Murdoch brings in Bush adviser

[BeyondGeography]

Lisa O'Carroll
THE GUARDIAN
Thursday March 18, 2004

The US national security adviser Condoleezza Rice is to address the News Corporation thinktank involving Rupert Murdoch's most senior newspaper executives from the UK, US and Australia.

Ms Rice joins Tory leader Michael Howard and Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair's former director of communcations - both of whom are flying to Cancun, Mexico for the four day event, which starts tonight.

The identity of the special guests has not been publicised and News International in London refused to comment, but a spokeswoman for Ms Rice confirmed she would be speaking at 12pm, US Eastern Standard Time tomorrow.

She will will deliver her speech by satellite at the invitation of Mr Murdoch's Fox operation, which includes Fox News which has been hugely supportive of George Bush and achieved notoriety in the UK during the Iraq war for its ultra-patriotic reporting.

Although she is not there in person, the presence of Ms Rice underlines the importance of Rupert Murdoch's news operations to the Bush administration, which may face growing criticism that it led the country into war on false pretences ahead of November's presidential election.

http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,14173,1172627,00.html

[rooboy]

1. It's not appropriate under the constitution for an incumbent National...

oh, never mind.

[President Jesus]

14. Murdoch's trail o' shame

Follow the money!

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate.php?contributor=Murdoch+Rupert

Fair and balanced.

[boobooday]

2. Welcome to the Fascist Corporate World Order

All just one big greedy, plundering family!

Who will be taking orders from WHOM?

http://www.wgoeshome.com

[ewagner]

3. Co-ordination?

If some DUers are conversant in the McCain-Feingold Bill please fill me in.

If Murdoch and his minions co-ordinate their efforts with a political campaign, don't they have to report it as a campaign contribution? Don't they become subject to campaign finance laws?

We have a couple of disturbing trends here.

First the fake news tapes regarding Medicare

and

Now co-ordination of Political Agenda with a Major Broadcaster

Democracy isn't supposed to work like this.

[Just Me]

8. BREACH OF LAW AGAINST COVERT PROPAGANDA!!!

Ahem. Excuse my passionate expression, please. BUT, this government is prohibited from engaging in covert propaganda and a meeting such as this is demonstrable proof of a propaganda operation.

Doncha' think?

[ewagner]

21. Do you know

the common name of that law? Have any idea where I might look for it?

[revree]

4. Oh, but Fox News is fair and balanced!!!

My ass.

[ScrewyRabbit]

5. When can we get a cabinet level propaganda minister

...to take over these duties. Hitler probably found it handy to have Goebbels deal with the media.

[Rex]

6. Can't we label this as a cartel (they are all in the biz of propaganda)

nevermind, Ashcroft owns the Justice Department. :(

[ithacan]

7. Condi can talk to Fox but won't talk to the 9/11 commission

that says it all I think

[FlemingsGhost]

9. Can it be any more obvious?

Want to deal the death blow to BushCo.?

Assemble a few hundred thousand at the headquarters of Fox, CNN, NBC, ABC and CBS.

It really is that simple...

[ewagner]

10. You mean

..a few hundred thousand protestors right?

[FlemingsGhost]

11. Concerned American citizens.

Give them a story they can't ignore, manipulate or marginalize.

[ewagner]

12. Actually

It would be more effective if you could somehow or another go after their advertising revenues. That's a tough sell but that's what they would more likely respond to....that and as I mentioned above,,,,an indictment of campaign finance related charges.......

[FlemingsGhost]

13. One day.

One day is all you need. One day to take time from one's busy life, take our feet to the street and DEMAND media reform/accountability.

Trust me, advertisers will take notice.

Big business would distance themselves from the Bush administration faster than you can say "Fair and Balanced."

[Rebellious Republican]

18. You actually may be on to something there ewagner!

It would be more effective if you could somehow or another go after their advertising revenues.Now that is a good Idea, thats all these corporate bastards care about, MONEY. It would not be as hard as you think. It would work if there was a way to find a list of the advertisers. Say start a letter/email writing campaign to the advertisers. Explaining to them that they are not getting the best bang for there buck by advertising with fox. Tell them that if the country is so evenly divided, according to most polls, then wouldn't it stand to reason that they are not reaching at least 50% of another demographic. If enough people were to write in, saying that they do not watch a particular broadcast company, IE. Fox News, or a particular show on any one of the channels. They might come to the realization that they are dumping a lot of advertising dollars and not reaching a whole other demographic.Democrats, liberals, Greens, former republicans drink Budweiser beer and eat Papa Johns pizza. I know would like to see that new Chevy or Ford model thats out. But alas I guess, all I will ever know about is Miller Beer and Dominoes Pizza, and those new models that Dodge has out. Because those are the only commercials I see on the shows and channels that I watch. Get my point, do ya. Great Idea ewagner!

[FlemingsGhost]

19. Or--for just one day--you can call a few friends...

gather together at the thresholds of the "information gatekeepers," and make them aware that we are wise to the game. That's when you threaten economic punishment. If there are enough assembled, right at their front doors, the message will be heard loud and clear!

Why, oh, why is everybody so afraid to empower themselves? There are far more of us than them...

[ewagner]

20. Nice addition to the idea

A show of force PLUS the threat of economic implications is very, very good.

So anybody got any really cerebral ideas on how to go about this?

[TankLV]

16. That's what I've been saying.

When the time comes, got to take it to the stations.

[Democat]

15. "ultra-patriotic"?

They mean to say "ultra-right wing". There is nothing patriotic about Fox.

[SpiralHawk]

17. Girls Gone Wild -- In Cancun, Mexcio

Condi will do her thing.

Come, we go to Isla Mujeres just off the coast, and make K'in K'in Ceremony with Maximum Copal and Saq be.

The 8,000 Drums will sound their voice at this time.

The Otomi Elders of Mexico will lead the worldwide Sounding of 8,000 Sacred Drums for Peace Gathering on Sunday March 21, 2004 from 12 noon–1pm.

Background: According to a prophecy revealed at the Otomí Ceremonial Center by the Otomí Elder Sages to the Indigenous Peoples and all Humankind and a Vision of our Venerable Ancestors: the day when the Sounds of Eight Thousand Sacred Drums join together will be the beginning of a true Healing of Mother Earth .

The Otomí Nation, through the Council of the Elders and the Guardians of the Otomí Tradition, the Dänguu Mfädi "Mähki ´Ñuu" (Grand House of Otomí Knowledge), and the International Indigenous University invite you to join them. See http://www.universidadindigena.org

for more details.