pudge's Journal: Media Matters Lying, Again

The leftwing Media Matters lies. A lot. And their page of Palin Myths is no exception.

There's several objectionable claims included in their list of "myths and falsehoods" in the media coverage of Sarah Palin, but the most obviously and clearly false is: "Media fail to challenge McCain camp talking point that Palin is 'commander in chief' of the Alaska National Guard."

It is true that the media fail to challenge it, of course, just as the media also fails to challenge the claim that Bush is the commander-in-chief of the U.S. Armed Forces, and the claim that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

Every governor is the commander-in-chief of their national guard, when not in active federal service. And as Alaska Statute 26.05.060 states, "The governor as ex officio commander of the militia of the state has command of the Alaska National Guard and the Alaska Naval Militia while they are not in active federal service."

Cross-posted on <pudge/*>.

My closest insight into the NG

[smittyoneeach]

My closest insight into the NG was a case study of the Rhode Island NG for a Naval War College Class.
The main point of the governor wearing the CINC hat is to retain civilian control of the military. This has to do with posse comitatus [wikipedia.org], and an aversion to troops running about going back to colonial days. But I'm sure you know all that.
Trying to say that Palin's tenure as governor counts as meaningful experience is about as meaningful as any attacks on BHO's record is about as meaningful as a sandcastle

Re:

[pudge]

Trying to say that Palin's tenure as governor counts as ...

All I am saying is that she is commander-in-chief. Which she is. And MM directly implied that this fact should be challenged as a myth or falsehood. Which it is not.

So, Media Matters is engaging in political propaganda. Dog bites man. Claims of "lying", any more, have all the weight of claims of "unfairness".

Except that it actually is a lie.

Re:

[smittyoneeach]

All I am saying is that she is commander-in-chief. Which she is.

I didn't dispute the direction of the vector, just the magnitude. 'Tis a difference making little difference.

Except that it actually is a lie.

So really, now. I can extend sympathy to actual innocents sucked in by a quack. But who is the bigger goofball: an idiot speaker, or a knowledgeable audience paying attention to the idiot?

Re:

[pudge]

All I am saying is that she is commander-in-chief. Which she is.

I didn't dispute the direction of the vector, just the magnitude. 'Tis a difference making little difference.

I disagree. MM is constantly lying. Occasionally I will point out those lies, thereby undermining any faith people may have in them. In this case, the lie matters, because they do not want people to know that in fact she IS the commander-in-chief, because it makes her look better than they want her to look.

Except that it actually is a lie.

So really, now. I can extend sympathy to actual innocents sucked in by a quack. But who is the bigger goofball: an idiot speaker, or a knowledgeable audience paying attention to the idiot?

Unfortunately, MM is widely read by people who don't know any better.

Re:

[Bill Dog]

Substantial matters, such as WTF to do about the malignant growth of entitlement spending, or the over-concentration of power in DC, will be deemed too boring,...

Not boring, just unsubstantial. Remember, to about half the country, "substantial matters" instead include how we're going to provide health insurance for every American, and how we're going to win the war on Global Warming. Substance is in the eye of the beholder. The claims of lying will definitely be there, as when one side is willing to lie to

Re:

[smittyoneeach]

How, indeed?
The fact that entitlement spending is increasing, and people

• are not questioning the very constitutionality of a federal solution
• are not questioning the cash flow that will provide for the entitlement in the near term
• are not questioning the implementation of the entitlement, such that lying politicians can't crash it in the long term (see Social Security)

is truly terrifying.
OK, I'll admit to being a Perot voter in '92.
Am I simply doing insufficient drugs to go along with the madness?

Re:

[Bill Dog]

People are too caught up in their own lives and its problems to question anything like that. Remember, we're told to think of ourselves as "victims" -- of "Big Oil", discrimination, Republicans, etc. And we need govt. to help us. McCain said in his nomination acceptance speech something to the effect that he wants govt. to stand side-by-side with us and help us in our lives. Now *that's* terrifying, esp. coming from a supposed Republican. I don't want govt. anywhere near me. Go guard the borders and leave m

Re:

[smittyoneeach]

Scroll down for the bear pic on this link:
http://rachellucas.com/index.php/2008/09/08/stuff-i-just-bought/ [rachellucas.com]

Disingenuous...

[cascadefx]

This is disingenuous as her "commander in chief" experience has been brought up to show her foreign relations experience.

And, as you have pointed out, that's bunk.

 

Re:

[pudge]

This is disingenuous as her "commander in chief" experience has been brought up to show her foreign relations experience.

If MM wanted to say "she did not get foreign relations experience as Alaska's commander in chief," they could have tried to make that argument. They did not. They said it is a "myth or falsehood" that she was Alaska's commander in chief.

Re:

[cascadefx]

Then explain why McCain was using her position as Commander in Chief to bolster her foreign relations experience.

http://www.politicalbase.com/profile/Chris%20Brown/blog/&blogId=3689 [politicalbase.com]

I agree that she is the Commander in Chief, but ONLY where it relates to the Guard's activities WITHIN Alaska.

By taking her real powers out of context to bolster a spurious argument, McCain opens Palin for attacks against her as the Commander in Chief of the DEPLOYED troops. The fact that she is the Commander in Chief of the

Re:

[pudge]

Then explain why ...

Where does this "then" come from? You appear to be having an argument I am not having. I am only saying they are wrong to imply it is "myth or falsehood" that she is commander in chief of the Alaska National Guard. They are wrong. They are lying.

What you are discussing is a valid topic for discussion, but not one I am having right now. I am not avoiding the discussion, I am just too busy right now to get involved with every valid topic of discussion. I'd love to post about MSNBC and Olbermann and bias

Re:

[cascadefx]

Point taken.

I guess I have been coming at the Commander in Chief argument from the perspective above. Sure it gives her experience if she has actually exercised those responsibilities (I have no idea how much she has deployed them as Governor), but I don't think it lends to her foreign relations experience and I think that it is a sign of weakness for McCain to try to use it as such.

In my opinion, he should just say that she has executive experience as CiC and list the the times that she has exercised thos

Re:

[pudge]

Sure it gives her experience if she has actually exercised those responsibilities (I have no idea how much she has deployed them as Governor), but I don't think it lends to her foreign relations experience and I think that it is a sign of weakness for McCain to try to use it as such.

Three quick points.

Yes, none of us really know how she has exercised those responsibilities, or what information she was privy to.

Yes, it looks weak of McCain to use that to make her look experienced on foreign affairs.

Yes, it looks weak of Obama to use the things he has, to make himself look experienced on foreign affairs. Seriously, going on a European tour this summer gives him experience? :-)

My head hurts, I need to stop typing. Later ...