A few updates on my last post
* A link from Paul Krugman, who’s more pessimistic than I am
* A scathing piece from archetypal centrist Dana Milbank on default denialism, linking it to birtherism, climate conspiracy theories and moon landing hoax claims
John Quiggin 
The rapture captcha was rather interesting to note: in the wake of the failed parting of the Red Sea and yadda yadda yadda, I expected at least a couple of stories on the “new look” ABC; instead, it was apparently given a very quick mention on one news slot and then Phffft! Gone! Relegated to the Drum, the ABC’s boulevard of broken dreams.
Pr Q said:
Dana Milbank would be only be described as a “Centrist” by someone from the Far-Left. It would be more accurate to describe him as an establishment liberal. He has spent most of the noughties attacking Right-wing parties and movements. No doubt they had it coming to them. His wikipedia entry focuses on enemies to the Right:
And of course Milbank rigidly conforms to every last article of faith in the Left-liberal cultural credo, like most of his fellow free-thinkers in the MSM.
Milbank himself acknowledges that his ideological position is somewhat Left-wing:
Hmmm…”strongly ideological people on the left”, I wonder who on earth he could be talking about!
Pr Q said:
Dana Milbank would be only be described as a “Centrist” by someone from the Far-Left. It would be more accurate to describe him as an establishment liberal. He has spent most of the noughties attacking Right-wing parties and movements. No doubt they had it coming to them. His wikipedia entry focuses on enemies to the Right:
And of course Milbank rigidly conforms to every last article of faith in the Left-liberal cultural credo, like most of his fellow free-thinkers in the MSM.
Milbank himself acknowledges that his ideological position is somewhat Left-wing:
Hmmm…”strongly ideological people on the left”, I wonder who on earth he could be talking about!
Compared to how I see things – Krugman is an optimist.
Anyway the ensuing comments were interesting. I particularly liked the comment by:
Kirk Tofte
Des Moines, IA
May 24th, 2011
5:02 pm
Concerning the Roman Catholics and priests “with problems”; even as news breaks, via Time Magazine (taken from an Italian newspaper article), concerning the cardinal dude advising the Pope on reforms to deal with priests-with-problems (yeah, that paedo issue that just won’t go away), we have our once esteemed ABC’s The Drum: Catholic sexual abuse study greeted with incurious contempt.
I am stunned. This is delusional behaviour (by the ABC’s intrepid reporter) writ large. While it is wise to adhere to the “innocent until proven guilty” mantra, wiretaps should make a reporter’s antenna go up…and this journalist is in the business (of writing about religion and ethics in that context).
I do agree with the journalist that there are probably a range of factors involved in why priests engage in paedophilia, but that does not alter the main fact, namely that there is something seriously amiss when the most senior clergy (allegedly) commit serious criminal acts against minors.
I’m sure the ‘cardinal dude’ was simply on a fact finding mission. We are bound to hear ‘his holiness’, once again, deride the persecution the church is now suffering on the issue.
As for the ABC’s drum author, maybe Scott Stephens is a former seminarian making the now traditional, former seminarian – journalist – liberal politician career path. I would not be surprised if Chris Ulhmann is on that career track as well. I did a search on Mr Ulhmann to see if he had written anything in any academic or quasi-academic journal, and yes, in 2006 he wrote something in Agenda which included describing Canberra as a command economy. I get the distinct impression he is yet another right-wing libertarian looney. Certainly wouldn’t be inconsistent with his performance on ‘our’ ABC. ‘Our’ ABC or Rupert’s?
The Roman Catholic church investigating itself is reminiscent of OJ Simpson’s never ending search for the ‘real’ killer.
Its a bit like Tepco being in charge of investigating what went on at Fuskushima?
The real truth comes out now after the media storm has abated…the meltdown happened within hours of the earthquake, not just at one reactor
when the media were pushing “It hasnt melted down yet”.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13497656
How can we have reality based journalism when the culture of lying is so widespread (driven by corporate interests and an “interested in corporate interests for his own corporate interest” media baron)?. Reality based journalism doesnt exist unless its purely funded by the public purse and even then its a risk if certain politicians stack the management with political types (ABC).
Now there is a tornado heading to Japan and they havent got a lid on it.
Oh and Tepcos CEO has resigned. He has bailed.
@Alice
“Holy Tepco, Batman!” as Robin might say in a moment of significance. Much of official TEPCO news has been relayed too late, in diminished form, or with claims of uncertainty at points when the circumstantial evidence (or direct observation) has already confirmed the bad news. This is in direct breach of the PR rules Pr Quiggin has in the title of another of his blog posts, ie “Tell early, tell it all, tell it yourself”. Not surprised that the CEO resigned because of illness: the unfolding disaster would have made any human being sick to the stomach, and especially someone at TEPCO who knows the score!
@Freelander
Great analogy! LOL!