I don't usually call for emails from DUers,but this fine Lady deserves one

[trumad]

I read her Toronto Star piece on G_j's thread and was so impressed with her concise take on the media and the debate, that I feel compelled to ask my fellow DUers to drop her an email with thanks. Plus she mentions Will Pitt's "Chicken Switch" comment.



http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1096668610347&call_pageid=968867495754&col=969483191630&tacodalogin=no

[email protected] <[email protected]>

[SidDithers]

1. Antonia is great...

I try not to miss any of her columns. I wouldn't be surprised if she lurks here, her stuff is so in line with what gets said here regularly.

Definately drop her a line, let her know her words are resonating all through blogsphere.

Sid

[papau]

11. It is an excellent piece of writing - my email is sent! :-)

ANTONIA ZERBISIAS

U.S. President George W. Bush may have been sending "mexed missages" during his debate with Democratic contender John F. Kerry last Thursday night.

But most of the pundits weren't.

<snip>
Which brings us to the real winner: the electorate. That's because the networks defied the rules of engagement, as negotiated by the two campaigns. Those guidelines stipulated no "cutaways" of the candidates unless they were speaking. But the networks showed split-screens — which revealed Bush's unpresidential expressions.

Bad enough that Bush couldn't muster up many coherent arguments, he could barely compose himself. But then, unlike his experience on the campaign trail, the questions weren't pre-scripted and the audience wasn't pre-screened for loyalty and reflex applause.

Not that the news channels in the aftermath dwelled much on his mugging as they once did on, say, Al Gore's infamous sighs in a 2000 Bush-Gore bout. Instead, they made an admirable effort, for once, at checking the facts.<snip>

[doni_georgia]

2. Done - here's my letter

Just a note to say thanks for your column in The Star.

After the first debate in 2000, the corporate media crucified Al Gore for his sighing and incredulous facial expressions. After the debate Thursday night; however, they were unwilling to make an obvious assessment that George Bush made the same mistake as Al Gore. The republican spinmeisters failed to muster any believable spin for their candidate, but the American press did their level best to make up for that. It is appalling how the American press gives this president a pass every time he opens his mouth. Thank you for your candor. Of course, we would never see that in an American paper, which is why I have taken to reading Canadian and British print.

Keep up the honesty!

[trumad]

3. Kick

[doni_georgia]

4. Another kick - write those letters DUers

:kick:

[nofurylike]

5. thank you for the good word and link. outstanding! done. kick. n/t

[nofurylike]

6. a must-read! and write her, yes. we need this courage in media.

and we ought to show appreciation to someone as courageous as Antonia Zerbisias.


peace!

[RebelOne]

8. She can afford to be courageous. She's in Canada!

[nofurylike]

9. i do sadly recognize that important factor. pathetic about u.s.! n/t

[nofurylike]

7. and - kick! - it's a DELIGHTFUL read! n/t

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

10. Any Intrepid Wordsmith...

That quotes Willbur be all right by me. Gal has taste. ;-)

[juslikagrzly]

12. done--my email

Thanks for the link!

Dear Ms. Zerbisias:

Thank you so much for writing the truth regarding the American media's inability to unchain themselves from the right-wing spin machine. The debate was historical in that Mr. Bush finally showed the American people that he cannot respond to an unscripted question, cannot put a coherent sentence together, and very obviously can only repeat rehearsed "sound bites".

I only wish that we had American journalists who are as committed to ethical journalism as you.

Keep up the good work! It was a pleasure reading your article.

Sincerely,