Gates of Hell

What does he have to be upset about? Why it’s been at least two weeks since Klein made up a nasty story about Wright.

Whatever. I’ve already stored parts of my soul in seven horcruxes. Mwahaha.

jarais, and I’ve already found and broken the first two.
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Congrats to TIME for making the grade.
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In keeping with the core silliness of this post, I ask this question. Did the pretty darned young Dick Gregory (38) die his hair gray so he would appear older and “more seasoned” or is he prematurely gray? Inquiring minds and all that.

wvng: That’s a rumor long floating around Washington. I’ve never had it confirmed or denied. JNS

wvng, you’ll never get to my Cheney horcrux.

Dick Gregory was born in the 1930′s. Funny guy.

Did Gergory log any combat time? I know plenty of vets in their late 20′s early 30′s (myself included) that have quite a bit of natural salt n’ pepper going on.
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Also, wow that guys nuts.

I think you have that “going after your souls” thing backwards.

Oh JNS, you’ve already stolen my soul with your lapel pin stories and your incisive tax plan analyses.

Man, what a diss. He doesn’t even mention the NYT or WP. I’d be upset if I were them.
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And Rome’s in Italy? Who knew?

Didn’t I read some time back that Rev. Wright was planning on writing a book. With some potentially harsh things to say about Obama?

I know David is Gregory’s stage name. But he really is a Dick.

Anyone who criticizes the media is a wacko. Keep up the fine work, Time, Inc!

PNNTO, yes, that would be David Gregory; oops. Dick would probably do a better job as the MTP host. Certainly more interesting.
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jarais, Cheney’s staff accidentally put your Cheney horcrux thru his shredder.

Nice post over at Sully’s about What Shinseki Means.

I wonder where Dante would have put reporters who quoted Iraq-War-mongering anonymous sources?

Cheney is my horcrux.

There’s a newsstand just outside the gates of Hell that sells Time. I’m pretty sure that’s what he was referring to.

I kan be spokezmanz?

That would be good news indeed, wvng, since I gather Cheney himself was jarais’ seventh horcrux.

JJ, I believe Dante would have put them in Bolgia 2 of the 8th circle of the inferno. You know, covered in bullsh*t.

nicteis, my point exactly. Anyone seen the man lately?

This caught my eye:
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Wright also thanked an employee at Fox News–”a saint in Caesar’s household”–who advised him to cancel his October speaking engagements because the network had an advance copy of his schedule.
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I wonder who the “saint” at Fox News might be? Shep? Alan?

Whenever I think about Rev Wright, I remember that half of the stuff he says would be utterly uncontrovesial except for a prevalent and totally unhealthy belief that the USA has some kind of inside track to Godliness. The Gospels themselves make clear that loyalty to God is an entirely separate matter from loyalty to any earthly political entities. Confusion on this point leads directly to the notion that the USA is incapable of immoral actions. The same people who end up attacking Wright’s patriotism are the very one’s who write off Abu Ghraib as no big deal.

In case sgw stops by, this should get him going: The bit of reality behind the Myth of 60.
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And, what Paul D said.

I’m no defender of Elizabeth Hasselbeck, but “dizzy blonde” ? It sort of defeats the “oppressed” argument when stereotypes and labels like this are used.

Jarais, I’d add a few Office of the Vice President speed dial numbers on their phone to get that low, but yeah.

How much of a pain will Rev. Wright be for Obama in the White House? Will it be breaking news every time he speaks of Obama or says something controversial?

http://www.political-buzz.com/

Tribune company files for bankruptcy.

Continuing on jay’s post, some of the reasons via TPM: Yet more on Newspapers.

KT here–

I’m on vacation this week, and don’t want to hijack Jay’s thread, but I was afraid that commenter wvng would not be checking the one I did over the weekend.
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KT here–

WV, are you still there? I had finally gotten around to reading our cover story this week. On that point that you were making earlier, about false narratives, I just wanted to note that Bill Saporito got it right in TIME Magazine this week:
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Next year, workers at Ford plants will earn an average $53 an hour with benefits, the result of a breakthrough industry agreement worked out with the UAW in 2007. That’s close to the $49 an hour that workers at the transplants average and far below the $71 an hour with benefits that was the old UAW wage, and that was cited by Alabama Senator Richard Shelby as a reason to oppose any bailout. And the cost differential on enginemaking between Detroit and the transplants will narrow to a couple of dollars by 2011. “You want to just choke these guys [in Congress] and take them through the 60 plants that I’ve been through and see what I’ve seen,” says Harbour.

Here’s the link to the story:
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http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1864168,00.html

KT, thanks muchly for following up on that. I really do know that there are many excellent and good and careful reporters out there. You are certainly among them.
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However, just to be pushy , there still needs to be a professional and public penalty for reporters/pundits who advance false RW narratives; at the moment there is none.
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On another topic publius has some thoughts on “what is essentially a giant Kabuki theater:” Don’t Throw Me In The Briar Patch

KT, please have a fine and restful vacation.

KT: interesting point. By way of comparison, in Podunk, NY – entirely fictional name, but really real small town in WNY, not too far from a UAW-staffed automotive plant – my wife, with 20 years of experience, makes $10.50 an hour, no benefits, as a graphical artist. I’m sure there are some skills and talent involved in working on a factory line, but I’m also sure they’re nowhere near the level involved in creating ideas from scratch, day after day.
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I know my wife is underpaid – I tell her, often – but you can tell Harbour that I’m not going to cry a river because these UAW folks are making less than their accustomed $71 per hour. I’m inclined to let ‘em try finding _real_ jobs.

KT – hope all is well in your family over the Trib filing. Probably a good time to take a vacation.

What Paul said at 23. American exceptionalism as practiced by many is a profoundly unChrisitan POV.

I don’t know but I been told
Dead tree media ain’t got no soul….

A shoutout to Paul at 23 and Kathy at 35, from the heart of Mainline Lutheranism and Methodism. Say it again: There is no United States of Heaven!!!

Exceptionalism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings, so to say.

I find the coverage of Rev. Wright is often shallow and without context. I don’t believe in the tone of his sermons, but I do believe every word of the Bible from which he bases (sometimes inaccurately) his sermons.
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I do think it is uniquely a providence of the church to comment upon political culture and positions which permit and enable injustice. Hopefully, the commentor would be wise enough to take action, but they have that right to comment and do so any tone. We have a 1st amendment in this country.
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Further, I am not shocked that Rev. Wright is lashing out at the media. The MSM is frequently a purveyor of news coverage that is a mile wide but never more than one inch thick. Glennzilla over Salon has convinced me of this. I need but only direct you to any one of his copious well-versed critiques.
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With regard to his theology, it is also covered under the 1st amendment. But I suppose what shocks me most is that most MSM types almost to the T won’t substantively comment on the correctness or incorrectness of what he claims his stories are based upon. Not one time will you ever hear an anchor say, “When you’re referring to John 3:16 and quoted that you made the following statement….what did you mean?” That type of go to the heart questioning is simply absent. Why is that? Are they there to merely hype up the one sermon that a man said in 20 years? Does he get up in the pulpit every day for 20 years and wish God to condemn America for what he feels were injust actions? Why is there no discussion of his honorable service in the United State Marines? Why is there no discussion of his charitable ventures? What about reporting on his writings? The man has done plenty. Or is there a bigger agenda here at work? I don’t support his tone or approach, but I have taken an oath to fight to the defend his right to expression.
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Former Capt., USAF

I wonder where Dante would have put reporters who quoted Iraq-War-mongering anonymous sources?
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IMHO, double duty between the hypocrites in the gilded iron robes and the “sowers of discord”, cleaved repeatedly by sword-wielding demons. And let’s not forget, according to Dante, souls can consigned in hell long before the body dies; some just may have gotten a head start.
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On-topic: The MSM must indeed be hard up for ratings to dredge this crud back from Election 08.

JNS:
” ..I won’t be going after your souls… yet. ..”
Do you have a 63-point questionnaire for the souls that want to apply for the honor?
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bryanfromhouston Says:
” .. I find the coverage of Rev. Wright is often shallow and without context. ..”
What do you expect from the messenger? Have you REALLY read the Bible and its Satanic verses?
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viciousmaniac Says:
” .. souls can consigned in hell long before the body dies; some just may have gotten a head start. ..”
Let us not forget that if those ‘barbarians’ had just turned the other cheek when we invaded with shock and awe, Bush#43 and Blair would by now be THE heroes – perhaps the greatest ‘British’ duo that ever lived – and accolades would be pouring in as they strut their time on the stage.

Da*n that thin line between infamy and fame!
Da*n that bin Laden!

[The look on Bush#43′s face if he sees Saddam in heaven, precious.”
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cfukara,
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You’re right. I know from past experience that the MSM is like a milk-man who brings you a jug of water. It will keep you alive and even sustain you, but it lacks the fortifying nutrients of a glass of milk. The problem is that everytime the milk-man shows up you would like for them to deliver milk. After-all they use the title, shouldn’t they deliver the product.
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I read the Bible regularly. Care to point out the verses which are Satanic?
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Finally, w/r/t “The look on Bush#43′s face if he sees Saddam in heaven, precious.” Shouldn’t precious be…priceless.