CBS prioritizes: 1 m 39 sec for Iraq; 1 m 56 sec for Anna Nicole

[understandinglife]

It says everything you need to know about the current state of TV news -- indeed the current state of our media culture -- that on a day that saw Iraq moving closer to all-out civil war, with at least 76 Iraqis killed and 179 wounded in sectarian attacks, the CBS Evening News devoted one minute and thirty-nine seconds to coverage of Iraq... and one minute and fifty-six seconds to coverage of Anna Nicole Smith's appearance in front of the Supreme Court.

That's right, car bombs and mortar blasts were ripping through Shiite holy places and
Sunni mosques, the Iraqi foreign minister was urging U.S. officials to take a "less visible" role in the talks aimed at forming a new national government, the U.S. death toll hit 2,292, John Negroponte was warning of region-wide chaos, Bush was insisting he would stay the course despite the civil war that's not actually happening ... and CBS thought Anna Nicole was the bigger story.

More at the link to Arianna Huffington's News Watch: Bombs vs Bombshells:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/news-watch-bombs-vs-bomb_b_16601.html

Yes, it says everything you need to know about the current state of TV news and the current status of America ...


Peace.

[Warren Stupidity]

1. It is very important

to keep the public abreast of the Anna Nicole Smith situation.

[TomInTib]

2. Ain't that America... Sheesh n/t

[Radical Activist]

3. Great point.

CNN started covering celebrity scandals almost non-stop when they replaced their news director with a Republican. It helps advance the Republican agenda if people don't pay attention. That's the liberal media for you!

[mod mom]

4. I only watch the first 1/2 hour of Countdown. The remainder of my news

is a la the internet/Air America. The corporate media is responsible for the dumification of the American people. On my way to pick up my kids today I heard only 1/4 of people polled could list the first amendment but more could list members of the Simpsons. Truly sad.

[understandinglife]

7. Shows you how out of touch I am -- no problem with the 1st, but I don't ..

... know any of the Simpsons' names ... guess that's what happens to you when you haven't watched Teevee since 1992 ...

It is "truly sad," as you say that all our fellow citizens haven't taken the time to know their rights and their crucial role in defending those rights and being their government, rather than acquiescing to those all too willing to abuse them.


Peace.

[understandinglife]

5. Leno, Letterman and Ferguson offer insightful perspectives ...

P.P.S. No way the late night comics were going to miss out. Leno: "Court observers say this thing appears to be going in Anna Nicole's favor. Yeah, they said five of the justices were asking questions sympathetic to her argument, and the other four got lap dances from her." Letterman: "It's crazy. It's the first time in the Supreme Court that Ruth Bader Ginsberg has not been the hottest chick there... But give her credit; Anna Nicole made a compelling case. So good, as a matter of fact, Clarence Thomas couldn't keep his eyes off of exhibits A and B." Ferguson: "The sacred union of strippers and old oil men -- why is it being dragged through the mud of the Supreme Court? Why? What happened to the sanctity of the strip club? What happened to stripper/client privilege?"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/news-watch-bombs-vs-bomb_b_16601.html

But, that's what they're supposed to do ... :)


Peace.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. Bimbos with boobs outsell icky, mutilated, bodies every time.

'Specially if the bodies are a bunch of furriners.

[SlipperySlope]

8. That's 3:35 they could have spent on Natalee Holloway instead of wasting!

I don't believe their messed up priorities!

[edbermac]

9. Well who do you think is smarter, Bush or Anna Nicole?

:7