Trancendental
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Ministry of Truth (aka White House Press Room) reporter Jeff Gannon
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E-Z-B
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Here's some of Jeff Gannon's quotes at White House press conferences:
"Senate Democratic leaders have painted a very bleak picture of the US economy," Gannon said. "[Minority Leader] Harry Reid was talking about soup lines, and Hillary Clinton was talking about the economy being on the verge of collapse. Yet, in the same breath, they say that Social Security is rock solid and there's no crisis there. How are you going to work -- you said you're going to reach out to these people -- how are you going to work with people who seem to have divorced themselves from reality?"
As it turned out, Reid had never talked about soup lines. That was a phrase attributed to him in satire by Rush Limbaugh on his radio show.
Last year, during the presidential campaign, Gannon's comments could be even more pointed. In a Feb. 10, 2004, briefing with McClellan, for example, Gannon rose to deliver the following:
"Since there have been so many questions about what the president was doing over 30 years ago, what is it that he did after his honorable discharge from the National Guard? Did he make speeches alongside Jane Fonda, denouncing America's racist war in Vietnam? Did he testify before Congress that American troops committed war crimes in Vietnam? And did he throw somebody else's medals at the White House to protest a war America was still fighting?"
David Brock, the former investigative journalist who made his name revealing aspects of former President Bill Clinton's extramarital affairs, said he was watching last week's press conference on television and the "soup lines" question sparked his interest because it "struck me as so extremely biased." Brock asked his media watchdog group, Media Matters for America, to look into Talon News.
Sounds like Bush is just trying to brainwash America yet again.
"Senate Democratic leaders have painted a very bleak picture of the US economy," Gannon said. "[Minority Leader] Harry Reid was talking about soup lines, and Hillary Clinton was talking about the economy being on the verge of collapse. Yet, in the same breath, they say that Social Security is rock solid and there's no crisis there. How are you going to work -- you said you're going to reach out to these people -- how are you going to work with people who seem to have divorced themselves from reality?"
As it turned out, Reid had never talked about soup lines. That was a phrase attributed to him in satire by Rush Limbaugh on his radio show.
Last year, during the presidential campaign, Gannon's comments could be even more pointed. In a Feb. 10, 2004, briefing with McClellan, for example, Gannon rose to deliver the following:
"Since there have been so many questions about what the president was doing over 30 years ago, what is it that he did after his honorable discharge from the National Guard? Did he make speeches alongside Jane Fonda, denouncing America's racist war in Vietnam? Did he testify before Congress that American troops committed war crimes in Vietnam? And did he throw somebody else's medals at the White House to protest a war America was still fighting?"
David Brock, the former investigative journalist who made his name revealing aspects of former President Bill Clinton's extramarital affairs, said he was watching last week's press conference on television and the "soup lines" question sparked his interest because it "struck me as so extremely biased." Brock asked his media watchdog group, Media Matters for America, to look into Talon News.
Sounds like Bush is just trying to brainwash America yet again.
Hereticked
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It hardly matters these days.....
"Simple Scotty" McClellan doesn't actually answer questions. He denies, ignores, twists, and outright lies. Same goes for his predecessor.
The Press Secretary under the Bush Administration is really nothing more than a propaganda mouthpiece. That they're now stacking the press with setup men shouldn't come as a surprise.
This is the natural process as fascism takes hold of a nation.
"Simple Scotty" McClellan doesn't actually answer questions. He denies, ignores, twists, and outright lies. Same goes for his predecessor.
The Press Secretary under the Bush Administration is really nothing more than a propaganda mouthpiece. That they're now stacking the press with setup men shouldn't come as a surprise.
This is the natural process as fascism takes hold of a nation.
[quote name='Hereticked'].....
The Press Secretary under the Bush Administration is really nothing more than a propaganda mouthpiece...[/quote]
Another non-exclusive trait of administration officals under any president, yet attributed to Bush as a nascent phenomenon and uniquely indicitave of coruption. Of course, everything was rosey before Bush was elected.......
You are such a tool.
The Press Secretary under the Bush Administration is really nothing more than a propaganda mouthpiece...[/quote]
Another non-exclusive trait of administration officals under any president, yet attributed to Bush as a nascent phenomenon and uniquely indicitave of coruption. Of course, everything was rosey before Bush was elected.......
You are such a tool.
PittsburghAfterDark
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[quote name='Hereticked']It hardly matters these days.....
"Simple Scotty" McClellan doesn't actually answer questions. He denies, ignores, twists, and outright lies. Same goes for his predecessor.
[/quote]
I wonder, really wonder, if he thought that Joe Lockhart was a bastion of truth.
It makes no difference what Jeff Gannon's credentials are or not. Because of the way the White House press office is structured the only criteria that you need to be a reporter in the press corps is to be employed by a publication or news outlet that is updated, written, broadcast etc. on an ongoing basis.
Unlike the Boston Globe, NYT, Washington Post, USA Today et al... he does not have a standing press pass. Instead he's admitted on a daily basis with daily passes.
Technically speaking I, or someone from this board, could qualify to get a daily or permanent pass from the White House Press Office.
"Simple Scotty" McClellan doesn't actually answer questions. He denies, ignores, twists, and outright lies. Same goes for his predecessor.
[/quote]
I wonder, really wonder, if he thought that Joe Lockhart was a bastion of truth.
It makes no difference what Jeff Gannon's credentials are or not. Because of the way the White House press office is structured the only criteria that you need to be a reporter in the press corps is to be employed by a publication or news outlet that is updated, written, broadcast etc. on an ongoing basis.
Unlike the Boston Globe, NYT, Washington Post, USA Today et al... he does not have a standing press pass. Instead he's admitted on a daily basis with daily passes.
Technically speaking I, or someone from this board, could qualify to get a daily or permanent pass from the White House Press Office.
Hereticked
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[quote name='bmulligan']Another non-exclusive trait of administration officals under any president, yet attributed to Bush as a nascent phenomenon and uniquely indicitave of coruption. Of course, everything was rosey before Bush was elected.......[/quote]
More assumptions and misrepresentations...... not surprising at this point.
Yes, the press secretary for every administration has to occasionally put a spin on things, but to compare any past administration to these bunch of lying thugs is beyond the pale of any rational human being.
I was stating the severity, not exclusiveness.
[quote name='bmulligan']You are such a tool.[/quote]
Coming from a brain-washed dimwit, that's hardly offensive.
More assumptions and misrepresentations...... not surprising at this point.
Yes, the press secretary for every administration has to occasionally put a spin on things, but to compare any past administration to these bunch of lying thugs is beyond the pale of any rational human being.
I was stating the severity, not exclusiveness.
[quote name='bmulligan']You are such a tool.[/quote]
Coming from a brain-washed dimwit, that's hardly offensive.
Duo_Maxwell
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You all don't think every politician ever has had a press ecretary that spins things the way he wants and loads the White House Press Room with as many people that appear friendly to them as possible? You are all just now seeing this?
Besides, seeing as how there's barely an unbiased reporter in excistence no days does it matter that much? Unfortunately in our times now days reporters bend the truth as much as politicians do almost no matter which side their on. So are you just noticing it now because they aren't playing for your team or something?
Besides, seeing as how there's barely an unbiased reporter in excistence no days does it matter that much? Unfortunately in our times now days reporters bend the truth as much as politicians do almost no matter which side their on. So are you just noticing it now because they aren't playing for your team or something?
mykevermin
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My concern isn't that Gannon is in the WH press room. If anyone can be in there, okay.
The fact that he apparently gets to ask questions with great frequency serves as an excellent indication of how he is perceived by McClellan.
I won't argue that past presidents have had people other than Gannon to serve as "plants," for lack of a better phrase.
My problem is that Gannon is so bad at it. Citing Rush Limbaugh's hyperbole is bad enough; to objectively state that an entire political party is "divorced from reality" is not respectable journalism by any person's standards.
"Yes, Mr. President, isn't Barbara Boxer a mega-bitch?" You would be less subtle asking a question like that.
The republicans should set their standards higher; this guy is a joke. While I'm sure the democrats have had their fair share of plants, the fact that it was difficult to differentiate them is rather telling.
epobirs, I'm curious if you could provide some links that help support your assertion that Brock is lying about Talon. While I read MMFA, and I realize that it seems to focus solely on Republican gaffes, I find that misleading, but not lying. Please, if you feel so inclined, show me where he's lying.
myke.
The fact that he apparently gets to ask questions with great frequency serves as an excellent indication of how he is perceived by McClellan.
I won't argue that past presidents have had people other than Gannon to serve as "plants," for lack of a better phrase.
My problem is that Gannon is so bad at it. Citing Rush Limbaugh's hyperbole is bad enough; to objectively state that an entire political party is "divorced from reality" is not respectable journalism by any person's standards.
"Yes, Mr. President, isn't Barbara Boxer a mega-bitch?" You would be less subtle asking a question like that.
The republicans should set their standards higher; this guy is a joke. While I'm sure the democrats have had their fair share of plants, the fact that it was difficult to differentiate them is rather telling.
epobirs, I'm curious if you could provide some links that help support your assertion that Brock is lying about Talon. While I read MMFA, and I realize that it seems to focus solely on Republican gaffes, I find that misleading, but not lying. Please, if you feel so inclined, show me where he's lying.
myke.
Trancendental
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[quote name='mykevermin']The republicans should set their standards higher; this guy is a joke. While I'm sure the democrats have had their fair share of plants, the fact that it was difficult to differentiate them is rather telling.[/quote]
Hey, people buy into Fox news so I'm sure they don't feel a need to bother.
Besides, that's money that can go to buying more Diebold machines
Hey, people buy into Fox news so I'm sure they don't feel a need to bother.
Besides, that's money that can go to buying more Diebold machines
mykevermin
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[quote name='camoor'][quote name='mykevermin']The republicans should set their standards higher; this guy is a joke. While I'm sure the democrats have had their fair share of plants, the fact that it was difficult to differentiate them is rather telling.[/quote]
Hey, people buy into Fox news so I'm sure they don't feel a need to bother.
Besides, that's money that can go to buying more Diebold machines[/quote]
I'm not sure what you mean here; I would argue that Fox is subtle enough (not to us, perhaps, but that's not the point); few people realize that Brit Hume was/is the editor of The Weekly Standard; I doubt many people realize that Alan Colmes was intentionally chosen to play a subservient foil to Sean Hannity (anyone who thinks they are equals is welcome to convince me of that, however).
Why ruin a good thing by allowing blatant partisans to exist (in the WHPR no less)? Then again, our administration has plans so foolish that they've had to fund conservative commentators, with tax dollars, to support ideological standpoints we would expect them to support anyway.
myke.
Hey, people buy into Fox news so I'm sure they don't feel a need to bother.
Besides, that's money that can go to buying more Diebold machines
[/quote]I'm not sure what you mean here; I would argue that Fox is subtle enough (not to us, perhaps, but that's not the point); few people realize that Brit Hume was/is the editor of The Weekly Standard; I doubt many people realize that Alan Colmes was intentionally chosen to play a subservient foil to Sean Hannity (anyone who thinks they are equals is welcome to convince me of that, however).
Why ruin a good thing by allowing blatant partisans to exist (in the WHPR no less)? Then again, our administration has plans so foolish that they've had to fund conservative commentators, with tax dollars, to support ideological standpoints we would expect them to support anyway.
myke.
E-Z-B
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I'm surprised I didn't see a thread started today.
Looks like the Right-Wing's homeboy, Jeff Gannon, has been caught in a little "gay" scandal:
Let's start here first where it was found that he runs a gay-male escort service for men in the military:
Holy crap
by John in DC - 2/8/2005 07:03:16 PM
Let me say again, holy crap.
The blogosphere has dug up some really really really creepy stuff about that pseudo-reporter with the pseudonym who the White House lets ask all the softball questions about their briefings. His pseudonym is Jeff Gannon, and well, the folks at DailyKos, and Eschaton, have been doing a little digging around on him.
It's a long and sordid tale, but let me give it to you in a nutshell. Mr. Gannon's home page is JeffGannon.com. Well, JeffGannon.com is owned by a person and company that owns the following Web addresses as well:
Hotmilitarystud.com
Militaryescorts.com
Militaryescortsm4m.com
And for those of you who are really straight or really clueless, "m4m" is a gay online term for men who are looking to have sex with other men, and "escort" means prostitute. And being a military escort is also against the Uniform Code of Military Justice in at least two different ways, if not more.
Now, I'm not one to judge how folks like to get their jollies (assuming no children are involved and it's consensual), but then again, I don't suck up to the family values agenda like Mr. Gannon does. I've been through Gannon's archives, and it's a horrendous accumulation of religious right suck-up pieces on gay issues. Some are concerned that perhaps it's not fair to hit him with the gay card, if he is gay. Well, take a look at some of the stories from Gannon's Talon News Service: here, here, here Talon is promoting "ex-gays," defending Bush on gay marriage, and Gannon himself writing a story defending Santorum on his man-dog-sex commments about gays. There are lots more, you get the picture.
Oh, and speaking of pictures, they found photos too.
http://americablog.blogspot.com/2005/02/holy-crap_08.html
Next, let's move on to where Jeff Gannon just announced later on that he's quitting Talon news:
Jeff Gannon
A Voice of the New Media
The voice goes silent.
Because of the attention being paid to me I find it is no longer possible to effectively be a reporter for Talon News. In consideration of the welfare of me and my family I have decided to return to private life.
Thank you to all those who supported me.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/9/05353/85271
Finally, let's end with with Rep. Slaughter's memo to the White House demanding them explain how some hack-journalist with no creditials and a fake name (Jeff Gannon is NOT his real name) managed to get daily passes to the White House press conferences. Isn't that a security violation? Ohhhhhh....I forgot. The White House planted him there.
Wednesday, February 9, 2005
The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
In light of the mounting evidence that your Administration has, on several occasions, paid members of the media to advocate in favor of Administration policies, I feel compelled to ask you to address a matter brought to my attention by the Niagara Falls Reporter (article attached), a local newspaper in my district, regarding James "JD" Guckert (AKA Jeff Gannon) of Talon News.
According to several credible reports, "Mr. Gannon" has been repeatedly credentialed as a member of the White House press corps by your office and has been regularly called upon in White House press briefings by your Press Secretary Scott McClellan, despite the fact evidence shows that "Mr. Gannon" is a Republican political operative, uses a false name, has phony or questionable journalistic credentials, is known for plagiarizing much of the "news" he reports, and according to several web reports, may have ties to the promotion of the prostitution of military personnel.
Several weeks ago when it was revealed that radio/TV host Armstrong Williams had received payment from your Administration in exchange for his vocal support of the 'No Child Left Behind' initiative, I was stunned. For years now I have been leading the fight in Congress for fairness and accountability in the media; the Williams revelation only underscored the need for a media that has integrity, is balanced and expresses the local interests and concerns of its consumers.
Since that time, two more members of the media have been found to have received money from your Administration in exchange for their vocal, yet undisclosed support of Administration policies.
And just this morning we have learned that "Mr. Gannon" has resigned his post at the, so called, Talon News amid growing concerns over his controversial background and falsified qualifications. In fact, it appears that "Mr. Gannon's" presence in the White House press corps was merely as a tool of propaganda for your Administration.
Mr. President, I am sure we both agree the White House Press Corps is an honored institution in America that should be beyond the scope of partisan meddling, and that a free and independent media is the cornerstone of our success as a democracy. Likewise, I am sure we can both agree the American people have the right to expect that journalists who question their President everyday are experienced, independent, and perhaps most importantly, unbiased in their approach.
I was already concerned about what appears to be an organized campaign to mask partisan propaganda as legitimate news by your Administration. That we have now learned this same type of deception is occurring inside the White House briefing room itself is even more disturbing.
That is why I am asking you to please explain to the Congress and to the American people how and why the individual known as "Mr. Gannon" was repeatedly cleared by your staff to join the legitimate White House press corps?
Mr. President, your Administration has driven the so-called "values" debate in this country. But the most important value for those of us in public service should always be honesty and integrity, particularly when considering the manner in which we conduct our affairs of state.
I would appreciate your prompt response on this matter.
Respectfully,
/LMS
Louise M. Slaughter
Ranking Member, House Committee on Rules
http://www.louise.house.gov/HoR/Lou...5+Press+Releases/WH+Briefing+Room+Scandal.htm
What's even funnier is that Jeff Gannon has helped boast Bush's gay-bashing policies for awhile now. Rick Santorum -- you're next.
Yet another Republican hypocrit exposed. Like a cockroach, they go scurrying off when the light is shined on them.
Looks like the Right-Wing's homeboy, Jeff Gannon, has been caught in a little "gay" scandal:
Let's start here first where it was found that he runs a gay-male escort service for men in the military:
Holy crap
by John in DC - 2/8/2005 07:03:16 PM
Let me say again, holy crap.
The blogosphere has dug up some really really really creepy stuff about that pseudo-reporter with the pseudonym who the White House lets ask all the softball questions about their briefings. His pseudonym is Jeff Gannon, and well, the folks at DailyKos, and Eschaton, have been doing a little digging around on him.
It's a long and sordid tale, but let me give it to you in a nutshell. Mr. Gannon's home page is JeffGannon.com. Well, JeffGannon.com is owned by a person and company that owns the following Web addresses as well:
Hotmilitarystud.com
Militaryescorts.com
Militaryescortsm4m.com
And for those of you who are really straight or really clueless, "m4m" is a gay online term for men who are looking to have sex with other men, and "escort" means prostitute. And being a military escort is also against the Uniform Code of Military Justice in at least two different ways, if not more.
Now, I'm not one to judge how folks like to get their jollies (assuming no children are involved and it's consensual), but then again, I don't suck up to the family values agenda like Mr. Gannon does. I've been through Gannon's archives, and it's a horrendous accumulation of religious right suck-up pieces on gay issues. Some are concerned that perhaps it's not fair to hit him with the gay card, if he is gay. Well, take a look at some of the stories from Gannon's Talon News Service: here, here, here Talon is promoting "ex-gays," defending Bush on gay marriage, and Gannon himself writing a story defending Santorum on his man-dog-sex commments about gays. There are lots more, you get the picture.
Oh, and speaking of pictures, they found photos too.
http://americablog.blogspot.com/2005/02/holy-crap_08.html
Next, let's move on to where Jeff Gannon just announced later on that he's quitting Talon news:
Jeff Gannon
A Voice of the New Media
The voice goes silent.
Because of the attention being paid to me I find it is no longer possible to effectively be a reporter for Talon News. In consideration of the welfare of me and my family I have decided to return to private life.
Thank you to all those who supported me.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/9/05353/85271
Finally, let's end with with Rep. Slaughter's memo to the White House demanding them explain how some hack-journalist with no creditials and a fake name (Jeff Gannon is NOT his real name) managed to get daily passes to the White House press conferences. Isn't that a security violation? Ohhhhhh....I forgot. The White House planted him there.
Wednesday, February 9, 2005
The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
In light of the mounting evidence that your Administration has, on several occasions, paid members of the media to advocate in favor of Administration policies, I feel compelled to ask you to address a matter brought to my attention by the Niagara Falls Reporter (article attached), a local newspaper in my district, regarding James "JD" Guckert (AKA Jeff Gannon) of Talon News.
According to several credible reports, "Mr. Gannon" has been repeatedly credentialed as a member of the White House press corps by your office and has been regularly called upon in White House press briefings by your Press Secretary Scott McClellan, despite the fact evidence shows that "Mr. Gannon" is a Republican political operative, uses a false name, has phony or questionable journalistic credentials, is known for plagiarizing much of the "news" he reports, and according to several web reports, may have ties to the promotion of the prostitution of military personnel.
Several weeks ago when it was revealed that radio/TV host Armstrong Williams had received payment from your Administration in exchange for his vocal support of the 'No Child Left Behind' initiative, I was stunned. For years now I have been leading the fight in Congress for fairness and accountability in the media; the Williams revelation only underscored the need for a media that has integrity, is balanced and expresses the local interests and concerns of its consumers.
Since that time, two more members of the media have been found to have received money from your Administration in exchange for their vocal, yet undisclosed support of Administration policies.
And just this morning we have learned that "Mr. Gannon" has resigned his post at the, so called, Talon News amid growing concerns over his controversial background and falsified qualifications. In fact, it appears that "Mr. Gannon's" presence in the White House press corps was merely as a tool of propaganda for your Administration.
Mr. President, I am sure we both agree the White House Press Corps is an honored institution in America that should be beyond the scope of partisan meddling, and that a free and independent media is the cornerstone of our success as a democracy. Likewise, I am sure we can both agree the American people have the right to expect that journalists who question their President everyday are experienced, independent, and perhaps most importantly, unbiased in their approach.
I was already concerned about what appears to be an organized campaign to mask partisan propaganda as legitimate news by your Administration. That we have now learned this same type of deception is occurring inside the White House briefing room itself is even more disturbing.
That is why I am asking you to please explain to the Congress and to the American people how and why the individual known as "Mr. Gannon" was repeatedly cleared by your staff to join the legitimate White House press corps?
Mr. President, your Administration has driven the so-called "values" debate in this country. But the most important value for those of us in public service should always be honesty and integrity, particularly when considering the manner in which we conduct our affairs of state.
I would appreciate your prompt response on this matter.
Respectfully,
/LMS
Louise M. Slaughter
Ranking Member, House Committee on Rules
http://www.louise.house.gov/HoR/Lou...5+Press+Releases/WH+Briefing+Room+Scandal.htm
What's even funnier is that Jeff Gannon has helped boast Bush's gay-bashing policies for awhile now. Rick Santorum -- you're next.
Yet another Republican hypocrit exposed. Like a cockroach, they go scurrying off when the light is shined on them.
mykevermin
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Good for slaughter!
I've read everything else. It's a shame that he's going to be remembered more for the military escorts than his false identification or pisspoor questioning standards.
Good riddance to him. Like I said before, he's not the first partisan hack in the WHPR, but he certainly stands out as the worst.
myke.
I've read everything else. It's a shame that he's going to be remembered more for the military escorts than his false identification or pisspoor questioning standards.
Good riddance to him. Like I said before, he's not the first partisan hack in the WHPR, but he certainly stands out as the worst.
myke.
MrBadExample
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This is 
ing hilarious! This is why you have to love Republicans - when they screw up, it's spectacular. They want a hack reporter who will lob softball questions at the administration so they pick a guy with a fake name who runs a gay military prostitution ring. With that kind of strict vetting, I won't be surprised if they find out he was once running al-Qaida.
ing hilarious! This is why you have to love Republicans - when they screw up, it's spectacular. They want a hack reporter who will lob softball questions at the administration so they pick a guy with a fake name who runs a gay military prostitution ring. With that kind of strict vetting, I won't be surprised if they find out he was once running al-Qaida.
mykevermin
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to be fair, "gay military prostitution ring" seems to indicate something illegal is going on (as is the case when the phrase "ring" is used).
What worries me is that this won't tarnish the Repubs at all...they had to worry when he was a hack reporter using a pseudonym. Now that he's been "outed," so to speak, they'll throw him into the fire.
The uproar will become about his sexuality, not about his dubious reporting. That is what worries me.
What worries me is that this won't tarnish the Repubs at all...they had to worry when he was a hack reporter using a pseudonym. Now that he's been "outed," so to speak, they'll throw him into the fire.
The uproar will become about his sexuality, not about his dubious reporting. That is what worries me.
MrBadExample
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[quote name='mykevermin']to be fair, "gay military prostitution ring" seems to indicate something illegal is going on (as is the case when the phrase "ring" is used).
[/quote]
Assuming he's not just doing this in Nevada, prostitution is illegal.
[/quote]
Assuming he's not just doing this in Nevada, prostitution is illegal.
mykevermin
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[quote name='MrBadExample'][quote name='mykevermin']to be fair, "gay military prostitution ring" seems to indicate something illegal is going on (as is the case when the phrase "ring" is used).
[/quote]
Assuming he's not just doing this in Nevada, prostitution is illegal.[/quote]
Good point. This is "escort services" however. I agree that it's nothing more than a semantic argument, but many states do have escort services. The loophole, naturally, is that you, the consumer, pays for their time, and what occurs in that time has no bearing on legality, as far as I know.
myke.
[/quote]
Assuming he's not just doing this in Nevada, prostitution is illegal.[/quote]
Good point. This is "escort services" however. I agree that it's nothing more than a semantic argument, but many states do have escort services. The loophole, naturally, is that you, the consumer, pays for their time, and what occurs in that time has no bearing on legality, as far as I know.
myke.
Trancendental
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Gannon pitches softball questions, but it turns out he's a "catcher" too
mykevermin
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that's pretty classy of you to say
Ah, Jim Guckert. The gift that keeps on giving. So now he's a confirmed gay male prostitute who wrote a slew of anti-gay articles. Given that there are still cursory background checks for daily press passes, you'd have thought they *must* have known that 1.) "Jeff Gannon" was a pseudonym, and 2.) that he was a gay male escort. But the Bush administration has really done a crap job of vetting their people, from Bernie Kerik, to the judge that Bush just nominated that was caught practicing without a license for four years.
Why is "Gannon" so important? Because the White House explicitly treated him differently. They let him ride indefinitely on daily passes, which is extremely unusual, they let him use a pseudonym, which is extremely unusual, and he knew about classified memos about Valerie Plame, which is even more unusual.
Given that he's basically a plant, and given that the administration was already caught doling out payola to Armstrong Williams, Maggie Gallagher and Mike McManus, it seems pretty safe to say that Bush's claims for a "free and independent media" are complete bullshit on its face, in case you still had any smidgin of doubt.
But yeah, like an earlier poster said, it's great when the Republicans get caught in crap like this, because they're so *spectacularly* hypocritical that it just has to make you laugh.
seppo
Why is "Gannon" so important? Because the White House explicitly treated him differently. They let him ride indefinitely on daily passes, which is extremely unusual, they let him use a pseudonym, which is extremely unusual, and he knew about classified memos about Valerie Plame, which is even more unusual.
Given that he's basically a plant, and given that the administration was already caught doling out payola to Armstrong Williams, Maggie Gallagher and Mike McManus, it seems pretty safe to say that Bush's claims for a "free and independent media" are complete bullshit on its face, in case you still had any smidgin of doubt.
But yeah, like an earlier poster said, it's great when the Republicans get caught in crap like this, because they're so *spectacularly* hypocritical that it just has to make you laugh.
seppo
MrBadExample
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Don't forget the fake healthcare "newscasts" the administration made and sent out to local TV stations. Dubya and pals have no trouble erasing the line between reporting and propaganda.
usickenme
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Everytime I hear the Gannon question it reminds me of the simpsons...
Birch Barlow: "Mayor Quimby, you are well known for your lenient stance on crime, but suppose for a second that YOUR house was ransacked by thugs, YOUR family was tied up in the basement with socks in their mouths, you try to open the door but there's too much blood on the knob..."
Mayor Quimby: "What is your question?"
Birch Barlow: "My question is about the budget, sir."
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Gannon:Thank you. Senate Democratic leaders have painted a very bleak picture of the U.S. economy. [Senate Minority Leader] Harry Reid [D-NV] was talking about soup lines. And [Senator] Hillary Clinton [D-NY] was talking about the economy being on the verge of collapse. Yet in the same breath they say that Social Security is rock solid and there's no crisis there. How are you going to work -- you've said you are going to reach out to these people -- how are you going to work with people who seem to have divorced themselves from reality?
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A seperate but related comment was when Bush was being interviewed for the Washington Post. A reporter asked him about "private" accounts and he said the He didn't want any editorializing in the questions.
Birch Barlow: "Mayor Quimby, you are well known for your lenient stance on crime, but suppose for a second that YOUR house was ransacked by thugs, YOUR family was tied up in the basement with socks in their mouths, you try to open the door but there's too much blood on the knob..."
Mayor Quimby: "What is your question?"
Birch Barlow: "My question is about the budget, sir."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gannon:Thank you. Senate Democratic leaders have painted a very bleak picture of the U.S. economy. [Senate Minority Leader] Harry Reid [D-NV] was talking about soup lines. And [Senator] Hillary Clinton [D-NY] was talking about the economy being on the verge of collapse. Yet in the same breath they say that Social Security is rock solid and there's no crisis there. How are you going to work -- you've said you are going to reach out to these people -- how are you going to work with people who seem to have divorced themselves from reality?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A seperate but related comment was when Bush was being interviewed for the Washington Post. A reporter asked him about "private" accounts and he said the He didn't want any editorializing in the questions.
E-Z-B
CAGiversary!
Amazing. Just when you think this story would die, here's another interesting article on DU that I came across tonight:
Gannon was in WH press brief 2/28/2003 - Talon started March 29, 2003
MCLELLAN: 'My understanding was, when he started coming to the White House about two years ago, the staff asked to see that it -- that he represented a news organization that published regularly. And they showed that, so he was cleared and has been cleared ever since based on that time.'
Ladies & gentlemen, he did NOT represent Talon when he first got in the White House - 'Talon News' did not EXIST until Mar 29 2003 and that was LESS than 2 yrs ago.
Further we have a 'Jeff Gannon' claiming on Mar 5 2003 to have been at a White House press briefing where he asked Ari Fleischer the question above.
Was Feb 28 2003 his first time in the White House - or does McClellan's 'more than 2 yrs ago' comment mean that 'Gannon' was in the White House posing as a reporter with NO NEWS SERVICE (not even Talon!) to hide behind.
They even have a screen capture from the C-SPAN video: http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2005/2/16/155840/912/29?mode=alone
Kudos to Intelligence Squad for finding this and Kossacks for getting the screen grab up so quickly, as well as nailing down all the verifiable points. The screen grab is from the C-SPAN Web site White House Daily Briefing from February 28, 2003 here (RealVideo clip). Fast forward to 32:05 and there he is.
Gannon was in WH press brief 2/28/2003 - Talon started March 29, 2003
MCLELLAN: 'My understanding was, when he started coming to the White House about two years ago, the staff asked to see that it -- that he represented a news organization that published regularly. And they showed that, so he was cleared and has been cleared ever since based on that time.'
Ladies & gentlemen, he did NOT represent Talon when he first got in the White House - 'Talon News' did not EXIST until Mar 29 2003 and that was LESS than 2 yrs ago.
Further we have a 'Jeff Gannon' claiming on Mar 5 2003 to have been at a White House press briefing where he asked Ari Fleischer the question above.
Was Feb 28 2003 his first time in the White House - or does McClellan's 'more than 2 yrs ago' comment mean that 'Gannon' was in the White House posing as a reporter with NO NEWS SERVICE (not even Talon!) to hide behind.
They even have a screen capture from the C-SPAN video: http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2005/2/16/155840/912/29?mode=alone
Kudos to Intelligence Squad for finding this and Kossacks for getting the screen grab up so quickly, as well as nailing down all the verifiable points. The screen grab is from the C-SPAN Web site White House Daily Briefing from February 28, 2003 here (RealVideo clip). Fast forward to 32:05 and there he is.
Trancendental
CAGiversary!
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Inside the Mind of Jeff Gannon:
"That Mclellan has a cute body, I wonder what he looks like with a leather whip and assless chaps. Ooops - almost time for me to start pumping some big Republican elephant schlong, now where's that question I'm supposed to ask..."
MrBadExample
CAGiversary!
- Feedback
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Why hasn't Fox News snatched up this guy yet? They could start Queer Eye for the NeoCon.
E-Z-B
CAGiversary!
Looks like MSNBC is calling this a "scandal" now instead of a "flap":
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/#survey
CBS is looking into a Rove-Gannon connection http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/18/opinion/lynch/main675050.shtml
Looks like this is finally reaching MSM.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/#survey
CBS is looking into a Rove-Gannon connection http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/18/opinion/lynch/main675050.shtml
Looks like this is finally reaching MSM.
bread's done