Even If.....

EVEN IF

DISCLAIMER:  I THINK.  THEREFORE, I’M NEITHER 

DEMOCRAT NOR REPUBLICAN. 

Ah, the good ‘ol days of “…And that’s the way it is.”

Despite a meme of Walter Cronkite’s image currently circulating on (un)social media that says he would report the news each night then simply sign off with no political agenda, we must understand that ALL news agencies have ALWAYS had political agendas and leanings.  Uncle Walt was no exception. He occasionally ended his broadcast with a commentary or opinion. On those occasions, he would not use his tag line “…And that’s the way it is.”  

These days, however, it’s crystal clear which networks and agencies support what political party, candidate, and ideology.  Most Americans know this, but few seem to actually bother reading or listening beyond the by-lines of news reports. Those first bold-captioned words will enflame, enrage, or embolden already held opinions and views of the reader. EVEN IF it's a lie. 

The image above of British online publication ‘The Independent’ is a perfect example of how a news agency promotes their agenda or opinion on any given subject simply through the by-line.  With Americans' attention spans shorter than a gnat, and the prevalent media bias against all things Trump, ‘The Independent’ blatantly plays this song and dance strategy to perfection.  

“Trump says ’no one more competent in the world’ than daughter Ivanka to replace Nikki Haley as UN ambassador.” 

Except that Trump didn’t say that.  With a by-line that is an outright lie, ’The Independent’  shows it’s political bias, and ensures that all those on the Democrat, Progressive, liberal, left side of the US’s political spectrum will immediately seize the by-line moment and blow millions of gaskets. 

It’s like squirting lighter fluid on smoking charcoal in a BBQ grill and creating a sudden explosive shot of flames.  I did that last summer and burned the hair off my right arm. 

‘The Independent’, as I suspect many other news agencies do, is hedging its bets that those seeing the by-line are simply scrolling with their thumbs, and won’t bother to actually read what Trump ACTUALLY said.  You see, the by-line leaves out two key words in Trump’s comment (reported in THEIR story above, no less) that totally changes the meaning and context of what he said:  “…EVEN IF…” 

I won’t be surprised to see this take on a life of its own in the next few weeks as people tell other people that Trump might appoint his daughter as UN Ambassador.  

And that’s the way it is.  EVEN IF it’s a lie.  

Rick B Baker 

Rochester New York 

October 10, 2018 

To Tweet Or Not To Tweet

To Tweet Or Not To Tweet: 

That Is The Backchannel

DISCLAIMER:  I THINK. THEREFORE, I’M NEITHER 

DEMOCRAT NOR REPUBLICAN.

And just like that, (to mimic innumerable (Un)Social media memes these days), Omarosa with her endless supply of secret White House recordings was never heard from again.

Yep, Bob Woodward’s book needed to be promoted, and The New York Times just HAD to publish an anonymous OPINION piece allegedly from inside the Trump administration that told of utter chaos in the White House. So many deflections and diversions to avoid reporting actual, factual news.  But let’s just be crystal clear about one thing: Next week there will be some other “sound-bite bombshell” to feed the American public’s gnat-sized attention span. 

But here’s this week’s clincher.  

Today, September 9th, 2018, there was a story reporting that Bob Woodward in a broadcast of CBS Sunday Morning told of a Trump tweet that was drafted…yes DRAFTED…that talked about pulling our military dependents from South Korea.  It was never sent because a “back-channel message from the North Koreans” said that they would consider this an indication that the US was preparing a military attack, according to a report from Agency France Presse (AFP).  The by-line of AFP’s report ran, “Trump Spooked Pentagon With Almost-Sent Tweet On N.Korea: Woodward”.  

Yes, “Don’t send that tweet out, or we will be angry,” said the North Koreans never. 

Ok.  Hold the phone.  Back up the bus.  Seal the missile silos. 

This so-called story raises more questions than the facts it doesn’t report.  

Are we to believe that Trump’s tweets are drafted, proof-read, vetted, and approved by White House or Pentagon staffers? If so, and even if not, how did the North Koreans know of Trump’s drafted tweet?  Is someone in the administration feeding inside information, i.e. Trump’s Twitter ‘drafts’ to the North Koreans?  Are the North Koreans spying and listening in on the White House? Have they hacked into Trump’s phone and know exactly what he’s going to tweet about before he tweets it?  

I mean, come on, America.  I’ve come to NOT believe about 90% of what I hear, read, and see in media these days, and I strongly doubt the other 10%. The story simply makes NO sense as written.

But this report just reeks of media fecal material. 

I personally think Trump is functioning (or not) on some other level NO ONE is familiar with, but Woodward is stretching credibility to the limit, in my opinion. 

Woodward’s glory days of Watergate and Deep Throat are decades past.  The movie isn’t even on anyone’s radar any longer.  And now he, like Omarosa, has a book to get promoted and up to the top of the NY Times Best Seller list.  

As for all this “anonymous” hooey, ENOUGH!  If all these media hacks are so intent on discrediting Trump, then out with it!  Give us your sources, say who said what to whom and when, and stop being self-promoting con-artists. Perhaps then you could actually facilitate a change in our elected leadership that so many voters are noisily clamoring for. Otherwise, put a sock in it.  

Here’s MY question:  Since this latest Woodward claptrap suggests that Trump DRAFTS his tweets, and since the story suggests others were worried about his proposed tweet, WHO IS TRUMP’S TWEET EDITOR? 

That might just explain a year and a half of this Trump Twitter Shit Show!  I see (smell) a new reality series in the making.  You listening, Omarosa?? 

September 9, 2018

©Rick Burnett Baker 

Photo ©Rick Burnett Baker