Fucking Fucking Fuck

I don't want to hear another fucking word about the 'liberal bias' in the media.

Because it is so GONE.

Newsweek, as we all know, recently ran an article about the US Military flushing the Koran (the Muslim Holy book--like the Bible, people) down the toilet during interrogations.

The Bush administration went crazy denouncing the story, and Newsweek retracted it.

Well guess what, people? The Red Cross investigated allegations of the mishandling of the Koran, AND FOUND THEM TO BE TRUE. Citations were issued.

So, the question is, why the FUCK did Newsweek retract the story? Because if they don't play along with the administration, they'll be denied access (to the Bush talking points--not like access to the truth or anything).

The media isn't liberal, people, it's fucking castrated. So much for freedom of the press.

I know that the reason people are up in arms about this story is because it caused riots and people got hurt. And I'm sorry. But the truth is, we have treated the Muslim world so horrendously that it was easy for them to believe that we would flush pages of the Koran down the toilet.

AND THAT IS OUR FAULT.

It is the job of the press to absolutely investigate those in power. Did the press give Clinton a break when he let Monica suck his dick in the Oval Office? No, of course not. They nailed his dick to the wall, and rightly so (even if I think getting your dick sucked doesn't really effect policy, but then).

So why is the press consistenly backing off on the White House? Why isn't anyone truly being held accountable, except in the world of blogs?

The "balance of power" is becoming increasingly unbalanced. Dissent is being squashed.

What is happening to my country is making me weep.

And don't even get me started on the whole filibuster thing. I can't wait for that one to turn around and bite the right wing in the ass--when they are the minority again.

Which, someday, they will be. That's just how things work, people.

Comments

[Angela]

1.

I've finally caught up. I've read from start to finish all of the archives. I am NOW going to comment: I have to say you are an amazing poet, a talented writer, and opinionated. I think I like that. Not to mention that I'm on the very "squishy" side of the body spectrum and can completely relate to that aspect too.

You are an amazingly strong woman. You have come through so much. I see all that you came through and I'm impressed. Seriously.

Not to mention that you've managed to keep one hell of a sense of humor.

I wish you luck on your house, we did that moving thing...err started that moving thing 2 weeks ago (as in brought all stuff to the new house - the cat loves it). We are still living out of boxes. Oh, and you want to lose weight (why I don't know since in that picture from Cozumel - cruises ROCK - you look *so* gorgeous! I'd kill for that body). Moving will seriously help. How do I know? Because I am on the no-food-in-the-house-and-constant-lifting/moving diet myself.

[Kathleen]

2.

Brava!!!

[Sarah]

3.

AMERICA!!!!

...FUCK, Yeah!

(I just know you LOVE that reference).

[juliejulie]

4.

on newsweek.....um, true or not, newsweek did not go over there and start riots. people chose to do that of their own free will.

on america.....so, when are we leaving this country again?

[Figlet]

5.

You know, I was bullshit when Newsweek decided to retract the story, and I told my husband I couldn't believe that the Koran flushing hadn't actually happened and that they were just bowing to the wishes of the White House. Seriously? I'm so with you. Liberal Media is quickly becoming a thing of the past. God I wish they'd get their balls back. Time for the left to stop being so fucking apologetic and trying to be fair.

[Ellen]

6.

Yeah, this is incredibly maddening. When conservatives go on about the liberal media, I can't decide if I should cry or laugh. (Do you believe, btw, that conservatives are bashing the new Star Wars movie as being anti-Iraq war? whatever. I wish George Lucas had some Jedi mind tricks that COULD change peoples' minds about all that, but I somehow doubt that's what's going on.)

[ThreeBees]

7.

Have I told you lately that I love you?? Well I do and I couldn't agree with you more. I am so sad for my country. . .

I was just commenting to my husband the other day that even seeing the American flag means nothing to me anymore -- I feel even this symbol has been perverted to stand for those who have a "monopoly on patriotism" (whatever that means) -- it no longer stands for freedom and the sacrifice of the men and women who fought to establish this once great nation and all great generations in between.

To quote from a Simpson's episode "(Homer to Lisa) It doesn't mean anything honey. Its like 'Ram-a-lam-a-ding-dong' or 'Give Peace a Chance'" I guess its funny cuz its true. . . sad but true.

[melissa]

8.

Maybe they flushed the copy that tells it's followers to kill in the name of Allah? That sounds crass, but it's what we have been told. The fact of the matter is whether you are liberal, conservative, or somewhere in between we will never know the truth about anything anymore. Where there used to be two sides to a story, there are now twenty. It 's no wonder that people are becoming apathetic. While I don't tend to have the same political views as you, your posts always give me food for thought.

[Melanie]

9.

"--when they are the minority again.
Which, someday, they will be. That's just how things work, people."

Heh. From your lips to God's ears . . .

[Em]

10.

"Maybe they flushed the copy that tells it's followers to kill in the name of Allah?"

You're right, the Qu'ran - every single copy - tells its followers to fight against injustice, oppression, and tyranny (yes, in the name of Allah!). It is also very upfront about the fact that in war, combatants will die. Aren't our men and women in the armed forces over in Iraq fighting for our view of justice (and for some of us, our view of God) at this very moment?

Anyway, Cecily, a big fat WORD to your post, and an "ugh" as well. Actually up in Canada they are having a bit of a political SNAFU at the moment as well, so... I dunno, I'm all out of options. Anyone want to go to New Zealand? :)

[Lisa S (et al)]

11.

Funny, I'm finally reading "Lying Liars..." by Al Franken and then all of this, and your post.

And the Star Wars thing? Oh my God the idiocy. I HATE our White House at the moment.

[K]

12.

Fiance and I are looking into leaving the country. Very seriously.

Lately, whenever I hear things like this on NPR, I say: "You're not helping your case, America!"

[Aisha]

13.

Thanks for saying this which needs to be said. As a Muslim I fear saying things such as this, normal healthy discussion of what is wrong with the current administration becauseIdont want to be labeled anti-american. Yes they are arresting people for saying things "anti-American" Being against the policies of one administration does not make you anti-American.

To the people who say maybe they flush the parts about killing down the toilet, please check your facts. The Quran does not condone the murder of innocents. You fight in self defense.... but more important the Quran teaches us to RESPECT all people of all creeds. The Ottoman empire for all its flaws still practiced this by allowing all religions to live peacefully (much like america!). The people who do acts of terrorism now may claim to do them in the name of Islam but that does not make it so. Their belief does not equal truth. Their motives are different, perhaps political, perhaps otherwise.

But sadly, doesnt it appear that the current administration is almost egging the "nuts" from the fringes of Islam on? (Abu Ghraib- eh 6 months, you prob. didn't realize it was wrong), Quran flushed down the toilet (eh- retracted)...

[anonymousey]

14.

I read somewhere that one day America will just collapse in on itself, and we'll all be watching bitterly as third world countries surpass us in technology and in the economy. It terrifies me that that's where we're headed and I'm afraid there's nothing we can do about it. Thanks Shrubya.

[george]

15.

Hi,
My wife frequents your website and today she mentioned your posting about newsweek retraction and the red cross.
well, i actually read the cnn article that you linked to. We must be reading two different articles, because when i read it, all I saw is that a detainee made an allegation of disrespecting the holy book and icrc wrote it down. Magically, the icrc's "formalizing" the allegation make them proven? quote from the article "Schorno(spokesperson for icrc) did not provide specific instances of alleged desecration, instead addressing only to the general issue of disrespecting the Muslim holy book.""Although Red Cross employees did not personally witness any mishandling of Qurans, Schorno said, they documented and corroborated enough reports from detainees to share them with Pentagon and Guantanamo officials in confidential reports." So just because some detainees complained, (and of course it would be impossible for them to lie, :-)), makes these allegations real?
About Newsweek being afraid of the administration and being denied access, if all they get are talking points, why should they even care about having access?
Newsweek was trigger-happy to report a story that would be scandalous and damaging to the administration with no regard to its consequences. And if journalists are supposed to report the truth no matter what, wasn't it CNN's (exactly the news source to which your post is linked to)correspondents that didn't report saddam's activities for fear that some people may get hurt?

On the general subject, i absolutely support investigating abuse if it is indeed happening, but to report something knowing full well the results it will have, without having hard proof is irresponsible at the very least.

Forgive me, if i sound like i am ranting, this is the first time I actually replied to anyone's blog.

[Sarah]

16.

Don't forget the Corporation For Public Broadcasting! The presidient is trying to make sure PBS is more 'balanced'.
Oy.
Sarah

[Cat, Galloping]

17.

But the media CREATED this situation for themselves. They did it by relentlessly attacking Clinton and then Gore and giving Bush a free ride. A friend from Texas was stunned that nobody ever mentioned that the governor of Texas had no power whatsoever, no responsibilities. That never really came out in the media. And so when I read a NY Times article about how Bush wouldn't give them a seat on the campaign plane, I think, you created this for yourselves. Sadly, it's the public that loses out though. It's so incredibly frustrating I just want to stop listening. I'm scared that the Republicans will never be a minority again, now that they have the power to jerrymander the districts to their advantages and use electronic voting machines that have no backup tracking, that use proprietary code, made by companies who give huge donations to the republican party. Fuck is right.

[melissa]

18.

To Aisha and anyone else who did not pick up the sarcasm in my comment (which is understandable). I understand that the Qu'ran does not specifically tell it's followers to kill in the name of Allah! What I do not understand is why some Muslims interpret the Qu'ran in this way. (I know, Christians are guilty of reading between the lines of the Bible, too!) Unfortunately, it is the extremists who make the six o'clock news. I know that there are many Muslims who contribute wonderful things to America. But I am a well educated woman living in an area of the country that is exposed to all different cultures. Tolerance wasn't taught to me, it was just there. Imagine the 20 year old kid who has never left their small town. This is who the conservatives want on their side: someone with a one sided, small minded view of the world. It's a vicious cycle and I wish we could make it stop. This is Cecily's blog so let's all move on! Hope you get an offer this weekend, Cecily!

[maia]

19.

As a Canadian I am so happy to read this blog entry. Here I thought only the outsiders realized what a crock of shit the US media is.
My father is retired and loved following American politics. He lived and breathed it. Right up till Bush got re-elected and he decided he could not watch the bull shit fly any longer. So now he is into home renovation :)

[KelliAmanda]

20.

Once again, you are right on the money. And, I have to say, it is the fact that you believe the way you do, and that there are others who agree with you, that has made me not entirely lose my faith in all of the people of this country.

But still.

I've been wondering about the onslaught of religious programming on the major networks lately. Between every episode of that gawd-awful Revelations show being preceded by Dateline NBC "What happened to Jesus?" crap or "Da Vinci Code" crap or "Tell us more about Catholicism" crap, and then tonight I noticed 20/20 Resurrection on ABC, and right now ABC World News Tonight is talking about a Muslim woman (a nice change of pace, tho' they waited until 11:30 p.m. to air it, and it's still religious in nature). And, oh wait, as I type, they just advertised the "search for the Da Vinci Code" story to be on Good Morning America. This is what they are doing to keep from investigating the fucking white house and the fucking corrupt government. This is NOT what I was taught in journalism school. 'Course, I went to a liberal school.

[Lisa O]

21.

You're preachin to the choir sista . . . (in these parts of the Midwest that means I couldn't agree with you more)

Lisa O

[Sally]

22.

I am delurking to say that I couldn't agree more. Oh, how I love your blog! You are such a funny, honest writer, and you say what's in my head so much better than I ever could. YES, amen to what you just posted about the U.S. media. Amen to a woman's right to choose to have an abortion if it's the right decision for her. Amen to Naomi Wolf and fighting The Beauty Myth and devoting our powerful female minds to more important things than what we weigh or what size clothes we wear. And on and on and on. Plus your poetry is amazing. (etc, etc, etc...) We even share the same blowjob techniques (honed 19 years ago and still going strong)!

I hope you sell your house soon, but more importantly I hope you keep writing and fighting and telling the truth and sharing your thoughts with us, both the good and the bad. You are a gift.

And hey -- what the HELL is up with the women and idiots taking the fall for Abu Ghraib?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!? I read the NYT and the New Yorker and the Washington Post, and if Seymour Hersh et. al. can dig up evidence that higher-ups knew what was going on, why can't the military lawyers find it?

Okay, rant over. Back to our regularly scheduled lurking. But thanks for all you do. Please don't stop!

[Jaimie]

23.

And did you hear about Real ID? Evidently, Congress passed an $82 billion military spending bill last week and attached legislation for this neat national, uniform identification system to it. It passed without debate. Did we all somehow make it into an episode of The Twilight Zone? You'd think that the "liberal media" would latch onto this and spread the news around. But mainstream media has apparently become a mouthpiece for those in power.

I keep wondering if this is what fascism looks like.

I weep with you.

[Kathleen]

24.

George wrote, "...but to report something knowing full well the results it will have, without having hard proof is irresponsible at the very least..."

I agree. That's why I still can't believe GWB actually got elected for his second term.

Write an article based on bad intelligence, face a public stoning. Start a war based on bad intelligence, serve a second term as President!

But what the hell do I know...I'm only some unamerican liberal whose husband has already done one tour in Iraq and could be going back anytime.

[Mellisa]

25.

I am so with (almost) everyone on this point. I have been stomping around the house, ranting and raving about it for days. I'm mostly pissed off at the media itself. Rather than looking at the nuance of what Newsweek actually said they are "soundbiting" a retraction. Newsweek has never denied that the Qu'ran was flushed down the toilet. They simply said they could no longer trust the source who supplied the story. A source who has proven credible in the past but suddenly decided to back off the story when the shit hit the fan. The editor of Newsweek said in an interview that due to the potentially explosive nature of the article they had sent it in its entirety to the Pentagon for comment. The Pentagon came back with a few factual errors but never mentioned a thing about the Qu'ran desecration claims. The White House then had the audacity to claim that Newsweek should have known better than to print the story.

Did you guys get to see the full George Galloway (British MP accused of wrong doing in the Oil-For-Food program) senate hearing? My God, the man blasted the lot of them. The Senate accused him of cosying up with Saddam Hussein because he had a couple of meetings with him. Galloway shot straight back with "I met Saddam Hussein exactly the same number of times as Donald Rumsfeld did. Except when Rumsfeld was meeting with Hussein he was there to sell him guns". We were literally cheering the man from our living room. You gotta try and see that whole hearing if you can. It will cheer you up no end.

Incidentally, I watch all this from the middle east! We're living in Qatar and we get ALL the US news as well as British and Al Jazeera (which is about to start an English language station). The George Galloway thing was carried live on British news and CNN International but funnily enough MSNBC had better things to report than the US Senate getting slapped in the face with its own hipocracy.

[lisamc]

26.

sorry i don't have the time to read everybody's comments...

cecily, i just wanted to say i find your take on politics so refreshing! keep doing what you're doing b/c you're doing it brilliantly well!

'It is the job of the press to absolutely investigate those in power'.

i couldn't agree more!

[Mel]

27.

I was going to post on my own neglected blog something along these lines, but you said it so perfectly, I'll just refer a post to you! :)

~Mel

[Karinsamira]

28.

This newsweek thing is just further proof of how fucked up this current government of yours act when it comes to being honest about own mistakes. I mean, what about the whole Abu Ghraib stuff? Here in europe it is well-known that *we* , the public, know about 5% of everything that has been going on there. People (civilists) have DIED while being in that prison. It is not only about humiliating those people, which is bad enough, but there are far worse things going on. And it is not only the US: yesterday I read in the news that two australian professors were discussing in earnest and in public if torture should be reintroduced when the life of innocents is in danger. WTF?!
I mean people in the western world have fought for , like, centuries to end these practices and now, scarcely 50 years later, some asshats are contemplating to undo all these efforts. That really makes my heart bleed.
All this shit will come back and bite us in the ass sometimes in the future.

[jenny]

29.

The conservatives in congress need to remember how much they filibustered a few years back when they were the minority. They should think of the craaaaaaaaaazy liberal judges and laws that would've passed otherwise! It was seriously within the last two decades. Have they completely forgotten? What is up with that? It is the stupidest fucking thing ever.

I know that Canada is having it's share of political drama right now but my fat dyke ass is seriously considering a Northern migration.

[rachel]

30.

Dude,
I seriously could not disagree with you more. But I still enjoy reading your posts!
Rachel

[Maura in VA]

31.

I love a delicious rant from you, Cecily. And I couldn't agree more.

Somewhat on topic, here are two recent things that I read in blogland tonight which seem particularly apropos for your audience and which make me want to just scream!!!

First is that the Bush administration is earmarking nearly a million dollars for grants for "public awareness campaigns" about embryo adoption:

http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/HHS/OS/OPHS/OPHS-EA-05-001/Grant.html

Now, I'm not against the concept of embryo adoption or anything if a couple CHOOSES to donate their unused embryos from IVF...but could we PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE spend taxpayer money on programs to promote adoption of the hundreds of thousands of adoptable children in FOSTER CARE? Honestly, it just strikes me as yet another scheme to make infertile couples feel guilty -- now they have to feel guilty about the frozen embryos that they choose not to have transferred.

The second is this: In yet another staggeringly offensive comment from Bush regarding embryonic life, here is a comment he made this week about embryonic stem cell research:

"I made it very clear to the Congress that the use of federal money, taxpayers' money to promote science which destroys life in order to save life is - I'm against that. And therefore, if the bill does that, I will veto it.''

Uh HUH.

So he opposes destroying life in order to save life, does he? Hmmm. Tell that to the tens of thousands of people, civilians and soldiers, Iraqi and American, who have died supposedly to save us from Weapons of Mass Destruction. Or was it to promote freedom? I forget the excuse of the month.

Digby has the most powerful and pithy examination of this aspect of Bush's so-called "Culture of Life". Click my name to see it - but warning that it includes one of those upsetting war photos that our "Liberal Media" normally shields us from.

ARRRGHHHHHHHH!!!!!! Click my name...

[ivy]

32.

Unless our elections become all paper ballots counted publicly, I don't think the dems will come around to power again. I think that's why the repugs are behaving so outrageously- they know they won't get their asses kicked out. They also know they can do and say something one day, and claim it was all made-up by the dems the next day- and that's exactly what our media will report! Sometimes I feel crazy when I hear the administration changing their story like it was always that way and not one major media outlet makes a big deal out of it! W says private accounts and then changes to personal accounts, and suddenly the dems are the ones who came up with private accounts and are using that term to politicize the issue! Doesn't matter if you heard W say private accounts 500 times, private accounts is now a negative dem term. But it's all just doublespeak for "Fuck you. We're getting rid of Social Security!" but don't say that because it means you hate Dubyah which means you hate America (double speak translation-The Neocons) and God (the corps that are buying up the govt and the press) and Freedom (being under American rule). We've got the National ID program now, as well as a governmental department that's been given permission to grab land and build big walls around us- but it's all about freedom and our government is just looking out for us.

[Anne]

33.

Getting caught up on my blog reading after a week away and just had to say …

Liberal bias? I'm sorry I mostly just see kissing corporate ass bias. I'm with you Cicely dissent, both liberal and conservative, are important aspects of a healthy democracy. Currently I feel like all we hear about is the rosy oh so patriotic love the president we're doing the right thing/good job stuff. I don't know maybe I'm still a little pissed at being call unpatriotic while on a war protest march by some military guys. You know because I was trying to prevent them from being sent off to war and getting killed and all. And I suppose it doesn't help that I live in THE MOST militarized state in the nation and I'm actively against further military build up here (proposed classified military research at our public university, a striker brigade, and a new carrier group) for a variety of environmental, cultural, and social reasons. So I guess that puts me squarely up against Bush agenda.

[Valerie]

34.

AMEN!!!!

Well spoken. Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. Think globally, act locally. It really is not that hard!

[Brenda]

35.

Amen, sista! I knew something was up when Newsweek retracted the story because I just had a feeling it was true. Thanks for pointing out that the story was indeed true. So screwed up that Newsweek retracted. How fucked up does this county have to be when the media starts retracting articles because its scared of the repercussions? Ugh!

[MOT]

36.

Cecily,

Wow, you are so very right and yes, our American policitcal system is scary. I usually don't pay much attention to political news, (except reading Time mag rag and I have read a few books by Joe Conason and Al Franken) because it is kind of depressing.

BUT, I forgot how these cycle of life things work! Wouldn't it be hee haw hilarious if the filibuster were abolished just in time for the Conservatives to become a minority?

Smart Cecily...

[Thrice]

37.

I still don't get people getting so upset about Bill's blowjobs. You know, I don't care about anyone's blowjobs. I do care about our environment, our economy, women's rights *all right human rights*, health care, education, conservation and unjustified wars. I care that we HAVE tax credits for HUMMERS, but not hybrids (they expire next year). Doesn't it bother anyone that our president is supporting our war with Iraq and terrorism by fueling Middle East nations with our oil consumption?

W has lied about major global issues, but let's stay on the subject of Bill's blowjobs. Does anyone know how long he took to come?

[toni]

38.

By the accident of good fortune I stumbled on your blog.
Over the years, Newsweek has turned into a comic book,
yet its current retraction drops it even lower in my
estimation. The idea of physically flushing the Koran
down the toilet is, okay, a little difficult to picture.
But even if this didn't happen, we know what did
at Abu Ghraib (and who is ultimately taking the rap for
it). There is no doubt in my mind that the Koran and
those who believe it are disrespected everyday in
every way by our servicemen/women and self-righteous
Christians everywhere.
George Bush makes me spittin' mad. I am going to
leave him alone for now because I want to end on
a somewhat bright note. Watching the evening news
on television last week (okay, I'm embarrassed
to admit it), it was reported that 63% of those
polled do not believe what is reported in the
popular media. yes!

[joy]

39.

I need whose come alimony
You call me tel: 661-9126681(THAILAND)