Here's Why The Corporate Media Talking Heads Hate the Jeff Gannon Story

[David Zephyr]

Why are Aaron Brown, Wolf Blitzer, Sean Hannity, Roger Ailes, Chris Matthews, Paula Zahn and all our fabulous corporate talking heads acting like nervous whores in church in dealing with the scandalous story surrounding a certain Jeff Gannon?

Why are the corporate news networks and, yes our very government officials moving so quickly to poo-poo the tale of Jeff Gannon and the artifice called Talon News?

Because he looks just a little too much like all of them and the so-called news organizations they work for.

And because Jeff Gannon and Talon News represent the essence of what the televised American news business has become. No, please don't ridicule poor Jeff. Hell, we all owe him our gratitude for after all, he is the ultimate news man in this day of our Viagra sponsored and government sanctioned news reporting.

Can any one possibly measure the distinction between Talon News and Fox/Faux News? Is there a caliber that finely tuned anywhere on earth?

Can any one possibly distinguish the formulated programming at Fox/Faux News with its star war reporter, convicted felon Oliver North, from any of the scary and loony characters created by the visionary Paddy Chayefsky some thirty years ago in his epic opus "Network"?

The great Joseph Campbell once said that the reason that humans recoil from the serpent is because it reminds of ourselves. The snake, Campbell said, represented the most primal form of life: the alimentary tube. No arms, no legs and certainly, I might add, no Haute Couture or makeup!

Zoom in with me now for a tight camera shot for Jeff Gannon is Joseph Campbell's famous throat-to-asshole snake slithering into the den of our national news snakes and then slithering right up to the largest mirror in the room and casting his image --- their image --- right back to them!

To paraphrase Chayefsky: Gannon is television news incarnate.

So let's toast this brave new creature in this brave new world of Corporate News Media. Join with me in toasting Jeff and his Talon News! Roger Ailes, eat your big fat heart out, baby!

:toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast:

[Sparkle]

1. I think there's a lot of truth in that.

It's just strange how they won't talk about the real facts. They would all have to look in their miorrors.

[ultraist]

2. Yep! And blogs disempower them.

Remember how the US Postal service took a hit when people started using email? Same deal here. People are looking more and more to blogs for REAL FUCKING NEWS rather than relying on the propaganda machines of the corporate MSM and the MSM is taking a hit.

We have a new vehicle, a new ride baby! If they hadn't of pimped our news, we wouldn't be trading up.

The MSM better shape up or get the fuck out. Because before too long, we wont need them at all.

[SoCalDem]

8. The tsunami brought it all home to them..

People on the web saw pictures almost simultaneously, and the people there WERE the reporters.. the internet cafes that were undamaged were the conduit for all those digital photos that were instantly sent around the web..


"News organizations" gave up on "news" when they quit having real reporters out in the field LOOKING for news.. They have taken a "Call me in the morning" approach to news, in favor of their "canned" programming.. A cute,blonde girl dipped into a vat of lip gloss and a "ken-doll" dude trading wisecracks and sexual tension is what "sells"....so that's what they "offer" us..

Want News?? You just have to go to the sources these days.. blogs are ground floor operations... Anyone with a computer is now a "reporter"...

If I see a brushfire in the hills near my house, I can upload the pictures, provide a map, and a tie in to my local news...BEFORE CNN even knows about the fire..:)

They need us more than we need them ..and it's just occurred to them :)

[David Zephyr]

10. The People's Media.

Until the government makes our internet an intranet like in China and then we're back to being loyal consumers in front of our blessed televisions.

Hmmm. How much do you think Fox/Faux will offer Jeff Gannon in a few years to headline his own show?

[King Coal]

33. David, that was extremely well written.

TA DA!
:smoke:

[ultraist]

17. An eyelid lift, skin resurfacing, and botox does not make a journalist

And over time, there will be more online journalists out in the field with their video cams & laptops providing live info and feeding it to website with video.

It doesn't cost much to do that. As my kids say, too bad, so sad, they have huge overhead and we don't. A laptop and a video cam will do. Pretty soon, all major areas will be hotspots. Anyone can be a journalist, not just those hired by the corporate MSM. NO MORE MONOPOLY on the news, no more pimping out of the news.

Look at the paparazzi. They all started off as rogue photographers and now they rule celebrity photos. They take the shots, jump in their cars and load up the photos. It can be done with video too.

The ONLY thing that will keep out real journalists are press passes. But, even the DNC gave press passes to bloggers for the national convention.

I'd much rather pay a monthly fee for access to a decent website with live feed than pay $170 per month for crap ass cable.

[MADem]

62. Naah, but they do make a Greta Van Susteren!!!

And boyoboy, you are paying WAY TOO MUCH for cable....!!!

[nashville_brook]

78. there is such a cool rich history of this from Weegee to Lewis Hine

in photography, to the Zine Movement and Indie Rock in the 80s.

cultural production has the force of the zeitgeist behind it (always has always will) and the most inclusive way to produce culture is just now taking it's baby-steps in blogs.

a reporter contacted me not too long ago doing a piece on Tennessee blogs, and he had a fairly pointed sense of the new evolution in journalism. i think it's a revolution in reading and writing in a personal sense. i had never really looked at it from the standpoint of being a paid journalist.

his article is at:
http://www.timesnews.net/archives/index3.php?id=9459500

[jdj]

19. yes, I was BLOWN AWAY by the new CNN commercial with

Christiane Amanpour (sp?)

I COULD NOT BELIEVE what they are admitting with that commercial, they were ADMITTING that the tv journalist was a newsbot, a newsmodel who hadn't the vaguest clue how to pronounce the names of any of the countries she was talking about, that she was just there to look good.

They really told on themselves with that commericial.

[SoCalDem]

21. That one surprised me too.. Eye-Rack.. Eye- Ran

It was supposed to showcase Christiane, but it only showed how sad CNN has become, and how Amanpour is the only real journalist they have left

[MADem]

60. No, the stupid woman was the NEWS CONSUMER

...not a news journalist. They have a number of spots like that, one with Wolfie and Paula, where the same woman is DEMANDING news, she doesn't like any of the news that Wolf gives her, so she asks Paula Zahn, who tells her, as she is eating a sandwich, that there was botulism reported at the deli.

The idea of the ad is to suggest that the news is PERSONAL and MEANINGFUL to the viewer. They have another spot with Anderson Cooper answering questions posed by a guy named Scooter or Skippy, or something like that.

It's a lame ass attempt to connect the AUDIENCE with the broadcasters. The reason it fails is because no viewer would want to be associated with the annoying people they choose to portray "regular" viewers.

I don't like the fact that they force their broadcasters to dance like monkeys. Just let them report the fucking news!!!!

[KittyWampus]

37. dipped into a vat of lip gloss... what a way with words..

:D

[SoCalDem]

58. Thanks ...

:loveya:

[merbex]

26. I attended a forum at JFKLibrary when their guests were Ben Bradlee

and Don Hewitt

Smug and smugger

Did they EVER disparage the internet,blogs especially.

The internet is very threatening to them. Bradlee made a note that young people especially have stopped buying newspapers- "even for sports"

Boo hoo

[Rockholm]

30. You are right. My thoughts are like this:

If I want to SEE the news, I will watch television.

If I want to HEAR the news, I will listen to radio.

If I want to READ the news, I will read the paper.

If I want to DISCUSS the news, I will visit with friends.

IF I want ALL of the above, I will use the INTERNET.

The corporate media folks know this. Bye bye TV "news."

[lyonn]

3. They fail to question who gets daily passes

Sounds like anyone of us could get in there and do some questioning. NOOOO. But no mention of that. I would like to know how many get daily passes each day and who they are.

[notadmblnd]

39. And thats exactly one of the points we should press

We need to show them how dangerous this could have been for this reporter to get this close to "Dear Leader".

This guy got his press pass in less than a week after this so called news service was created. This Jeff Gannon could have been a terrorist. Little Scotty admitted yesterday that he knew Gannon used an assumed name. How did he know this if the whitehouse staff is responsiblem for handing out the passes as he claimed?

Was little Scotty conspiring with a potential terrorist?

[rocktivity]

4. Bush's most insurmountable weapon was his media machine

There seemed to be no way to take it down. But between the phony PSAs, the paid commentators, the pre-screened press conferences, and now this, President Mightymouse is taking it down for us. I hope Reps. Slaughter and Lautenberg follow through on their calls for a complete investigation.THAT'S what the corporate talking heads are worried about--they know they're at the bottom of the mudpile!

:headbang:

[PROGRESSIVE1]

7. So do I! Slaughter and Lautenberg are modern day Patriots!

:dem:

[Sterling]

5. Spot on. He IS one of them. He is as legit as they are, which is not

at all.

[David Zephyr]

6. Bingo!

Toasting Jeff, our future! :toast:

[Eric J in MN]

9. Fox News is more popular Talon News.

Popularity doesn't equal quality.

But Talon News both lacking quality AND lacking a sizable audience makes Jeff Gannon/Jim Guckert getting to ask Bush questions when a reporter for the Washington Post could have been posing a question particularly egregious.

For info on the lies Jim Guckert told about the popularity of Talon News, click below:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/10/184759/717

[kentuck]

11. Damn, DZ !

That was great ! :)

[David Zephyr]

13. Toasting Jeff! Our future!

:toast: ;)

[The Magistrate]

12. An Excellent Piece, Mr. Zephyr!

[David Zephyr]

15. Ha!

I do so hope my little tribute to the future of American Televison News as now revealed to us through the person of Jeff Gannon, will have some life here in cyberspace during the wee hours tonight.

I have to go to bed now to rise early to get on a plane to Portland.

Thanks, The Magistrate.

:hi:

[liveoaktx]

14. Nail on the head!

[dweller]

16. dude, flesh that out a little

and it is DU front page material. You know the MSM is looking at this site and other 'blogs' now.
:thumbsup:

:kick:

dp

[ultraist]

18. If the MSM are reading this: BEWARE! WE WILL CUT OFF OUR CABLE

If you don't STOP pimping out our news! You are not the only girl in town.

[Disturbed]

20. Fascism is aided by the Whore Media.

We must work to expose all of their deception.

[deacon]

25. I am almost ready to do that myself, I've about had it- we don't need them

n/t

[tavalon]

45. Did it many years ago

Don't miss it one whit!

[dbt]

22. A kick for the morning crew and

a nomination for the homepage. Now, let's all watch that hot new game show News Anchor Or Porn Star!

:evilgrin:
dbt

[deacon]

23. They are not representing the people as they should be- pure and simple

they represent their own interests which makes them invalid.

[deacon]

24. Also, before Brokaw retired he called the blogs the parallel universe

because bloggers suspected ill goings on in Ohio and questioned why 39 voting machines weren't even distributed, or how the long lines in minority areas didn't mean something was up. The elitist Tom brushed aside the leads of disenfranchisement to say we were the nuts in the parallel universe.

Clearly, with the recent out of Armstrong and 2 others + Gannon the pimp-- we really know who are in that parallel universe Tom-- MSM.

[Melynn]

27. Best explanation I've heard

why the MSM is running away from this story. T.V. news has been vapid since Ed Murrow retire. Gannongate just makes the point obvious.

[TomClash]

28. Aaron Brown did a long piece on it last night nt

[stanwyck]

36. Aaron didn't say much, but the

two guys he had on did a good job of not only blasting fake journalist Gannon but the nurturing and aid he received from the Bushies. One guy brought up how Sarah McClendon, who has covered presidents since Kennedy, was barred from White House press conferences for "security" reasons (they didn't like her questions). She's 90. What was Sarah going to do? Attack the president with her 90-hr. old muscle bound body?
OK. For the DUers who don't like the facist label. Follow this story. This is facism. A well-respected, credentialed journalist like McClellan is barred from the White House. But a pornographer with a day pass who has no credentials and no background beyond 4 days with an online GOP financed news service is given access to CIA documents with the WH's blessings. And Hannity refers to Gannon as a "distinguished Washington journalist".
They say it. Their sheep believe it. And America's reputation as a country of truth and freedom is gone.
Our forefathers have been betrayed.

[gademocrat7]

29. great post

Real news for real people is on the blogs. Time for rattlesnake roundup!!!

[Hugin]

31. Excellent Excellent Excellent Thread... (And that's my highest rating)

Yup... This whole thing is all about them.

As this drama unfolded I was elated and devastated at
the same time. (Happens alot lately... Need a word for
it. Elatistated?)

Well, anyway, this little episode exposed for all who were
paying attention exactly what I've suspected for a long time.

We have no Journalists.

All which exists in the CRM/MSM is a few greedy ego driven
individuals with an agenda.

I leave you with this thought tho... We did it to ourselves.

[Tracer]

32. I worked at a newspaper for 13 years.

Now, a newspaper isn't television, but I think the ingrained attitude is comparable.

The vast majority of the editors and "reporters" at my newspaper were the most smug, self-important group of people you'd never want to meet. So involved in themselves that I can't remember a one of them ever giving me a "good morning" in those 13 years.

There's a TV program here called "Greater Boston", and on Friday nights they do a segment called "Beat The Press". Basically, they sit there hand-wringing over the public's distrust of the media and wonder and wonder WHY!?.

Two of the regulars on that show are people I used to work with at above mentioned newspaper. Does that tell you anything?

[Hugin]

40. Good morning Tracer... :) n/t

[MADem]

61. Andy Rooney's daughter is host of that show, fwiw

I notice that too--the panelists do try to "justify" rather than do a real soul searching.

Emily must favor her mom....

[PST]

34. PLEASE do not mention that whore hannity

when you're discussing serious journalism...

[twenty2strings]

35. Will shame work?...If we only knew...

What interior judgments go on in the heads of superstar "journalists". Is there a tipping point? We must show class as we expose them.:toast: :bounce: :toast: :bounce:

[Flying Dream Blues]

48. If shame were going to work,

sadly, it should have by now. I think every day we hit a new threshold for shameful, and by MSM standards, it's just another beautiful day in the neighborhood.

[farmbo]

38. MSM: ancient creaking dinosaurs...and irrelevant too!

Log on...and tune out... to read up on PropoGannon, the biggest story of 2005.

This story has more fireworks than the siege of Stalingrad, but the MSM has decided to ignore it on orders from their corporate sponsors, thus hastening their demise as portals of public information.

They're acting like bunch of fat railroad executives smoking cigars, patting themselves on the back, and gloating over a railroad map in 1899.

[porkrind]

46. good post!

[librechik]

41. well said--not every thread mentions the ourobouros

but it's a handy metaphor for these reptiles.

[nashville_brook]

79. aptly asp or asply apt?

[McCamy Taylor]

42. Great post!

:toast:

[blm]

43. You nailed it. Gannon is a reflection of their own values and integrity.

WHORES.

[underpants]

49. Also they did nothing to check him out-they are outdated

and they know it.

[Rockerdem]

44. The MSM press are gatekeepers with a rickety, leaky fence

Their power used to be exclusive, but no longer. Even the bigger local dailies with WH reporters had tremendous power

Remember, the local press stands at the gate, and allows only the anointed to begin political careers. 99% of House members remember that first editors meeting where they were grilled by a group of reporters, and then waiting for their imprimatur. Well, guess what. Those meetings take place annually and are like job reviews, and Congresspeople bend over backwards to satisfy them with the proper answers. And to carry water for their publishers pet financial project, whether it be real estate or business holdings or the spouses charity.

When that veto power is diluted, the MSMers get cranky. Dont look for them to do much digging in Affair Gannon. We are mostly on our own.

[KoKo]

47. Most Excellent Post and Thread.....Good to see it on DU Frontpage...

:toast: to you David. :hi:

[Mandate My Ass]

50. Kudos

Well said. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[go west young man]

51. Just so maybe one more person will shut off their cable...

and quit sponsoring the war machine. Heres the address for free TV. 900 channels worldwide and no bills. www.TV4all.com

[Lisabtrucking]

52. Yep their secret is unveiled. This doesn't shock me though.

I felt they were all pushing the propaganda all the time anyway. Fool me once shame on you, you wont fool me twice.

[SmokingJacket]

53. Great post!!! nt

[yurbud]

54. good point...this could be a good lead in for media reform

[NewYorkerfromMass]

55. Excellent piece David

literary excellence. Thank you.

[Plaid Adder]

56. Absolutely GD right, DavidZephyr

And thanks for the bonus snake story.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[Pooka Fey]

57. Great Post! Kick!

[AnneD]

59. When I gave up MSM....

It started when I turned on the TV to watch the national news at dinner with my 9 yo daughter and heard all about Clinton and oral sex. I boycotted all but NPR for several years due to this non-story.
I had observed Bush/Rove from here in TX for some time. I knew they could work the local press like nothing I've ever seen. The consolidation of the media in the hand of the few corporations plus the blurring of the lines of entertainment and self promotion of corp interests (IE ABC's hawking of Disney movies for example) left this hard news loving person disgusted. I never though of the blogs as 'real' news outlets until I witnessed this administration doing the same manipulation on a national level. The media blindly reported the Bush Co BS about Iraq like it was facts, despite the fact that it made no sense. I started searching for fact and found blogs. All this summer, between Kos and DU, I found that the blogs broke stories 3-4 days before MSM did, if ever. That pretty much cinched it for me. I have not looked back and do not miss it. I am a 50yo female and I can only guess the desirability of my demographic. But I do know this, I am not the only one! If MSM are reading this.....Your days are numbered and it is no one's fault but your own.

[annabanana]

63. kick.............................................n/t

[Hatalles]

64. Nominated.

Good post.

[Dr Fate]

65. WHO is stopping Hillary, Kerry, Dean & Obama from talking about it on TV?

Of COURSE the media is going to refuse to report on how corrupt it is- but who is stopping top DEMS from going on TV and saying:

"Bush pays the media to lie for him?"

"No telling who else is on the payroll, eh, Wolf?"

"If this were Democrats, the GOP/media would be screaming for an investigation- yet you guys seem to be sweeping this under the rug- why?"

"What is the Republican congress hiding? Why do they refuse to investigate this?"

[SoCalDem]

66. When dems are "invited" to appear on OUR airwaves,

they are limited to seconds-long snippets of time, and the "host" controls the questioning, so it's unlikely that many of them would waste an opportunity, no matter how fleeting, to advance whatever agenda they currently espouse..

The "hosts" are only interested in asking them inane questions of little consequence, and even then , only in the interest of getting them to somehow trash a fellow-dem or to toss out a "red-meat blurb" for the drooling republican masses to pounce on and rip to shreds...like so many starving dogs..

[Dr Fate]

67. WHO has refused Kerry, Obama, Dean or Hillary a live interview?

????

Show me evidence that Larry King, Wolf Blitzer, Judy Woodruff, Dan Rather or Brit Hume, etc has refused a Kerry, Hillary, Dean or Obama a live interview.

Stop making excuses and start thinking outside the box.

[SoCalDem]

68. I'm not saying they are "refused"...but once there, they do not control

what is asked of them.. *² is the only one who gets advance questions and answers :)

[Dr Fate]

69. "I'm here to talk about the fact that Bush pays the media to lie for him..

"I'll answer your questions about my potential run in 2008 on my next interview- tonight I'm here to talk about these troubling facts..."

"Sorry Wolf, you can have your spin room back when I'm done- I'm here to talk about this reporter scandal, not Dean's scream- I'll be glad to discuss that if you will have me back tomorrow..."

"Why are you changing the subject Wolf?, Am Ihitting a little close to home? Now, back to this Gannon thing..."

You are making excuses again- DEMS are going to have to learn to play with the hand that is dealt to them.

If TOP DEMS cant handle these media clowns in a live interview, then what good are they?

[mzmolly]

70. Yes Bush pays the media to lie for him, but until we have proof they

paid Gannon, I'd rather they NOT talk about it.

[Dr Fate]

75. They paid that Education pundit, didnt they?.

So - we can go on TV and say "Bush pays the media to lie for him" and get the discussion going. The point is to "raise questions"

"Who else are they paying?"

"Who else is a plant?"

As far as Gannon goes, the response would be "Oh- I see Wolf- so you are saying he lies for FREE then- well, that does not make it okay..."

There are a THOUSAND ways we could stir this up and frame the debate- but ignoring it and expectingthe media to investigate itself is not one of them.

[mzmolly]

76. I like the way you framed this better.

I think Dean will take care of matter such as these. :hi:

[Dr Fate]

77. I'm counting on mean Dean myself- that is why they will smear him so hard

...to try & distract the public form the questions he will hopefully raise...

I'm praying for Dr. Dean for sure!!!

[SoCalDem]

72. I wish they would be brave enough to do that, but I doubt they ever would

About the 3rd time someone did this, maybe more would start too..:)

[KoKo]

71. Kick....for the weekend.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

73. Zappa Got It Right

When he penned this gem.


I'm The Slime

I am gross and perverted
I'm obsessed 'n deranged
I have existed for years
But very little had changed
I am the tool of the Government
And industry too
For I am destined to rule
And regulate you

I may be vile and pernicious
But you can't look away
I make you think I'm delicious
With the stuff that I say
I am the best you can get
Have you guessed me yet?
I am the slime oozin' out
From your TV set

You will obey me while I lead you
And eat the garbage that I feed you
Until the day that we don't need you
Don't got for help...no one will heed you
Your mind is totally controlled
It has been stuffed into my mold
And you will do as you are told
Until the rights to you are sold

That's right, folks..
Don't touch that dial

Well, I am the slime from your video
Oozin' along on your livin'room floor

I am the slime from your video
Can't stop the slime, people, lookit me go

[tiedye]

74. WA Post's Howard Kurtz's wife is Sheri Annis

Sheri Annis (appropriately named) is a republican "PR manager". She herself writes fake new stories like this Dean bashing one from January last year...

January 13, 2004, 8:24 a.m.
The Muzzling of Howard Dean
Advisers rein in the Democratic frontrunner.

By Sheri Annis

Howard Dean walks swiftly down a hallway in New Hampshire looking like he is late for an unpleasant dental appointment. Without breaking his stride, he performs gaffe surgery. Reporters ask him if he regrets past comments about the absurdity of the Iowa caucuses. He deftly creates the impression that the Iowa panderfest is now a noble cause.


Howard Dean's campaign had, up until now, that freewheeling, everybody-get-together, try-to-love-one-another-right-now spirit. The blogosphere loved the candidate who seemed like a real person, speaking his own mind. He happened to be right about the Iowa caucuses during his interview with the Canadian public television show The Editors in 2000. But, of course, even an outside-the-Beltway politician can't admit this fact when he's trying to lure caucus-goers into his corner on a frigid January night.

Veto power is the ultimate presidential tool. Joe Trippi and Dean's "senior advisers" now seem to have achieved veto power over Howard Dean, as the candidate admitted when he stopped himself from answering a press question about taxes last week. This means that Dean's campaign has entered a new phase. His campaign manager can limit Dean's commentary at will. The cone of silence, or at least scripted talking points, is descending.

Dean is no longer faring well in the media primary, where journalists can make or break a candidate. Now, real primary voters are finally paying attention and his daily message matters more than ever.

I've seen versions of this dilemma in my own campaigns. When I worked with Ward Connerly on the California race-preference initiative back in '96, he would do nearly every interview in sight, as long as he could sneak in a few hours for sleeping. In that case we were competing with scare-tactic commercials featuring Hollywood types like Ellen DeGeneres insisting women would lose maternity leave and most other employment gains if the state were required to drop racial preferences in hiring, contracting, and education. Our endless accessibility helped, and the initiative passed big time.

With Arnold Schwarzenegger, on the other hand, we had hundreds of journalists panting for an interview during his 2002 afterschool-initiative campaign. We picked our outlets carefully, but even when we granted several interviews in one day, we had a movie-trained spokesman who knew how to stay on message. We also had millions of dollars for commercials, which is very helpful in a market the size of California. Even though we flew around the state doing media appearances, Schwarzenegger wouldn't hang out with reporters for stream-of-consciousness color pieces. It was a disciplined approach that foreshadowed the carefully controlled access of his winning gubernatorial campaign.

Dean, who prided himself on the McCainiac straight-talk model when he was a long shot, is becoming cautious, even censored. His managers are probably right. He can't keep shooting off his mouth. His verbal missteps (Confederate flag, crazy 9/11 theories, downplaying Saddam's capture, no prejudging of Osama, fumbling a reference to the Bible) are getting him in trouble with everyone but his hard-core groupies. And groupies stick around long after everyone else has left the arena.

Dean can't continue to throw out tasty tofu to his left-wing crowd. As the polls tighten, he is beginning to tack to the center. He has suddenly found religion, at least in the south. Last September he said, "I stood up against all the president's tax cuts," and wants to repeal them all, including those helping middle-class Americans. Now he stresses the importance of payroll-tax reform and says that he'll announce, sometime in the future, a tax-relief plan for the middle class. When he was governor of Vermont, though, he was something of a fiscal moderate and not a big taxer. Which raises the question he hasn't quite been able to answer in this campaign: Who is the real Howard Dean?

The problem for Dean is that when he makes these remarks and insinuations — not prejudging Osama bin Laden, insisting he wasn't a strong NAFTA supporter when he had previously proclaimed that he was — he doesn't quite know how to gracefully backtrack. He doesn't want to admit that he made a gaffe or changed a position; he just tries to wipe the slate clean and repeat today's more politically palatable stance (as he did in proclaiming his newfound love for the Iowa caucuses). I think he should have stood his ground on his larger point about Confederate flag lovers — that Democrats need to appeal to conservative southerners — but the pressure proved too great. Reporters, of course, revel in these controversies and relentlessly try to point out contradictions between what a candidate said last week or last year and the message he's peddling today. Which is why Dean is increasingly avoiding journalists and his staff is trying to muzzle him.

The Dean surge didn't happen by accident. Many voters find his regular-guy, say-what-you-think bluntness refreshing, even when they disagree with him. But now that he's the frontrunner, the previously feisty underdog keeps getting in trouble with the "gotcha" reporters with whom he must play the game.

Zipping his lip — at least until Trippi & Co. approve the script — is likely to help him slip through the primaries successfully even though the newest straight talker, Wesley Clark, is supposedly wearing really loud shoes (how many more times can the spokespeople use the words "they hear our footsteps"?).

But Democrats may be left with a candidate who is missing the very trait that made him stand out from the focus-grouped, consultant-driven crowd. And that could make for a very boring election.

— Sheri Annis, a Washington, D.C. media consultant is a veteran of several California political campaigns.

Howard Kurtz was seen sitting next to Gannon/Guckert in WH press conference on Mediamatters and Salon.com. The cone of Silence and the scandal management is evidence of just how far reaching this White House system of news management is. Kurtz has made some famously stupid comments regarding Guckert in his defense.

[Fovea]

80. Indeed, Jeff is the bastard son

of Ann Coulter (i know, its a biological impossiblity)
and Nofacks. And they are the very bosom of MSM.

Here he is in a scripted media event (aka press conference)
being consumately scripted. Here he is on a blog being smug about his felony. He is everyshill, even to the sex angle (remember the first Paula Zahn commercials).

He is total service, zero professionality. In short, he is everything the rest of the MSM has been sliding prone towards.
So if they don't want to talk about him, or even, gods forbid lob softballs at him, it is because they fear what might just say on an open mike. My god, the man has little to lose, and much to say, if he decided to.

How will we feel about him when he goes over to MMforAm and gives the full horrible, deposition? I know I would forgive him, if he just decided that the public needs to hear the truth. Because, let's face it, Mr. 'Gannon' ain't got no friends on the right, he aint got no friends on the left...

But he knows way way too much to keep on living.