Evening News Reads: Abbreviated Sick Version
Posted: February 8, 2012 Filed under: SDB Evening News Reads, Syria | Tags: Cenk Uyger, Roland Martin 24 Comments
Good Evening
Tonight I am just going to post some quick links, because I am starting to get that sick crummy feeling …
Things are getting worse in Syria, if you can imagine.
Inside Homs: ‘We are seriously dying here. It is really war’ | World news | guardian.co.uk
Juan Cole had a post up earlier today that gave explanations about why the actions Assad’s regime is conducting are crimes against humanity:
Syria: Crimes Against Humanity in Homs | Informed Comment
And a couple of hours ago, UN secretary-general, Ban condemns Syrian ‘brutality’ in Homs, warns worse may come – CNN.com
Some of you may have seen this: After Susan G. Komen Debacle, Senators Launch Women’s Rights Campaign
Inspired by the backlash over the brief attempt by Susan G. Komen for the Cure to cut funding for Planned Parenthood, a group of senators Wednesday is launching a bid to organize 1 million people in support of women’s rights.
Led by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), seven Democratic senators and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee are appealing to backers on all of their websites to sign on to “One Million Strong For Women” in hopes of harnessing the energy displayed in the backlash against Komen.
“The strong public outcry in response to the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s decision to defund Planned Parenthood last week — which they later reversed — shows how powerful we can be when we come together,” says an email expected to be sent Wednesday by Gillibrand’s office and obtained by The Huffington Post.
“Our right-wing opponents continue to launch attack after attack against women’s rights, women’s health, and women’s economic security — and we’ve got to fight back every single day,” the appeal argues.
I signed on…
Cenk Uyger had some words for Obama earlier today, Cenk Uygur: President Obama ‘Doesn’t Have The Guts’ To Fight For Contraceptive Mandate | Mediaite
On Tuesday night’s The Young Turks, host Cenk Uygur went the eff off on President Obama over what he sees as administration signals of a compromise on the religious employer exemption to the Affordable Care Act’s Preventive Services Mandate. Loudly calling it like he sees it, Uygur said that President Obama “doesn’t have the guts” to fight conservatives on the issue, and that “his natural instinct” to “run for the hills” kicks in whenever he’s challenged a little bit.
It is that penchant for unvarnished spleen that has earned Uygur the following he has, but has also led to some backlash among liberals. He doesn’t apologize for it, and frequently warns viewers that they’re going to get that unfiltered view, no matter the subject.
Kudos to Cenk! We need more outspoken folks like him!
Tommy Christopher thinks Cenk went too far, give the post a read it is rather long for Mediaite.
In other press news: Cagle Post » Go Ahead, Newt, Bash the Press
I like the way Newt Gingrich has punches out the press. I like it when the audience at a recent debate jumped to its feet and cheered his press bashing. I hope he continues doing it.
I like it all, and as a member of the press for 33 years, I can tell you with certainty that the press likes it, too.
No, they don’t just like it, They love it.
Except for CNN’s John King, who melted into the ground when Gingrich fired a few shots at him, the press is looking for opportunities like Gingrich’s outbursts to shed the limelight on itself. It doesn’t matter if it’s not all positive, or even if it’s mostly negative. It’s the
Another news personality link for you coming up.
Roland Kicked Off CNN’s Airwaves – FishbowlDC
CNN Analyst Roland Martin has been suspended for the “time being” after making perceived homophobic comments on Twitter on Super Bowl Sunday regarding a David Beckham underwear ad.
Now, I was on twitter when the series of tweets from Roland Martin came through…I saw the tweets everyone was making about the ad, they were all ragging on Beckham, making fun of the ad…it was all tongue in cheek. Anyway, here is the tweet in question.
If a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about David Beckham’s H&M underwear ad, smack the ish out of him! #superbowl
Honestly, I did not think it was as bad as it was made out to be…when I saw it, it made me think of the episodes of Dave Chappelle, when they made fun of Superfreak Rick James slapping Eddie Murphy’s brother Charlie left and right…
If you did not see the ad, there is a link below to watch it. I thought the ad ridiculous myself…but what really gets me is that CNN suspended Roland for making the tweets, and yet they still have Erick Erickson on the air, after all the bigoted, sexist, misogynistic things he has said and written.
Anyway, here are some links on Martin:
CNN’s Roland Martin suspended for homophobic tweets – Erik Wemple – The Washington Post
“Roland Martin’s tweets were regrettable and offensive. Language that demeans is inconsistent with the values and culture of our organization, and is not tolerated. We have been giving careful consideration to this matter, and Roland will not be appearing on our air for the time being.”
At CNN, is homophobia a ‘viewpoint’? – Erik Wemple – The Washington Post
The “viewpoint” defense, after all, is precisely the language that CNN invoked last month, when another of its people, Dana Loesch, did something that irritated people. She lead cheers for the U.S. Marines who’d apparently urinated on the corpses of fallen Taliban fighters, saying that she’d “drop trou” herself to participate in such a rite.
CNN was fine with it all.
CNN contributors are commentators who express a wide range of viewpoints — on and off of CNN — that often provoke strong agreement or disagreement. Their viewpoints are their own.
Perhaps CNN could just dust off that statement for Martin (he’s an analyst, not commentator, but whatever). Oh, with one edit: Martin’s viewpoints on soccer’s wussiness aren’t his own. They’re shared by millions of high school football players across the country.
Anyway, you all have a good evening…hopefully no one was offended with my post tonight.
If I am feeling better I will check in on your comments. Yuk, I hate getting sick.
peej
Carissa
ecocatwoman
grayslady
mablue2
NW Luna
peggysue22
skydancingguestblogger
Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
Rachel Maddow just had a portion of her show called “The Men Who State at Zygotes” that I you should watch if possible. I don’t think Obama is going to back down on contraception access at all. It’s a political winner for the Democrats with everyone except the Inside the Beltway asshats.
Senate Democrats Say Obama ‘Reinforced’ His Stance on Contraception Mandate at Democratic Retreat
He’d be stupid to back down on this, but it wouldn’t be the first time Obama did something stupid.
I’m glad to hear this, ralph. And I hope the Administration holds fast; this is one they’re right on. Boehner and his crew are doubling down with threats at the moment. Pro-choice Republicans [yes, they do exist] have warned the GOP if they persist, they will split the party apart and ensure their own defeat in November.
But you’re right–pols inside the Beltway appear deaf and dumb more often than not.
I think anything which blows up like this and shows the GOP for the right wingnuts they really are is only good for Obama,
I found Martin’s remarks disturbing. Maybe taken out of context of the twitter feed gave them a different feel, but I was shocked when I first read them. It comes across as encouraging violence against homosexuals to me.
Yeah I know you have a good point, but you should have seen all the joking about that advertisement. That is one thing with twitter, it is like some kind of snark fest, where you try and out do all the other people making smart ass comments as fast as you can in 140 characters.
Yes, he needed to own the comment, and apologize. However, in the context of the horrible things that Erick Erickson has said, CNN should have suspended Erickson long ago.
Unfortunately hate language about women is not as bad as racism or homophobia, according to the MSM. Most of the time they’re so flamingly illogical and dense that they don’t even recognize misogyny.
I guess that is what bothers me so much Luna, that these loud mouth assholes get away with saying such misogynistic sexist things. I am just going to tune out for a bit, maybe that will make me calm down.
That LA school abuse thing is getting worse, U.S. News – In school sex scandal, parents fear deportation if they talk
I also heard that complaints against those teachers had been ignored as far back as the 1990’s.
Completely Agree!!
And I am no fan of Roland “Tazmanian Devil” Martin.
I thought I should put this link here…Roland Martin’s CNN Suspension: Has GLAAD Become A Bullying Organization? | Mediaite
Another long post for Mediaite, so there is a lot more of this post to read if you want to…
Minx, hoping you feel better soon.
More on legal fairness here in the Upper Left-Hand Corner — Governor Gregoire’s statement just issued on the Washington State House’s vote passing the marriage-equality bill today, one week after State Senate approval.
“This is truly a historic day in Washington state, and one where I couldn’t be more proud. With today’s vote, we tell the nation that Washington state will no longer deny our citizens the opportunity to marry the person they love. We tell every child of same-sex couples that their family is every bit as equal and important as all other families in our state. And we take a major step toward completing a long and important journey to end discrimination based on sexual orientation. ….I look forward to signing this piece of legislation, and putting into law an end to an era of discrimination.”
http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/news-view.asp?pressRelease=1852&newsType=1
Sorry you’re not feeling well, Minx. I hope it’s not serious.
Get well, Minx. Btw, I agree with you about Cenk Uygur–he does not mince words and he’s very effective. It’s why he was let go by MSNBC; he refused to tone it down. Even for the Obamacrats.
Get well soon, MM!
Poll: 30 percent of South Carolinians can’t identify Biden as vice president
Hmmm, another possible reason Gingrich could win South Carolina. 😉
Half-time in America, Mitt Romney style …
Minx,
Thanks for covering Syria, it is very upsetting and many feel helpless. Today there were reports of a neighboring country arresting those fleeing, which is causing more deaths in my opinion. Assad has tanks, mortar launchers and big guns and the people only have their quest for freedom and their hope that help might come.
The children being hurt is the hardest part of this on going military attack on Homs. Heartbreaking.
Of course you realize this is just a DSCC fundraising scam – like all those earnest missives urging us to “stand up for the public option”.
Hope you feel better, MM!
Yeah I know the thing is to tug at the purse-strings, but with all those GOP and Dems in line with sticking it to women…again…the few who stand up for us need our support.
Yes, but the support isn’t necessarily going to “the few who stand up for us” – it’ll go to contested races where the DSCC thinks a Democrat (*any* Democrat) has a chance (regardless of his or her stand on any particular issue). You’re better off giving to specific candidates. Not much better off, mind you.
He should be gone and should have known better. This Martin thing just tells me its 2012: And Negroes More Slaves Than Ever
Even your “abbreviated, sick versions” are helpful and informative, MM! 😉
Thank you so much for the Syria coverage and the synopsis on the Roland Martin brou-ha-ha.
let me just add that until CNN gives Red State Erick the boot, that’s what I mean by “brou-ha-ha” here. Roland’s tweets were asinine, and I agree with janicen that taken alone, it does have a violent overtone… As MM says, he should have owned and apologized for that comment. But these mainstream networks have a very inconsistent and duplicitous policy when it comes to what is and isn’t permissible on the airwaves.