essentially validates a portion of pre-election criticism of Democrats by the Bush administration. That criticism in particular being that assorted terrorist elements (rightly or wrongly) would view a Democratic victory as a sign of their own progress in defeating the United States.

I suspect many readers have heard previous news coverage the last few days on this topic, not without some annoyance. In the end, however, terrorists are likely to be left wanting by actual changes to policy that might be agreed upon by the Bush administration, Congressional Republicans, and prudent members of the incoming Democratic majority. Harry Reid for example has already made statements rejecting specific timetables for a withdrawal, a move sure not to please the near permanently anti-war left.

http://soundpolitics.com/archives/007482.html

NPR Archives

http://www.npr.org/templates/archives/rundown_archive_hub.php?date=9-Nov-06

Analysis: Week in Review: Elections, Rumsfeld
Nov-11-2006, Weekend Edition - Saturday
...Dan. DANIEL SCHORR: Yes, Lynn. NEARY: Quite a week. The end of 12 years of Republican control of Congress. Obviously, this election turned a great deal on the issue of Iraq, voter...

http://www.npr.org/search.php?text=daniel+schorr&sort=DREDATE%3Anumberdecreasing&aggId=0&prgId=0&topicId=0&how_long_ago=30

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6471897

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