Fake News or just old fashioned Propaganda?

Update: I wanted to update my article on "Fake News" with a link to an article I read by a liberal blogger today that very articulately and much more thoroughly reflects my own position. The article by John Laurits can be found Here.  John highlights the dangers of what organizations like Google and Facebook are doing in including legitimate news sites like Breitbart, RedFlag, Info Wars, Red State and others. in their ban on Fake News when these sites are clearly NOT Fake News anymore than CNN is.  However, these sites do express a political viewpoint that Google and Facebook don't agree with.  The question is who decides what is "Fake" and what is Not.  Who determines it?  What criteria is used?

There have been a recent spate of articles on "Fake News". From CNN last week and now from PC World. Both outlets pretending to be the unvarnished, unbiased neutral third parties on what is and what isn't "Fake News. The PC World article on "Fake News" is so fake and misleading I almost had to vomit. How do they think they can get away with the blatant propaganda they put out? Didn't they learn anything from the election? Who's checking the Fact Checkers? And what's up with this PC World's pathetic excuse for an editor, Mark Hatchman? This individual is no journalist or editor. He admittedly conned his way into his current position. He claims to be an enthusiastic hiker but but one look at him and you can determine he hasn't been hiking in 10 or 20 years. If you can't trust his assertions about his own personal life, how can you rely on his published reporting?

Note: Update note. I noticed that the link to the photo I had in this article of Mark Hatchman was bad, i.e., no longer existed. Much to my chagrin and amazement it appears that Mr. Hatchman and or his agents and or Google systematically searched the web for all images of Mr. Hatchman and removed them. (Especially the ones showing him in his current state of as a rotund bloated, left wing, social justice warrior bloviate. So I was left with no recourse than to hurriedly draw a likeness of him. (See below) I know. I know. It's juvenile and pathetic. I'll make improvements in the not too distant future but this will act as a placeholder until that time.

Also, what's up with the term "Fake News" itself. Is that some spiffy new Leftist politically correct term? What's wrong with calling it propaganda, opinion or even wistful thinking? Who is going to be the arbitrator of what is fake and what is real? CNN? PC World? Zuckerberg's FaceBook staff or God help us, Mark Hatchman?

Look, most people are smart enough they don't need some "self appointed, ivy league, politically correct, adjunct professor of "human studies" to tell them what's propaganda and what isn't. The proof of my assertion is the result of this election. Despite a relentless and massive misinformation campaign by the democrats, and the Media (Same organization really.) The America people figured out for themselves that the Media and the Democrats, RINO Republicans, and Never Trumpers were lying to them. As the 1970's Rock and Rollers, The Who, once cried, We Don't get Fooled Again.  But it now appears that Google and Facebook and the Federal Government under Obama and the Democrats are determined to make sure we don't have free and unfettered access to any news or information we are interested in.  They want to "control" our access and determine for us what is and what isn't news.   This is never a good thing.

New Fish in the Stew and a new Stew

Now that the election is over we are promised and we believe, there will be a sea change in American policies both domestic and international and in politics in our nation's capital that hasn't occurred since 1928 (With the exception briefly, by very narrow margins, in the Bush administration for a few months)   Without a doubt Republicans (conservatives) have not had such a massive mandate and control over power for almost 90 years.

New Fish, Same Sauce?

This historic change in America political power is without precedent and without argument, a total repudiation of President Barack Obama's last 8 years of failed policies and of weakening America's power and endangering America's safety at home and abroad.

It remains to be seen what Road Map will be established by the Trump Administration to correct and remedy the destruction 8 years of the Obama Administration's "fundamental transformation" of America.  Where do we start?

The current narratives and dialogue being floated in the Main Stream Media focus on eliminating or reforming Obama Care,

The President Trumps Transition Web Site  presents the following broad areas he intends to immedieatly address.

Defense & National Security
Immigration Reform & Building The Wall
Energy Independence

GETTING AMERICA BACK TO WORK AGAIN
Tax Reform
Regulatory Reform
Trade Reform
Education
Transportation & Infrastructure
Financial Services Reform

GOVERNMENT FOR THE PEOPLE AGAIN
Healthcare Reform
Veterans Administration Reform
Protecting Americans' Constitutional Rights

And the Mainstream media is hell bent on taking the wheels off the Trump Train of Progress before it even leaves the Station.  We've seen a plethora of  purported "news" articles ranging from seemingly innocuous articles, by CNN offering advice on how to spot "Fake" news to out right libelous articles in the New York Times on President Elect Trumps cabinet selections especially of the appointment of Steven K Bannon as described in this interview in the Wall Street Journal.

Stay tuned.  The real crimes are about to be committed by the Obama Administration prior to his leaving office.

America Demonstrates It's Greatness . Freedom Rings!

The subtitle of this post should be, "You can't wipe out 240 years of self reliant, limited government  republican philosophy in 8 years of Democratic Party hegemony.  Although, they came close we pulled this one out by the hair of our electoral ass.  God bless the Founding Fathers for that and for preventing our destruction by a Ochlocracy or Mob Rule.

I still can't believe he actually won!
We are still absorbing this.  What a glorious day.
Republican's haven't controlled both houses of congress and the Executive branch since my mother was a baby in 1928.  I've been waiting for this since my first child was 5 years old in 1989 and President Reagan left office
My daughter said to me, "I thought if McCain and Romney couldn't do it against Obama, Trump wouldn't hold up against Clinton... but I guess people have had enough!"  She's spot on the money. and very insightful for a millennial at that. LOL

McCain and Romney were just "milk toast" more of the same, middle of the road with appeasement policies.  Millions of Americans had just given up on voting.  I personally know many guys who over the years just told me it didn't matter.  They didn't bother to vote.  Trump has at least ignited a fire in people, if nothing else. He has awakened and brought a new Vantage Point that is different from politicians that surround him and proceed him.
Trump appealed to the  disaffected and the long term unemployed and that includes millions of minorities.  For the first time they saw something genuine and honest and refreshing and thed decided to vote and give this guy a chance.  If another Bush had won the nomination, or even Rubio, we would have lost to Hillary.  Only a candidate like Trump who could galvanize the working men and women of America.

As Superman used to say,  "Up up and Away"  America is on a new path to success and greatness if we can subdue the vicious, hate mongering liberal hoard and the 4th estate.

Last Minute Election Toughts for my fellow Americans

As a young man growing up in the 1950's and 60's I remember watching William F. Buckley on TV.

 I watched it on Saturday or Sunday in the late afternoon or evening with my step father.  Buckley was an icon of common sense, logic and brilliance. He was revered in our house.  Now, I think it  improbable or at least unusual that a 14 year old would enjoy "Firing Line" but I enjoyed it immensely. I could switch from watching episodes of "Combat and  then become transfixed by Buckley talking on any subject.  Christopher Hitchens and Buckley   Unfortunately, I cannot find very early episodes of Firing Line.  But I offer you some interesting video's such as this one on with Hitchens above and on, Ayn Rand.

Later in the 1970's in college I recall someone remarking about WFB's debate skills by saying, "He can debate with such elan that he makes the argument itself seem superfluous. "  I love that line.  I reminds me of something Oscar Wilde might have said and it was spot on regarding Buckley.

Where am I going with this and why or how it it related to the election tomorrow?  Good question.  Here's the answer.  In all my life William F Buckley is the only talking head, the only political commentator who in a dialogue or debate, when challenged or confronted with a viewpoint or argument that contradicted his own, would say,  "Interesting point.  I hadn't considered that before"   How refreshing!  Have you ever heard a talking head, Republican or Democrat ever say anything like that today?  No you haven't.

For the last year I have been talking to my family and friends and even vague acquaintances.  I've asked them, "What informs you?" I've tried to engage them in wholesome friendly debate.   Frequently, this entrete on my part has resulted in, at best intransigence or at worse I am accused of being hateful.  It seems today if you disagree with a liberal it's considered hateful for some reason that escapes me.

I believe I have failed to convince even one human being to consider or even entertain for a second a change in their position and vote for the Republican candidate.  It strikes me that their reluctance is a visceral, dogmatic irrational position.  No amount of cajoling or friendly debate results in a "William F Buckley" type response, "Ah yes... good point, I hadn't considered that"

There was a time in America where people could be reached and convinced to modify or consider other viewpoints but I fear we have lost that ability.  When young people today are confronted with ideas or concepts and viewpoints they are not familiar with, instead of considering them and having a WFB moment, they just freeze up, go into panic mode and revert to accusing their questioner of "triggering" speech or "hate" speech.

Tomorrow's election will be decided by these snowflakes who are incapable of making decisions for themselves.  I fear the republic is lost.  This is especially true because most American's don't even know they live in a republic.

Vote for Mr. Moose for President of the United States.

On the eve of this tumultuous, acrimonious, and critical election I thought a little reminder of elections from my past might be in order.  I give you and implore you to vote, Mr. Moose.

Mr. Moose For President of the United States of America.