THE MEDIACRACY

JOURNALISM 101 (click for LA Times article)

WHEN a president who has done more to destroy democracy and freedom in our country than any of his predecessors goes abroad and talks about the need for democracy and freedom elsewhere in the world, it is good to consider his credentials as well as his rhetoric. One way to do this is to quote someone a bit skeptical of the president, something much of the media doesn't seem to bother with much these days.

Most of all, it's probably not a good idea to leave it to the Russian
premier to point out some of the ironies involved or to a Dutch student to ask President Bush, "I have a question. . . concerning the terrorism. . . And you made many laws after 9/11, many - many laws and many measures. And I'm wondering, will there be a time when you drop those laws and when you decrease the measures?"

The LA Times, to its credit, did report the question and Bush's
response:

"'Look,' Bush replied, 'a free society such as ours, obviously, must
balance the government's most important duty, which is to protect the American people from harm, with the civil liberties of our citizens. And every law we passed that was aimed to protect us in this new era of threats from abroad and the willingness for people to kill without mercy has been scrutinized and, of course, balanced by our Constitution.

"The president explained that Congress was reviewing the Patriot Act, the controversial measure that gives law enforcement agencies greater power to conduct surveillance and share information. He told her that the Sept. 11 attacks had changed his nation's mind-set, resulting in the need for different laws.

"'I mean, it was more than just an attack; it was a whole mind-set,' he said. 'And that's why your question is really relevant - did that
mind-set, did that change of attitude cause us to then begin to take away certain civil liberties, and I would argue it did not.'

"Bush's co-host at the event, Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, wondered if the young woman was satisfied.

"'You're convinced by the president?' he asked amid laughter.