BuzzMachine

The media pundit's pundit. Written by NYC insider Jeff Jarvis, BuzzMachine covers news, media, journalism, and politics.

Off-air

22 comments on Off-air

Off-air

: Just got off MSNBC’s Connected.

We talked Schiavo links and I’m glad to see Ron and Monica talk about how the rhetoric — especially from Congress — is getting overheated. BlogsForTerri is calling for people to fly to Florida. I hope that is just for a vigil but I fear that the anger is getting red-hot. I also mentioned a petition on MoveOn telling Washington to butt out (funny, you’d think it’d be the Republicans saying Washington should butt out of state business). And I mentioned the split in the Republican party, blogged below, quoting Andrew Sullivan and Joe Gandelman.

: On a general blogging segment, I reported the news on GoogleNews, below, and mentioned the good news of blogs in Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia.

And I got to mention the growth of vlogs, pegged to the release of OurMedia.org as a new home for citizens’ multimedia. And we played RocketBoom on the air. Now that’s cool: citizens’ TV on mainstream TV.

Ron said he’d be leaving early to see his vlogging coach.

22 responses to “Off-air”

  1. Ruth Avatar
    Ruth

    It’s particularly positive that you had uplifting news to report like the Afghani and Saudi blogs. It’s always a shame to see people of whatever viewpoint obsessing on tragedy, and especially when it is politicized.
    As so many reports have noted, a positive value from the Schiavo tragedy has been that people will be more aware of the need to write up a living will. A site where a version of the living will (Directive to Physicians) can be accessed is http://www.medicaldirective.org.

  2. Linda Edwards Avatar
    Linda Edwards

    I notice that “BlogsforTerri” feature Terri surrounded by the American flag.
    Are they dragging patriotism into this now?

  3. -asx- Avatar
    -asx-

    Now that everyone has seen how unhinged the far right is, are we happy that they control the White House? And the Congress?
    Are we happy that they are packing the courts every day with extremist judges who share their view?
    Are we happy that the entire federal government is be staffed by people who are in the thrall of a dangerous and extreme religious viewpoint?
    Are we happy that our foreign policy is conducted by people who have such contempt for the American way? For our Constitution? For our separation of powers?
    Will this still BE America after four more years of the extremist agenda of George W. Bush?

  4. Hubris Avatar
    Hubris

    asx,
    Were the Congressional Democrats who voted for the Schiavo bill also unhinged?

  5. -asx- Avatar
    -asx-

    Hubris,
    I don’t admire the Democrats who voted for the Schiavo bill. I think a lot of Democrats are cowed by Republicans and feel like they will be run over if they don’t go along. After all, look at what Republcians do to their opponents: they will say anything, do anything, to defeat them. Look at what they are saying about Michael Schiavo! Look at what they are saying about Judge Greer. Look at their talking points memo which suggested that they can label Democrats as “pro murder.”
    Tom DeLay has called hospice workers “terrorists” and “murderers.”
    Peggy Noonan writes today, in the Wall Street Journal, that liberals love death.
    This is the whole tone coming from the radical right.
    Democrats need to get over their fear of a fight and stand up to those who want to drag this country back to 10th century Europe.

  6. Hubris Avatar
    Hubris

    asx,
    Believe it or not, I think most people on both sides (of the aisle and the issue) voted on principle (while I’m sure no one minded a getting a perceived political benefit as a bonus). Developments in this case aren’t really a cause for cynicism, IMHO.

  7. -asx- Avatar
    -asx-

    Hubris,
    I think you’re right — most people voted on principle. I also happen to feel that most who voted Republcian are not dangerous extremists. I believe the faction that has taken over the party (and the White House and Congress) represent a tiny faction — call it a cult.
    And I think that’s dangerous.
    These are people for whom the magna carta is considered a dangerous piece of judicial activism.
    The literally proclaim the right of kings for George Bush, and honestly wonder why he doesn’t just push aside all legal considerations and send in the Marines to rescue Schiavo.
    There is only one way to characterize that: They hate America, they hate our Constitution, and they hate our Democracy.
    Let’s hope you stop voting Republican.

  8. -asx- Avatar
    -asx-

    Hubris,
    If you don’t believe this faction hates America and our Constitution, see the fourth paragraph here:
    Open Letter from 11th Hour Coalition to save Terri Schiavo’s life to President Bush and Gov. Bush
    Or just turn on Fox News. Listen to Hannity or Rita Cosby or any of those other characters.

  9. Hubris Avatar
    Hubris

    asx,
    In a rush, but a couple of quick points:
    – The letter is requesting that Bush (or the other Bush) do this. I don’t see either of them agreeing to do so.
    – It isn’t automatically wacky-crazy (although these people could be wacky-crazy) to ask for feds to intercede in something with officers or troops – think the civil rights era.

  10. -asx- Avatar
    -asx-

    Hubris,
    Here is more mainstream Republican thought that clearly expresses Republican loathing for the American Way and our system, for which too many have fought and died to let the radical right turn us into a Taliban-like theocracy.
    World Net Daily
    If this doesn’t do it, why don’t you visit the latest ravings of Michelle Malkin or Ann Coulter, who are right down the middle, mainstream voices in the Republican party. Heck, you might even own several of their books!
    Michelle Malkin
    Ann coulter

  11. Hubris Avatar
    Hubris

    Heck, you might even own several of their books!
    Huh?? Sorry, no. You don’t know me, obviously.

  12. -asx- Avatar
    -asx-

    OK, well, forgive me for jumping to conclusions.
    Here are several more mainstream republcian voices calling for armed insurrection and the abolition of an independent judiciary, lifted from Oliver Willis’ blog:

    The radical religious right and the far-right militias have finally merged, and their vessel is the Republican party.
    William J. Bennett & Brian T. Kennedy
    The “auxiliary precautions” of Florida government ó in this case the Florida supreme court ó have failed Terri Schiavo. It is time, therefore, for Governor Bush to execute the law and protect her rights, and, in turn, he should take responsibility for his actions. Using the state police powers, Governor Bush can order the feeding tube reinserted.
    On the Al Rantel show on 790 KABC in L.A., Ann Coulter said Bush should send in an “armed force”.
    Pat Buchanan said Bush should send in “federal marshals”.
    These people are at war.
    With America.

  13. -asx- Avatar
    -asx-

    Hubris,
    To address your point about the troops used in the Civl Right era, or to rescue Elian Gonzalas, or for that matter, the Civil War itself. In all cases, the troops were used to uphold and defend the Constitution.
    The mainstream of the Republican party is now openly advocating something quite different: using troops to abrogate and overthrow the US Constitution.
    But I will grant your point that Jeb and George W. haven’t done so.
    They bring us right up the the brink, time and time again, and then leave their followers hanging.

  14. Hubris Avatar
    Hubris

    Pat Buchanan has been a weird jackass since the day he was born, and I’m supposed to take it as a sign of the coming Amerikkka now?
    I could cite some weird statements by folks on the left, but what’s the point? I don’t think they’re automatically representative of the Democratic party at large.
    Congress and/or the presidency will turn over to the Dems in a few years, and we’ll be worried about becoming commies.
    Relax, man.

  15. mamapajamas Avatar
    mamapajamas

    asx… I see that you are completely dismissing the idea that Terri might well be cognitive as “whacko”. How did you come to that conclusion?
    How do you know… for CERTAIN… that Terri isn’t cognitive? She is (or WAS, before the feeding tube was removed) in better physical condition than Stephen Hawking is. Without his computers, Hawking would not be able to communicate, and would appear to be a lifeless rag doll. How do you KNOW Terri isn’t in a similar condition?
    There have been opinions of experts who’ve seen her (in person, not just on video) that the fact that she can swallow (she is not on an aspirator to remove saliva from her mouth) is solid proof that she is NOT PVS. It takes a certain degree of higher brain activity to recognize that you have saliva in your mouth and to then swallow it, and Terri has at least that much brain function. This is, in their opinion, proof that she was, at the very least, misdiagnosed. But that is opinion. Proof is needed because there are conflicting opinions among the doctors involved.
    We may never find out just how much cognitive activity she has, if she is allowed to die. Michael Schiave has never allowed any testing of this sort to be done, which is why we are so suspicious of him.
    Wait. If she dies and Michael Schiavo refuses to allow an autopsy, a whole new can of worms is going to open on this case.
    And if an autopsy is done and it is proven that she was not PVS, then where will you be on this issue? Are you going to say, “Ooops… well, that was a bad call…”
    Those of us who are fighting for Terri to live right now want only two things… and MRI and a PET scan. THOSE are the conclusive tests that would prove whether or not she is PVS. The C-T scan that was done is NOT adequate for that determination.
    I’ve seen PVS up close and personal when my mother lost her fight against a brain tumor. The vids I’ve seen of Terri are NOT the same condition my mother was in. We chose to not prolong my mother’s life, so I understand the basis of this argument more than most people.
    This is the reason we are fighting so hard for Terri. This isn’t political, and it isn’t “whacko”. We honestly believe that there has been a misdiagnosis, and to allow her to die might be a severe miscarriage of justice.
    Why is this “whacko”?

  16. EverKarl Avatar
    EverKarl

    Clearly, Jeff’s post mentioning the split in the GOP on this issue is part of his relentless attack on the Democratic Party. I’m working on my banner calling for his resignation. And Sen. Tom Harkin’s resignation, for being such a pushover. Right after dinner.

  17. jonny goldstein Avatar
    jonny goldstein

    Thanks for mentioning vlogs. Rocketboom is awesome, as are many other vlogs in this small, but exponentially growing, media movement.

  18. mr lawson Avatar
    mr lawson

    Jeff:
    Serious Magic is getting ready to release video bloging software.
    http://www.vlog.com

  19. Jim S Avatar
    Jim S

    Over and over again the right as represented by people like mamapajamas makes outrageous claims. The CT scan can’t show PVS. Well, what it can show is the complete lack of solid material where Ms. Schiavo’s cerebral cortex should be. If there is no cerebral cortex there is no conciousness. What people like him refuse to acknowledge is that there is in fact more than one cause to many conditions including PVS. They demonize Michael Schiavo and make up accusations against him. Coming home late from work tonight I flipped radio channels and heard the intro to the Michael Savage show. A minute later I thought “I bet I know what he’s talking about.” and went back to check. Sure enough not only was the subject the Schiavo case but he was going after Michael Schiavo full bore. They speak of the evil Judge Greer, ranting on about how 1 judge is the cause of the murder of Terri Schiavo. Before it went to the federal courts there had been 19 judges looking at the issues. Then there was one federal judge. Then there was the panel of 3 judges. Then the additional 8 judges from that circuit. Then when it went to the Supreme Court Justice Kennedy referred it to the full court and they refused to consider the case (keep in mind that they’ve looked at it before). The only doctors who make claims about how Ms. Schiavo really can recover if she’s just treated properly have inevitably been shown to be allowing their ideology to trump actual science. And mamapajamas, like them all, doesn’t recognize that he is part of the whack job parade.

  20. adam Avatar
    adam

    Yes! Thanks for the TV media plug for vloggers. We’re all eager for Ourmedia to be bug-free and bad-ass like it feels it should.

  21. plunge Avatar
    plunge

    “How do you know… for CERTAIN… that Terri isn’t cognitive? She is (or WAS, before the feeding tube was removed) in better physical condition than Stephen Hawking is. Without his computers, Hawking would not be able to communicate, and would appear to be a lifeless rag doll. How do you KNOW Terri isn’t in a similar condition?”
    Look, this comparison really undermines your position. Hawking has an intact brain with a normal EEG. Terri has a mostly missing higher brain with a flatline EEG. Hawking is responsive and communicative, regardless of how little movement capability he has. Terri is not.
    The fact that she can swallow? She’s failed THREE swallowing tests. Swallowing is a REFLEX: you can actually even train the brain dead to do it (various doctors have discussed how they could train Terri to do it using electroshock, and in this they are probably right: they could do that, it there was any purpose to it). The problem is that no one would ever let Terri swallow food or water, because she’d aspirate it and die.
    I’m sorry, but even if she could swallow, that wouldn’t indicate that she wasn’t PVS.
    “Those of us who are fighting for Terri to live right now want only two things… and MRI and a PET scan. THOSE are the conclusive tests that would prove whether or not she is PVS. The C-T scan that was done is NOT adequate for that determination.”
    You are confused. PVS is a diagnosis based on examination, not a particular brain pathology. There is no conclusive scan test for PVS: there are too MANY ways for the brain to be damaged in such a way that it leads to PVS. The fact is, MRI and PET scans are for showing fine detail. But none is needed in this case because there is such a gross loss of tissue: looking for fine damage in tissue that is simply missing is moot. All the MRI and PET scan requests are are ways to stall this process even further. They can always claim that there are more tests, that medicine has advanced since the last time their stalling tactics worked, etc.

  22. GRANDPAPETE Avatar
    GRANDPAPETE

    I was waiting for some one to tell us who is suporting TERRIES brother and sister, they have not been to work in the past year?. Who is paying there rent, food etc. and I notice how the “RIGHT TO LIFE ” can say on tv that terries husband should be killed. Is this the way good GOD fearing people deal with people who don’t agree with them. No one on the husband side has asked for the mother or father to be killed. This is what the republican party stands for?.