The Armstrongn Williams thing *could* turn out to be a boon...

[Plaid Adder]

I was just thinking how unusual it was for a story like this to break in USA Today, which is known more for its eyecatching weather charts than investigative journalism. I imagine the chain of events went something like this:

* USA Today reporter uncovers this information by doing a FOIA.

* USA Today reporter stares at this information, then finally shouts, "WHAT? This asshole got PAID for whoring for the Bush adminsitration? All this time I've been doing it for FREE!!"

Think about it. Every pundit/shill in the country is going to be pissed off not just at Williams but at the Bush administration. Not because they're bothered about ethics, but because *they* didn't get their share of the take. Even those who *are* on the take will be like, "$240,000? I only got $120,000! Those fuckers!"

All the shills who *weren't* bribed to prop up this disaster of an administration are now probably waking up and feeling like suckers. And that *may* inspire a few of them to turn on Bush. integrity, honesty, fairness, balance, ethics, the good of the country--obviously they don't give a shit. But nobody likes being taken for a sucker!

Well, I can hope,

The Plaid Adder

[Homer12]

1. They all worship the Money God.

I'd be pissed to if I was whoring myself out and got paid less.

[burythehatchet]

2. you must have had a rough night

oh if only it were so

[Merlot]

3. LOL! The idea of reporters investigating themselves was

enough for a chuckle, but imagining all the anger when they realize they misssed the gravey train...now that's priceless.

[Quakerfriend]

4. Seems as though

Tweedy and Scarborough alread have!

[peacetalksforall]

5. Free? 120,000? 240,000? Or more?

Excellent, Plaid Adder!

It could represent the pay off of a mortgage.

My wish for Sunday...

Maybe we're going to have a loud and raucous whistle blowing four years. Plus four years of authentic and 'hard work'ing investigative journalism.

It's time to get America-U.S. turned around.

[Prodemsouth]

6. Hmmm you could be on to something .. they could feel cheated.. yes

Even "This Whore" host Bob Sheifer (sp) was making hay over this. It has already got more attention than I expected.

[notadmblnd]

14. We could rub a little salt in their wound?

Maybe we should call and write these News personalities and ask them if they have any resentment toward Armstrong Williams for getting paid to do what they do for free?

[illflem]

7. If the sheeple didn't care about this why care about Williams?

Bush Medicare Propaganda Illegal
Probe Finds Bush Used 'Illegal' Medicare Propaganda
By Vicki Kemper
Los Angeles Times, May 19, 2004

WASHINGTON — Mock news stories produced by the Bush administration to promote the new Medicare prescription drug law and aired by scores of local TV stations constitute illegal covert propaganda, the investigative arm of Congress said today.

The ruling by the General Accounting Office comes as the Bush administration is feverishly promoting the new Medicare discount drug card amid complaints from senior citizens and disabled beneficiaries that the program is confusing and offers limited savings.

The GAO discovered the administration's "video news releases," which featured "interviews" with government officials and voice-overs by production company employees posing as Washington reporters, during its investigation of the government's Medicare commercials and fliers.

Investigators strongly rejected the administration's defense of the mock news stories, finding that because it was not clear to viewers that the message came from the government, the video releases violated two provisions of federal law.

The first prohibits the use of federal funds for publicity or propaganda. The second outlaws impermissible expenditures.

http://www.ourfuture.org/issues_and_campaigns/medicare/headlines/ssip_20040520.cfm

[mrdmk]

8. I wonder if the jerk Williams paid taxes on his $240,000

This is probably another reason King Bush Jr. wants to privatize the IRS (sorry about the tread jacking, but I could not help to speculate).

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0108-22.htm

[KerryReallyWon]

9. Bush white house is very angry at founder of USA Today....

Hi still writes a column for the paper. It is his opinion column. He wrote we need to get out of Iraq, bring our soldiers home. Well that was not in lockstep with all of our other msm who say we need to send more soldiers. Then the zels all wrote the paper, with their opinions, and they were harsh. Called him a commi and said that our government should go to his home and kill him and his family. They printed it along with other letters. To show the hypocracy, that he column was his opinion, but should be killed. There opinion was okay though, to be seen by all. It was to show how ugly it is getting here, yes the founder of the USA today wrote a piece on the war, and people wrote in and said he should be killed by our government. Unbelievable!! Here is the link to his colunmn.
http://pekingduck.org/archives/002105.php

[KerryReallyWon]

10. PS...Maybe the founder of USA Today is pissed ott..

And is going after their media takeover. They lead the way, USA Today!

[nostamj]

11. I think there's reason to hope...

Williams simply CANNOT be the only one.

maybe if the heat gets high enough on him, he'll name names.

as I've said elsewhere, I want to know who was paid to sell the WMDs and Saddam/terror crap.

[Ladyhawk]

13. Just what I was thinking.

I also believe that most of the ones on the take are probably the hard right. Radio talk show doesn't pay as well as TV, does it? The so-called "mainstream media" are the ones who have been whoring for free, I bet. :) I wonder how that makes them feel? :)

[Petrushka]

12. "Karen Ryan, Meet Mike Morris" . . .

http://www.prwatch.org/spin/2005/1

"Drug Control Office Faulted for Issuing Fake News Tapes"
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54651-2005Jan6.html