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News & Analysis
CNN Wanted Lou Dobbs Out
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 – by
Staff Report
Lou Dobbs
CNN was so sick of Lou Dobbs, it gave him an $8 million severance package to leave, The Post has learned. Dobbs, who a source said had a year and a half to go on his $12 million contract, shocked viewers last Wednesday by announcing he was quitting. "They wanted him out," according to a source. CNN boss Jonathan Klein and Dobbs, 64, had been publicly feuding over the kind of reporting Dobbs was doing on his show -- especially stories about illegal immigration and the anti-Obama "birther" movement, which contends the president was not born in Hawaii and is not an American citizen. But it was not clear until now that CNN was willing to pay Dobbs so much money to leave. "What they do is their business," Dobbs said yesterday. "I tried to accommodate them as best I could, but I've said for many years now that neutrality is not part of my being." Klein long believed Dobbs was at odds with CNN's desire to position itself as an opinion-free, middle-of-the-road alternative to its cable news rivals -- conservative Fox News and liberal MSNBC. – NY Post
Dominant Social Theme: A cancer is excised?
Free-Market Analysis: We didn't really want to cover this story because from our perspective Lou Dobbs, as outspoken as he seems to be, is mostly a populist (one who decries government but believes it can be healed once it becomes more responsive to the "people"). He therefore confuses the sociopolitical conversation more than he helps it, in our humble opinion. At the same time we find CNN to be an execrable news source, full of innuendo and misinformation. So, from our point of view ... a pox on both their camps!
And yet ... we feel obliged to mention this story. Our interest was piqued by the emerging rationale for Dobbs' exit. Apparently, as the Post reports above, CNN wishes to be an opinion-neutral news agency, positioned between the conservative Fox and the progressive MSNBC. Lou Dobbs, with his outspoken populist rhetoric, was apparently getting in the way.
Say what?
In the other article in this edition of the Bell, we have tried, once again, to illustrate the falsity of this dominant social theme. If CNN truly wanted to offer an alternative to Fox (which wishes to use the power of the state for military and domestic intel purposes) and MSNBC (which wishes to use the power of the state for further socialist leveling purposes) it would position itself as a free-market libertarian alternative. CNN would offer solutions to shrink both the American military industrial complex and the out-of-control federal government.
But instead, CNN's idea of "neutrality" is to position itself BETWEEN Fox and MSNBC. We guess this means that CNN will advocate on behalf of BOTH the military industrial complex and the Obamanite socialist, leveling agenda.
One can see, when positioned this way that there is nothing neutral about CNN's strategy. What the honchos at CNN are really trying to do is wedge CNN between its competitors in such a way as it seems less EXTREME than either of the other networks. CNN will then characterize this position as neutrality. It is not.
Conclusion: There is no such thing as media neutrality. One always starts with a position. Before the War Between the States, America probably had one of the most honest presses in existence. Newspapers, especially, recognized the need for principled positioning and that is why so many of America's newspapers still have titles that include the word Democrat or Republican. There was a frankness about the media then that does not exist now when an outfit like CNN can pretend that positioning its advocacy politics between two more extreme advocates is a form of neutrality. But it is merely another dominant social theme.
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Posted by Alan on 11/17/2009 3:12:21 AM
I could apply this to both your articles today one is in the perceived 'victimiser' class and the other in the perceived 'victim' class. (We have a new class war, one just needs to know the rules)
Have you noticed that when a mainstream media perceived 'victim' takes the alternative line: women, any minority. The media take notice, why should this be. Haven't these 'victims' been correctly educated in the new order?
Disenfranchisement, the social meme that 'victimisers' have no voice or if they do it is for public scorn. The 'victims' (who should know better) can speak and have an instant platform. Although it is almost with disbelief, a curiousity.
Having perceived and acceditted 'victim' status is to have a platform to speak.
Being a perceived victimiser (the worst pick any from: male, white, conservative, father, libertarian, family... ) in the media collective is to be on the defensive. You approach their world in disgrace from the corner with your dunce's cap on. To speak is to apologise first for having the temerity to still exist.
Reply from the Daily Bell:
Interesting perspective, thanks.
Posted by Terry Haney on 11/17/2009 7:53:18 AM
Good article. But, please stop using the word "meme" so much.
Reply from the Daily Bell:
Sorry ... Suggestions?
Posted by Gul on 11/17/2009 8:32:51 AM
Great article, defining the DARK, SMOKY and CLEAR aspects of Government. The DARK is the PROGRESSIVE/LIBERALS; the SMOKY is the CONSERVATIVES (who oftentimes also push for bigger Government) and of course CLEAR - the LIBERTARIAN GOLD STANDARD.
Reply from the Daily Bell:
Clear - the Libertarian gold standard. Very nice.
Posted by Jack Burns on 11/17/2009 9:40:20 AM
As an uneducated plumber, I like Palin and Bachmann for several reasons. They are not lawyers. They are not ivy league Harvard types. They are more likely to tell the truth in the early stages of their political career. They have large families that are down for the struggle as our buddy Al Sharpton would say. I like Ron Paul but I think he is a little early. Regarding Farmers book, in my 50 years of adult life government lying is not news.
Reply from the Daily Bell:
Congratulations on such an honorable profession.
You write, "Regarding Farmers book, in my 50 years of adult life government lying is not news."
Perhaps lying about something so serious as 9/11 is a bit of a new thing?
Posted by FLR on 11/17/2009 10:50:50 AM
Bachmann is (was) a lawyer! She only worked as one for 5 years because she became a full time mother. She worked for the IRS for 5 years, which does not give her the best credentials in my view. Doing the devil's work....Sourcewatch.org also discloses that she worked on the Jimmy Carter campaign as a 20 year old. I am suspicious of "conservatives" who were leftists in their youth.
Reply from the Daily Bell:
Interesting points. Thanks for sharing the updates.
Posted by Tony Simon on 11/17/2009 11:03:53 AM
While I share your hopes for eventual constructive effects from internet-based communications, only the most naive can ignore the dangers that are evident when profound ignorance in MILF packages can generate attention and a significant fan base.
Reply from the Daily Bell:
Are you referring to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front?
As might be expected, Bill Clinton is already on top of that one.
Click to View Link/
Posted by 2partyhoax on 11/17/2009 11:59:45 AM
Enjoy the Daily Bell ... As long as people continue to defend/support either of the two parties or their puppets, we will be subjected to the jackboot of the global collectivists. People need to raise their understanding.
Reply from the Daily Bell:
Thanks. We agree that the two-party system seems to be encouraging collectivism and statism. We are judging according to the results, not the rhetoric.
Posted by Scott on 11/17/2009 12:30:02 PM
I like the word "meme".
It reminds me of "replicant".
Rather Alien.
Seems appropriate.
Reply from the Daily Bell:
Thanks. Maybe we will use the word "promotion" a bit more.
Posted by Mark on 11/17/2009 12:35:29 PM
Very interesting article. I think the really interesting point here is that Michelle Bachmann appears to have leanings towards, or at least be open to the Constitutional libertarian viewpoint - and what is going on in the world because of that? She bursts onto the national political scene and being an interesting personality who is not afraid to take political risks, suddenly starts getting a lot of attention.
Therefore, the "moneyed elite" need to utilize their resources to herd her into the traditional neocon Republican corral. The expected bashing by the horrid nasty left begins along with the courting by the big money military/industrial corporate/mercantile lobby. So, if Michelle Bachmann actually does have leanings towards the liberty viewpoint who becomes her mentor and who becomes her political supporters?
I suggest this points out something that has to happen for the liberty movement to grow to the point of having an actual effect: the people who believe in this philosophy have to get actually involved supporting candidates who agree and who can win elections.
If I may be so bold, I would suggest that you at The Bell could be of great assistance in this regard. Your various gnomes around the world, as well as the famous world leaders such as you frequently interview in your fascinating special reports could contact Bachmann (for example) and request meetings to fill her in on the reality of the world and offer support for information she can use for positions and proposals.
In this way Bachmann or other candidates will have somewhere to go other then to the memes (there's that word again!) of the elite. I think the additional piece needed is for liberty loving people and companies to actually get involved with the political process - including giving money to candidates who support freedom.
Other than the companies and individuals receiving the state's fiat money, the politics of freedom is greatly in their own best interest. Campaign for Liberty is doing a good job of supporting freedom candidates and providing information to all. There needs to be more direct action and involvement from those that want the USA to be a free country.
Reply from the Daily Bell:
Very provocative information. Thanks for the perspective and the ideas for action. We will pass them on.
We tend to agree that Bachmann may have at least some libertarian leanings. And you are probably correct, her handlers and the process itself will probably tend to move her toward the conservative camp. Good observations.
Posted by Mark on 11/17/2009 4:04:00 PM
I know from personal experience (my father was a career politician at the local level and I have been involved with politics at the local level also) that most of the real decision making occurs behind closed doors - the convincing, the selling, the deal making.
And, to function as a politician one must have actual political support both intellectually (what you are doing has to be perceived as making sense) and financially and last but not least must have the votes both for reelection and to pass your initiatives.
Let's face it. What we are trying to do is accomplish a paradigm shift from neocon/statist politics to Constitutional libertarian politics. This will require actual political force to push aside the forces that are vested in the existingmilitary/statist government.
Your publication does a wonderful job of providing the intellectual underpinnings of Constitutional libertarianism and you have developed an outstanding base of thinkers to support the ideas. As these thinkers are connected to the "power brokers", so shall our liberty increase!!
As a related aside, the below link provides an incredible summary of all the military actions being undertaken around the world by the US military right now. Viewed in its entirety, it is truly shocking. As is the approximately 1 trillion dollar price tag.
Click to View Link
Reply from the Daily Bell:
Thanks for the link. We were surprised and saddened to discover that the US apparently maintains over 1,000 military bases around the world. And since some are operated by myriad US intel agencies, this could even be a low estimate.
Posted by Bonnie Donaldson on 11/17/2009 4:39:53 PM
As for the internet eventually causing a retreat of the elites, this reminds me of similarities in the history of the Church. The huge cathedral-building efforts occurred at a time when the Church was fragmenting, and attempted to regain power through display. I see similar efforts by the elites now to shore up and consolidate power.
Reply from the Daily Bell:
Interesting point! It didn't really work for the church, however, did it?
Posted by Terry Haney on 11/18/2009 8:02:55 AM
Thank you for responding. I wasn't trying to be facitious, but meme is a fairly uncommon word and when used as an important support noun for your article numerous times, it begs for a definition. I think many would not know the meaning of the word or how it is being used. It may seem clever to
use obscure words, but not if the reader loses the point.
From Dictionary.Com
meme philosophy /meem/ [By analogy with "gene"] Richard Dawkins's term for an idea considered as a replicator, especially with the connotation that memes parasitise people into propagating them much as viruses do. Memes can be considered the unit of cultural evolution. Ideas can evolve in a way analogous to biological evolution. Some ideas survive better than others; ideas can mutate through, for example, misunderstandings; and two ideas can recombine to produce a new idea involving elements of each parent idea.
The term is used especially in the phrase "meme complex" denoting a group of mutually supporting memes that form an organised belief system, such as a religion. However, "meme" is often misused to mean "meme complex". Use of the term connotes acceptance of the idea that in humans (and presumably other tool- and language-using sophonts) cultural evolution by selection of adaptive ideas has become more important than biological evolution by selection of hereditary traits.
Just a thought.
Reply from the Daily Bell:
Yes, thanks, we have struggled with the issue before.
A more concise definition might be ... a dominant social theme (promotion) that enters the culture and is passed from one generation to the next. The United Nations, for instance, propagates dominant social themes (overpopulation, etc.) until they become memes (generational promotions).
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We look forward to reading your feedback. All comments are automatically posted. However, please note that any posts containing harassment, vulgarity, personal attacks or those which are deemed to be of a violent nature are not welcomed and will either not appear or be removed.
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