Politics
« Previous EntriesOrwellian Olympiad (II): Ministry of Truth Revises Gymnast’s Past and Gets Caught… THIS TIME
Thursday, August 14th, 2008Following up on last week’s post on George Orwell’s 1984…
The latest Olympic development is not just that the Chinese government falsified a gymnast’s birth date on her passport, but that they went back and altered PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED NEWSPAPER REPORTS about her age!!
Columnist/Blogger David Flumenbaum has posted copies of an article from the China Daily that […]
Orwellian Olympic PR Deception: Are We Too Dumbed Down to Care?
Monday, August 11th, 2008Stuck for nearly half a day in an airport this weekend, I was browsing the itty-bitty bookstore and stumbled on George Orwell’s 1984. If you haven’t read it in a while, I’d highly recommend it.
We are so inured to the machinations of politicians, business leaders, spin doctors, and even the media that we tend to […]
Cock-a-Doodle-Doo-Doo: PR’s Secondary Lies and Tacit Approvals are Lies All the Same
Thursday, July 31st, 2008
Less than two weeks ago, International Olympics Committee (IOC) head Jacques Rogge said:
“For the first time, foreign media will be able to report freely and publish their work freely in China. There will be no censorship on the Internet.” (AFP)
According to Reuters, about two weeks ago Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain said:
“Right now, we […]
Going Out on a Limb, I Predict: Joe Lieberman (R) CT
Tuesday, May 27th, 2008OK. Usually this site stays clear of politics because it’s just so darn ugly. And there’s so much lying, pandering, obfuscation, mealy-mouthing, hyperventilating and just plain spinning that its’ too much to keep up with.
But the more I watch Sen. Joe LIE-berman jockeying for the kissing-spot closest to McCain’s ass, and hear him burbling Republican […]
Fox Business Proves Street Cred and Hypocrisy: White Cody Willard a Gang Member?
Sunday, April 27th, 2008At a recent media party hosted by the UK’s heavyweight newspaper The Financial Times, Fox Business host (and Financial Times columnist and successful capital markets investor) Cody Willard flashed a gang sign for the cameras.
Willard is described by Huffington Post columnist Rachel Sklar as friendly, chatty, affable, jocular, and a good sport… all in the […]
National Assoc. Of Manufacturers Wins B.S. of the Month Award: The Gander Cries Foul, Demands Cone of Silence!
Thursday, February 14th, 2008This month may only be half over, but it’s a short month so why not hand out an award early — especially as this is Valentimes Day. So here you go National Assoc. of Manufacturers (NAM)… here is your B.S. of the Month Award (and it sure don’t mean “best spin.”)
Earlier in Feb., the NAM […]
U.S. Chamber’s Lawsuit Abuse: A Rorschach Test for PR Ethics?
Monday, February 11th, 2008While watching Rudy Giuliani’s concession speech a couple of weeks ago, I perked up when I heard one of the key planks in his “pro-growth” platform… an enthusiastic wish for:
“Less lawsuits! Please, less lawsuits!”
(Let’s leave aside for a moment that what he really wants are “fewer” lawsuits.)
A “ping” went off inside my head, which quickly […]
Free Market Malarkey II: Reductionists Gone Wild, the Theorists Want the Lobbyists to Run Your Life
Friday, December 21st, 2007This is Part II of an ongoing series…
The first post in this series got many comments — thank you to all. Especially those who were up for a conversation.
Most comments were from free-marketeers who accused me of being anti-economics. So let’s begin with this: I’m not anti-economics! It’s a wonderful science for managing systems of […]
The Kite Runner: Colossally Dishonest, But Well Written
Saturday, September 29th, 2007IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE BOOK, THIS POST MIGHT BE A “SPOILER.” IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW A KEY PLOT ELEMENT, THEN STOP HERE.
Much will be made of the new film The Kite Runner, as much was made of the book. And it deserves praise, from the perspective of pure prose and sense […]
Bryan Caplan’s Free-Market Malarkey: Why We Should Be Terrified of Economist’s “Rational” Electionomics
Wednesday, September 19th, 2007This is Part I of an ongoing series.
Arguing with an economist is like trying to eat spaghetti with a spoon. It’s slippery, messy and seldom worth the effort.
But occasionally the claims are so outlandish and the affront so egregious that one can’t back away from a confrontation. Such is the case with a screed called […]