Media
#341 Flagrant ignorance (Climate Change)
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Edition #341
Act 1: Unusually large snow storm – Daily Show
Act 2: Snowpocalypse vs. climate change – Media Matters
Act 3: GOP doesn’t believe in climate change – Countdown
Act 4: Does winter snow disprove climate change – Young Turks
Act 5: Climate change deniers given second wind – Counterspin
Act 6: Denial also an inexplicable position on climate change – The Bugle
Act 7: Full court shot on climate change – Rachel Maddow
Act 8: False balance on snow vs. climate change – Counterspin
Act 9: Belief in climate change hinges on worldview – NPR
Act 10: Fox and Friends don’t understand that it’s cold in winter – Young Turks
Bonus iPhone/iPod Touch App Content:
Colbert We’re Off to See the Blizzard – Colbert Report
Music:
MySpace.com/TheoBard
When the cold days come – Theo Bard
Late Afternoon – Theo Bard
Having a good time – Theo Bard
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All the orders gone – Theo Bard
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Everything you have – Theo Bard
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Evil eyes – Theo Bard
This fickle world – Theo Bard
Drums of freedom – Theo Bard
Middle class boy – Theo Bard
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#333 Soulless, Clueless, Feckless, Brazen (Media)
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Edition #333
Act 1: Limbaugh’s Haiti comment – Countdown
Act 2: Limbaugh the hyena – Ring of Fire
Act 3: O’Reilly and the Haiti telethon – Countdown
Act 4: Even better than the real thing – The Daily Show
Act 5: Daughter Cheney can’t debate – Rachel Maddow
Act 6: The Word – Two-faced – Colbert Report
Act 7: The Wash Post and the Fiscal Times – Counterspin
Act 8: Gretchen Carlson dumbs down – Daily Show
Act 9: Brian Williams on Jon Stewart – NPR
Act 10: How awful it is when media is weak – Counterspin
Act 11: Q and O – Fox News cuts the feed – Daily Show
Bonus iPhone/iPod Touch App Content:
Wag of the finger to Fox News – Colbert Report
Music:
Like humans do – David Byrne
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Circle of life – Faca Kulu, Lebo M., The Lion King Ensemble & Tsidii Le Loka
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The man in me – Bob Dylan
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Fairytale – Sara Bareilles
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Duck and run – 3 Doors Down
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The asshole song – Jimmy Buffett
Highly suspicious – My Morning Jacket
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Plum dumb – The Dead Milkmen
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Good people – Jack Johnson
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Live like you’re dying – Lenka
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#316 Join the war on Fox News today (Podcast)
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Edition #316
Act 1: Glenn Beck tragically not a victim of anything – The Onion
Act 2: Bush Sr. calls Maddow and Olberman Sick Puppies – The Young Turks
Act 3: Dobbs steps down – Wait wait don’t tell me
Act 4: MSNBC in the crossfire – Rachel Maddow
Act 5: Lou Dobbs goes Rogue – Daily Show
Act 6: Murdoch fosters racist work environment – Countdown
Act 7: Hannity apologizes to Jon – Daily Show
Act 8: Cenk goes off on Morning Joe – The Young Turks
Act 9: Untruth vs. Power – Daily Show
Bonus iPhone/iPod Touch App Content:
Hannity misleadingly uses Glenn Beck’s rally video
Music:
Out of my mind – James Blunt
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Gone daddy gone – Violent Femmes
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Ne Me Quitte Pas – Regina Spektor
I’ll meet you there – Owl City
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Habla Me – Gipsy Kings
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Working class hero – Exit Clov
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Overkill – Colin Hay
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Celebration guns – Stars
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#310 The war on Fox (Podcast)
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Edition #310
Act 1: The GOP colicky babies – Ring of Fire
Act 2: CNN leaves it there – Daily Show
Act 3: Fox News is not like the others – Rachel Maddow
Act 4: How Murdoch brought the Fox model to the US – Thom Hartmann
Act 5: Bend it like Beck – Colbert Report
Act 6: The war on FOX – Counterspin
Act 7: Media and power – Thom Hartmann
Act 8: Evidence of Fox collusion with GOP – The Young Turks
Music:
Camera one – Josh Joplin Group
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Better Days (and the bottom drops out) – Citizen King
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The boy in the bubble – Paul Simon
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Nothing compares to you – Sinade O’Connor
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Flagpole Sitta – Harvey Danger
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Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games – Of Montreal
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Let go – Frou Frou
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#304 Yeah, when it fits, we call you racist (Podcast)
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Edition #304
Act 1: The conservative media’s attack cycle – On the Media
Act 2: Comparing corruption of ACORN to Blackwater – Rachel Maddow
Act 3: The Word: Blackwashing – Colbert Report
Act 4: Covering the right-wing crazies in the media – Counterspin
Act 5: Pat Buchanan defends Hitler – The Young Turks
Act 6: The ‘Full Ginsburg’ – Daily Show
Act 7: Wingnut watch – Mother Jones Podcast
Act 8: Discussing the recent Glenn Beck chatter – Ring of Fire
Act 9: Target America – Daily Show
Music:
Love is a battlefield – Pat Benatar
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Chicago X 12 – Rogue Wave
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Paint it black – Vanessa Carlton
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Love you ’till the end – The Pogues
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Mad World – Tears for Fears
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I’m not crying – Flight of the Conchords
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Still crazy after all these years – Paul Simon
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Burnout – Green Day
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#293 For-profit journalism at some of it’s worst (Podcast)
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Act 1: So you think you can douche – Daily Show
Act 2: Fact-imparted miniverse on healthcare – Rachel Maddow
Act 3: Poll bearers: cable news polls itself – Daily Show
Act 4: Neal Boortz on human debris – The Young Turks
Act 5: Fox News: The new liberals – Daily Show
Act 6: Raising terror level to raise polling points – Rachel Maddow
Act 7: CNN’s just sayin’ – Daily Show
Act 8: Playing politics with terror – Countdown
Music:
Stand by me – Playing for change
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Across the universe – Rufas Wainwright
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Crash – The Primitives
Sorrow – Bad religion
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We like to party – The Venga Boys
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The World Has Turned And Left Me Here – Weezer
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What’s the matter here? – 10,000 Maniacs
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#281 Institutional bias and general stupidity (Podcast)
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Act 1: Fox & Friends’ Lingerie Football romp – Daily Show
Act 2: 50/50, the MSM mantra – The Young Turks
Act 3: The Stephen Colbert study analyzed further – On the Media
Act 4: “I” on news – Daily Show
Act 5: The Iranian question Part 1 – The Young Turks
Act 6: Bin Laden needs to attack America – Counterspin
Act 7: The Iranian question Part 2 – The Young Turks
Act 8: The ambush interview – On the Media
Act 9: Bin Laden needs to attack America – Daily Show
Music:
M79 – Vampire Weekend
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Either way – Wilco
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Too much information – Duran Duran
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We like to party – Venga Boys
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Undone (The Sweater Song) – Weezer
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Kyoko’s House – Philip Glass
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No questions asked – Fleetwood Mac
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Dancing in the dark – Bruce Springsteen
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#263 Headed for the cliff with pizza in hand (Podcast)
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Act 1: Conservatives don’t get Colbert – Countdown
Act 2: Fox News deep in projection – The Young Turks
Act 3: Gore Vidal on the current Republicans – Bill Maher
Act 4: Stunned McCain Supporter – The Onion
Act 5: Swine Flu stokes racism – Countdown
Act 6: The hypocrisy of Glenn Beck and Fox News – The Young Turks
Act 7: Pizza Party – Slate.com
Act 8: Republicans blocking unnammed nominees already – Countdown
Act 9: Rebranding the party with a pizza party – The Daily Show
Act 10: Discussing the fate of the Republican Party – The Young Turks
Music:
Clowns (Can You See Me Now?) – t.A.T.u.
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Unhappy Birthday – The Smiths
Ain’t No Reason – Brett Dennen
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Starry Eyed Surprise – Paul Oakenfold
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You were the last high – The Dandy Warhols
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Veterans – The Clips
Messages – Xavier Rudd
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Can’t stop loving you – Van Halen
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Take a chance on me – Abba
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#259 A discussion of the state of our culture (with swears) (Podcast)
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Act 1: Fox viewers to be institusionalized? – Ring of Fire
Act 2: Hannity hosts a discussion on how best to overthrow the US Gov. – CounterSpin
Act 3: The effect of a high tech culture Part 1 – On the Media
Act 4: “Happy Spring Holiday” – The Onion
Act 5: The effect of a high tech culture Part 2 – On the Media
Act 6: Glenn Beck and the 9/12 Project – Colbert Report
Act 7: Wes Clark Jr. on modern culture Part 1 – The Young Turks
Act 8: Limbaugh is stupid, hateful and racist – CounterSpin
Act 9: Wes Clark Jr. on modern culture Part 2 – The Young Turks
Act 10: Glenn Beck compares US to Nazi Germany – CounterSpin
Act 11: Wes Clark Jr. on modern culture Part 3 – The Young Turks
Music:
Crazy Maze – Desree
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War – Vince DiCola
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Eclipse – Apoptygma Berzerk
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Spring Came, Rain Fell – Club 8
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Humans being – Van Halen
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Good people – Jack Johnson
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Goodnight and go – Imogen Heap
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Your racist friend – They might be giants
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Buildings and mountains – The Republic Tigers
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It’s not impossible – Ben Sollee
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#251 From various points of view (Podcast)
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Act 1: The Michael Savage Story Part 1 – The Young Turks
Act 2: ACLU Defends Neo-Nazis – The Onion
Act 3: The Michael Savage Story Part 2 – The Young Turks
Act 4: Affable anti-semite on the Jews – The Onion
Act 5: The Michael Savage Story Part 3 – The Young Turks
Act 6: Glenn Beck on the hatred from the left – CounterSpin
Act 7: Our job is to push back – Conceptual Guerilla
Act 8: New media with the new administration – The Daily Show
Act 9: Journalists declare victory in Iraq – CounterSpin
Act 10: Clinton’s impeachment press conference – This American Life
Act 11: The new host of Meet the Press – CounterSpin
Act 12: Fox ‘News’ on the new administration – The Daily Show
Act 13: Corporate media on race relations – CounterSpin
Act 14: O’Reilly and Rove on Obama’s torture policy – The Young Turks
Music:
Unknown Grerman marching song
I’m a loser – The Beatles
Crazy – Seal
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House of the rising sun – The Animals
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Everyday I love you less and less – Kaiser Chiefs
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Blue bird tattoo – Circe Link
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Fat lip – Sum 41
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Good day Sunshine – The Beatles
Everybody’s Fool – Evanescence
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Good people – Jack Johnson
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Dreams – Gabrielle
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Correcting for the distorted vision of the corporate media
Is the goal of UK-based MediaLens. This ultra smart team of media critics regularly publish highly crafted and deeply insightful alerts about the omissions and falsehoods put out by the media.
In their latest installment “Propping Up Propaganda” they touch on the absence of real public challenge in the media coverage, and how it is replaced by an illusion of dissent:
Little of this professional contempt for public challenge ever makes it into the open. The media sections of the press, where journalism ought to be scrutinised, are reserved for professional navel-gazing, ego-burnishing and insider gossip. At best, media commentary is inoffensive, rarely straying from the anodyne; and even then, only to mock easy targets like the Sun or the Daily Mail. At its worst, corporate media ‘analysis’ props up a brutal propaganda system in which “politics is the shadow cast on society by big business”, as the US social philosopher John Dewey observed.
Limbaugh, Savage, and Corsi do it again
Limbaugh, Savage, and Corsi believe that Obama isn’t in Hawaii to visit his Grandma, they think he’s actually a Kenyan citizen who’s trying to produce a fake Hawaiian birth certificate in the next few days…
Despite the fact that he HAS produced a Hawaiian birth certificate.
Amazing.
Life under censorship
While ABC refuses to run a clean energy ad, newspapers across the country have distributed 28 million copies of a fear-mongering DVD about radical Islam, mostly to battleground states, in a multimillion effort to affect public opinion funded by “individuals he would not name” according to their spokesman.
Censorship, both explicit and implicit, always works to maintain the status quo and prevent change.
Things only women notice, and care about.

The big Republican outrage that resulted from Sarah Palin’s latest Newsweek cover has finally settled. Read Rachel Sklar’s brilliant summary of the debacle. Fox News and an unknown number of women were disgusted at Newsweek’s audacity to publish an un-retouched photo of the Alaskan governor, as if it were an evil ploy by the Democrats to show Mrs. Palin with a few imperfections and some very human wrinkles.
This hilariously overblown “issue” has very little merit, and should therefore be disregarded. However, it’s just so funny that I have to blog about it on the Best of the Left.Â
Read the excerpts from Rachel’s article below, she basically summarized my thoughts. It’s like Rachel is my twin, kind of scary, but not really.
The Palin Problem
Our very first ever non-podcast-related blog post here at Best of the Left comes to us from the right wing equivalent of the Huffington Post. Kathleen Parker, a stalwart conservative columnist and frequent blogger at Townhall.com, spent the first month after Sarah Palin’s nomination defending her non-credentials and accusing her critics of sexism.
Well, that tune has changed in the wake of Palin’s recent set of major interviews that showed her to be the moron that she is. Ms. Parker has written an article stating in no uncertain terms that Sarah Palin is a problem for the McCain campaign and should take herself out of the race. Delicious!
Quotes from Kathleen Parker’s article entitled “The Palin Problem,” after the break







