While posting part 7 in this series (it's not an arc. I'm observing this as much as you are) and thinking it would be the last post on the topic, CDFW sent me some follow up thoughts. You might not think it to listen to some of the discussions CDFW and I have, and I have tremendous respect for him. The discussions where my love and respect for him may seem questionable are few and far between (I'm thinking that, anyway. Feel free to educate me, CDFW).
I may not always like what CDFW has to say and probably don't agree much.
I do learn from him, however, and that means everything to me.
The rest of this post are his follow up comments to me regarding the series of posts about President Bush lying.
The week before you sent the request for comments, the NYT ran a front-page article above the fold detailing all the deaths that returning veterans from Iraq had caused. The clear implication being these returning vets are murderous animals, too dangerous to be trusted among us. Other journalists went to the public record and did some research of their own. They found that these veterans, when compared to the same demographic group of the general population, were eight times LESS likely to cause deaths in the categories the NYT reported on. The site you forwarded had a prominently displayed encomium from the NYT about how great the journalistic integrity site is. Hmm.For those who already have jobs as journalists and want to pick up a little cash on the side, the "I hate Bush" market is incredibly lucrative right now. What better way to cash in than to create a website dedicated to a new journalistic integrity (and open it up with a request for donations) and offer some of your stuff for sale on line in the site. You get to be "integritous" and also sell a few books. What better way to kick it off than to do some searches on Lexus-Nexus, call it research and announce it in a press release. How can anyone question your motives? You're not getting funded by any megacorps.
It is incredibly easy for me to be dismissive of any site touting "journalistic integrity" these days. This one's choice of a promotional campaign made it even easier.
I suppose it's worth adding to this series and especially at its finale that I posted without editing all the material that was sent me. Some made me laugh, all made me think.
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