A Few Qs for My Liberal Friends

Posted: May 9, 2010 in Columns, Featured, Political Opinion

A friend sent this to me the other day. It’s been circulating on the Web. I thought I’d share it with all of you.

If George W. Bush had been the first President to need a teleprompter installed to be able to get through a press conference, would you have laughed and said this is more proof of how inept he is on his own and is really controlled by smarter men behind the scenes?

If George W. Bush had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to take Laura Bush to a play in NYC, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had reduced your retirement plan’s holdings of GM stock by 90% and given the unions a majority stake in GM, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had made a joke at the expense of the Special Olympics, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had given Gordon Brown a set of inexpensive and incorrectly formatted DVDs, when Gordon Brown had given him a thoughtful and historically significant gift, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had given the Queen of England an iPod containing videos of his speeches, would you have thought this embarrassingly narcissistic and tacky?

If George W. Bush had visited Austria and made reference to the non-existent “Austrian language,” would you have brushed it off as a minor slip?

If George W. Bush had filled his cabinet and circle of advisers with people who cannot seem to keep current in their income taxes, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had stated that there were 57 states in the United States , would you have said that he is clueless?
If George W. Bush had been so Spanish illiterate as to refer to “Cinco de Cuatro” in front of the Mexican ambassador when it was the 5th of May (Cinco de Mayo), and continued to flub it when he tried again, would you have winced in embarrassment?

If George W. Bush’s administration had okayed Air Force One flying low over millions of people followed by a jet fighter in downtown Manhattan causing widespread panic, would you have wondered whether they actually get what happened on 9-11?

If George W Bush had failed to send relief aid to flood victims throughout the Midwest with more people killed or made homeless than in New Orleans , would you want it made into a major ongoing political issue with claims of racism and incompetence?

If George W. Bush had created the position of 32 Czars who report directly to him, bypassing the House and Senate on much of what is happening in America, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had proposed to double the national debt, which had taken more than two centuries to accumulate, in one year, would you have approved?

So, tell me again, what is it about Obama that makes him so brilliant and impressive? Can’t think of anything? Don’t worry. He’s done all this in 10 months — so you’ll have three years and two months to come up with an answer.

Bob Hadley

Bernie, When I citicize Bush or anyone else or anything else I concentrate on the substantive, not the petty. Right wing lunatics like you need the left wing lunitics, and vice versa. You use each other to justify yourselves. That way both extremes can evade real issues.

Nonetheless, you have shown yourself to be able to engage in truly critical thought (in the highest sense of the term “critical”) on occassion. For whatever reason, your reach of such heights is only ephemeral.
A. C.

“If George W. Bush had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to take Laura Bush to a play in NYC, would you have approved?”

As I recall, the vast majority of that money went for security. For decades US Presidents have had to have that security simply to survive. The newspapers never stated how much of that would have to have been spent even if the Obamas had stayed at the White House. No matter how wretchedly and miserably the current president is botching the job, his life still deserves protection. Besides, think of the alternatives.
Jerry Zacny

Bernie I’ve been a fan of yours for a long time. Like you, I have long held the opinion that the main stream media, for the most part, is liberally biased.

Newspapers historically have their own slant on things, as posted in their editorials. some have long championed the Democrats, labor and liberal social programs, while others championed Republicans, business and smaller government. But most people know where most newspapers stand politically.

Network TV news reporting seemed to me to be relatively fair in reporting up until the Viet Nam era. It was then that I saw TV “reporters” and network anchors begin taking sides, subtly at first, then progressing to the not-so-subtle. The gloves came off with the Watergate investigations and revelations. The media then became prosecutorial. Conservatives and Republicans in general and Nixon in particular became the enemy. Woodward and Bernstein became the icons of investgative reporting. Dan Rather, the understudy of Walter Cronkite (the most trusted man in America) became TV’s defender of the faith, for his on camera confrontations with Nixon at press conferences. Woodward, Bernstein and Rather were elevated to rock star status in the public’s perception and that’s when reporting turned into entertainment. Entertainment is a much more lucrative profession than reporting; ask Woodward, Bernstein or Rather.

Most news people today really are commentators, hiding behind a title of journalist. Too many commentators (including comedians) think of themselves as reporters, while reporters aspire to be entertainers and entertainers want to be commentators. Government’s way of thinking is “A crisis is something too important to waste”. Entertainment’s way of thinking is that “a controversy is too important a thing to waste”. As insane as it all is, the only way the public can get a semblance of what is actually happening is to watch and listen to the endless “point – counterpoint” babble between both sides.

joe from louisiana

Well said.

John Fitty

Sadly I don’t believe most people know where newspapers and news organizations stand politically. I don’t think people begin to understand just how biased the media is until well after college. Bias isn’t easy to spot if you were raised watching just CBS News or reading your local paper. It usually takes a spark (a particular news story) to begin to see the bias. Then it takes some honesty and constructive thinking to consider that bias is present in your daily news source.

Doug Fenton

To paraphrase Bob Dylan “Where have all the investigative reporters gone?” It should be easy to go to Arizona and find legal Mexican-American immigrants who are unemployed because illegal immigrants have taken jobs they would take in a minute.
Employers want to avoid the 14% social security tax, workman’s comp etc so they welcome illegals who are 25-30% cheaper to hire. Meanwhile, legal immigrants are forced onto welfare that hurts every citizen.
This is not just bias, but a fear of the truth.
joe from louisiana

Mr. Goldberg,
I love your site but am confused about statement concerning the midwest floods. Are you speaking of the Iowa floods of 2008? Hurricane Katrina resulted in 275,000 homes severely damaged or destroyed with 1800 deaths. The midwest floods damaged 50,000 homes with 50 deaths(or that’s the accepted figures from the internet). I’m waiting on your book my wife ordered fro my b-day.

http://www.bernardgoldberg.com Bernie

Joe

Pls re read the first line in the column. The observations aren’t from me. More important, Happy Birthday — and hope you enjoy the book.

http://blog.cyberquill.com Cyberquill

A picture says more than a thousand words.

That’s why television is so powerful. If the image on the screen says one thing and the voiceover says another, the viewer will walk away with the message conveyed by the image, not the words.

Through years of media exposure, our minds have been conditioned that the picture of an individual next to an article displays either (a) the author of that article or (b) an individual discussed in the article. Since the latter doesn’t apply in this case, the presence of your picture suggests the former.

So the picture of you at the top of this post says one thing, but the words right next to it say another.

Why not a pic of the person who wrote these observations or the friend who sent them?

Obviously, this is your blog, and to underscore this fact, there’s a permanent picture of you worked into the banner anyway. I checked all the way down the page, and none of your previous posts feature an additional picture of you right next to them.

Oddly, this post, which was not written by you, does feature your likeness on top. Why? To model a different suit and a lilac shirt?

I like the shirt, but the presence of the picture itself at this particular location cannot but sow the seeds for confusion.

This is a trifle, of course, but there’s nothing so important as trifles. (Sherlock Holmes)

Ron Kean

We are told that this was forwarded to Bernie. What about the person who forwarded it to the previous person or the person who forwarded it before that and on and on.

I don’t think the ‘who’ matters as much as the ‘what’ in cases like this, Watson.

Mike Jeffries

(((((Do people get “paid” by the word for posting in here? I wonder….)))))
http://blog.cyberquill.com Cyberquill

Someone obviously believes he’ll get paid by the paranthesis.
Mike Jeffries

Still, quite a bit less gas-baggy than you. By the way, it should be parenthes”e”s in your usage. Plural.
Mike Jeffries

Oh, and no second “a” in there. You’re welcome.
http://blog.cyberquill.com Cyberquill

I confess to screwing up on the “a.” I did, however, mean parenthesis, singular, to match your paid by the word, which was singular as well.

As to your verbosity charge, I’m sure you level it at everyone who exceeds a certain word count, irrespective of whether or not you happen to concur with—or understand—the substance of the commentary, correct?
Mike Jeffries

Brevity is the soul of wit. You really DO drone on and on.
http://blog.cyberquill.com Cyberquill

Just honing my writing skills in my adopted country’s primary language. Blogging and commenting on other people’s blogs works fine for me. (I grew up speaking German. And yes, I’m legal.)

joe from louisiana

You’re right. Sometimes I read stuff so quickly I’m guilty of not reading the entire paragraph. I respect you quite a blt and am so fatigued by the media in this great country. It reminds me of the muckraking era of yesteryear. The ignorant accuse others of being ignorant and the racists accuse others of being racist. I am so incensed to see us turn against our greatest ally. If Bush had snubbed anyone of the staure of a Netanyahu he would have been excoriated.

joe from louisiana

And when I say muckraker I refer to the “yellow journalists” not the later more forgiving definition.

The Patriot

Will Burns seems to have the same disease that Obama and his cronies have. They think that just because they say it, it is so.

Think again.

http://blog.cyberquill.com Cyberquill

A common disease frequently encountered on all sides of every issue and on both sides of every aisle.

The Patriot

Unfortunately, all sides don’t have control of most of the media nor have they ever tilted this country in any one direction so much.

Mark Dannreuther

Methinks there’ll be a “change of pace” come November 2010/November 2012. Not so much in how the media functions, but in the righting of the tilt, if you’ll pardon the pun.
http://blog.cyberquill.com Cyberquill

I’ve spent the first half of my life in Europe, and the second (almost) half here in the U.S. I can attest that no matter where you live, the media is always in the pocket of the opposition. After all, since our own world view, whatever it may be, is so obviously more valid, the fact that so many people oppose it must be because they’ve gotten the wool pulled over they’re eyes by some sort of propaganda outfit, i.e., the media.

That said, here’s a paragraph by an evolutionary psychologist (a self-proclaimed conservative himself) who concurs with The Patriot and Mr. Goldberg that the media is largely controlled by liberals, albeit for a reason that conservative-leaning folks probably won’t find particularly flattering:

Incidentally, this finding substantiates one of the persistent complaints among conservatives. Conservatives often complain that liberals control the media or the show business or the academia or some other social institutions. The Hypothesis explains why conservatives are correct in their complaints. Liberals do control the media, or the show business, or the academia, among other institutions, because, apart from a few areas in life (such as business) where countervailing circumstances may prevail, liberals control all institutions. They control the institutions because liberals are on average more intelligent than conservatives and thus they are more likely to attain the highest status in any area of (evolutionarily novel) modern life.

The full article can be accessed here. (The author has wisely disabled comments.)

http://www.eschatonblog.com/ Wil Burns

Cyberquill, Did you know those in the media deciding what information to give us are in the top 5% of our income structure? Something to think about.
EddieD_Boston

The media is always in the pocket of the opposition???? Not now.
http://blog.cyberquill.com Cyberquill

It is always being perceived as such, yes. Where it actually is is a different story. (Yes, that was two is’s in a row.)

Let’s assume, for the sake of argument, the media, as a whole, were split exactly 50% conservative and 50% liberal.

Naturally, in such a scenario, liberals would argue that the media is all conservative, and conservatives would complain about the media being all liberal.

After all, if 50% of an institution disseminates a world view that is so utterly misguided, it must be that the institution wholesale is controlled by those who hold out such misguided views.

If the media gave equal time to those who claimed that the earth is flat, clearly it would be squarely in the pocket of the flat earth society. Otherwise, there would be no way for such a loopy philosophy to get equal exposure.

Same, of course, if someone did a documentary on the rise of Naziism in the 1930s and gave equal time to Holocaust deniers—obviously one of these deniers is pulling the strings behind the scenes, for otherwise these loons would never get equal time.

In a way, it doesn’t really matter whether the media “are” liberal or conservative, because few will ever argue that the media is anywhere but firmly in the enemy’s camp.

Can you imagine a politician and his or her supporters, upon losing a campaign, thanking the media for being on his or her side? Methinks not.

Likewise, winners tend to view themselves as having prevailed despite vigorous opposition by “the” media.

To clarify, my point is not to suggest that the media is split 50/50. Merely that even if it were, I have a hunch that conservatives would still fervently assert that it is all liberal (and vice versa).
The Patriot

Let’s get away from saying ‘liberals’ here. I have no problem with liberals. The people I have a problem with are the Progressives The Progressives are quite fine with being labeled ‘liberal’ because in the end, this makes it easier for them to subvert the real liberals to their cause without the real liberals knowing what they’re actually doing or working towards.

The media is in large part being controlled by Progressives who have no problem using the media vehicle as a tool for propaganda. No doubt, there are those real liberals working in the media who have jumped on the Progressive bandwagon without even knowing it because they have no idea what the Progressives are really up to.

If being taken advantage of and fooled into doing something that is against what most people would consider decent or moral is a sign of superior intelligence then count me as someone who is happy to be of sub-par smarts.
http://blog.cyberquill.com Cyberquill

The countervailing point of view is that the media is in large part being controlled by large conservative corporations who, while often tilting liberal on the surface, won’t go anywhere near promoting truly progressive causes for fear of alienating their advertisers.

I keep hearing both versions.

This whole debate appears to hinge on everybody’s personal definition of liberal, progressive, and conservative, and these definitions spring directly from the mindset and world view of the individual.

Being taken advantage of and fooled into doing stuff that is against what most people would consider decent or moral is not a sign of superior intelligence.

Neither, though, is being taken advantage of and fooled into doing stuff that is perfectly in accordance with what most people would consider decent or moral.

It’s a wash.

Terry Walbert

The question is not whether George W. Bush or Barack Obama is the better President. Bernie’s point was that the Drive By Media (aka Main Stream Media) won’t do an honest job of reporting on someone they favor.

Last night on O’Reilly, Bernie said it all. The liberals in the MSM want to champion a cause, not report the news. The word for this is propaganda.
http://blog.cyberquill.com Cyberquill

If Obama choked on a pretzel, it would be Bush’s fault. He would have inherited that pretzel.

http://www.eschatonblog.com/ Wil Burns

Cyberquill, I see you belive Bush’s “pretzel” story. Many do not!

http://blog.cyberquill.com Cyberquill

The pretzel story never struck me as momentous enough to ponder its authenticity. But assuming it never happened, who, in your estimation, put it in circulation and to what end?

http://www.eschatonblog.com/ Wil Burns

Maybe to explain the head injuries from the fall. And remember Bush is a recovering alcoholic! Hmmm

http://blog.cyberquill.com Cyberquill

I see. I wonder what kind of tale the current administration will foist upon us if the White House goes up in flames after a cigarette accident by a recovering smoker who had fallen off the wagon again

Perry

Here’s a what if for ya,
What if Al Gore had won in 2000? Would we already have national heath care, would 911 not have happened, would we be at war still,would we be up to our eyeballs in debt?
We seem to blame everything on the presidents or the 2 party’s, but we the people are the one’s that elect these idiots.

http://www.eschatonblog.com/ Wil Burns

Perry, No and hell no!

joedee1969

They are all robbing us:

http://americaspeaksink.com/2010/05/keeping-it-in-perspective/
http://www.eschatonblog.com/ Wil Burns

A few questions for your conservatives friends?

Bush 43:

DJIA goes from 11000 to 9000.

Unemployment goes from 3.9% to 7.9%

Wastes $1.3 trillion on tax cuts for the rich, calls it his “jobs program”

Turns gigantic budget surpluses into record deficits, doubling the national debt.

Grows the size of government an average of 6% for each of his 8 years in office.

Starts 2 wars.

Allows 9/11 to occur due to dropping the ball on terrorism.

2 deep recessions, second one almost leading to total financial collapse and another great depression.

Breaks US and international laws on the treatment of war prisoners.

Takes away 4th and 14th amendment rights with “USA Patriot Act”

Takes away 1st amendment rights with “freedom of speech zones”

Reveals the name of an undercover CIA Agent.

Commutes sentence of Scooter Libby in order to save his own butt.

Just a few off there are many more……….

Ron Kean

Wil,
This is why you’re probably the least offensive contrary poster I’ve ever read. Your ignorance is so profound and explainations for each of the above are so obvious it would be silly to explain them again.

Perry

Question Wil, who had majority in congress under George w Bush?
Was it not the dems that voted for the wars?

chas

Wil,
My God you are exhausting. Typical Kool Aid drinkers response. Bush did this and Bush that. I believe Bush caught hell on a daily basis from the lame stream media for all kinds of stuff. Some deserved, some not. THE POINT, MY OBAMAZOMBIE FRIEND, IS THAT MR OBAMA DOES THE SAME THING (WORSE IN MY OPINION) AND GETS A FREE RIDE. Can your little peanut brain comprehend that? Can you put aside your hatred of W and think for yourself? Can you tie your own shoes or do you utilize velcro? Who types the words for you?

http://www.eschatonblog.com/ Wil Burns

chas, Bernie’s article is about Bush and Obama. Get with the program!
chas

Wil,
I think that is what I addressed. Maybe I should have asked who reads for you?

http://www.eschatonblog.com/ Wil Burns

Perry:
Question Wil, who had majority in congress under George w Bush?>>

The Repubkicans for the first 6 years of his term.

Was it not the dems that voted for the wars?>>

Yep, Based on the lies Bush, Cheney and Rice told them.

TC

Wil,

Republicans had to “share power” with the Dems for the first year of the Bush Admin. (2001), then when Jeffords crossed party lines, Daschle became majority leader from mid-2001 to January 2003. So basically, the GOP had the Senate for maybe four-and-a-half of Bush’s 8 years, and had the House for 6 of the 8. Not exactly the scenario you painted. And also, the GOP majorities during those years were nothing like the majorities the Dems enjoy today, even after the Scott Brown victory in January.

As for the “Bush/Cheney” lies: nice excuse, but it’s total b.s. Those “lies” were the exact same ones that Bill Clinton used 4 years earlier when he bombed Baghdad and called for “regime change” in Iraq. Just because the Democrat Party’s media allies let Kerry and Hillary, et al, get away with saying they were “lied to” when they cast their votes in favor of war, doesn’t make it true.
Jack Davis

Wil has a problem with the truth, TC. He’s had that problem for some time.

You might want to ask Wil about the time Bernie put him on a two-week time-out for lying.
http://www.eschatonblog.com/ Wil Burns

So basically, the GOP had the Senate for maybe four-and-a-half of Bush’s 8 years, and had the House for 6 of the 8.>>

Okay, you are correct, it was for four-and-a-half of Bush’s 8 years the Republicans had complete control. But, remember it was Bush and only Bush that took our country to war!
Jeff

[But, remember it was Bush and only Bush that took our country to war!]

Yes, it was President Bush who helped remove an evil dictator, his scumbag sons, and countless terrorists from the planet and brought an oppressed people their first taste of freedom.

Thanks for the reminder, kiddo.
http://www.eschatonblog.com/ Wil Burns

Kiddo, Yes, it bankrupt our country and thousands of soldiers and innocent Iraqi’s have died, because Saddam tried to kill Bush’s daddy!
Jeff

I understand why you’re trying the disingenuous tactic here (and avoiding my other comment entirely), and who could blame you?

I’ll make it easy: your surrender has been accepted.
Jeff

Was it not the dems that voted for the wars?>>

[Yep, Based on the lies Bush, Cheney and Rice told them.]

Oops! Looks like you need to crack a book, Wil. The dems in Congress had all the same information the president did, and were talking about concerns over Hussein long before he was.

Oh, and we’re still waiting for you to prove either of those men told so much as one lie.

CCNV

And here’s another question to add to your list, Wil…

Will we ever see Elena Kagan and Barney Frank side-by-side, or are they the same person?

http://www.eschatonblog.com/ Wil Burns

CCNV, Now that is funny.

Florida Jim

Yes, that is funny but I have never seen them together or in the same picture, odd?

Ron Kean

For a few people like me, I think ‘liberal friends’ is an oxymoron.

Perry

That’s funny ,I don’t care who you are.

Ron Kean

…as if you count.

Perry

Because you belong to a few, maybe you don’t count either.
Do you think Bernie has no liberal friends?
Wil Burns is his biggest fan.

Ron Kean

You sound like Pee Wee Herman when he said:
‘I know you are but what am I?’

http://www.bigbureaucracy.com/ Ellie

If George W. Bush had Biden for VP…
Berg

A. You’ve missed the he treats Israel.

B. Will someone have the guts & memory to bring it up during 2012?

http://www.eschatonblog.com/ Wil Burns

Most people do not care how Obama treats Israel. I know I don’t!

Berg

How do you know what most people think?

Jack Davis

He hears voices, Berg. You know…inside his head.

Buz

A long time ago English women paraded about with pet monkeys so as to enhance their beauty by comparison. Obama has Biden followed by Pelosi waiting in the wings to succeed him as insurance against an impeachment. However , at the rate he’s going even they are starting to look okay–only by comparison, of course.
Ceci

Dear Mr. Goldberg,

Did it ever occur to you that the liberal media doesn’t publicly admit any of all these folkloric statements and behavior, because they hate to acknowledge that President Obama is not whom they expected so much? It is all about their “super-ego…!”
Bruce A.

More fuel for the fire! I did not hear the left scream when oil recently climbed to around $80.00. Remember how Bush & Cheney were hammered on that one?
The price now has dropped with many pundits blaming weak demand due to the weak economy. Have the laws of supply & demand been rediscovered? Where are the speculators?
Ken Besig Israel

As sort of an answer to your questions, Bern, just today Eric Holder stated that Mirandizing terrorists was hindering the investigations of their activities and that he would be asking the Congress to give the FBI more latitude and time in their interrogation of terrorists before they had to give the Miranda warnings. This strikes me as more than just inconsistent since Eric Holder’s government ran on a platform bitterly criticizing the failure of the Bush administration to treat terrorists as criminals with all the Constitutional rights that criminals should have. And Bernie, listen real hard and you will hear all the moans and groans of the Left about this violation of Rights, the progressive Liberals about how Holder is shredding the Constitution, and watch the huge demonstrations in San Francisco over this Obama betrayal of the Left and the principles of the Democratic Party.
Yeah, me too, I don’t hear a peep out of them either and I don’t expect to because it was never about principles or the Constitution, it was always about who was in power.

Kathie Ampela

I think what Eric Holder was referring to was the Public Safety Exception to the Miranda Rule which allows suspects to be interrogated without immediately being Mirandized. I was wondering about this myself because the law doesn’t seem to specifiy how long you are allowed to interrogate suspects-5 minutes, 10 hours, 6 days, 5 weeks-without reading them Miranda rights. I hate the law enforcement approach to dealing with terror suspects, I think all should be handed over to the military. Under a Supreme Court decision even terror suspects who are American citizens can be given to the military as long as they have ties to Al-Qaeda. But since I’m stuck with the Obama vision until 2012, I’m glad to know about the Public Safety Exception.

The Left are getting a lesson in the grown up realities of the war on terror. They are seeing that it’s not quite as easy as they thought, Obama is not the messiah, and the “evil” Bush Administration didn’t get it all wrong after all. Did you notice that both Dateline and 60 Minutes ran with “homegrown terror” and “Times Square Bomber” stories last night? And how about Holder making the rounds of the Sunday morning political shows? Do you think that’s an accident? This administration is not only very worried about another attack, they need the public to stay vigiliant.

http://rubegonia.net RuBegonia

Bernie, have you ever considered doing standup comedy? http://bit.ly/bdr6UP WOOFAW
Nancy

Bernie–

Of course the A’s will be just more of the same hemming and hawing. Considering the past 16 months…I miss GWB.
Gary Boppe

You and only you can make a point, make it semi funny and to the point and make us think of how inane the left really is. Fox needs to find a way to get you on TV even if it’s only 30 minutes a week with your own show. You would drive the Matthews, Obermann, Mr. Ed and Rachel group nuts. You sir are a saint.
Ted

If you ask anyone about their present automobile they will usually tell you that it’s just great. Ask them about their last car and they’ll tell you what a lemon it was and will list all the problems they had with it.

Today Obama fans loooove him.

Wait ’til 2012 to get the real scoop.
Brenda Schneider IL

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant! All your columns are, but this one… well I love it! Cause..Aint it the truth?!
http://B.G. Daryl D Duke

give and head I’m one bad typer.
http://B.G. Daryl D Duke

Hey Bernie, that just a few of his flubs. Tea-baggers, AZ illegal immigrant, ( laugh u fool ), What oil spill, Act alone terrorist. Any talented person can a speach of the top of his, except this Bozo. Empeach, but then u have Biden.

http://www.eschatonblog.com/ Wil Burns

“speach of the top of his, except this Bozo. Empeach”

Really?