In the midst of something of a media uproar, Joe Wurzelbacher AKA Joe the Plumber has landed or is about to land (depending on when you read this) at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport. PJTV and Pajamas Media have been deluged with interview requests for Joe, ranging from Geraldo At Large and the Associated Press to Israel’s Channel 10 and Germany’s ZDF television giant.
Before Joe left he was interviewed by Fox and CNN, among others. The CNN reporter, particularly, derided the lack of the plumber’s professional journalistic experience. Yes, that’s CNN – the “professional” network that just yesterday broadcast a video of evidence of supposed Israeli brutality from a Gaza hospital that was entirely fake – a Pallywood production.
Considering the numerous demonstrated instances of such “fauxtography” from the second Lebanon War, Pajamas Media would like to know why CNN was so quick to promulgate this crude forgery? It would tend to be evidence of bias, even extreme bias, on the part of the network but perhaps it was just an honest mistake, the kind of mistake made by an amateur… like a plumber.
Later Friday PJTV will attempt to connect with CNN to get their side of the story. Meanwhile, Joe Wurzelbacher will begin his work in Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Border, wherever his admittedly amateur journalistic skills take him. Stayed tuned to PJTV and to this website for further updates. Here’s his first departure interview with PJTV.
UPDATE CNN: As you will see on today’s PJTV, I contacted CCN and talked with their spokesperson Christa Robinson who was aware that the network had taken down the disputed video from their website, but had no explanation as to why. I asked her several other questions – such as where they got the video in the first place – which she was unable to answer. She promised someone from the network would get back to me with a response. So far, they have not. It’s been several hours.
MORE: CNN has done a volte-face, reposting the video and now insisting it is genuine, despite giving no specific response to any of the criticisms. More here. Is this another Al-Dura in the making? [Didn't we hear that the man who shot that video was also of "enormous integrity."-ed. Yes, even after he kept contradicting himself. And what about this? Somehow I knew you'd bring that up.]
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187 Comments
1. Mike_K:Most of these “professional” news services use Palestinian stringers for their reporting. They could do as well just printing Hamas press releases and using Hamas video clips. Come to think of it, they have. The story of the al Dura affair is a lengthy and well documented example. Joe can do better without even trying.
Jan 9, 2009 - 10:14 am 2. AlanC:There are 4 things that make a good reporter:
1) Honesty
2) Integrity
3) Hardheaded common sense toward people
4) experience
From what I’ve seen Joe has 1 – 3 covered, 4 is easy to come by.
The MSM and CNN in particular fail dismally on 1 – 3 but have 4 covered mostly.
Pay your money, make your choice.
Jan 9, 2009 - 10:19 am 3. jungus:I like the fact that he didn’t ask a question in this way: “Do you agree with…” and then build up a one-sided list of reasons that forced the interviewee to answer the preferred way or look like a moronic liar.
Jan 9, 2009 - 10:23 am 4. Pajamas Media » CNN Meets Joe the Plumber:[...] Read the entire post here. [...]
Jan 9, 2009 - 10:34 am 5. Boyd:“Yes, that’s CNN – the “professional” network that just yesterday broadcast a video of evidence of supposed Israeli brutality from a Gaza hospital that was entirely fake.”
And that would be the same CNN that confessed to being Saddam’s tool so as to be allowed to keep reporting the “news” from Iraq. Why does anyone take these people seriously?
Jan 9, 2009 - 10:46 am 6. Mike K.:Looks like CNN is scared of competition.. I can understand why due to it’s inability to actually be journalistic or report.
Jan 9, 2009 - 10:51 am 7. navyret:You go Joe, stick it to all the MSN, and report the news they refuse to. All you have to do is be honest and you will blow them out of the water. It will be a wonderful change to be able to read the news and know its not bile spewed by the Lib media. Good Luck Joe, and Thanks
Jan 9, 2009 - 10:59 am 8. Jonas Blane:Hah!
THE DELUSIONAL SEND THE NITWIT.
Jan 9, 2009 - 11:15 am 9. Mike T:This is the same issue with homeschooling. Once you realize how low the test scores are for education majors as a group, you realize that the average person is as qualified as they are to teach their own children.
Jan 9, 2009 - 11:16 am 10. Jeff Weimer:vivo, Harsh Reality, and Robert Hurley in 3…2…1…
Jan 9, 2009 - 11:16 am 11. Ozzie:MSM journalists are corrupt uniformly because it is mostly required to succeed in their companies. They go from liberal checkpoint to liberal checkpoint getting their credentials stamped so they can rise up the ladder. I have 100% more confidence in what information Joe will relate than anything I might hear from CNN because he is outside of that system. The only people who believe CNN, MSNBC and the networks are either liberal already and getting their worldview reinforced, or clueless inDUHviduals who can’t name the vice president when asked. Best of luck to Joe, and gratz to Mr. Simon for the maneuver.
Jan 9, 2009 - 11:27 am 12. Jewels (AKA Julian):I will be curious to see Mr. Wurzelbacher’s report and reporting style. it cannot be worse than Annampour’s
Jan 9, 2009 - 11:39 am 13. RK:PJTV has scored a publicity coup. Congrats. Now many more people will be curious to know what PJTV is. If Sarah Palin is not a working governor, I bet you will find her an assignment.
Jan 9, 2009 - 11:52 am 14. Lightnin' Hopkins:I guess even angry trolls have to break for lunch, Jeff. Gotta fuel up for all the critical thinking they will undoubtedly bestow upon us shortly.
Jan 9, 2009 - 11:54 am 15. Brenda C:I have no doubt Joe will at least report honestly. He may not speak or say every word with elegance but we’re tired of those type of reporters anyway. Just tell us like it is. CNN,MSNBC,ABC are just worried Joe may make them look like idiots when he reports truth without bias while the others will report what they want to see. Go get em Joe. God bless and keep you safe.
Jan 9, 2009 - 12:14 pm 16. ameykurdt:a smile to PJTV..
Jan 9, 2009 - 12:21 pm 17. mike g.:Joe the Plummer needs to learn how to “pronounciate” certain names. PLEASE! I’ve had enough of this guy already and I’m sure I’m not the only person who feels this way. WTF!!! are you guys thinking? His 15 minutes of fame should have been up 14 minutes ago.
Jan 9, 2009 - 12:29 pm 18. Heather:CNN was on 4 of the 10 TV screens at my gym on Wednesday evening. They did a segment making fun of PJTV and Joe, followed up by a longer segment about–I can’t make this up–YouTube videos of babies and puppies falling asleep.
Why on Earth do they think anyone should take them seriously as a source of news?!?!?
Jan 9, 2009 - 12:30 pm 19. Will Sharpe:It’s a smart pub grab by PJTV, and, like many of the bloggers on this site, they’re holding to their guns of polemical rhetoric by hiring Joe the Plumber. This is certainly the sort of move that screams, “Look at me”! However, does it promote “Listen to me”, as well? I doubt it.
Jan 9, 2009 - 12:48 pm 20. Eric R.:Joe just has to ask some simple questions.
I’d really like to him to ask Gazans some simple questions that the MSM won’t ask, like:
“Do you want all the Jews dead?”
“Do you think Jews have any right to defend themselves against your rockets?”
“Do you seriously think the Jews are going to pick up and leave?”
“Why the f**k did you vote for Hamas, knowing that they were going to rocket Israel?”
“Do you think the Holocaust occurred?”
“Aren’t you afraid that, if you push too far, the Israelis might go nuclear on you?”
Jan 9, 2009 - 12:49 pm 21. CJB:You’re right Will. Airing Pallywood fantasies is so much more convincing. Good luck with that.
Jan 9, 2009 - 1:00 pm 22. Ratatosk:Ahahahahaha…
Sorry, that’s out of my system now.
Jan 9, 2009 - 1:02 pm 23. ely:please allow me to show you what is going on:
Jan 9, 2009 - 1:12 pm 24. Dougf:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KgoBdVibdY
Ahahahahaha…
Sorry, that’s out of my system now.—Rat
Now that’s both unkind and somewhat
juvenile’, don’t you think ? Disappointed I am, my old friend.
Surely Joe can do a better job than the current collection of Hamas apologists and press agents. What is NOT to understand about Hamas and it’s ilk? It’s not what they say;it’s not even what they do.
It’s What They Are .
If Joe can’t abide Hamas or its backers and behaves accordingly, he’s already so far ahead of the ‘competition’ that the question of ‘lapping’ must surely arise.
It’s not ‘nuance’ to deliberately eliminate the difference between the victim and the criminal. It’s moral and intellectual cowardice. And its EVERYWHERE in the modern MSM.
Joe may not be the answer, but at the very, VERY,least he’s not actively adding to the problem. Which is more than I can say for the other ‘journalists’ supposedly on the job there.
Jan 9, 2009 - 1:19 pm 25. stevent12x:PJM: Bastion for the Braindead…
It amazes me that many people here seriously believe that JtP will be this hard-hitting, take-no-BS uber-reporter that rises up like a volcano in a sea of mediocrity. His “job” will be to echo the talking points of PJTV – which you all will, without doubt, applaud and pat each other’s backs for – and fulfill his role of a 10-day publicity stunt to get them news bites on the MSM you so abhor (sorry to upset some of you in your small, small worlds, but that really is what this is all about).
To the (Thank God!) minute number of readers this site has, he’s Joe the Hero. To the other 99.999.. (and so, ad infinitum) percent of people in the world, he’s Joe the Talking Parrot.
Jan 9, 2009 - 1:47 pm 26. zanne:Joe has a chance to show the public just how bad some news people do their job. I wish him the best.
Jan 9, 2009 - 1:48 pm 27. ThinkingPerson:#24….stevent12x….welcome to our [...]“small, small worlds”[...]Steve! Nice to know that some liberal wingnuts do venture outside of The View and the Huffington Post! Breath the fresh air and excuse the headache you’re going to get from reading articles on Pajamas Media which will be caused by your brain growing ever so slightly. Feels good to wake up out of that kool-aid induced coma now doesn’t it? Welcome to reality…we’ve been waiting for you!
Jan 9, 2009 - 1:55 pm 28. Mike G:I suppose Howard Stern should send Hank the angry drunken dwarf. (he’d probably do even better…and HE’S dead)
Jan 9, 2009 - 2:00 pm 29. Ratatosk:Now that’s both unkind and somewhat
juvenile’, don’t you think ? Disappointed I am, my old friend.
Surely Joe can do a better job than the current collection of Hamas apologists and press agents. What is NOT to understand about Hamas and it’s ilk? It’s not what they say;it’s not even what they do.
Juvenile? Likely so, which is why I posted it as I did. From a pr perspective, its a great idea. PJ media is getting named all over the place… even the Daily Show hit it. From a ‘getting the real story’ though… Come on. The ‘real story’ isn’t gonna get picked up by Joe. He’ll go over, have a couple generic interviews that aren’t slanted pro-Pali, but more likely pro-Israel. I got no problem with trying to level the playing field, but its not like he’s gonna pop a big story or get the really awesome interview. It’s good PR, but the laugh was the “OMGZ HE WILL BE A REAL REPORTER FOR REAL AND GET US THE REAL STORY” vibe that has been popping up over the past couple days.
I wish Joe luck. If he wants to dive into the partisan Internet game for a shot at some publicity and world travel, well that’s great… I just don’t buy the hype that seems be be strung over it. Heck, if I had the chance, I’d fly to Israel and interview anyone PJ Media wanted me to. It would be fun and a great experience… its not about to change reporting and news… but it would be fun.
On the flip side, I hope that Joe is very thoughtful about what he says while traveling, amateur reporting is fun… Amateur international politics is tricky… and in that part of the world, amateur can get you killed. I hope he follows MJT’s pattern of behavior because I’d hate to see a fellow Ohioan get in dutch in the hell that is the Middle East.
However, the response by the PJMedia Crowd, still makes me laugh (juvenile or not).
Jan 9, 2009 - 2:04 pm 30. CJB:Rat,
Jan 9, 2009 - 2:15 pm 31. CJB:The “I’m too cool to bother telling the truth” vibe you’re laying out there is pretty tedious. But from your comments so far tedious seems to be your stock and trade.
The veiled threat tied up in the “Dutch in the Middle East,” statement is pretty wretched as well. What a piece of work you are.
Jan 9, 2009 - 2:17 pm 32. Carla:That’s funny, Ratatosk. What makes me laugh is the MSM response to JTP’s trip. I understand why people who watch PJTV are enthusiastic about the prospect of a “regular guy” going to the Middle East and asking the kinds of questions the MSM doesn’t. It’s the MSM and left minded folks uproar over it that is amusing. The more they smirk or protest, the more petty and scared they seem.
Jan 9, 2009 - 2:25 pm 33. John B:First of all, I don’t view JtP as a heroic figure. I think Joe is just a regular guy with an above average curiosity. Why else would he have the gall to ask the question about Obama’s tax and spend, i.e.; “share the wealth”, plan? Let’s face it,,, that’s all he did, he asked a question to someone who wanted his vote. Most of us think that’s pretty normal.
However it was such a basic bomb because it caught everyone’s attention, not the question itself, but about how badly Obama answered the question. With typical, in the tank, over the top, MSM spin, the spotlight was reversed to try to cover up the inadequacy of “The One”, who truly doesn’t have a clue. “WOW~! Obama looked a little bad there, let’s make Joe look worse.”
Works every time, right?
Trust me on this, I would have asked the same question myself if I’d had the opportunity. I have a small business and I wonder how all this taxing of folks who make who make too much money is going to effect me. I like Joe for his gall.
Let’s give Joe a chance before we pull the plug on him. He may surprise every one with his reports. I truly hope so.
Jan 9, 2009 - 2:37 pm 34. stevent12x:ThinkingPerson…
Falling back on old and tired stereotypes that you and your like-minded buddies can hee-haw about must be comforting, huh? Just because I write something negative about your little poster boy, you automatically assume that I’m some “liberal wingnut.” Unlike you apparently, I make my political decisions based on thoughtful, time-consuming examination of the facts. This is why I voted for McCain in ‘08 (although his tactless and ill thought out parading about of Joe as the “common American” seriously made me reconsider) and generally vote conservative. That doesn’t mean that I don’t find the derisive, polarizing and, too often, plain offensive comments here on PJM appalling; I am, after all, a human being before I am a political being.
So maybe it’s about time you begin to live up to your name ThinkingPerson, and stop blindly following the shepherd wherever he leads his flock.
Jan 9, 2009 - 2:41 pm 35. Steve:It is the height of arrogance to think Obama is qualified to be president and Franken a senator but Palin is unqualified to be vice presidenet and Joe a journalist. I hope Joe gets stories that CNN and other journalists fail to cover because of their biases. That would be a comeuppance. I think you may be onto something with this example of citizen journalism. It shows just how unprofessional many journalists really are.
Jan 9, 2009 - 2:51 pm 36. Amazed:i guess andy warhol was right….
Jan 9, 2009 - 2:52 pm 37. josiah:Roger: What were you thinking? Hiring Joe? You could have sent me! Just kidding; have to admit I’m a bit jealous of Joe doing this.
Joe, be sure to contact the folks at Arutz Sheva; they’re excited that someone may be coming that will tell the truth! They want to be the first to interview you – they’re good people!
Jan 9, 2009 - 2:59 pm 38. Just Wondering:how can anyone view this as anything other than a publicity stunt?
although…i guess andy warhol was right..
Jan 9, 2009 - 3:01 pm 39. avoidswork:Awesome. Frakkin’ awesome.
An ignorant man reporting for an ignorant web-TV cast.
For the humor alone, I will be tuning in.
This is just as funny as that scary chick with the screechy voice thinking she could be VP…
Jan 9, 2009 - 3:05 pm 40. Liars, Leftists, & Loonies or “How we destroyed the Mainstream Media” « Mark Epstein:[...] the other hand, Joe the Plumber is now working for PJTV and PM. Considering Joe’s ability to honestly question candidate [...]
Jan 9, 2009 - 3:07 pm 41. avoidswork:Oh, Steve@35…
I would say about as professional as JtP was when working unlicensed in Ohio (not allowed under state law)…
Man, oh man, have I missed this site!
Jan 9, 2009 - 3:11 pm 42. Ratatosk:CJB: I think you may be confused, or unable to clearly articulate your thoughts. Could you try again?
As for: The veiled threat tied up in the “Dutch in the Middle East
Yes, imagine that, I made the veiled comment that the Middle East is a dangerous place. If people aren’t smart they can get themselves into serious trouble… at least that’s what Mr. Totten claims. Perhaps you have a much better traveled portfolio and know that the ME is not dangerous, or maybe you know some secret sigil that Joe can wear to keep himself from harm? Or maybe, (possibly) I was right and Joe should be careful since he’s an amateur in a dangerous part of the planet, no?
Carla: I agree entirely, the response by the MSM is insanely funny. It’s not like Joe is the first ‘normal joe’ to go report from the Middle East, MJT has done it for years and I consider him one of the best sources on cultural views within the Middle East. Certainly better than Mr. Cole or most of the MSM.
Honestly though, exactly who and what is he gonna question that will be so revelatory? He’s said he’s going to go talk to the ‘Average Joe’s’ in Israel… that’s a great idea, but its not “asking the kinds of questions the MSM doesn’t” its interviewing average Israelis. It’s not like he’s gonna go play hardball with the idiots launching rockets. As far as I’ve been able to tell from the reporting thus far, he’s not even going into Palestine… Who exactly is he gonna ask the tough question of? The Israelis?
Tough Questions that the MSM doesn’t ask Israelis:
“Do you really not like having rockets blow up all around town, or are you just hungry to kill Palestinians?”
“Would you prefer to have sane neighbors, or do you like the insane folks next door?”
We don’t need the inside scoop in Israel, the average Joe’s there have a pretty straightforward view of the hellish mess, they haven’t caused it and they aren’t actively trying to make it worse. If he wanted to interview the ‘average joe’ in Palestine, maybe that would work better:
“Do you like having a group of your fellow nationals lob rockets at Israel for no useful purpose?”
“Do you prefer peace, or getting your ass kicked on a regular basis?”
“If you had the choice, would you willingly allow yourself and your children to suffer for the rest of their lives… if it meant the destruction of Israel?”
(I’d bet the answers to the last one would surprise us all…)
It’s one thing to have a cool PR shot like this, good for PJ media and good for Joe… but the dramatic exaggerations look silly… just like the dramatic exaggerations the MSM has made over the same event.
Jan 9, 2009 - 3:11 pm 43. Dougf:“If you had the choice, would you willingly allow yourself and your children to suffer for the rest of their lives… if it meant the destruction of Israel?”
(I’d bet the answers to the last one would surprise us all…)—Tosk
Hmmm, OK I’ll bite.
Are you hinting, even very obliquely, that the answer would be NO. Because I would be clearly surprised at that answer. Unless it was given with the usual caveats. Especially the deal breaker itself,namely —
THE RIGHT OF RETURN MUST BE ABSOLUTE.
I think a better question(and by better I mean both fairer and more illustrative) would be :
‘What conditions must be fulfilled before you would agree that Israel has the right to exist as a JEWISH STATE without attacks from its neighbors’?
Jan 9, 2009 - 3:37 pm 44. Carla:I reread Roger’s posts about JTP’s trip and for the life of me, I don’t see where he made any dramatic exaggerations, Ratatosk. You might want to take another look. As for the ratcheting up, I think it started with the MSM and certain provocateurs comments. When they attacked the idea, many commenters defended and rhetoric heated up.
Jan 9, 2009 - 3:40 pm 45. DonJoe_BillyBob:I also think you are incorrect about the need for “the inside scoop in Israel.” While it may seem obviosu to you how ordinary Israelis feel, we never see them on the MSM. We always see Palestinian protesters or victims. If the MSM spent equal time covering both sides, the Palestinian propaganda machine might suffer by comparison. Viewers at home might be able to draw their own conclusions. But CNN and the like don’t do that. Hence the usefulness of someone like Joe. He’ll just be providing another window that isn’t usually open to MSM tv audiences. If the MSM did their job, Joe would be redundant. But they don’t. So he isn’t.
Brilliant!
Kudos to Roger and PJM! Welcome to the trailer park. Would you care for a hotdog (Kosher for my Jewish friends), a Bud and watch some NASCAR?
Yeah CNN, PJM didn’t forget about the heartbeat of America!
Jan 9, 2009 - 3:42 pm 46. ThinkingPerson:#34 stevet12x….My, I must have hit a nerve there eh Steve? Somehow I’m not buying your McCain vote. Your bias towards the MSM belies that. Anyone defending the media at this point shows their seedy underbelly and where their true intent lies. Nice try though. As for Joe being “my poster boy”, well, all I can say about that is that he almost (unintentionally) brought Mr. Obama to his knees with one simple question. That, my friend, is pure genius. I can’t wait to see what he has to say about the middle East conflict that the MSM find offensive (and therefore most likely factual). Now, quit trying to wave that Republican flag Steve. I saw right through that. And as for following, I’m thinking you’re the follower Steve. After all, you’re the liberal wingnut here trying to convince us all that we are “all like-minded hee-haws”. Yeah. Right-o Steve. I think I gave you too much credit for stepping out of that little group-think box you were in. Go back to your Joy Behar fest Steve. You apparently aren’t ready for any enlightening just yet.
Jan 9, 2009 - 3:43 pm 47. ILikeIke:“Pajamas Media would like to know why CNN was so quick to promulgate this crude forgery?”
Before you start asking that, you might want to get more convincing evidence that the video in question is a “crude forgery.” I’d call what I’ve seen so far convincing evidence if A) it was convincing and B) it was evidence.
So far all I’ve seen is speculation and accusation. If Pajamas Media truly wants to be taken seriously, they’re going to have to do better than this.
Good thing they have the plumber on the case….
Jan 9, 2009 - 3:48 pm 48. ILikeCharlieRangel:It seems to me “ILikeIke” that Pajamas Media has already BEEN taken seriously. The questionable video has already been removed not only from CNN’s website, but from UKChannel4’s, etc. You are a pompous bore, sir. And choose a more amusing handle.
Jan 9, 2009 - 3:51 pm 49. hobbit:To those that say Warhol was right, I say nay.
Joe’s had way more then 15 minutes now!
I thought McCain overplayed Joe at the time, but hey, that’s just me.
As far as now? More power to him, I hope it opens new doors for him…
Jan 9, 2009 - 3:54 pm 50. misanthropicus:Heavens! This mascarade keeps going on, liberals with referee whistles setting up rules according to their necessities all the time!
Jan 9, 2009 - 4:16 pm 51. misanthropicus:Why is Joe unqualified for the job of reporter and Olberman and Matthews are mighty qualified for being anchors?
Since when Michael Moore or Madonna Ciccone are the face and conscience of the American people, while Sarah Palin is a country bumpkin we should hide from the eyes of foreigners?
Topsy-turvy, Laputa or Erewhon-like the world is when the liberals define it!
PS to #50:
I (and any normal person) would anytime buy a vacuum cleaner from Joe – but not from Matthews or Olberman.
Jan 9, 2009 - 4:22 pm 52. JL:The liberal media supports Hammas. Almost all jews in the US vote liberal. Can somebody explain this to me.
Jan 9, 2009 - 4:22 pm 53. one of the guys who ...:…referred to andy warhol.
good point hobbit. he has had about (15*way too much exposure)^2 at this point. at least that’s how i modeled it. lol …
Jan 9, 2009 - 4:37 pm 54. CJB:i’m joe the plumber..and that’s the news.
Rat,
The more you type. The less you are.
Jan 9, 2009 - 4:51 pm 55. steveaz:Avoidswork, #51
“[...]as professional as JtP was when working unlicensed[...]”
Sounds like one’s level of compliance with state laws is your metric for “professionalism.” Have you really thought this one through?
The implication of this is, free Americans with functional skills need a piece of paper from Ohio’s corrupt state government before their skills are really “skills.”
Hmmmm. Do you have a license to type? Breath? How about to ponder political issues? See my point? According to the credentialists (and you sound like one to me), free Americans need to get their competitors’ “OK” before we can practice a trade (I guess I’d better check with the local landscapers first to see if it’s OK for me to spread mulch in their market).
Sounds oppressive, and like a regime of oversight designed to cap free enterprise and to drive all tradesmen thru the overseers’ gates: like cattle being herded into a pen.
CNN’s et al’s braying about Joe the Plumber’s lack of credentials reveals these politicized media corporations’ arrogance. They’ve arrogated to themselves the role of gate-keeper. From what you’ve written here, it sounds as if you’re convinced they’ve earned this judicial role.
Which leads me to wonder, what, besides exquisite branding with snazzy logos and eloquent brunettes, makes them so credible to you. Is it the “facticity” of the content of their broadcasts?
If you answer yes, I’m afraid you’ve been sorely, sorely misled. Lied to, really. That’s too bad.
Jan 9, 2009 - 4:56 pm 56. steveaz:Oops! Should be “Avoidswork, #41!”
It’s beer o’clock in Arizona.
Jan 9, 2009 - 4:59 pm 57. Ralph Woods:Just imagine! Joe The Plumber (JTP) will gain a vast audience with expenses measuring in the thousands, while news outlets such as CNN spend millions in attempts to hold onto an ever dwindling viewership. After all Joe did more to reveal the true inner workings of Obama’s ,with one question, than the rest of the old MSM combined during the election cycle.
Jan 9, 2009 - 5:26 pm 58. Judy, NYC:steve12X: it is obvious that 12 is your age. please go away. your thinking is that of a precocious child who wants attention from adults, or at least does not want to go to sleep when the adults are still awake and talking. it would be a better idea for you to talk to your peers or your teachers at school. a 12 year old is inappropriate, here, especially one with no insight.
Jan 9, 2009 - 5:35 pm 59. ILikeIke:ILikeCharlieRangel, If inspiring chuckles and uncontrollable guffaws is considered “being taken seriously,” then you are correct.
That you seem to take the removal of a video as evidence of the video being faked proves my point.
Logic…you’re not using it right.
misanthropicus: “Since when Michael Moore or Madonna Ciccone are the face and conscience of the American people, while Sarah Palin is a country bumpkin we should hide from the eyes of foreigners?”
Umm…never. Sarah Palin is embarrassing though. One wonders why she didn’t confront Tina Fey on that exploitation issue when they did that skit together… Not the right time I guess.
Jan 9, 2009 - 5:36 pm 60. stevent12x:ThinkingPerson…
I would hope that if I was trying to pass myself off as two people, I would choose another name more clever than simply dropping a couple numbers and letters… or not? Haha. My real point though I suppose is simply that there is no absolute right and wrong when it comes to politics. Both sides, libs and cons, have their good points and their shortcomings. Too often on this site as well as others, I see people willing to defend their party to the death, no matter what the topic. I wholly agree that the MSM offers very little in the way of real news, but rather, serves as an alienating force. Unfortunately, one “common American” going on a 10 day vacation to Gaza isn’t going to change anything. The only thing that will is for rational, intelligent people of all racial, economic, and political backgrounds to stop supporting those whose only objective is entertainment, i.e. ratings, and to actually start supporting and listening to each other.
Jan 9, 2009 - 5:38 pm 61. CJB:Ilikeike,
What’s funny is that Joe is a journalist now. The entire staff of the Seattle Post Intelligencer soon won’t be. At least that makes me smile.
Jan 9, 2009 - 5:40 pm 62. thegr8 1:I’ll take Joe the Plumber over Christina Iampour or Nick Robertson anytime.
Jan 9, 2009 - 5:58 pm 63. thegr8 1:Joe I think you should have your own conservative talk show I think you could be a low key Glenn Beck.
Jan 9, 2009 - 6:04 pm 64. BillGee:Are all of you really this stupid. Do any of you realize how much of a joke you’ve all become to the rest of the world. Do you really think that a plumber that’s not even licensed to do his own job can be a reporter…..and he’s learning how to pronounciate the names?!?!? I guess it makes perfect sense to a group that thinks a horse show expert can run FEMA or a imcompetent cowboy can be a president.
Jan 9, 2009 - 6:21 pm 65. ILikeIke:CJB, Your values are seriously out of whack. Yes, Joe will be a journalist, but all the folks who work for the Intelligencer (from the mailroom on up to the boardroom, from typesetters to receptionists) will be unemployed. This makes you smile?
You should be ashamed of yourself.
Jan 9, 2009 - 6:22 pm 66. KJB:Michelle M.says it all: “If a community organizer can be president and a Saturday Night Live comedian can be a U.S. senator, why can’t a plumber be a reporter?”
Jan 9, 2009 - 6:29 pm 67. CJB:IlikeIke,
Jan 9, 2009 - 6:33 pm 68. BillGee:Yeah, you’re making me feel guilty. Tell you what. Maybe they can all work for PJM. Course it’s a little different from most newspapers. It’s a viable business. And seems to require that the people that work for it don’t lie. Big adjustment, but maybe there are some journalists than can make it. I hope Roger will give a few of them a second chance. At least the ones who haven’t been laughing at his viable business under their sock puppets…while their newspapers go under.
KJB – Because the community organizer and the comedian have something most on the right and certainly JTP do not have……..A BRAIN!!!
Jan 9, 2009 - 7:06 pm 69. ILikeIke:CJB, Not only are your values out of whack, but you are truly and wholly ignorant. You’re going to compare a hack website to an actual newspaper operation? sysadmin
Jan 9, 2009 - 7:19 pm 70. CJB:IlikeIke,
I agree. It is rude of me to compare PJM, which is well run enterprise in good financial health with utter failures like the Seattle PI and the NYT and the LAT. Sorry Roger I shouldn’t have compared you to those other losers. Thanks for clearing that up Ike.
Jan 9, 2009 - 7:30 pm 71. Minerva:Blessed be Roger for founding PJM and now for giving us PJTV!
Jan 9, 2009 - 7:38 pm 72. steveaz:RE Roger’s second CNN update:
If the video is back up, then it suggests CNN has decided to resort to a bunker mentality. That is, they’ll rely on their brand’s bald-faced assertion that the video is authentic.
This is the power that they think their brand offers them.
After all, they’re CNN for Chrissakes! So what if the video is a fake? They’ve got 52% of voting Americans and all of the world’s liberals happily indulging in self-interested gullibility. The video is “truthy” enough.
What need do they have for facts!? Sheez!
Jan 9, 2009 - 7:52 pm 73. BillGee:If JTP or JTUP (Joe The Unlicensed Plumber) can be a reporter and Sarah Palin can be a foreign policy expert by virtue of seeing Russia from her house, maybe I need to walk out on my deck and take a look at the moon…..then I can be an ASTRONAUT!!!….provided it doesn’t take a witch doctor to rid me of all my demons….I have to admit, I haven’t done that yet……DAMN!!! and astronauts are so cool!
Jan 9, 2009 - 8:01 pm 74. Marriu:It’s a cruel and self-serving stunt to put Joe the Plumber out there. Roger is pretending to believe that this “average Joe” will show up all the professional media phonies. Go gettum Joe! In fact, he wants to promote himself and get publicity for his PJM enterprise. Pure exploitation. All this enthusiasm for Joe by the loyal chorus is embarassing. It makes me think of “Young Frankenstein” where the monster is brought out to perform a dance routine.
Jan 9, 2009 - 8:01 pm 75. ILikeIke:CJB, Next time you should compare one hack site to another hack site. Try…PJM to Huff Post.
A newspaper is more than it’s op-ed page. I shouldn’t have to point this out to you, but your ignorance makes it necessary.
We’ll pick up this conversation when PJM gets a sports page and a classified section, a printing department, delivery drivers, etc.
Any idiot can register a domain name, buy some blogging software, and then hack away. (Roger L. Simon and Ariana Huffington proves this.) Running a newspaper is a horse of a different color.
Jan 9, 2009 - 8:14 pm 76. SpeakingOfAnyIdiot:“Roger L. Simon and Ariana Huffington proves this.” Didn’t you mean “prove,” ILikeIke?
Jan 9, 2009 - 8:19 pm 77. CJB:IlikeIke,
Fine. Can’t wait to hear from you again. Soon as PJM gets a sports page and a bankruptcy attorney we can talk. I’m so looking forward to it. Will I have to wait until PJM actually files in bankruptcy court like the PI Intelligencer or can we talk when they begin selling off their assets like the NYT is doing? Just so I’ll know.
Jan 9, 2009 - 8:23 pm 78. bruce:hahaha
I see CNN’s video of that idiot bouncing up and down on the child’s chest, what is he supposed to be doing?
I’ve just done an updated resuscitation course. Normal resuscitation should just about break the patients ribs and often does. A small price to pay for bringing someone back from the dead or keeping them viable long enough for more drastic intervention.
Jan 9, 2009 - 8:24 pm 79. Mike K.:It’s amazing to see some lefties show up in this forum..
This should teach Conservatives to raise their children up using the internet more and apply computer skills. We need to counteract the left’s attempt to take over all facets of the internet including PJTV.
Joe needs to be a reporter for REAL Americans! This is the Land of Opportunity, Right!?
Or are the news outlets only for the rubber stamping liberals?
Jan 9, 2009 - 8:25 pm 80. BillGee:Mike K (and I’m guessing you’re not Coach K), please, please don’t confuse “Real Americans” with “Real Good Americans”….I mean, JTUP, is, indeed, a real American, uneducated, verbally challenged, mentally incompetent, etc, etc…..why do you consider it neccessary for you to be informed by someone as ignorant as your self. I prefer my leaders and news providers to be a little more intelligent than me (otherwise I could do it)….I don’t think I’m the smartest or the best at what I do, why do all of you, because it is abuntanly clear you aren’t…..if you were you wouldn’t think that Fox News rubber stamps liberals….really
Jan 9, 2009 - 8:49 pm 81. mshatto:Why does a plumber need a license? What are the credentials that journalists need? Just thought I’d ask because some of you seem to think they’re so important.
Jan 9, 2009 - 9:06 pm 82. Carla:BillGee, please quit before you embarrass yourself any further. Or take it to someplace where you’ll be appreciated, like Daily Kos.
Jan 9, 2009 - 9:08 pm 83. fred:Thanks to the blood, sweat and tears of generations of these “real Americans” you so disdain, you are free to prefer whichever leaders and news providers you wish. No one has taken CNN or MSNBC off the air. Watch them as much as you want. And of course, vote for whom you wish. That is your right. But if you consider “real American(s)… uneducated, verbally challenged, mentally incompetent, etc. etc.,” I wonder why you don’t emigrate to some other country whose citizens you find more agreeable?
Hey BillyG,
I have a bachelors’ degree, a Masters’ in Philosophy, and an M.B.A. in Finance. I watch the FOX News Channel. And I approve of Joe Wurzelbacher’s attempt to see if he can do journalism.
Was I better educated in my more youthful and young adult Marxist days, or am I less educated and boorish now that I’ve broken with the Left (in 1987)and gravitated rightward?
I get it: Leftists are elegantly educated and have a better grip on reality. Republicans and conservatives are knuckledraggers and boorish hayseeds.
Jan 9, 2009 - 9:28 pm 84. ILikeIke:SpeakingOfAnyIdiot, Congratulations, you’re smarter than spellcheck. Your mother must be proud.
CJB, And you are just as dense as always… Never mind, dude. Obviously, the issue is much too complex for you to understand.
Jan 9, 2009 - 9:33 pm 85. BillGee:Carla, you are definately a “Real American” otherwise you would be a Real American (without the sarcastic quotation marks). You see, Real American’s serve their country (like I did), pay their taxes (like most of us do) and support leaders that are capable of making rational decisions that are beneficial to American citizens and mankind. “Real American’s” believe that dinosaurs walked with mankind, the earth is only 6K years old (and possibly flat), blacks are inferior to whites, Sarah Palin is an intellectual genius, Rush, Hannity, Kristol, BillO and Coulter are intellectual heavyweights…..and JTUP can be a journalist…well, right before he learns how to pronouce the names of the Isreali heads of state…… you see where this is going…..
As far as embarrassing myself, not hardly, not with a bunch of buffoons who probably (without a google search) can tell anyone who the two senators from NC are.
I served this country, did my part, but I still have to content with idiots who think a drunken playboy who ran every business he was ever a part of into the ground could run the greatest nation in the world…..you can imagine my dismay when over 50 million “real american’s” voted for him.
Jan 9, 2009 - 9:53 pm 86. BillGee:Fred, Yes.
Jan 9, 2009 - 9:56 pm 87. Claire Solt:Aparently, Joe really struck a chord with so many that he needed an agent who said he’d never seen so many requests. What an unexpected trip for him. He’s a popular celebrity now. I think it shows that the professional pols don’t seem authentic to many. I also really liked Tito the builder, especially when he explained the socialism he heard in Obama in South American context.
Jan 9, 2009 - 10:35 pm 88. fred:BillGee,
So, what’s wrong with being a former Marxist? Give me a good reason why it was a mistake to abandon my youthful allegiance to socialism.
Jan 9, 2009 - 10:42 pm 89. Carla:BillGee, check your own post to which I was responding. You may notice that you used quotes around the words real Americans.
Jan 9, 2009 - 10:49 pm 90. paul_unalaska:I graduated from an Ivy League university, have written a great deal for national magazines such as Vanity Fair. I have published a novel, written movies and worked very hard on the Clinton campaign. I am an atheist. I am pro-choice, support gay marriage, don’t enjoy Ann Coulter. Perhaps you can’t understand my dismay that my fellow Amricans elected as president a man who sat in the church of a racist, anti-science, anti-semitic conspiracy theorist for 20 years and had him baptise his children and considered him a spiritual mentor. You certainly don’t understand my dismay at the elitist, absurd notion that an average person like the Joe the plumber is unfit to visit a foreign country, ask questions and report back on his experiences. You may think I’m an idiot. I think you are an ignorant smug reactionary. So there we have it.
BillGee, if you’re done putting down other commenters, the plumber (tens of millions of illegals drive cars without a DL, go criticize them) et al., you’ve proven your sheeple-like gullibility you’ve been railroading others on. SNL’s Tina Fey made the, ‘I can see Russia from my house’ comment. Nonetheless, troll on big guy.
This Wurzelbacher thing is great! The number of troll comments is staggering. That in of itself is a gas!
Jan 9, 2009 - 11:17 pm 91. BillGee:Carla, you’re right, my “real american’s” quotations were not consistent. I was wrong. To set the record straight, “real american’s” are republican’s and real american’s are not. As an atheist I find it hard to believe you think that Obama is anti-science/semitic because of his preacher. Hell, to be a politician you have to associate your self with some church, otherwise you’re a, well, an atheist, which is political suicide. I could give a rats ass what fairy tale god my leaders believe in as long as they govern as a rational human being. You must have been as appalled as me to see the video of Palin being exorcised from all her demons by a witchdoctor and realize that she was only one 72 year old heart beat away from the nuke codes. My children go to church every Sunday because I know they’re smart enough to know some day that the morals they are learning are the one you should live by and when they’re older and have no more use for fairy tales, they don’t need the threat of hell to behave.
Jan 9, 2009 - 11:50 pm 92. BillGee:Paul_unalaska – tens of millions people molest children, sell drugs, cheat others out of their money, murder others, vote Republican…..Christ, I don’t have time to address all of the bad people in the world, just the ones who think that a numbnut of an idiot who happened to step in front of a camera at an opportune moment can be a credible source of news is a farce. Really, if he were in front of Livni right now, what do you think he would ask her and better yet, would you be proud of the fact that his question was more pertinent than the fact that he didn’t even know who she was before he learned “how to pronounciate Tzipi”. Zippy the Pinhead, no doubt…..he needs a dotted clown suit and the rest of you need a straight jacket if you think JTUP is capable of asking the right questions WHEN HE CAN’T EVEN PRONOUNCE THEIR NAME!!!
Jan 10, 2009 - 12:03 am 93. paul_unalaska:Obama’s ‘Pro-science?’ Show me.
Is it his support of the proven not to be that great ethanol?
Obama recently sitting with Al ‘I really need to return my Nobel and cash’ Gore?
Maybe it’s his motorcade of a dozen SUV’s? No, no that can’t be it.
Oh I get it. His intention of tens of billions of more dollars over the next few years into green research, jobs. Yeah, that’ll pan out.
BTW, Catholicism doesn’t teach of ‘Hell’ anymore. Unless you live in a time warp, attend a Roman Catholic church of the 1940’s… Did you know you can hold your hands out nowadays for the Eucharist and not your tingue. Mind blow, eh BillGee?
Jan 10, 2009 - 12:06 am 94. paul_unalaska:The right question will be asked when the inquisitor doesn’t already know the answer. Wurzelbacher’s naivete may help his cause. You have to cheer for he underdog. Hell, I’m a Broncos fan! Do you know what we endured from the 70’s-90’s.. as well as 2 weeks ago? hahaha
Jan 10, 2009 - 12:11 am 95. paul_unalaska:As for pronunciation, my last name is spelled exactly like an Australian politician. Foreign and even Aussie reporters still mispronounce his name. To err is human, BillGee.
It’s late for me. Have a nice evening, week-end.
Jan 10, 2009 - 12:13 am 96. BillGee:Last time I checked James Dobson wasn’t nominated to run NASA or Rush Limbaugh to head the DEA. Yep, most “flat earthers” still don’t believe the earth is warming and the consequences are dire, yes I’ll stand with Al Gore and 99% of scientist in the world.
You said “BTW, Catholicism doesn’t teach of ‘Hell’ anymore” Well what has changed since the prophets wrote the bible. I also noticed that the bible has backed off of Earth being the center of the universe and one of the Ten Commandments changed the word “kill” to “murder”… doesn’t it strike you as odd that mear mortals change the bible every day to suit thier needs. Jeez, if God came before me and told me that everything revolved around earth I’d believe it, problem is he doesn’t do that….want to know why…BECAUSE THE BIBLE WAS WRITTEN BY BRONZE AGE MEN with all of their superstitions and such and 2000 years later, fools still believe it.
Jan 10, 2009 - 12:23 am 97. BillGee:Paul, yes, as a Dolphins fan, please don’t talk to me about what you’ve had to endure……you had Elway, we did make the playoffs this year….sad state of affairs to see Shenihan let go…..pitiful.
Jan 10, 2009 - 12:26 am 98. BillGee:Paul, thanks for bringing levity to the conversation. I have to admit, I came to this site looking for a fight. You guys are not the Red State, AnkleBitingPundits, etc, type. I don’t agree with most of you, but it nice that we can differ in opinions, be verbal and abrasive and still find common ground……even with Orange Crush fans! Now if you want to talk college basketball, I’m a Tarheel fan and there’s no room for common ground……’specially if you’re for Dook!
Jan 10, 2009 - 12:34 am 99. Harsh Reality:It’s sad to see the kind of hivemind that is developing among conservatives today. They truly are turning into dogmatic ideologues who support whatever and whomever they are told to by Fox News or a handful of online pundits whose interest is less in truth and more in outrage and the hit-count it generates.
Hence this idiotic move to make a failed plumber, failed author, failed country singer, failed would-be congressman and failed charity organizer into a failed war correspondent. This is entirely about the shock that it will generate among the MSM and not at all about getting good coverage of events unfolding in Israel.
It’s funny, you know… conservatives are proving just as capable of hypocrisy as their liberal nemisis’. I myself am a moderate conservative – hardly a shrill advocate of the left. So it’s with sadness that I point out the rampant double-standard here.
Many conservatives complained loudly that Obama wasn’t qualified to be POTUS. They now say the same about Caroline Kennedy. I initially agreed with both assessments, but now am willing to give Obama the benefit of the doubt (Kennedy should go be vapid elsewhere). However, it seems that when it comes to doing the difficult job of present fair, accurate and critical insight into a war on the other side of the world, any old halfwit can – nay, SHOULD – do it. That is PATENTLY ABSURD.
I am living proof that it is possible to be a conservative AND reject Sam, Joe, or whatever the hell his name actually is, as any kind of spokesman for our view of society and politics (be it ours, Israelis or Palestinian).
He doesn’t need to be schooled as a journalist to work as one – that’s not something I have ever suggested. However, he does need to have some rudimentary skills which, when combined, will allow him to be successful as a journalist. So far as I can tell, he resoundingly does NOT possess ANY of them.
He speaks poorly, misusing words (”pronunciate”) revealing a poorly-educated background (no excuse in this day and age where information is virtually free). Whenever he opines, he says things that either make no sense (constant, hysterical and inaccurate references to socialism, for instance), bizarre ad-hominem attacks that he can’t justify (see anything he’s said about Obama for reference), and has no basic foundation of understanding in political matters, either American or Middle-Eastern. The latter knowledge base is ESSENTIAL when attempting to accurately and objectively relate events that are merely the latest in a decades-old conflict of byzantine complexity.
The word ‘objective’ is important as it touches upon the very popular strawman argument that many of Sammy-Joe’s supporters are making in his defense – namely that the MSM is all biased and doing a terrible job, so Sammy-Joe can’t possibly be worse.
That’s a crude distraction from the issue – Sammy-Joe’s lack of qualifications in… anything – but it is also a dishonest generalization. Sure, some journalists have a pro-Palestinian bias. Maybe a slim majority do. But even at 60% (which is a generous estimate), that still leaves a good 30% or so who are genuinely trying to be objective in their relation of events. The rest will be biased in favor of Israel (which I’m sure readers of PJM won’t object to).
So that’s 40% of the world’s media whom you have totally misportrayed in your eagerness to deride 60%.
But again, all of this is a distraction. PJM is supposed to be the ANSWER to the MSM’s failure. They are supposed to be rigorously objective, thoughtful in analysis and careful to avoid bias. This goal is NOT furthered by hiring a partisan know-nothing like Sammy-Joe. I don’t care if it is just a pragmatic grab for headlines. It HURTS PJM’s long-term credibility.
Not all of PJM’s readers are hard-core hiveminds who will shrug at the use of Sammy-Joe and read on. A significant number will be like BillGee and myself – angry at the foolishness and pettiness of the decision. We are loyal PJM readers and we deserve to be treated with more respect than this.
Fire Sammy-Joe and send the money to Michael Totten, Michael Yon or someone else with real knowledge and ability. They will bring home the bacon and bring more respect to PJM.
Jan 10, 2009 - 12:34 am 100. BillGee:Also, I don’t believe Carla is what she said she was. Contributor to Vanity Fair….along with Chritopher Hitchens, I may be wrong, but I doubt it.
Jan 10, 2009 - 12:36 am 101. BillGee:Harsh Reality – great post. Conservatives are beginning to reap what they have sowed and none of it’s good.
Jan 10, 2009 - 12:41 am 102. Battlecat:CNN is banned in my house. Go Joe! I’m looking forward to the media revolution.
Jan 10, 2009 - 2:32 am 103. Shannon:I can’t imagine Joe getting anything beyond simple interviews with random Israelis. This is good for Israel’s image, but it I would consider this equal to an ordinary blogger. I am quite certain that Joe will not land any high profile interviews with the IDF or any Israeli officials. Israeli officials rarely answer tough questions to their own local media channels let alone to a plumber from Ohio.
That being said, I think Joe will find his time in Israel to be a life changing experience and I wish him the best of luck.
Joe, if you do read this, try to travel everywhere, go to Metula which is prime target for Lebenon to Sderot to Jerusalem, Hebron, Bethleham. Speak to Israelis, Arab Israelis, Palestinians, Christians and learn all you can.
Also, I hear Gaza hasn’t had water in weeks, maybe you can give them a hand with that.
Jan 10, 2009 - 3:39 am 104. Mary B:This is going to be fun. Go Israel and go Joe!
Jan 10, 2009 - 3:58 am 105. Mary B:“If JTP or JTUP (Joe The Unlicensed Plumber) can be a reporter and Sarah Palin can be a foreign policy expert by virtue of seeing Russia from her house, maybe I need to walk out on my deck and take a look at the moon…..then I can be an ASTRONAUT!!!….provided it doesn’t take a witch doctor to rid me of all my demons….I have to admit, I haven’t done that yet……DAMN!!! and astronauts are so cool!”- BeeGee
Actually, Sarah Palin never said those words, Tina Fey did. Just wanted to set the record straight. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=owT_BNutAU8&feature=related
Jan 10, 2009 - 4:07 am 106. Terrye:harsh Reality,
For heavens sake. What has this got to do with a hive mind. If Joe can not make it as a journalist, he won’t make it. It is not about a hive mind or pushing things or anything else. Back in the day of some of the great journalists, there was no such thing as a journalism degree. Anyone who had the desire and the talent and could get a job could be a reporter.
And going after this man in such a personal way is silly. My God, you are calling him Sammy Joe. What the hell did he ever do to you? What gives you the right to call him a failure? For all I know you are posting this from your Mom’s basement while she is out on a beer run for her little baby boy. Ease up and give the guy a chance. Either way it is no sweat off your behind.
Jan 10, 2009 - 4:25 am 107. Terrye:BTW, I used to be a farmer and I remember Mike Wallace doing a story on the dairy program standing in front of a beef cow. After all a cow is a cow is a cow.
Of course the rest of the report was full of errors, mispronunciations, ignorance of the issue at hand and embarrassing regional snobbery. I thought right then, if your average reporter does not know any more about most things they report on than this socalled professional knows about agriculture…then why believe anything they say?
Jan 10, 2009 - 4:29 am 108. Terrye:And I also think it is worth noting while the lefties yammer on about Joe not having a license to be a plumber or whatever else stuff they come up with…that people out to get the man in Ohio have actually lost their jobs. They used their status to go after this guy and put personal information out there…and somehow the same people who are morally outraged over plumbing without a license think this kind of unethical or illegal behavior is just no big deal. After all Joe is a bad man, whatever we have to do to put the screws to him is okay fine.
Hypocrites.
Jan 10, 2009 - 4:36 am 109. Terrye:Bill Gee:
I went to Indiana University in my youth. I was a member of the Women Involved in Farm Economics among other farm groups back in the farm crisis. I considered myself a Democrat until the party was taken over by smug, self righteous, sanctimonious little snobs whose greatest claim to fame is class warfare. I think Carla is exactly who she says she is.
Jan 10, 2009 - 4:48 am 110. Peter Martin:An interesting development as to where the whole sorry circus is going. Mind you, there is a fair point to be made that the new protagonist’s lack of ‘professionalism’ and ‘experience’ may be no bad thing in light of what the slick shills we have got so far have been and are serving up.
Whatever happened to who, what, where, how and why (with objective context and without emoting personal stories, and UN-verified video uploads to keep the gore factor at a ratings-friendly level)?
I might tune in. If Joe the Plumber sticks to facts and simply tries to get straight answers out of all sides to some pretty basic, key questions, then I’ll keep on listening. If he ends up ‘analysing’ and ‘interpreting events’ as most in the MSM feel they need to do, then I’ll peg him in the same slot I have dismissed most of these arrogant bozos to already.
Jan 10, 2009 - 4:56 am 111. Harsh Reality:Took you 4 posts to say nothing. Good job.
Leave out the stupid “once upon a time journalists learned on the job” strawman distraction – I already annihilated it in the other Roger Simon post which waffled on about how super Sammy-Joe is. The fact is, that doesn’t apply, as Sammy-Joe isn’t starting in the Washington Post’s mail room. He’s been drafted by the CEO of a new media outfit that is supposed to be above base partisanship. Oh… and he’s being sent to the Middle East, to cover a W A R.
Your reference to Wallace is fatuous. Link to a You Tube clip of it or shut up. Petty inventions do nothing for you except make you look dishonest.
Lastly, I call Sammy-Joe “Sammy-Joe” because that is closer to his real name than what he told us and the next POTUS on TV. He lied twice in that appearance, then again the next day, when asked directly if he was registered. You think it’s a good idea to hire a known LIAR to cover a war, Terrye?
Jan 10, 2009 - 5:24 am 112. Chaaange!:Hey, if Al Franken thinks he has the experience, and apparently so do the voters, to be a United States Senator, then Joe certainly has enough experience to be a journalist.
Jan 10, 2009 - 5:55 am 113. Joe: The “Everyman” Journalist « Mark Epstein:[...] Plumber) is now fulfilling the “Everyman” role of war correspondent. And considering he’s already been to “war” with the mainstream media and the Obamination spin machine, there’s no questioning his [...]
Jan 10, 2009 - 6:06 am 114. BRMueller:He can’t possibly be any worse than Keith Oberman or Jeraldo Rivera.
The marketplace of ideas will soon determine if he has any future in the business, but as long as sticks to the facts he should be alright.
Oh. And for all of you that belittle PJM. Get used to it. This is the future of journalism. Compete or get the hell out.
Jan 10, 2009 - 6:25 am 115. Dougf:“Iraqi authorities want to require foreign and Iraqi journalists to sign a code of conduct in exchange for permission to attend this month’s provincial elections, raising concerns among media analysts that independent coverage could be undermined.
Electoral officials said the goal is to ensure fair coverage and to prevent the distortion of facts in a politically charged environment.
Parts of the 14-page code require that reports be balanced and unbiased and prohibit media from falsifying or misrepresenting information.
Found this today and thought it might fit in this thread. Finally something besides OIL that Iraq can export to the rest of us. If something like this ever is enacted here, the ‘media’ will be left pretty much speechless. After you remove the unbalanced,biased,false and misrepresented from their SOP, what really remains for them ?
Nothing at all really. Nothing at all.
By the by HR,I think Terrye did indeed say things in her posts. You must start understanding the difference between your ‘likes’ and ‘reality’. I know that it’s difficult to do more than offend gratuitously ,base arguments on ad hominem insults, and present opinions as facts, but do try.
Otherwise you end up being merely tedious. And offensive of course. Bur mostly just tedious.
Jan 10, 2009 - 7:27 am 116. AnninCA:The attacks on Joe the Plumber and Palin startled me. Class snobbery was so obvious on many so-called “progressive” blogs that I wondered whatever in the world had happened to simple courtesy in our world.
I view Joe’s fun assignment as just that…..an interesting opportunity for him in life. Nothing wrong with walking through an open door. I presume it will be similar to the “Off the Bus” type of reporting done by non-professionals who covered the election.
I honestly don’t get the anger toward Joe or Sarah, for that matter. The venom spewed is incomprehensible to me. The remarks made, for example, about Sarah’s “wrong” school credentials floored me. When did we decide it’s not OK to work your way through school and earn a degree?
I must admit that these attitudes pushed me completely away from this new Democratic party. I voted Republican for the first time in my life.
Obama’s appointments are really quite OK with me. So far, 90% have met my own standard of approval. It’s not him, in other words.
It’s the snobby supporters that I reject.
Jan 10, 2009 - 7:37 am 117. Cybergeezer:If JTP were a muslim, do you think he would have any more opportunity to become any thing more than a baseline homo sapien for use as a sacrificial subject?
Jan 10, 2009 - 8:15 am 118. Jeff Weimer:You think it’s a good idea to hire a known LIAR to cover a war, Terrye?
I Dunno, as The New Republic and Scott Thomas Beauchamp.
BTW, my middle name is Jeff, but that’s what I ask everyone to address me, it’s a family thing – My son, me, my father, grandfather and great grandfather all have the same first name. So am I lying, too by not going by my first name?
How did he lie twice? I can almost see the plumber thing – you assumed he was licensed, even though he WAS working for a plumbing business doing – plumbing work, still under an apprenticeship. Also, if you really looked at the rules, he could do that, especially with residential plumbing work (no license required!). And how do you think a plumber get’s a license anyway? He has to work for a licensed plumber and meet criteria, including a certain number of hours actually performing plumbing work. As for the “other” lie? What was that?
He didn’t say he owned a plumbing business, but that he wanted to eventually buy out his boss and was worried about how taxes may affect his ambition.
Again, you attack the inconvenient person, because he gained notoriety asking an inconvenient question. All in service to distract from the damaging answer.
I think you just don’t like his politics and, like you treat the rest of us, you want us all to just stop talking. Get over yourself. Is this the “post-partisan” everybody-gets-heard “new politics” we keep hearing about?
The “harsh reality” of this is that no matter how much you jump up and down and scream and shout and throw your little temper tantrums here, it’s not going to stop anything. Why don’t YOU open your mind and give him a chance, he may surprise you.
Jan 10, 2009 - 8:42 am 119. steveaz:DougF,
These days it is trendy to import legal precedents from overseas, as long as they confirm the Left’s domestic biases.
That is why I am drooling in anticipation of America’s debate over Iraq’s new media-laws. I suspect that any discussion of holding media organizations liable for the damages that their lying, defamation and agitation cause will be verboten in our nation’s “elite” circles.
I’d like to see a rotating council of ethicists, such as the one tapped to advise Bush on stem-cell research, charged to sniff out pseudo-science in the media. Global Warming’s wings need to be trimmed – and curtailing the emissions of junk science secreted by media corps is the first place I’d start.
Jan 10, 2009 - 8:45 am 120. Jim Treacher:“This is just as funny as that scary chick with the screechy voice thinking she could be VP…”
Well, at least she got Secretary of State.
Jan 10, 2009 - 8:51 am 121. Ann:I’ve been shocked throughout the 2008 campaign season at the amount of venom displayed toward Sarah Palin and then Joe. What about the notion of the marketplace of ideas? I’m a lifelonf lefty but I’m really disappointed by the herd mentality of the MSM, which is why I’m attracted to Pajamas Media. If Joe is successful in illuminating the Israeli point of view to some Americans, then I think his venture into journalism is well worth while.
Jan 10, 2009 - 9:02 am 122. poppa india:I’m sure I’m not the only one who has noticed that, although JTP goes by his middle rather than first name, we’ve never had to wonder what his last name is. Unlike, say, Harsh Realty, who I’m sure has neither Harsh or Reality for a first, middle, or last name.
Jan 10, 2009 - 9:56 am 123. Bill Perron:C.N.N. advertises itself as “the most trusted news network” can they be sued for false advertising? …. Flavius Josephus is one of the most quoted sources of reported historical facts and certainly he was a war correspondent, can anyone tell me just what kind of recognized credentials he had ? Is it possible that it really is not all that difficult to just report in plain talk what one has observed?
Jan 10, 2009 - 10:05 am 124. ThinkingPerson:re Stevet12x….We can agree on your last point. I’m just weary of everyone thinking Joe wouldn’t have a valid point of view that others should (and would love) to be privy to. Why we MUST accept the views of any situation coming out of the MSM news filter which has been shown to be bias/slanted/factually wrong is beyond me. We’ve accepted and swallowed the status quo for so long that we are labeled as crazy when we dare scratch beneath the suface on any subject. How dare we question them! I quit my local newspaper subscription due to their biased reporting and now troll the web reading newspapers worldwide in a need to discern the “news” for myself. After doing so, it becomes apparent early on that the willing will be led around by their nose and fed whatever opinion the news in question wants them to have. At this point Marilyn Mason would have more believability over there than Katie Couric. At least he would be honest about his bias.
Jan 10, 2009 - 11:06 am 125. Terrye:Jeff:
What the hell are you talking about? I did not attack anyone. I think you have me confused with someone else.
BTW, my Dad’s first name was Marlin, he hated..everyone called him Joe. That was his middle name.
Jan 10, 2009 - 11:41 am 126. Terrye:Harsh Reality:
Were you addressing me? You call Joe the Plumber Sammy Joe, because you are being snotty. As if you thought was a cute or something. But at least he used his name. You on the other hand go by harsh reality. Maybe I should call you harshy real.
Jan 10, 2009 - 11:43 am 127. Terrye:And Jeff I have been posting at Rogers of and on for years. I agree with him far more often than not and I really do not think you are the one to tell me where I do and do not belong.
Jan 10, 2009 - 11:50 am 128. glenn:The video was shot by “A person of great integrity” How would CNN know. They wouldn’t recognize a person of integrity if he bit ‘em on the a**
Jan 10, 2009 - 12:01 pm 129. AlanC:All I can say is wow.
The frothing at the mouth, hysterics of the lefties is really something. I doubt that there’s a pill to handle that level of rage; well maybe a .45 caliber pill but let’s not go there. These folk are probably just fine with the vituperation of the Paleo rallies calling for the Jews to get sent to the ovens……….again.
If I may paraphrase Wm. S. “Me thinks the leftie doth protest too much”
Oh, and thanks Jeff W. for setting the record straight on that license crap. About the only made up (aka lie) calumny they left out is the plastic turkey.
Gobble, gobble loons.
Jan 10, 2009 - 12:11 pm 130. john from cinncinatti:joe kinda reminds me of the stupid kid who voiced his thoughts and said, wow the king has no clothes on, and all those who were pretending to be high and mighty had to agree with him. its not that he has any credible journalistic credentials or anything like that, but all those who do, now have to step up their game. dammit it, that plain talking kid is here again….
Jan 10, 2009 - 1:25 pm 131. robotech master:anyone that calls my house and asks for me by my christian name doesn’t know me, anyone that asks for me by my call sign knows me. what do you answer to? or better yet what do you call yourself.
I would love to see CNN try to con one of their “medical” experts into saying its real CPR. Then once they do have someone file a complaint through their local med board demanding their license be revoked for clearly not knowing how to do any form of CPR… would at least provide some amusement as they scramble around trying to figure out how they can claim “its real” while being dragged in from of a medical board.
Jan 10, 2009 - 2:58 pm 132. Jeff Weimer:Terrye, I wasn’t going after you (I quoted HR), sorry if it confused you. I was responding to HR’s attack on you with the TNR Beauchamp saga from a couple years ago.
Jan 10, 2009 - 3:08 pm 133. Gary Rosen:HR, if your time is so valuable why are you spending so much of it writing excruciatingly long and dreary posts?
Jan 10, 2009 - 3:50 pm 134. sherlock:Why does the left enjoy making things up so much? I see a comment above about Governor Palin seeing “Russia from her house”. Of course she never said that – she made the kind of flip remark many politicians make, in this case about her state’s proximity to Russia, by saying that you can see Russia from Alaska (NOT her house), which is literally true. But in a skit on SNL, it got changed to “my house”, and now that gets quoted as reality.
Same with the business about Africa: reporter (trying to make her look stupid) asks her about the situation in “South Africa” meaning southern Africa. She responds in context of the nation of South Africa. Instead of being ethical and saying “Oops, I meant southern Africa”, the reporter obscures what he asked and claims she doesn’t know Africa is a continent.
This is not the behavior of honorable people. It is the behavior of dishonest hacks, and it flourishes because there is such an eager market for it among those who fancy themselves the elite. They are deluded, if to feel superior to others they have to believe things they know are lies about them.
Jan 10, 2009 - 5:11 pm 135. rose:17. mike g.: Joe the Plummer needs to learn how to “pronounciate” certain names. PLEASE! I’ve had enough of this guy already and I’m sure I’m not the only person who feels this way. WTF!!! are you guys thinking? His 15 minutes of fame should have been up 14 minutes ago.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==—=-=-=-=-=
“pronounciate”
Jan 10, 2009 - 6:05 pm 136. Horace Wells:What kind of a word is that???
Mike G, maybe you should not speak of others in such a manner if you cannot even use proper vocabulary yourself.
hey Roger, you’re spineless contemptible hypocrite, so feel free to pull this comment, you old hippy. Joe the Plumber is the embodiement of stupid, common and ignorant and it’s pseudo intellectual hacks like you that are dumbing America down with your willful lack of quality and integrity. Joe the Plumber is a stupid nobody, the same brainless ilk that admire him admire Palin and Huckabee cause they want to drag everyone down to their ant’s eye world-view. I used to think it was the liberals who were dumbing America down, now I believe that your ilk, Fox News and talk show fatmouth morons have taken the lead!
Jan 10, 2009 - 6:24 pm 137. Horace Wells:So since CNN is contemptible, this justifies promoting a brainless skinhead like the aryan pipe fitter as a reporter?
Jan 10, 2009 - 6:28 pm 138. Harsh Reality:Rose, you are 100% correct. People who use the non-word “pronunciate” should not be allowed to speak of others – so as Sammy-Joe Wankerbacher was the one who originally said “pronunciate”, in a televised interview no less, he should not be allowed to speak about the Israelis and Palestinians.
I will GUARANTEE you that this time last week, Sammy-Joe couldn’t find Israel on a world map. You morons who advocate him are advocating the barbarism of journalism. Plain and simple.
Jan 10, 2009 - 6:53 pm 139. Harsh Reality:Jeff, Terrye is easy to confuse. Don’t beat yourself up.
Jan 10, 2009 - 6:54 pm 140. Harsh Reality:Oh, and thanks for your biting insight regarding online anonymity, POPPA INDIA.
Jan 10, 2009 - 6:55 pm 141. Ann:It was Bambi’s obvious inability to answer a straight question from a normal citizen that set off the media frenzy to begin with. This is not about JTP and never was. Don’t let the media make it about him now.
What he’s doing now is indeed on the continuum from the day of The Question, but what he’s doing now is just frosting on the cake.
Regardless of how well things go for him at this point, Bambi was exposed, the MSM was exposed and they know it. The more they keep bleating and screaming, the easier it is to suspect that somewhere, deep inside their twisted little minds, they know that the jig is up with a significant number of Americans.
Good luck to JTP.
It will be Americans that salvage these United States of America, not the media (whether JTP is media or not).
He’s not the story. Don’t let them sucker you in to thinking he’s the story.
Jan 10, 2009 - 8:27 pm 142. Hyphenated American:Liberals, eat your hearts out…
http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2002/06/20/Opinion/Fame-Fortune.But.Not.Expertise-518058.shtml
“…in 1985, a House agricultural committee asked many actresses who played farm wives in movies to testify about the suffering farm families undergo during rural recessions. Jessica Lange, Sissy Spacek, Jane Fonda and Sally Field all made appearances. The highest education any of these women achieved was high school or acting school, neither of which provided them with enough knowledge to voice concern. The worst part of this incident is that national representatives encouraged celebrities to speak on behalf of middle and low income farmers.”
All in all, it’s difficult to see why Joe would not be able to do the reporting work at least as badly as the MSM is doing this. Joe is a veteran, and he clearly showed he had common sense – while I would be curious if the liberals could name one CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, NPR, PBC reporter who has those qualifications.
Jan 10, 2009 - 8:28 pm 143. poppa india:As for Joe mispronouncing the names – well, do you rememeber how long it took the media to learn how to pronounce the name of the governor of Illinoys? They still call call “Blago” – which is equivalent to calling Obama = “Obi”…
Anyway, if Joe can do his job – he will do his job. If he cannot – he will fail. Can the liberals at least give him a chance – it’s far less than what the liberals ask for their Messiah.
Well Harsh, I’m not the one denigrating a public figure for using his middle instead of his first name while concealing my own name. When you make public your real name, I think you’ll have standing to go after JTP.
Jan 10, 2009 - 8:56 pm 144. Terrye:Jeff:
I see.
Jan 10, 2009 - 9:34 pm 145. Terrye:Harsh:
Yeah, I am easy to confuse. Just another old hippie. You still have not told us your real name.
And you know something? If you don’t like Joe, just ignore him. It is not as if anyone is forcing you to watch the guy. The truth is if he had just groveled at Obama’s feet instead of asking him an embarrassing question people like you would love the guy. Plumbing license or not. This is just petty and vindictive behavior on the part of the perpetual adolescents that make up the left.
Jan 10, 2009 - 9:40 pm 146. Professor Guvinoff:Delicious peotic justice. Columnists pompously plumbing the depths of their glorified wisdom about to be outdone by a real plumber asking simple questions.
Let’s enjoy the fruits of democracy, shall we?
Jan 10, 2009 - 9:41 pm 147. The Wide Awake Cafe » Are We A Nation Of Pigeons?:[...] course, Sissy Willis always gets there before I do, so read her terrific write-up of the genius, Roger L. Simon and his decision to hire Joe the Plumber to travel to Gaza to report on the Israeli-Hamas war. See [...]
Jan 10, 2009 - 9:43 pm 148. Gary Rosen:“Terrye is easy to confuse”
No need to confuse HR. He was born that way.
Jan 10, 2009 - 10:18 pm 149. myth buster:Any Christian who thinks the Earth is flat or that the Earth is the center of the Universe or Solar System is an idiot, especially since THE BIBLE DOES NOT SAY THAT! In fact, the Bible declares the Earth is round.
Jan 10, 2009 - 10:22 pm 150. Leon:It was funny to see CNN journalists laughing at the prospect of Joe the plumber becoming a reporter. Why not? Anyone can be a TV journalist. It’s probably the most stupid profession in the face of the Earth. You don’t need to know anything, it’s not “rocket science!” (leave that to Hamas). Any dumb blond can do it, why not Joe? He couldn’t be much worse than what’s currently available.
Jan 10, 2009 - 10:25 pm 151. Harsh Reality:Poppa India, are you impaired in some way?
I chose this pseudonym because it is CLEARLY not a real name, but a pseudonym. I’m not being dishonest in any way. When Sammy-Joe calls himself “Joe”, he is being strangely selective. Since he was speaking to a presidential candidate, the least he could have done was offer his real first name.
Secondly, he followed that up with a balf-faced lie about his intentions to buy his boss’ 250k a year business. That’s actually two lies in one sentence.
First, Sammy-Joe made 40k that year and owed taxes. He damned well knew he wasn’t going to be buying anyone’s business that year, next year, or any year in the near future. Second, his boss’ business made much less than 250k last year, something that Sammy-Joe would have known.
So that’s several misrepresentations and two lies, all within 20 seconds of meeting the man who will someday become president.
Then he went on to lie – AGAIN – the next day when asked if he was registered as plumber under the name he’d given to Obama. He said no, he was registered under Samuel. He isn’t. He’s a pathological liar.
But hell, he can report on a war honestly, right?
You. Have. No. Standards.
————–
Professor, you can’t spell the word ‘poetic’. Perhaps “Professor” isn’t a word you should use in your pseudonym.
Jan 11, 2009 - 1:11 am 152. Wahine:Let’s get to what’s really bothering the Libs and their President-elect. Joe exposed their guy’s agenda and his lie, embarrassing him in the process, and so they set out to destroy him.
But they weren’t successful. Maddening.
We also know the Libs must have the media in their corner, peddling their lies to a dumbed down public. Blagojevich confirmed this – as has their Fairness Doctrine. It must be especially annoying that the guy they hoped to crush is now horning in on the territory they expect to own exclusively.
This is going to complicate things, especially if he’s a success. And more follow him. It won’t be so easy to deceive anymore. They might actually have an informed public to deal with; and they might not get their way.
Yes, it’s all about the lies. Not Joe’s, as some would have us believe. But theirs. It’s the only way they achieve and keep power.
Jan 11, 2009 - 3:09 am 153. poppa india:Lots of people go by their middle names instead of their first names. Anyone who thinks this is a lie or even worth mentioning is really desperate for a point to complain about. As far as not being a plumber, one is required to work as a plumber without a license in order to earn that license.
Jan 11, 2009 - 3:39 am 154. Harsh Reality:So you think that you’ll slide by in ignoring the three instances of flat-out dishonesty that Sammy-Joe displayed in his first 24 hours of being a media identity.
You’re a hypocrite. If Sammy-Joe were a leftist, you’d be all over him.
Jan 11, 2009 - 3:54 am 155. Just_Saying:I am not of the elite; I am just a regular American who cannot afford a licensed plumber to do my plumbing. I use anyone who knows how to accomplish the job. I would hire Joe the Plumber in an instant.
Perhaps all you CEOs, government workers, and other elite can afford a plumber’s costs. I cannot, and consider all the Joe the Plumbers out there (”handymen”) to be top-notch and within my budget.
It will be great to hear what Joe has to report.
Jan 11, 2009 - 4:12 am 156. Ann141:.
151…assuming the logic of your post is valid, it seems to me that everything you have laid out QUALIFIES JTP as a reporter, since those are the types of things we have been treated to ad nausem from the MSM.
BYW, 121 Ann and me (141 Ann) are definitely two different people. I’ve never seen another Ann post here and even though the contrast should be obvious, I’m certainly not going to take a chance on being confused with a lifelong lefty. So I’ll just add 141 to my pseudonym…
Jan 11, 2009 - 6:42 am 157. Jeff Weimer:I’m reposting this (and added a little bit) because it was meant for harsh reality and somehow bounced to terrye and let HR off the hook:
“You think it’s a good idea to hire a known LIAR to cover a war” -Harsh Reality
I Dunno, ask The New Republic and Scott Thomas Beauchamp.
Or better yet, ask CNN, AFP, France2, et al, about all the Palestinian “stringers” they’re hiring to cover this conflict? Think there’s no “agenda” there? for instance, there’s currently a debate about a video on CNN, although CNN currently denies it’s staged. http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/32393_A_Staged_Scene_in_a_Gaza_Hospital_-_Update-_CNN_Yanks_Video#rss.
BTW, my middle name is Jeff, but that’s what I ask everyone to address me, it’s a family thing – My son, me, my father, grandfather and great grandfather all have the same first name. So would be I lying, too by not going by my first name in front of a candidate? As far as I’m concerned, Jeff IS my real name and my “first” name is an annoyance I have to use on official documents. Your accusation is tenditious at best.
How did he lie twice? I can almost see the plumber thing – you assumed he was licensed, even though he WAS working for a plumbing business doing – plumbing work, still under an apprenticeship. Also, if you really looked at the rules, he could do that, especially with residential plumbing work (no license required!). And how do you think a plumber get’s a license anyway? He has to work for a licensed plumber and meet criteria, including a certain number of hours actually performing plumbing work. As for the “other” lie? What was that?
He didn’t say he owned a plumbing business, but that he wanted to eventually buy out his boss and was worried about how taxes may affect his ambition. Whether or not he made enough money “right now or in the near future” is, believe it or not, irrelevant. Just because it wouldn’t happen to someone NOW doesn’t mean he should not be concerned about it. It’s like not being a schoolteacher in Cambodia in 1975.
Again, you attack the inconvenient person, because he gained notoriety asking an inconvenient question. All in service to distract from the damaging answer.
I think you just don’t like his politics and, like you treat the rest of us, you want us all to just stop talking. Get over yourself. Is this the “post-partisan” everybody-gets-heard “new politics” we keep hearing about?
The “harsh reality” of this is that no matter how much you jump up and down and scream and shout and throw your little temper tantrums here, it’s not going to stop anything. Why don’t YOU open your mind and give him a chance, he may surprise you.
Jan 11, 2009 - 7:47 am 158. Al:Stop killing Palestinian children and you won’t have to worry about bad press.
Jan 11, 2009 - 8:54 am 159. Jeff Weimer:Al,
If the Palestinians stopped worrying about killing Israeli children, then we wouldn’t have this problem. You seem to forget this is not one-sided. The Palestinians DON’T CARE if women and children ON EITHER SIDE are maimed or killed – it serves their purposes either way. They purposefully hide their forces and equipment behind their civilian population (in schools, mosques, houses) because it invokes unthinking, uninformed reactions such as yours. In a war such as this, collateral casualties are unavoidable – but Israel is making every attempt to minimize that, to the point that they are literally telling Hamas and the Gazans WHEN and WHERE they are striking next. That many don’t leave and thus are hurt is telling – about Hamas, not Israel.
Jan 11, 2009 - 9:23 am 160. Annie:to ely – 23 – let me show you what is going on:
http://switch3.castup.net/cunet/gm.asp?ClipMediaID=1913349&ak=null
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTu-AUE9ycs&feature=PlayList&p=227144A3DDF6C197&playnext=1&index=4
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ab7_1231090199
http://freeisraelnow.blogspot.com/2007/02/israel-gem-multi-racial-freedom.html
and finally:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvIFsJ1LspI&feature=related
Jan 11, 2009 - 1:01 pm 161. Sahar Charara:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYyZ9pZE9PM
well u can read on the following link
Jan 11, 2009 - 1:03 pm 162. Harsh Reality:http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=42968668634&h=_1Fca&u=78Z8R
another critique.. do u hold anything against Associated Press’ credibility too?
100% marketing and propagande technique
0% professionalism or journalistic ethics!
Jeff, take your spam elsewhere. Reposting will only get your drivel ignored multiple times.
Request to editor – don’t permit people to spam the comments.
Jan 11, 2009 - 1:21 pm 163. davod:“i guess andy warhol was right….”
Who is Andy Wharhol and what did he say to make him right?
Jan 11, 2009 - 2:27 pm 164. davod:Harsh Reality:
“Request to editor – don’t permit people to spam the comments.”
Pot, Kettle, Black.
Jan 11, 2009 - 2:51 pm 165. JohnD:Dear Joe,
While in the area I urge you to visit each of the following;
- a West Bank Palestinian refugee camp
- a West Bank Israeli Jewish Settlement
- a southern Israel hospital with wounded civilians
- a Gaza hospital with wounded civilians
- have dinner with an Israeli Jewish family
- have dinner with a Palestinian family in Gaza
And then report on what you observed.
Jan 11, 2009 - 3:02 pm 166. Wahine:Oh, that our President-elect had limited himself to three (hundred?) instances of flat-out dishonesty! It would be sooo much easier to trust him today.
Jan 11, 2009 - 3:37 pm 167. Liselle:You guys are such losers to hire him.
Jan 11, 2009 - 3:48 pm 168. Joe_da_Luzer:I can’t believe this clown is still around!!! This idiot is going to ruin what’s left of journalism’s reputation.
Jan 11, 2009 - 4:57 pm 169. davey:Joe the Plumber should read a few books about the history of the area before he pontificates or “reports” from Israel. He is being spun and is simply a pawn. He has been bought (who paid for his plane ticket and hotel I wonder…), is probably surrounded by handlers and is not smart enough to think for himself or seek out the other side.
Jan 11, 2009 - 6:20 pm 170. Jeff Weimer:Harsh Reality –
Go ahead, don’t engage the argument. That’s twice you haven’t. What’s the matter?
Jan 11, 2009 - 7:04 pm 171. Basha Leah:Dear Joe I just read the article about your reporting as you see it in Israel on Yahoo in “Joe trades wrench for reporter’s notepad in Israel,” and I Congratulate you on having the strength to face the world and tell it the way it is. One of the comments posted before me says you should read up on the history of Israel and the Palestinian people, well what a good suggestion for that individual to follow himself. Anyone that reads the truth understands that you are seeing it the way it really is. I invite anyone that wants to know the truth to go to http://www.aish.com/jewishissues/middleeast/ and click on “What Really Happened in the Middle East” A 10-min. multi-media presentation on the history and background of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Then truth seekers should follow up those facts with authentic research to learn the truth about what really happened and what is really happening right now. What other country warns its enemies before attacking so civilans can be saved? What other country stops battles to let in humanitarian aide? What other country takes years of punishment for acts of kindness? Only Israel, and Israel is faced with an enemy who teaches its children to wear bomb belts, preaches the most hideous unfounded hatred and uses its citizens as shields for bombs and terrorists. And let’s not forget how Hamas steals the money meant to help its fellow Palestians, as well, using it for their own purposes. It took courage to do what you did during the primaries and courage to do what you are doing now. Keep up the great work and keep getting all the experience you can because this country and world need honest, courageous people who know how, when, and where to take a stand. There aren’t many of them around. It doesn’t matter what the foolish and wicked say the truth will come out in the end.
Jan 11, 2009 - 7:36 pm 172. mizerello:If only we could drop a smart bomb that would actually increase the intelligence of the right wing. You people are nuts. I used to be a Republican but changed my registration to Independent because I don’t want to be affiliated with the abject idiots that seem to populate this site. Anyone who believes that the people of Gaza actually have the ability and the money to provide fake footage of fake deaths in a fake hospital are either taking the Oxycontin that Palin’s friend is selling or are simply unwilling to accept the truth. And, to even suggest that the U.S. media is in the pocket of the Palestinians is ridiculous. For years we’ve heard only one side about this conflict–Israel’s. Because we’ve taken sides, we are now targets. The only reason they are attacking Gaza at this point is simple; there is an election around the corner and Barack wants to win–his numbers were down as were the For. Minister’s numbers. They both pitched this “war” and now, surprise, surprise, their numbers are up. This is all political.
Jan 11, 2009 - 7:39 pm 173. moshe dorfman:hi joe :
I grew up in Sylvania Ohio off of Holland Sylvania Rd, just a stone throw from your Holland Sylvania home.
This is war between Syria and Iran against Israel using Hamas as their sword. The Palestinians are pawns and in the middle.
Once Hamas is flushed out, you will see the Gaza People waving the Israeli flag in Gaza City when the Israeli tanks roll in.
You think I am kidding ?
Jan 11, 2009 - 7:41 pm 174. Basha Leah:Jeff Weimer it seems many people are too lazy to think,they’d just rather swallow lies and jump on an easy old target that has been accused of everything under the sun for thousands of years when all the time it’s the accusers themselves that where and are guilty of what they accuse others of. Maybe these haters can’t help themselves, perhaps they are just programmed to twist the truth, hate and destroy either directly or by supporting those that do. Real change is a coming, but I don’t believe it’s the kind they expect.
Jan 11, 2009 - 7:59 pm 175. El Pinche:Joe the Collateral Damage
Jan 11, 2009 - 8:07 pm 176. Judy, NYC:considering that credible “news organizations” no longer exist, nor journalism. credible news from any source even donald duck is something for which we should be grateful.
of course joe can report with great credibility. far better than christian iamapoor, reporter.
the even-handed crowd loves this jewish problem. ask some christian arabs, if its about jews. indeed, the islamic nuts have introduced crucifixion into their sharia “law”, just for christians, who will be hanging from crosses if these lunatics prevail.
the israelis are taking care of business. they won’t be victimized, because the perpetrators will be scared shtless or dead. we are the ones, here, who are doing nothing to protect ourselves, just flapping our fat mouths to support medieval head choppers. to those of you who can’t help lovin’ those scarf people. good luck with that.
Jan 11, 2009 - 8:16 pm 177. Jeff Weimer:Harsh Reality –
I’m waiting….
Jan 11, 2009 - 8:43 pm 178. JUST A NORMAL GUY:WELL AS LONG AS THE REPUBLICANS HITCH THEIR WAGON TO JOE THE PLUMBER AND SARAH PALIN, I THINK THE REPUBLICANS WILL KEEP ON KICKING DEMOCRAT BUTT FOR DECADES TO COME
Jan 11, 2009 - 8:58 pm 179. Wahine:Over at “americanthinker dot com” are more informative articles, this one in particular today –
The Media Collude in Terrorist Crimes
We’re long past a need for change. May it begin today.
Jan 11, 2009 - 9:23 pm 180. Jeff Weimer:158. Al:
THESE Palestinian Children?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTGbP55HGi8
Jan 11, 2009 - 9:28 pm 181. Ken:I watched his video. He had no prepared questions. He was extremely inarticulate. His suggestion that reporters should be banned from war zones was ludicrous, as was his suggestion that ANY reporter has ever criticized U.S. or Israeli troops, as opposed to political leaders. The biggest joke was his comment about the “good old days” when newsreels just showed our troops having a merry old time in WW’s I and II. War correspondents then reported from the front lines and told it like it was, and many of those newsreels showed our troops making the ultimate sacrifice. The costs of those wars was never hidden from the people like the cost of this war has been. Sam the Plumbers apprentice. What a joke.
Jan 11, 2009 - 10:01 pm 182. jeebus:You know what cracks me up? The idea that a washed up has-been like you think hes owed any sort of response to the crazy, inane rants you constently spew. The only thing that cracks me up more is reading the conservative drivil in the comments. Damn…you people are f*cking ignorent.
Jan 11, 2009 - 10:18 pm 183. Marie:What gives with all these negative comments about Joe the Plumber even on another website I belong to. It’s as if they don’t want him to do a good job. Negative..negative..tsk..tsk http://forums.online-sweepstakes.com/showthread.php?t=765961
Give the guy a chance for crying out loud. Anything beats the drivel coming out of CNN.
Jan 12, 2009 - 12:56 am 184. Paul - Indianapolis:See #180; That was a good image of how brainwashed the Pals’ kids are. However, that’s not all. I found this picture of a Palestinian cat. Check out the second image on this web page. http://blog.goatboy.com.au/?paged=2
Jan 12, 2009 - 10:12 am 185. Moe:Joe is a clown, but he’s alot smarter than most people who take their news from this site.
“Deleted by adminstrator”
Jan 12, 2009 - 2:08 pm 186. Roger H Frost:Thanks.
Tell Joe to come to the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party in East Boston, and Framingham next December 14, 2009
2010 is right around the corner.
Jan 12, 2009 - 5:21 pm 187. Jon:Joe the Plumber….give me a break. This guy is a nitwit, a stupid celebrity that will end up endorsing some diet pill or head-razor on some infomercial in a few years.
Jan 16, 2009 - 10:51 am