Relax, folks, we won’t be channelling Fox News North

[CHIMO]

It’s an article of unshakable conviction among the hardest core conservatives that the “media” tilt liberal or leftward.

The argument is bunk on its face. If you totted up all the clearly right-wing outlets and commentators and put them against the leftish-wing ones such as the Toronto Star, the right-wing voices would win every time – from AM Radio, to Maclean’s, to the National Post, to most of the former CanWest papers, to editorial elements of The Globe and Mail and, most notably, to the Sun newspapers.

Facts, however, never got in the way of ideological conviction. So to those on the hard right, the media are, and have always been, liberal, socialist and otherwise in cahoots with the squishy establishment that runs Canada.

Seized with this conviction and, of course, determined to make money, the financiers and organizers of Sun TV, so-called Fox News North, promise a new cable station by Jan. 1 to bring a “populist” view to the people, “populist” being a euphemism for angry, pithy, loud conservatism.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/relax-folks-we-wont-be-channelling-fox-news-north/article1638801/

[glinda]

1. As an American, this makes me very very sad.

[Spazito]

2. Why does it make you sad?

The article points out how it is unlikely the "Fox News North" will get their preferred status and, indeed, they did not:

CRTC refuses Sun TV’s bid for preferred status on dial

Regulator tells Quebecor it won’t make exception on decision to hold new Category 1 licenses until October, 2011.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/crtc-refuses-sun-tvs-bid-for-preferred-status-on-dial/article1641654/

[glinda]

3. Fox does not quit at anything. Ever. The radical portion of the

conservative media here has destroyed this Country. I do so hope that Canada is able to fend them off indefinitely because they tell untruths in order to cause purposeful "schism" between people. Our Country is screwed. The run of the mill people have little access to truths. They just tend to believe what Fox and similar media tell them. It has caused grave harm to America. In too many ways to list.

[Spazito]

4. We already have the Fox News Network (the US one) in Canada but...

people have to pay extra for it and I suspect they aren't getting many to do that. "Fox News North" will probably end up the same and with the same result. The only people who will pay for it will be 'the choir', the ones who already believe the crap spewed by the right here in Canada, the ones who already vote for the current neocon government.

[EmilyKent]

5. Mr Simpson is very naive.

[Spazito]

6. Mr. Simpson turned out to be right...

"The CRTC would lose every shred of credibility to accept Sun TV’s application. It has to say – and Sun TV will likely hate the word – go “compete.” Meaning, try to negotiate something with your “friendly” cable giants such as Shaw, Rogers and Bell."

The CRTC did exactly that, turned down Sun TV aka Fox News North's application and they will have to compete:


CRTC refuses Sun TV’s bid for preferred status on dial

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/crtc-refuses-sun-tvs-bid-for-preferred-status-on-dial/article1641654/

[daleo]

7. So far, so good

But the right is tenacious and has tremendous resources to push its message. I never thought Harper and the Reform Party had a chance at forming a government either.

[Spazito]

8. Oh yes, vigilance is definitely needed...

Once bitten, twice shy for sure.

[EmilyKent]

9. And you think Mr Harper will let it go

at that?

Either the CRTC will be overruled, or cease to exist.

[Spazito]

10. He's not stupid, arrogant for sure, but not stupid...

To go after the CRTC to get Fox North a preferred status would not serve his public persona well and he knows that. Fox North will get on the air having to compete with other programs, other 24 hour 'news' programs whose audience numbers are minuscule compared to the regular networks.

The harper cabal are too busy, right now, trying to kill CBC which IS something to be concerned about, imo.

[EmilyKent]

11. He's not?

Whatever gave you that impression?

[Spazito]

12. It's not a mere impression, it is a simple fact...

He is politically inept, has a need to micro-manage beyond belief but those 'qualities' are not indicators of intelligence. If one has watched him long enough, and I have, well before he became the leader of the neocon party, he is not stupid. Is he a genius, nope, far from it, but neither is he stupid. Palin is stupid, truly stupid.

I despise the man to the nth degree but don't try to fool myself into thinking he is stupid.

[EmilyKent]

13. No, it's a conservative talking point,

which you have apparently bought into. I have yet to see him do anything intelligent.

[Spazito]

14. That is ridiculous...

One can despise a person without falling for the "he/she is stupid" crap when they are not stupid. To say someone is not stupid is a "conservative talking point"? Wow.

To assume someone in power is stupid is to ignore the reality and, as a result, be unable or unwilling to fight back.

You carry on thinking he is stupid if that works for you. I will continue to fight against him and neocon party knowing he is not stupid.

[EmilyKent]

15. It's a conservative talking point all the same.

Also the reality.

Harper wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes with Chretien.

[Spazito]

16. You can call simply stating the truth "a conservative talking point"...

all you like, it doesn't make it so, quite the opposite.

As to "Harper wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes with Chretien" I don't disagree with that at all, Chretien is brilliant AND the consummate politician, Harper is neither but neither is he stupid. I would have loved to see them go head to head, it would have certainly been worth a laugh. Unfortunately Chretien isn't in the picture anymore, much as you and I might wish it. We don't have a Chretien leading either party, sadly, so here is where we are, being governed by a far right wing neocon party.

[EmilyKent]

17. I'm sorry if Harper rhetoric intimidates you,

but he isn't very bright. Just a thug in a suit.

[Spazito]

18. That thug in a suit has won two elections, and, if it's okay with you...

I prefer he does NOT win a third and, rather than underestimating him, will do all I can to help defeat him and his neocon government with the understanding they are not stupid and tailor my fight accordingly.

[EmilyKent]

19. He didn't 'win' two elections.

He got the smallest minority in your history, and only then against an Opposition having internal problems.

What 'fight' are you involved in??

[Spazito]

20. He won twice, in Canada a minority government is still considered a 'win'...

If you want to fool yourself into thinking he didn't win, well, no wonder he won if enough Canadians are thinking the way you are. The ongoing fight any good Liberal/NDP supporter should be in, meeting with neighbours about the policies being put into place by this neocon government, speaking to groups of mothers/university students about the policies of this government and how it negatively affects them. Writing letters, sending e-mails, again, the things a good Liberal/NDP supporter does.

When the next election is called, I will be volunteering for the best opposition candidate who can defeat the current neocon representing my area which will probably be a Liberal.

If you aren't yet in the "fight", I cordially invite you to join, it is never too soon.

[EmilyKent]

21. Mmm it is in the UK too since we invented it.

However, you have nothing to do with any 'fight', and Harper is merely a thug in a suit. With the same mentality.

[Spazito]

22. Wow, pathetic response...

With that, our 'conversation' is at an end.

[EmilyKent]

23. Well thank goodness for that.

You seem very confused about your own country.

[Bragi]

24. yep.

I believe that, barring a majority, which isn't going to happen, Harper will retire after the next election and that Fox News North is one of his "legacy" initiatives.

I predict he will therefore overturn the CRTC on this, and force all Canadians to pay for right-wing cable news.