The Media is Changing and So Am I.

In lieu of transformations in print and web-based journalism I have decided to make some changes to this blog.  The biggest change will be a new focus on opinion over daily news coverage.  The reason for this is the abundance of similar politics blogs that do a great job reporting the news, although this is a noble endeavor, I prefer to remove myself from this type of journalism.   My using “journalism” to describe blogs represents an important shift in the way that news is delivered to the public.

For example, probably the biggest news blog is the Huffington Post, which operates as a sort of blogging community where anyone can submit journalistic pieces and be considered for publishing to the website.  I saw Arianna Huffington twice this year and she spoke about the evolution of electronic media and how even “the little guy” can make a big difference.  Her example of this is the Huffington Post’s breaking the story that Obama described many Americans as “bitter”, a comment that riled many working class Americans and impacted his campaign dramatically.  The story was not reported by Arianna or her staff, but a citizen journalist who happened to be present when Senator Obama made the comment.  This reflects a major change in the media: the shift away from daily newspapers that can no longer keep up with the minute-by-minute updates bloggers and online newspapers offer.

I had been observing this change over the last few years and A Booming Minority was my way of joining the slew of online reporters and bloggers.  However, there is no possible way that I can compete with my web peers without giving up my real job and quitting school.  My solution to this is a new format to this blog in which I will elevate my writing with a well-researched less regular piece, similar to opinion columns.  The difference is that you don’t have to buy a paper to read it and the blog allows for an active discussion between the readers and I.  I am switching to this for the aforementioned reasons and because, as one reader pointed out in a rather rude but quite possible true comment, I’m not that great of a writer.  I think this format will promote my writing to a higher standard and hopefully I’ll put out an interesting take on what’s going on in the country and the world.  Eventually I will accept/request submissions from friends, experts or anyone who wants to be express their opinion.

I’m still working out the details and implementing changes to the blog but I hope you’ll stay with me throughout.

MSNBC and Countdown with Keith Olbermann

MSNBC and Countdown with Keith Olbermann

Keith Olbermann’s Tactless Attack on an AP Reporter

I was checking out the Huffington Post when this story caught my eye. Keith Olbermann attacks AP reporter Charles Babington over his analysis of Obama’s speech. Olbermann culminates his ridiculous overreaction with “Charles Babington, find new work.” This is an awfully dangerous remark on a pretty minor error over the speech’s length and a difference of opinion between Olbermann and Babington over Obama’s speech.

I first started watching Olberman after he let loose with a harsh but deserving address to President Bush. The power of his words rested in the idea that he could no longer hold his tongue and I assumed this kind of verbal “smackdown” would be a seldom-used weapon. I was wrong, he has continued to use this closing speech on several occasions including a pretty rough response to Hillary Clinton’s persistence through the primary.

Now, I often agree with most of what he says in these attacks, but the repetition of this intense language makes him come off like the other talking heads–like his nemesis O’Reilly. I stopped watching Countdown because like many of MSNBC’s shows, it is far too slanted. The only difference between the reporting of MSNBC and Fox News is that the former generally gets the facts right, but both do have a tendency to report only what is agreeable to their political ideology.

There is still some good reporting done at MSNBC and I watch it often, but Countdown discredits MSNBC news by employing shock jocks. This unfair attack on the AP reporter is more powerful than Olbermann may realize. Generally, you don’t see a lot of criticism like this from fellow reporters, but then again Olbermann is not really much of a reporter.

Sadly, Olbermann has forced me to employ some famous words to reference the deterioration of quality, respectful news: “Good night, and good luck.”

Al Gore and Obama Live

CNN is transmitting the Al Gore and Obama speeches live, check it out here.

Russia and Georgia Clash

Please look at this story.  “Earlier in the day, Russian troops and armored vehicles had rolled into South Ossetia, supporting the breakaway region in its bitter conflict with Georgia.”  The reason this development concerns me is that John McCain has adopted stiff rhetoric toward the Kremlin advocating for their removal from the G8 in a foreign policy speech.  Also, the Cold War may have warmed up by now, but the tension is still remaining especially with an old hawk like McCain.  I understand the tough talk toward Russia, because their human rights still need improvement and they have fallen from super power status as China rises.  However, a more diplomatic approach is needed to prevent another Cold War.  It’s a little bit of a leap to assume another Cold War is coming, but NATO and the United States have condemned troops entering Georgia and it is definitely concerning.  Leave a comment, I’d like to know what your thoughts about this.

Richard Simmons Hints at Running for Office

Richard Simmons, TV exercise star and flamboyant pseudo-celebrity, addressed congress on childhood obesity and advocated for school exercise programs. Even stranger than Simmons lecturing congress, he apparently has some aspiration of running for political office:

In a half-serious, half-jocular tone, Simmons described his approach to the hearing, saying, “I want to have the respect of a congressman, I want to talk like a congressman, and maybe, someday, I’ll be a congressman.” (CNN)

Here is just a taste of what’s to come:

When was the last time your representative told you that? I thought so.

Bush Has Gas Trouble

I have noticed this week that gas prices have fallen considerably.  I’m in Oregon for a while and I saw a station today selling at $3.96 here–last month in Oakland I paid over $4.70 a gallon.  I’ve been wondering two things: who do I thank for the relief and second, when will the break from high prices end?

Senator McCain has graciously offered an answer to the first question.  Apparently it was the President’s push for off-shore drilling that lowered the price of oil.  Mr. McCain fails to note that the national average upon Bush’s inauguration was $1.36 per gallon.  I’m not saying that Bush is entirely to blame for the price hike, but any break at the pump should not translate to praise for the President.  It’s still troubling that $4 a gallon is seen as a good price.

As for the second question, I don’t know when the prices will return to the spectacular highs we’ve seen this summer.  But if McCain is correct (a BIG if) and the idea of offshore drilling influenced the market to lower oil prices, it will surely be short-lived.  The allure of offshore drilling is understandably hard to resist, especially in election season, but as the Boston Globe reports it will not be a quick fix.  Once that realization occurs, I think the soaring prices will resume and maybe even break $5 this summer as some projections say.

At Least Some Good Came from Jesse Jackson’s Comment

Cable News Anchors Choking on Jesse Jackson’s “Nuts”

Leaders Scarf Down Massive Meal to Show Concern for Food Crisis

Another one of those headlines that fits better in The Onion, sadly it’s true.

This isn’t at all surprising just some cruel irony.  World leaders enjoyed an 18-course meal as they met to discuss world hunger.

RNC Attacks Obama

The RNC is beginning the expected onslaught of anti-Obama ads, and if Obama hopes to win in November his retort better be just as strong. Here’s a new video from the RNC attacking Obama on energy:

This is an area that I think Obama is really vulnerable in, not because McCain is all that impressive on energy policy but because he risks important moderates.  McCain’s “Maverick” status is pretty questionable nowadays but his stance on energy reinforces the idea that John McCain is different than other Republicans, specifically it separates him from the current president.  Obama has to react quickly before McCain attracts fringe voters sick of gas prices approaching $5.

Report Shows Justice Department Illegally Discriminated Hiring

Internal investigators have revealed that the Justice Department illegally rejected hiring lawyers and law students based on ideological and political views. A report by Justice Department investigators found that applicants with high credentials were denied because of memberships to Planned Parenthood or the American Constitution Society.

Apparently the American Constitution Society posed an ideological threat to the Justice Department. I wish that I had read this in the Onion and not the LA Times.