HOLY SHIT, HE REALLY *WAS* BORN OVERSEAS!!!
It turns out the far right has been CORRECT about this all along, and it is beyond upsetting!
Head-spinning! The threat, of course, is that a foreigner not born or raised in U.S., without the innate love of country that such implies, either is himself or brings in people (a) determined to overturn the Constitutional order, and the foreigner (b) actually gets his hands on real power. At the heart of our Republic, the foreigner and his lieutenants use the bully pulpit, move political parties, influence people at every level. Not one of us, he uses his power to sow sedition, promote disorder, etc.
I feel so naïve! Beck has warned us about foreign infiltrators, Fox has warned us, Lou Dobbs has warned us, think of the millions that are in the hands of our enemies and the lengths they may have gone to make this happen! Even Bachmann is somewhat vindicated!
Morally destitute, born an alien to us, disdainful of national laws, he understands only combat and brutality. The people who work for him may be native-born Americans but even they have no loyalty to real democracy, elections,Constitutional order, and they work for somehow who now turns out be a foreigner! One such infiltrator snarled, "If I just had somebody who was willing to sit on the other side... until the last shot is fired, we'd be fine."
That's right. Foreign scumbag investor
Rupert Murdoch owns Newscorp, they own Fox News, and he still owns
disgraceful newspapers in his distant homeland of Australia: Born
overseas, he is without loyalty to the United States, not known to have lived in USA till he was 54 years old when he somehow technically became a citizen and strictly for business reasons. The ugly Australia
record is familiar: now technically living outside Australia, he backed one Aussie politician with vicious
propaganda after the pre-existing Prime Minister refused his demand
that be made ambassador from Australia to U.K. (did the rapscallion want to be an American citizen, yet somehow Australia's
ambassador to yet a third country?).
"MUNGO MacCALLUM: The journalists' copy was being altered. They were given specific instructions on what they could write and what they couldn't write. And where the instructions weren't specific, they learnt pretty bloody quickly because nothing appeared in the paper if it didn't follow the line. It was the most extraordinarily ruthless and one-sided political coverage I think any of us can remember and we devoutly hope we never see it again.
MAX SUICH: It was the first time he'd really unleashed a ferocious campaign against a politician in an unfair fashion. The manner in which it was done was undoubtedly in breach of journalistic ethics.
KEN AULETTA: The one-sided coverage sparked demonstrations. Murdoch's papers were burned in the streets. And then Murdoch's own journalists walked out. It was a rarity-- reporters striking not over money, but ethics." (Wow, character! We don't see former journalist-turned prostitute Chris Wallace fussing about no ethics, do we?!)
As we see, it wasn't news there either.
"[N]ow he wanted a favor
from Prime Minister Fraser: a change in the laws regarding the
ownership of T.V. stations. Murdoch's plans to expand into foreign
markets conflicted with laws requiring station owners to maintain
their permanent residence in Australia. Fraser had the law changed." Fraser was basically blackmailed by Murdoch that otherwise he'd unleash his hideous agitprop machine.
CONCLUSION: We should have heeded the cautions of the far right and Fox
itself. A man born overseas pulling strings in our midst, we have a ruthless public enemy. It is an
outrage that a foreign man with this odious record controls the
thinking of millions of spineless sheep, and even potent madmen like Dick Cheney who required that Fox's tawdry propaganda be tuned in whereever he went (but the latter is a record of shame and failure all its own).
There ought to be a law against this, but as if see from Australia, if
such a noxious parasite gets those fangs in to begin with, it can grow so
strong as to have the law itself changed, undermining the public interest. Good God, and they TRIED TO WARN US!!!
















Very well done...
October 19, 2009 10:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks a lot, Grouch. You know that I value your views. Best, OT.
October 19, 2009 10:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Ugly Australian?
Now that's fresh!
Maybe that mysterious fascist flow we absorbed here after WW2 has gone down-under, and as the dollar slides, the AUD will become the new greed standard.
October 19, 2009 10:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's out-of-context, Bro, and I hope you realize! Australia has produced a lot of wonderful things and people and they also belched up Rupert Murdoch. We expelled the Alien Richard Cheney and his freak-show spawn Liz (in addition to your apparent beefs), so we got nothin' to lord over our cousins down under!
BTW you look like an Aussie I used to play with in a group, no lie. The Old Grouch, quoted above, is a muso too in case you don't know.
October 19, 2009 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Please, no offense was meant.
I envy your voting requirements, if everyone here was REQUIRED to vote, then we'd have a much better government. Ande a much broader representation of the electorate in our elected officials.
But if ever there was an Aussie version of The Ugly American it's Murdoch.(do you know what that term "Ugly American" means? If not, it's an easy google...)
October 19, 2009 3:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
From Wikipedia;
"Ugly American is an epithet used to refer to perceptions of loud, arrogant, demeaning, thoughtless and ethnocentric behavior of American citizens mainly abroad, but also at home. Although the term is usually associated with or applied to travellers and tourists, it also applies to US corporate businesses in the international arena."
See my point?
October 19, 2009 3:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Americans and Germans are the loudest BTW in my experience, Americans taking first prize.
Maybe in part because we are acculturated in terms of wide-open spaces, whereas many grow in apartments and the like.
Seriously, I've been overseas for a good few years now, and it is striking how sometimes you can hear the American diners chatting obliviously 9 tables away. In truth, I don't fully understand it, and I mean this only with goodwill for all and for the information and consideration of all.
Thanks for visiting BTW, you were one of the first two, and I do appreciate it! -- Best, OT
October 19, 2009 4:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Glad to lend a voice. I would like to extrapolate a bit on that "fascist flow" comment, too, but it would probably make a better blog than a comment. But here's my short version.
My theory is that in Germany, a long-time imperial and corporate power base, there was something of a "beast" of fascism that tried to conquer and subjugate Europe, and along with their fellow Axis of Evil pals, they lost their power and were themselves subjugated by The West (U.S.).
So we became the ultimate power in the world, regardless of the Soviet threat, we were then and are still are the most powerful nation in the world (think 30,000 nukes).
As such, we suffered that reliable old axiom "ultimate power corrupts ultimately) and we BECAME The Ugly American. Especially our military/industrial corporate "beast."
While it is not the traditional definition of "The Ugly American", it is certainly appropriate.
And as such, our currency became the world standard.
But now that China has Walmarted our money away from us with cheap labor and Bush buddies, that currency has lost considerable value, due as much to China's regressive currency policies as to our own constant consumer bubbleism.
Your reference to "The ugly Australia record is familiar:" set my mind to wandering about Murdock as the new UGLY, and that the mantle of fascism had passed on to another body. Thus my comment about "The Ugly Australian" and the AUD replacing The Ugly American" and the buck.
But I think, on deeper consideration, that mantle has actually passed to a new world order we call "multinational corporations."
It is no longer bound by geography, or owned by any one nation or nationality.
It is now internationally pervasive, appearing in every nation, under the guise of ultra-conservative leaders who have co-opted their conservative fellows into a global economy that denies individual rights and promotes corporate dominance, literally "the love of money."
Considering our nation was founded on individual rights, that corporate entity does not bode well for freedom, justice, and The American Way. Our own corporate monopolists have bought our government away from We, the People, via campaign contributions, K-Street and golf outings to Scotland. And the last best hope of mankind on Earth, or at least our government, is now wholly owned by the worst of them.
October 20, 2009 12:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
If people are so dumb-ass disinterested they can't vote on their own, why would their votes help? Would they inform themselves at all on candidates or issues? Think of the initiatives that can be on a ballot; at least in Colorado, we are amendment and initiative Crazy. Our ballots require cheat sheets to take to the polls.
What sort of music do you play? I used to play and sing, too.
October 19, 2009 4:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'll post a link one of these days, whgen I get some stuff where people can listen.
As for this;
" If people are so dumb-ass disinterested they can't vote on their own,"
That "disinterest is promoted quite perniciously by the Right, whose membership, though a minority, constitutes a majority of the voting public, at least until 2006.
Think about the Patriot Act for a moment, and ponder that, if we are going to give up ANY of our rights, it should be the right not to vote.
As a "pure democracy" advocate, I believe we all should be voting on laws, not lawmakers. Call me idealistic (still), but we have the technology now to accomplish this.
And how often, if the public were to have that voice, would we have made changes our lawmakers have been bribed to avoid. And I mean bribe" as campaign contributions.
October 19, 2009 9:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
NAILED IT!!!!
Beware of foreign influences as well as foreign influenza. hahahahaha
October 19, 2009 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Now, what's funny, of course, is how all these chest-thumping, low-information tough guys *hate* foreigners, curse those who would allow them to have any say in our national affairs whatsoever, and swear by an ideology of xenophobia and distrust!
And here is their leader!!
October 19, 2009 2:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you look at Murdoch right in the eyes you will turn to stone, how do I know this....well let's just say I know, Yes he is really, really ugly. :D
October 19, 2009 10:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Now that got me to laughin'!!! =D
October 19, 2009 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
I love this Grouch. You should be hired by the WhiteHouse immediately.
October 19, 2009 3:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Grouch, Professor B?
October 19, 2009 3:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Okay, seriously. Grouch is one of my favorite people. No bad energy in any way intended, he and I are, I think, together on this, value you as well without doubt, so thanks from "us"!
October 19, 2009 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry about that OT. I've been commenting ferociously today and apparently directed my comments at Grouch instead of you. LOL Even the Professor is not infalible.
October 19, 2009 3:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
As Harry Tuttle would say, Prof, "We're all in this together!" My very best to you, Good Prof! Maybe see you later depending how things go!
Your allegiant servitor,
Overreach THIS!
October 19, 2009 4:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's all good, guys...
October 19, 2009 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
This was great!! Thanks Grouch
October 19, 2009 5:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Or put another way,
"THIS! is the name."
"*Overreach* THIS!"
Still, you're the coolest, Lousgirl and Lou is a lucky man indeed! Just sayin', okay?
Very respectfully,
Overreach THIS!
October 19, 2009 5:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously, glad you like it and don't be mad at me, okay?
October 19, 2009 5:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ah, yeah!
Thanks again for this great post, Grouch! YOU THE MAN!!!
October 19, 2009 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
In the words of DD: Hahahahahahaha...
October 19, 2009 6:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ha! OT: excellent post. But you did get my hopes up (as hope springs eternal) -- I thought you had discovered that CHENEY was born abroad (no slur on his mother intended). Thanks anyway.
October 19, 2009 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ah, I'm right there with ya, WW!
Would have been sweet!
Is it possible that the most we can hope for now is medical confirmation that Liz Cheney was born to a brooding sociopath? (Which we already well knew?)
Thanks!!
October 19, 2009 5:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
She'd hate the allusion, but little Acorns, ya know?
October 19, 2009 6:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Some allusion-hatin' woman you talkin' bout, too, WWS!!
October 19, 2009 6:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
He can't be a foreigner, can he? I mean .... he's WHITE!
I can almost hair that blue-haired, denture clacking ol' polyester mouthbreather at the McCain rally ("He's ... he's an Arab...") responding to this in this way.
Great piece, OT. You've nailed an interesting point about demons and "others" and hypocrisy - all of which seems to drive the mission statement at Fox.
October 19, 2009 6:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
SleepingJeezus,thanks a lot for the thoughtful remarks, much appreciated indeed!
That mouthbreeder, with her,"He's ... he's an Arab!..." Well, that actually haunts me, and several times a week I will think of her. My fellow American spouting, yes, of demons and "others." Except, of course, that African Americans have been in USA for almost 500 years, not that we're counting.
Hypocrisy? Yes, but don't short-sell stupidity, friend!!
Best, OT.
October 19, 2009 6:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Crazy McCain Lady" was the moment I finally saw the recognition in the old man's eyes of what he had done to his Presidential aspirations by embracing Palin and the crazies. It's sad, though, that I still don't think he realizes the damage his sowing of the wind has done to the country he served and professes to love so much.
October 19, 2009 7:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
btw, liked your post, Murdoch is a snake, and his "news" network's a cesspool.
October 19, 2009 7:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Concise, incisive, and and insightful, Mr. Fruit Juicy! Cesspool! Yesirree! =D
October 20, 2009 8:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
The McCain lady is definitely iconic for me, as is the lady at one of the first teabagger Town Hall Meetings who committed the impassioned rant about her military family and the generations of Americans in her family, who closed her comments almost in tears pleading "I want my country back!" It is a visceral message that far outstrips the simple words that express it, and it is very ugly and scary indeed.
As for "don't short-sell stupidity," I'm inclined to say I would expect that to show up engraved on the wall on something like the "George Walker Bush Presidential Library & Waffle House." Among all his many faults, I think he must surely rank as one of the most ignorant men to ever hold the office, and most certainly the least intellectually curious.
October 20, 2009 9:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
This was interesting from the Wikipedia entry...
Fox News did not portray Obama more favorably (they never even let up with the bs barage as far as I can figure) and now we have the White House sending the message that Fox News isn't really the news. Fox is all whiney about it and is conducting a poll on their website that is beyond ridiculous.
Hmmm.
Maybe our Prez is a bit more gutty than what shows on the surface?
Great write-up, Overreach THIS! (not to be confused with Grouch).
October 19, 2009 7:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, this tentative truce story is very interesting, and it is indeed the "back story" I think to a lot of what is going on.
Obama was about to smack them down back then. The tentative truce consisted of empty assurances by Murdoch and Ailes, while they went about hiring Glenn Beck. Obama people have seen it, drawn their conclusions, and Fox will now be cast adrift.
October 20, 2009 3:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
And also, Murdock started Fox News because he wanted to best Ted Turner's CNN.
Are we pawns in their game? I mean, could the baggy tea partiers simply be the physical evidence of two guys that think they're such big fucking deals that they can manipulate the populace?
Jeebus Cripes. Are we being played, OT?
That's all I have for now. My tinfoil hat is starting to hurt my hair.
October 19, 2009 8:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
My take is I don't regard Murdoch as seeing himself as a member of any kind of two guys.
It's all about Murdoch. MHO.
October 20, 2009 3:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
This topic is gaining traction. (Finally)
The O’Garbage Factor
Fox News isn't just bad. It's un-American.
By Jacob Weisberg | NEWSWEEK
Published Oct 17, 2009
From the magazine issue dated Oct 26, 2009
http://www.newsweek.com/id/218192/output/print
October 19, 2009 8:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fox is un-American?
Isn't that what OT meant by this post?
October 19, 2009 9:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
JEP07, I really was just commenting on OT's overall FOX meme. More appropriate placed after his wonderful ROGER AND ME piece.
flicklives
(A.K.A. Dex from Tex)
October 20, 2009 6:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
Flicklives, thanks much for the appreciation!
"We're all in this together!" - Harry Tuttle.
October 20, 2009 6:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you and keep up the good work.
Nuns love buffer marks - T. Moresco
flicklives-
October 20, 2009 8:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
OMG!!!!!!!!!
October 20, 2009 8:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just bein' snarky, didn't intend it as dig... You did offer a very short version of the whole work, flick, and I agree, we are all in this together.
October 20, 2009 9:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, thanks for that! Interesting to see this appearing in Newsweek.
Very interesting, in fact: By tackling this, WH has made "Fox is not news" a valid topic of inquiry. Whereas two weeks ago it was more, "What is the mainstream missing that Fox has plugged into?"
NICE TO SEE!
October 20, 2009 3:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Very nice send-up and all too true.
October 20, 2009 3:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, and thanks for visiting.
Just thinking about what a bunch of patsies these are, the viewers, you know? To get all excited about propaganda. I guess it goes on in North Korea, too.
October 20, 2009 4:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Schweet!
October 20, 2009 6:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Guess what?
We have in our midst a lot of global corporations which are U.S. based, enjoy unfettered access to our public officials but conduct their business operations in ways that are often disadvantageous or even flat harmful to the United States.
This very much gives the lie to their claims of corporate personhood. This is an ethically, if not legally, corrupt mechanism however you might wish to express it.
There is an awful lot that we so need to change. Our morality and ethics are clean off the rails.
October 20, 2009 8:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good job, OT. Good job.
October 20, 2009 8:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks a lot, Minne! Gets your blood up, don't it?
October 20, 2009 8:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Okay, wait, are you trying to tell me that Australia isn't a U.S. state? You liberals are so ignorant of geography.
October 20, 2009 9:04 AM | Reply | Permalink