Z-News Notes

This blog will be archived at zoreks.com

2015-03-17T21:26:00.000-05:00

I just decided I have too many irons int he fire and need to eliminate some things. Though this blog has been here longer than any of the others, it is also the one I get back too least in recent times. So, it will be here until i get everything archived at zoreks.com

I will be merging this with Z-Mississippi News Notes and posting stuff that I would have posted here over there.

“We don’t know what he (President Obama) is going to do executive order-wise

2014-11-06T20:48:00.002-06:00

on immigration, but if he makes a major move along the lines of what we’ve been hearing, which is to give some sort of status to keep millions in this country with some sort of special visa, that would be like, just popping a grenade and throwing it in the middle of the Senate floor.” --Candy Crowley (CNN)

Chris Matthews on Obama Not Understading what "Common Ground" is

2014-11-05T17:21:00.001-06:00

Chris Matthews

"What bothered me about him [today] he keeps talking about common ground. Damn it, there's very little common ground between left and right, but what there is is compromise. You do something for me on minimum wage, I'll do something for you in corporate tax reform. You give me something on corporate tax reform and I'll get rid of some of the loopholes or I'll do something on trade for you. He never talks about trading and compromising, he always talks about common ground. Well, damn it, you can not run a government on common ground.
He misses the main point of politics which is to be a politician and to trade. Okay, you want this? You want to take care of people who have been here illegally for 20, 30 years? Here's what I want. No more illegal hiring, and that's all in the Senate bill. But he won't sell the compromise. There's something in this guy that just plays to his constituency and acts like there is no other room out there. And that's going to be a collision at the end of this year like you have never seen. I do believe it will be like waving a red flag in front of the bull. I think Mitch McConnell is headed for a fight with the president."

Krauthammer: If someone wants to cry racist "I will not give them the dignity of a response."

2014-11-01T18:58:00.000-05:00

Charles Krauthammer

“It’s not just that they are the party in government, they are the party of government,” he continued. “It’s not just their values are wrong, their ambitions for government are wrong. They can’t run the damn thing! And that’s why there’s this huge resentment against the Democratic Party and that’s why they’ve got to start calling people names.”

"I think that when you’re accused of being a racist, you don’t even dignify the accusation with a response because then you’re conceding the premise. I have to prove I’m not a racist. I oppose the president because of his policies, I have since the beginning of his administration. If someone wants to imply on account of his race, I will not give them the dignity of a response."

Sarah Palin: Those haters out there. They don't understand that it invigorates me

2014-11-01T16:45:00.002-05:00

Sarah Palin

Asked during an interview on the Fox Business Network if “hatred” towards her from critics has driven her out of political life, the onetime Alaska governor said that opponents actually have the opposite effect on her ambitions.

“No, bless their hearts, those haters out there. They don't understand that it invigorates me, it wants me to get out there and defend the innocent. It makes me want to work so hard for justice in this country,” she said. “So hey, the more they are pouring on, the more I'm gonna bug the crap out of them by being out there with the voice, with the message, hopefully running for office in the future too.” (SOURCE: NBC News)

Considerata On Journalists and Experts

2014-10-27T12:16:00.000-05:00

Condensed from a 2013 article by Tom Verenna

When it comes to defining ‘scholars’, journalists seem to have the hardest time actually determining who fits the bill; those that actually have earned that title are confused, for instance, with scientists (and are sometimes labeled as such), whereas those with no credibility whatsoever are given the esteemed honor of being a ‘scholar’ or ‘historian’ or ‘expert’.

First, a layperson who self-publishes a book on something isn’t an ‘expert’. They may be considered an enthusiast, an amateur, a hobbyist, a thrill-seeker. These are polite titles. More often than not, however, people who only self-publish do so because they do not want to have their ideas vetted by pesky things like editors, peers, or actual experts. So less polite, but certainly more accurate, titles for many of these sorts of individuals might be ‘conspiracy theorist’, ‘loon’, or ‘Indiana Jones Wanna-be’ (actually this isn’t a complement).

Second, let us stop calling the self-published tomes of these sorts of people, who have zero credibility, ‘theses’. This isn’t a thesis. To a layperson, with no background in the relevant field, any claim or argument that is new to them will appear to be ground-breaking. That doesn’t mean that it is actually new, or useful, or even correct.

The purpose of peer review, of academic vetting, is to determine how well an argument or hypothesis can withstand criticism. If the author of this book does not bother to go through this process, even unofficially, by having his book examined by experts prior to publication, then s/he does not have any grounds to claim that it is anything spectacular. That isn’t to say that an uncredentialed person cannot produce a solid book on a subject. It may actually be ground-breaking, it may be earth-shattering, but if it hasn’t been vetted by other people with credentials then there is no means by which one can claim that it is.

Fair and Balanced??

Third, if you are ever unsure about whether or not someone has produced a new theory, and you are curious if this individual is trustworthy, as a journalist you have several options: (1) Google their CV—if they have a CV, check to see if they have some credibility (are academically published, have formal education or training in the relevant fields, etc…), (2) if you don’t trust Google, ask other scholars (your local University has them; they are underpaid—but they will help you), (3) engage with the material yourself (instead of, you know, just republishing the PR Web article or press release without any critical thoughts about it), (4) provide a basic caveat emptor that you are (presumably, as a journalist) not qualified to judge the arguments in the book and request your readers investigate the issue on their own critically, (5) don’t automatically label them as a Scholar, but look for signs (do they have a graduate degree or doctorate? Have they at least been published academically? Have they some engagement with scholars in a critical way? Are other scholars—not laypeople—praising their work? Aim for at least two of these three things before giving an individual press time).

What is perhaps most important to remember is that what you write will resonate with laypeople—your work, as journalists for professional news outlets, gives legitimacy to an idea. So choose wisely and carefully. It is your responsibility to examine the individual and the sources and their theories before you write on them. If you fail to do so, you fail your audience. The second you publish that article, it will be shared one-hundred, one-thousand, perhaps tens-of-thousands of times during its lifespan (before being dumped into a pay-wall archive). So please, for the love of Pete, take the time needed to make sure that you are not putting a crank and their crazy conspiracy theory on a pedestal before you publish. There is nothing more embarrassing for a journalist, I imagine, than highlighting a concept that is absolutely beyond credible. And it drives people like me, who take history seriously, to drink.

Cross Posted Here

Rush Limbaugh on Carol Costello: "Now, here's Carol Costello, a supposed feminist, a supposed opponent of violence against women.

2014-10-24T23:49:00.000-05:00

I mean, would just be angry as hell if any other woman had been treated this way. Had they been attacked and it was on audiotape and she was playing it, she would be righteously indignant and probably blaming the Republican War on Women. But here she's eating it up. Here she just loves it, a supposed feminist, a supposed opponent of violence against women, presented an audiotape of a young woman describing being attacked and beaten by a bunch of drunken men as the most delicious thing she had ever heard in her life. "

Andrea Tantaros on Obama: “He has blamed everyone else but himself."

2014-10-24T21:27:00.000-05:00

“It’s the media’s fault. He says it’s our fault because we don’t understand ObamaCare. He thinks it’s everybody’s fault but his. He’s incredibly arrogant.”

Crooks & Liars Writer Feels Getting Shot Randomly by low income is worse then by a terrorist

2014-10-24T19:22:00.000-05:00

At least that's how one could interpret her editorializing of Bill O'Reilly's talking points commentary where he said that the number one problem in the word is "Muslim Terrorism."

The author of the article uses the name "Heather." (Ever notice so many "brave" left websites are loaded with authors who do not bother to use their own names? Heaven forbid that any of them could be held accountable for writing anything stupid ):

Bill O'Reilly took his turn piling onto President Obama over the Ottawa shooting this week, and pretending that he just wants to coddle the Islamic terrorists during his Talking Points Memo this Thursday night. He also used the occasion to proclaim that our number one problem in the world is "Muslim Terrorism."

Not hunger, or poverty, or war, or income disparity, or disease, or the multitude of other problems that most people could rattle off pretty quickly if you asked them what real problems we have in the world that are making most of the world's population along with a good number of our fellow American citizens' lives miserable. Nope. The Islamic terrorists are coming to get you. Be afraid! Be very afraid!

I watched some of the accounts coming out of Washington's high school shooting today and one of the most common responses was "I just couldn't believe it could ever happen here." Granted it was not Muslim terrorism, but if you ever read accounts of terrorist attacks the response is the same. That is why it is called terrorism. It strikes usually quite random and with no warning.

The list of things that the author feels are more important are certainly important but I'm not quite sure why the author thinks "war" and "terrorism" are different except that she has likely lived in what people think is a "safe bubble" in the USA where we haven't had wars on our home front. So we think it can't a happen here. ISIS, however, DOES want it here. Hence, home grown terrorism.

Conservatives have been warning for years about the possibility of Jihad attacks here in the USA. Lefties mocked them every time. Conservatives said they would likely rise up from people who are currently in our own country. Still, even as it is happening, there are many still in denial or selective reality (which is basically the same).

"Heather" also mentioned disease. It has been that imaginary "safety bubble" that people live in here and especially in the USA that they think they are immune from Ebola. Some of them who did get it seem so surprised after they purposely did not follow all procedures to keep themselves safe.

In order to change your mind, you have to have one. The "war on women" incantation is mindless

2014-10-19T11:08:00.001-05:00

— a substitute for thought." --George Will

Obama "has been remarkably ill-adept at policy making, policy selling, adapting to changing circumstances, finding a constancy in his behavior.

2014-10-17T18:29:00.001-05:00

John Podhoretz

"Instead, it's all this solipsism: me, me, me. We've seen over the last six weeks how his position on ISIS has shifted, on Syria, and even now how his thinking about treating Ebola is shifting. He can't find a core because I don't think he has a policy core." --John Podhoretz 10.08.14

Meghan McCain hearts Bill O'Reilly

2014-10-17T18:20:00.001-05:00

Meghan McCain

“I actually had a boyfriend who I dated awhile ago, he and I got in a huge fight because I watch Bill O’Reilly every night in bed and he’s like, ‘I don’t want to watch Bill O’Reilly with you in bed every night. That kind of ultimately led to our breakup.” --Meghan McCain to US News & World Report's Nikki Scwab

We’re just under a month away from the elections and once again, sorry to say, we Democrats have failed to make our case.

2014-10-16T16:19:00.001-05:00

...We have a platform that says the major focus for Democrats is, very simply, to ensure equality, to lift up the lower and middle classes, to keep our bodies healthy and our environment safe, to never be Republicans." --Ramona Grigg 10.04.14

MSNBC's Phil Griffin on why MSNBC Ratings are so Bad:

2014-10-16T16:07:00.001-05:00

Phil Griffin

“You can look at the dysfunction in Washington, the wariness about politics, the low approval ratings. That’s had an impact. But we’ve got to adjust; we’ve got to evolve.” --Phil Griffin 10.14.14.

Ben Shapiro: The Myth of the Tiny Radical Muslim Minority

2014-10-16T09:25:00.000-05:00

Shepard Smith: "You should have no concerns about Ebola at all. None. I promise"

2014-10-16T08:24:00.001-05:00

Shepard Smith

...Do not listen to the hysterical voices on the radio and the television or read the fear-provoking words online. The people who say and write hysterical things are being very irresponsible........We do not have an outbreak of Ebola in the United States. Nowhere. We do have two healthcare workers who contracted the disease from a dying man. They are isolated. There is no information to suggest that the virus has spread to anyone in the general population in America. Not one person in the general population in the United States." --Shepard Smith 10.15.14

Quit With the Apologizing: The Boston Herald Does Not Owe Anyone an Apology

2014-10-07T20:15:00.000-05:00

Now we have a major newspaper apologizing for an editorial cartoon. The cartoonist explained the intent. That should be enough.

Officials from The Boston Herald will meet with the NAACP following the publication of an editorial cartoon many deemed offensive, reports The Associated Press. The cartoon, which the paper says was meant to satirize the White House intruder incident, features a man taking a bath while President Obama brushes his teeth. "Have you tried the new watermelon flavored toothpaste?" the man asks POTUS.

Jerry Holbert, the cartoonist, has apologized, saying he was inspired after finding watermelon-flavored toothpaste at his home. “I was completely naive or innocent to any racial connotations,” he said. “I wasn’t thinking along those lines at all.”

The newspaper has also apologized, saying, “Both the newspaper and cartoonist intended no such inference and immediately apologized for the pain its publication may have caused."
The Boston-area NAACP organized the meeting between itself, officials from the newspaper, and the community members. It has also called on the newspaper to provide diversity training.

Raymond Ibrahim Byte

2014-10-04T18:59:00.000-05:00

MSNBC Points Finger at NRA For 'Making the Ebola Crisis Worse'

2014-10-04T06:10:00.001-05:00

MSNBC anchor Krystal Ball and NBC correspondent Anne Thompson shamelessly politicized the Ebola crisis in a Thursday op-ed on MSNBC.com. Ball and Thompson bewailed how due to "Senate dysfunction and NRA opposition, we don't have a surgeon general right now....during a time when, we not only have Ebola arriving on our shores, but are also dealing with the mysterious Enterovirus, which is infecting and contributing to the deaths of children in the U.S."

MSNBC Points Finger at NRA For 'Making the Ebola Crisis Worse'

MSNBC's Ed Schultz Praises Germany: 'Here's Some Good Socialism!'

2014-10-04T06:05:00.001-05:00

Liberal MSNBC anchor Ed Schultz could barely contain himself on Thursday as he gushed over Germany's "socialism." The country officially scrapped tuition fees and this sent Schultz into a fit of envy: "We need to take a page out of the country Germany. Here's some good socialism for you!" [MP3 audio here.] -

See more at: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/scott-whitlock/2014/10/02/ed-schultz-praises-germany-heres-some-good-socialism#sthash.kGkzWoWa.dpuf

Chris Wallace Bashes 'Crybaby' Fox Hosts For Whining About Obama Diss (VIDEO)

2014-10-04T03:22:00.001-05:00

Chris Wallace had some tough love Friday morning for his Fox News colleagues
that took issue with President Barack Obama knocking the network in a
televised speech.

Chris Wallace Bashes 'Crybaby' Fox Hosts For Whining About Obama Diss (VIDEO)

Greg Gutfeld Byte 09.19.14

2014-09-19T19:43:00.001-05:00

Peter Wehner on Obama 09.11.14

2014-09-12T23:11:00.001-05:00

Greg Gutfeld Kills Obama's ISIS Address

2014-09-12T16:18:00.003-05:00

Thomas Sowell Byte 09.11.14

2014-09-12T16:06:00.000-05:00