Replies to post #106632 on Politics and Money

[arizona1]

Walker campaign implosion showcases Wisconsin media's failures

Now that it's been a few days since Scott Walker became Gov Dropout again and quit the 2016 presidential campaign, let's go back and take a look at how this surprising development came to be.

First, here's Stephen Colbert, with an outstanding "Hunger Games Tribute" to the fallen governor, and a reminder of the self-absorption and idiocy that became a trademark of Walker's presidential campaign.

So Scott Walker's now back here in Wisconsin, pretending to actually do the job the taxpayers shell out 6 figures for him to do, but more likely trying to get a couple of last grabs of money and power for his paymasters before quitting as Governor to grab some "real money" as a lobbyist or rubber-chicken speaker on the wingnut welfare circuit. And the lessons of Walker's faceplant on the national stage should ring loud and clear back here in Wisconsin, as all of these flaws were evident before he entered the presidential race, but they were never hammered on with enough consistency by the state's Democrats, and were never followed up on by the paid-off state media.

This sheltered existence Walker got away with in Wisconsin must change and we must do our part to make it change (because the oligarchs and connected inner circle won't fix this mess on their own - they're making too much money in the Age of Fitzwalkerstan). If we do it right, and do remove these cancers that are wasting our state away, it could lead to the major changes in Wisconsin's political landscape in 2016 and 2018. And that might just save this state, and start to restore its reputation as a place that used to attract talent and maintain a high quality of life.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/09/27/1425344/-Walker-campaign-implosion-showcases-Wisconsin-media-s-failures

[Elroy Jetson]

That's the game. Softball treatment of interview subjects assures access, while expert probing can cut-off access for journalists and even all their employer's journalists.

Of course this favoritism is less possible once you're elected and in the White House Press Room, but everyone's playing their A-game there.


I remember the shock when in 1977 Barbara Walters with a great show of feigned compassion and apology asked the Shah of Iran and his wife about his regime's torture of Iranian citizens. Mohammmed Reza Pahlavi's third wife Princess Farah Diba started crying on camera and the Shah walked out. You don't see that sort of thing too often.

She earlier asked the shah whether he believed his wife, whom he had made Regent to take over in case he died, could govern as well as a man. He declined to answer and when she pushed and pushed, he finally said no he did not believe women have the same intelligence or ability as men. Walters then asked his wife Farah Diba what she thought of his answer. She said to her husband, "I don't think you really believe that," adding, "But what have men done to the world, really?"

Of course that was her parting shot with no further access to the Shah who lasted only another two years.