Today, while waiting in line at my bank, the noise of Wolf Blitzer’s voice from the television monitor piping in CNN made it difficult for me to let my wander as is my wont in such situations.
As I tuned into Wolf, it occurred to me that the only times now I watch CNN are in public places, either on the monitors at my gym, this bank or at that airports. Given this news networks leftist leanings, I have long since stopped watching it.
I asked the teller why the bank chose to subject us to this biased network. She told me my branch had no choice in the matter and directed me to the Customer Relations Department. I will be contacting them tomorrow and asking them to replace CNN with a less biased network, say FoxNews. While Fox may tilt a bit to the right, it doesn’t tilt as far to the right as CNN does to the left.
I encourage readers to follow suit and protest to airports or any other public space which pipes in CNN.
Cool. Glad you did that. I did that at a 99 restaurant as well. I told the waitress and wrote it on my payment receipt and told the hostess.
I started boycotting them a few months ago, after they canned a producer for having a personal blog.
I vote “no televisions”. There’s no “easy listening” equivalent to radio – whatever is on the tube is bound to annoy someone.
I watch FNC but I can’t imagine being stuck in line listening to Bill O’Reilly pontificate. I think I’d just leave.
Gas is above $4.60 where I live and it annoys me that I’m subjected to TV advertisements and drivel from the monitor mounted on the gas pump while I put $50 of gas into a Honda.
I also resent being spoonfed CNN in airports. But I don’t travel as much as I did when I was a teen, which was usually dependent on where my dad had a conference.
Even “easy listening” has its detractors, by those who call it “elevator music.” As I get older I start to appreciate it more, however, at least compared to vomitous filth like “My Humps.” Seriously, no woman I have ever met refers to her breasts as “humps.” Boobs, hooters, knockers, honkers, funbags, ta-tas, bongos, but never “humps.”
Wow. Loyal GP readers may know that Dan and I seem to have a shared brain sometimes.
Well, just last night I thought to myself – “Why does Wolf Blitzer have a live show?” (The Situation Room)
I watched it last night for the first time in a while and was awestruck at how BAD Blitzer is at ad-libbing on live TV. I mean — BAAAD.
And today, I see CNN has “rediscovered” Iraq only after the first car bombing in 3 months.
Dan — Great idea! I am behind it 100%
Bank of America (in Schertz, Tx) has Fox in their lobby.
Probably because it’s less than 10 mi. from Brooks AFB?
KUrt:
I think you hit on something. When the military people have nothing to do, they go to the bank and stand in the lobby so they could watch Fox.
Hey genius – here’s an idea: try getting your news from more than one source.
FNC is extremely biased. MSNBC in (now) also very biased, just in the other direction. CNN bounces around based on the anchor, but skews a little to the left. Watch all three and you get a relatively balanced perspective on what’s going on. Throw in a few newspapers, magazines and the blogging world, and hey – you might actually sound like you know what you’re talking about!
It’s really not that difficult. I’ve heard plenty of things coming out of O’Reillys mouth that defy both the evidence and common sense. Likewise with Olbermann. Spot the common themes between your different sources, and voila. You’ve got the closest thing to reality you’re gonna get.
Kurt: Ignore what I said.. I have no idea why I said it.
Dan–great job pointing out one of those things in life that has become so typical and status-quo that even those of us that tend to be politically-minded at all times had failed to notice it. I seriously cannot think of a single, specific occasion that there has been anything on the monitors in airports, at the gym or anywhere in public that wasn’t either a sports event or CNN (or perhaps it’s bastard cousin, Headline News–a channel SO BORING that I find myself wishing it were MORE biased just so it would hold my attention for more than 3 seconds).
The only thing I disagree with in the post is the qualification, “while Fox may tilt a bit to the right…” I don’t think it “tilts right” at all. I just think that even us hard-line conservatives have been hearing liberals screaming about Fox being “right wing propaganda” for so long, that we have somehow accepted that there is at least SOME bias at Fox and that any tilt to the right at Fox is excusable when contrasted with the rest of the MSM. But I shook that bs off a long time ago when I read what Ann Coulter had to say about Fox–she pointed out how silly liberals sound when they start sputtering and seething about EVIL Foxnews (i.e. “Faux News Channel,” “Hitler News” and other clever monikers). They sound stupid because there is literally not a shred of reality to their core-belief that Fox is just “right-wing propaganda for Bushco.” She correctly observed that 99.99% of the time, when you turn on Fox, anytime–day or night–what you see is LIBERALS DEBATING CONSERVATIVES. That’s their format. The host reports on an issue, and then he takes comments from a conservative guest and gives equal time to some psychotic, left-wing psycho. Think about it.
If Fox is a right-wing propaganda machine, then why the fuck is Geraldo in the studio? If Fox is biased, then why are my ears bleeding from the sound of the pops, crackles and wheezes coming out of Susan Estrich? Did the DailyKos send Bob Beckel on an undercover mission or something, because he’s on Fox making an ass of himself just about every night these days. AND WHO ON EARTH gave that leftist BITCH Ellen Ratner a column on The Fox Forum?!
Contrast Fox’s format with what you get over at CNN or MSNBC–MSNBC’s idea of objectivity is to have a liberal host moderate a discussion among a panel of 4 other flaming liberals about how awful conservatives are. The “objective” part is that each liberal on the panel is given equal time to make their point of how evil and/or horrible conservatives are. Everyone gets to be heard on this important issue and the viewers can decide for themselves if conservatives are evil, merely awful, a combination of awful and stupid, or a repugnant mix of all three. From there they move on to Obama’s latest speech and hotly debate whether it was: awe-inspiring; a religious experience; a history-making global event; or an unprecedented, courageous expression of human values so illuminating that it likely altered the space/time continuum and will be remembered in millennia to come as the moment in which human civilization was miraculously saved from the brink of certain extinction. And the viewers can decide for themselves.
If Foxnews is an evil, right-wing juggernaut of misinformation and propaganda, fueled by the seething hatred of war-mongering Republicans, then their security is for shit.
One of the few channels that are worse than CNN is CNN International. A few days watching that and all the commercials for the UN, CNN is like teh National Review
None of my banks have TVs. The McDonald’s nearby does and it’s mostly on FNC, sometimes CNN. But they usually have the volume down and captioning on. When I was flying all the time, I only looked at the weather on the CNN TV and that was about it.
I found a comment on the web once where somebody actually asked why they don’t have democrats on Fox to counter O’Reilly, Hannity etc. I respnded that you can find more liberals on FNC than you’d find Republicans on any other network such as
Ellis Heinican, Susan Estrich, Chris Wallace, Geraldo Rivera, Alan Colmes, Bernie Sanders (before he got nailed), John Edwards, Mark Mellman, Terry McAuliffe, Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sen. Dennis Kucinich, Rep. Charles Rangle, Minister Hashim Nzinga, Geraldine Ferraro, Bob Beckel, Lanny Davis, Joe Lieberman, Pat Caddell, Neal Gabler, Jane Hall, Jeff Cohen, Juan WIlliams, Mara Liason, Morton Kondracke, Rosie O’Donnell, Ed Asner, Steven Baldwin, Alec Baldwin, Matt Damon, Mike Farrell etc. etc. etc.
Many of those are regulars or have their own shows like Geraldo, Williams, Wallace, Liason, Kondracke etc.
#11
No doubt. We had some Canadian international news thingy on cable once, that was worse than that. I could watch the BBC, but why subject myself to that?
Oh, come on. CNN leftist? Which networks are not leftist in your opinion, Fox News?
It’s one thing to be right wing and know it. It’s another thing to be right wing and to think you’re in the center.
Um, James, did you read the post where I said Fox tilts to the right?
James is upset that any news media at all might Center-Right. The one and only one outlet that there is is the source of much gnashing of teeth from our liberal friends.. who otherwise are quite content with ALL THE REST of the media being Left.
I like “knockers.” It sounds so British.
Why not have “Cops” on? It is a slice of real life, the segments are mini-stories, there is plenty of action, you don’t have to worry how it turns out and you can easily ignore it. (Well, the theme song will get jammed in your brain forever, but so what?)
I love COPS! I watch it every night. I especially love the Taser and the canine segments. And … you’re “spot on” about the song.
I’m not confident James even knows what ‘right-wing’ means except that it’s a slur left-wingers (defined as socialists and opponents of individual freedom) throw out at anyone whose not on-board with the collectivist agenda.
James et al,
Actually The UCLA poli-sci department studied the bias issue a couple years ago, using the same criteria that are used to rank members of congress in terms of their bias. What they found was that while FOX News Special Report with Brit Hume leans very slightly to the right, it is much more fair and balanced than any other network news program and much more fair and balanced than all the other cable news networks.
On a similar note: I long ago stopped reading the New York Times over their leaking of national security secrets and flagrantly dishonest and subversive coverage of the war, but naturally, being one person it didnt do tehm any damge.
So whenever they publish another leak, or slime our military I complain to companies like Starbucks that carry only the NYT and urge them to carry another, more respected national paper like the WSJ or USA today instead. I figure if they get enough complaints, they might realise its also in their best interest to offer a paper that more people read (both WSJ and USA today have higher readership) and more people respect (the NYT polls as one of the least respected major papers)
Just something to consider.
This reminds me of a time I was stuck in the airport and had to sleep at the gate. No one with the airport/airlines had the decency/wisdom to turn off the TVs so I had to listen to CNN blaring all night.
I’ve often requested that FNC be put on instead of CNN or MSNBC at my local restaurants, watering holes, et al and the bartender or waiter has complied without any fuss. In fact, I’ve gotten my fair share of “thank yous” from other customers.
The only ones who bitch about it are the GayLibLefties at my local (gay) gym. Go figure.
Regards,
Peter H.
And in unrelated news, get a sneak preview of what Obama wants.
No TV period. It’s only purpose in public places is to numb your mind. We should have a choice what we want to watch/hear and when. Newscasters who adore the sound of their own voice are not something I would choose even if I agreed 100% with what they say, which is highly unlikely.
I have to put up with the Clinton News Network even while waiting at physicians offices. If they are going to have any television at all, I would rather it be Fox News Channel. CNN infested many places when it was the only game in town, and is still living off that inertia. I think the solution is to speak-up and let your preferences be known!
And in further related news, the European Union has a rare attack of sanity.
My bank in Sedona plays Animal Planet. It’s OK, but occasionally one has to listen to the SHAM-WOW! commercials. But those are all over Fox too.
At my store, we usually play DVDs of musicals. Sounds sort of stereotypically gay, I know, but most tourists appreciate the momentary escape. “… into the woods and out of the woods and home before dawn.”
#28 – I don’t know who is more annoying, the Sham-Wow guy or Billy Mays with his infinite number of products (Kaboom, Handi Switch, Samurai Shark knife sharpener etc).
Both of them need a hefty dose of tranquilizers, preferably shot through an air gun.
Can you imagine what their poor wives/girlfriends/FBs go through every day? Sheesh!
Regards,
Peter H.
Perhaps you’re not aware that we live in a free market economy…..
Unlike your local restaurants and watering holes, CNN (and probably related companies) have paid to install these televisions and play CNN. The airport operators make additional revenue by playing CNN.
#29
I seem to recall an article that Billy Mayes got married here in Tampa, St. Pete or Clearwater. The wedding guests all got some of the products as favors. I dig Mayes and his ads. Matthew Lesko, on the other hand, should be hunted down and…..
I’ve started watching Fox Business more and more.
BTW, St. Pete is home to Home Shopping Network.
#30: Dont cry.
32: Yeah, believe me, I’m not…laughing is more like it considering that most of the people here whining about it already knew the information I posted. But then again it wouldn’t serve the whole “libtards are socialists” doctrine to admit that “left wing” CNN is participating whole-heartedly in our capitalist/free-market economy.
#30: “Perhaps you’re not aware that we live in a free market economy…..”
Oh, Kevin, you simpering dolt. Please don’t use expressions you know nothing about. It’s so embarrassing and sad. Liberals talking about a “free market economy” is like when they start talking about “Christianity” or “constitutional rights” or “integrity” or “logic”—it only ends up making everyone around them feel depressed and uncomfortable. It’s like watching a stripper with her own booth at career day talking about “opportunities for advancement†and “setting your own hours.†Everyone sees though it, but politely nods to keep the poor “career girl†from waking up from her own delusions.
Kevin, CNN installing its own monitors in airports and banks to broadcast their news coverage is NOT an example of the “free market economy.†It’s the opposite—they can’t get viewers to watch CNN voluntarily at home, so they have no choice but to FORCE US to endure their pointless liberal bullshit everywhere else we go. Only in the mind of a dim-witted liberal is the “free market economy†illustrated by a scenario in which the consumer has absolutely no choice in selecting the product. The only thing more staggering than the profound stupidity of liberals, is their inexplicable, desperate enthusiasm to express it.
Sean,
Do you believe that the tens of millions of Democratic Christians in this country are not authentic Christians? Should be a simple yes or no answer, I believe.
CNN in airports: The airport, bank, train station, etc. customers are not the consumers; the airport, bank and train stations are. They chose to enter into an agreement with CNN or other media outlets to show their programming. Their buildings, their money, their choice. All caught up now?
And CNN can’t get viewers to watch CNN voluntarily? The millions of people that watch the channel every day don’t exist? The network has imaginary ratings? Or are the rating reports for CNN also liberal MSM lies? How far does this conspirarcy go, Sean? All the way to (gasp) the top of the Nielsens? LOL
torrent, fair poin that private organizations choose to pipe in CNN. And I (& others) are free to protest.
Actually, the millions of people who watch CNN don’t exist as the one-time cable news leader has long since fallen behind FoxNews.
FOX….are you CRAZY IT is owned operated, BIAS, edited, and completely owned by the RIGHT. Obviously you were gone the year they passed that memo out!!!!!!!! Get your facts straight!