The society of false flaggers
If you spend any time checking out the commentary of MSNBC or
CNN, there are a number of hosts, anchors, analysts, panelist, pundits,
contributors — or whatever they call them – who deserve special
recognition. Among the most notable (in no particular order) are
Michael Steele, Elise Jordan, Nicole Wallace, Steve Schmidt, Joe
Scarborough, David Jolly, Ana Navarro, Jennifer Rubin and there are
others.
Have you guessed what they have in common? Maybe the headline was your clue. They all claim to have Republican and/or conservative backgrounds AND they are all among the harshest critics of President Trump, Republicans, conservatives and the millions of Americans they demeaningly refer to as “the political base.” It must be that old zeal of a convert that makes them so damn vicious in their opining.
They all can be seen frequently on MSNBC — the most un-journalistic of the cable news outlets – with occasional appearances on CNN. The appearances are offered up in an obvious attempt to use their history or titles to exhibit a faux bipartisan balance on those ubiquitious panels. Rather than offering any legitimate counterpoints to the networks’ narratives, however, they are just more squawking voices in the Pandemonium of parroting panelists.
(If you are scratching your head over the use of the word “Pandemonium,” it is one of the names for a flock of parrots – and by happy coincidence, in this case, when capitalized it is a reference to the capital of Hell from Milton’s “Paradise Lost.” Two apt allusions for the price of one. But I digress.)
Though each and everyone of them have shifted away from the Republican or conservative roots, at least former Florida Congressman Joe Scarborough, of “Morning Joe,” and fellow former Florida Congressman David Jolly have officially left the GOP.
Jennifer Rubin has been billed as the conservative Republican editorialist for the Washington Post. She has never had a discernible or consistent political philosophy or loyalty throughout her career — but has bowed to the bucks. Her cash on the dresser currently comes from the political anti-Trump left. Consequently, this so-called conservative is now among the most strident anti-Trumpers in the media. Her “conversion” has been rewarded with frequent appearances on the most hardcore left-wing propaganda programs – such as “The Last Word” with Lawrence O’Donnell and the Rachel Maddow Show.
Many in this group list their occupation as “Republican strategist” – which makes one wonder if they are being hired by Republican candidates or organizations. Ana Navarro and Steve Schmidt fall into that category. Their extreme rhetoric – and they can go to the irrational extreme – seems motivated by a lack of cogent and common-sense arguments.
Other false-flaggers simply reference past positions — Elise Jordan as a one-time advisor to President W. Bush and Nicole Wallace as Communications Director in the same Bush White House. Of course, Michael Steele was the Chairman of the Republican National Committee. The one-time top salesman for the GOP has sold out to be a shill for MSNBC.
And “sold out” is the proper term. Mostly these are folks who would have drifted off into political oblivion were it not for the money and the airtime that the left-wing media provides for their cash-on-the-barrelhead opinions. It would appear to be all about the money and the television exposure. It has also allowed them to earn more money from speaking engagements, books and other benefits of fame.
It also may be a bit of bitterness that they got left out of the action in Washington when Trump took over the big mansion at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. People like Steve Schmidt were flunkies for John McCain. They have one thing in common with the radical Democrats they now serve. They did not expect – and did not want – Donald Trump to get elected. They bet their professional careers on the belief that Trump would first not get the GOP nomination and then that he would get crushed in the General Election. Their bitter disappointment is comparable to that of the Hillary Democrats.
Hence, the alliance.
As shameful as the false flaggers may be, it is the networks who employ them that deserve the greatest criticism. They are abandoning any measure of journalist integrity and ethics to push a biased politically partisan propaganda narrative. The false-flaggers are used as a pathetic effort to appear to have a variance of perspectives – but propagandists do not allow the expression of opposing viewpoints.
It is ironic that the very new media that keeps calling on Republicans to put country ahead of partisan politics is … putting partisan politics ahead of country – and using a cadre of false-flaggers to help them.
So, there ‘tis.
Have you guessed what they have in common? Maybe the headline was your clue. They all claim to have Republican and/or conservative backgrounds AND they are all among the harshest critics of President Trump, Republicans, conservatives and the millions of Americans they demeaningly refer to as “the political base.” It must be that old zeal of a convert that makes them so damn vicious in their opining.
They all can be seen frequently on MSNBC — the most un-journalistic of the cable news outlets – with occasional appearances on CNN. The appearances are offered up in an obvious attempt to use their history or titles to exhibit a faux bipartisan balance on those ubiquitious panels. Rather than offering any legitimate counterpoints to the networks’ narratives, however, they are just more squawking voices in the Pandemonium of parroting panelists.
(If you are scratching your head over the use of the word “Pandemonium,” it is one of the names for a flock of parrots – and by happy coincidence, in this case, when capitalized it is a reference to the capital of Hell from Milton’s “Paradise Lost.” Two apt allusions for the price of one. But I digress.)
Though each and everyone of them have shifted away from the Republican or conservative roots, at least former Florida Congressman Joe Scarborough, of “Morning Joe,” and fellow former Florida Congressman David Jolly have officially left the GOP.
Jennifer Rubin has been billed as the conservative Republican editorialist for the Washington Post. She has never had a discernible or consistent political philosophy or loyalty throughout her career — but has bowed to the bucks. Her cash on the dresser currently comes from the political anti-Trump left. Consequently, this so-called conservative is now among the most strident anti-Trumpers in the media. Her “conversion” has been rewarded with frequent appearances on the most hardcore left-wing propaganda programs – such as “The Last Word” with Lawrence O’Donnell and the Rachel Maddow Show.
Many in this group list their occupation as “Republican strategist” – which makes one wonder if they are being hired by Republican candidates or organizations. Ana Navarro and Steve Schmidt fall into that category. Their extreme rhetoric – and they can go to the irrational extreme – seems motivated by a lack of cogent and common-sense arguments.
Other false-flaggers simply reference past positions — Elise Jordan as a one-time advisor to President W. Bush and Nicole Wallace as Communications Director in the same Bush White House. Of course, Michael Steele was the Chairman of the Republican National Committee. The one-time top salesman for the GOP has sold out to be a shill for MSNBC.
And “sold out” is the proper term. Mostly these are folks who would have drifted off into political oblivion were it not for the money and the airtime that the left-wing media provides for their cash-on-the-barrelhead opinions. It would appear to be all about the money and the television exposure. It has also allowed them to earn more money from speaking engagements, books and other benefits of fame.
It also may be a bit of bitterness that they got left out of the action in Washington when Trump took over the big mansion at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. People like Steve Schmidt were flunkies for John McCain. They have one thing in common with the radical Democrats they now serve. They did not expect – and did not want – Donald Trump to get elected. They bet their professional careers on the belief that Trump would first not get the GOP nomination and then that he would get crushed in the General Election. Their bitter disappointment is comparable to that of the Hillary Democrats.
Hence, the alliance.
As shameful as the false flaggers may be, it is the networks who employ them that deserve the greatest criticism. They are abandoning any measure of journalist integrity and ethics to push a biased politically partisan propaganda narrative. The false-flaggers are used as a pathetic effort to appear to have a variance of perspectives – but propagandists do not allow the expression of opposing viewpoints.
It is ironic that the very new media that keeps calling on Republicans to put country ahead of partisan politics is … putting partisan politics ahead of country – and using a cadre of false-flaggers to help them.
So, there ‘tis.
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