![irony-meter[1]](http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/irony-meter1.jpg)
Middle East “Big Oil” funded media outlet buys Al Gore’s CURRENT TV with plans to infiltrate offer the English Al Jazeera channel into American homes – my Irony Meter pegged.
Will it be the “All Al” channel now?
Some details…
From NYT’s Media decoder
9:16 p.m. | Updated Al Jazeera, the pan-Arab news giant, has long tried to convince Americans that it is a legitimate news organization, not a parrot of Middle Eastern propaganda or something more sinister.
It just bought itself 40 million more chances to make its case.
Al Jazeera on Wednesday announced a deal to take over Current TV, the low-rated cable channel that was founded by Al Gore, a former vice president, and his business partners seven years ago. Al Jazeera plans to shut Current and start an English-language channel, which will be available in more than 40 million homes, with newscasts emanating from both New York and Doha, Qatar.
For Al Jazeera, which is financed by the government of Qatar, the acquisition is a coming of age moment. A decade ago, Al Jazeera’s flagship Arabic-language channel was reviled by American politicians for showing videotapes from Al Qaeda members and sympathizers. Now the news operation is buying an American channel, having convinced Mr. Gore and the other owners of Current that it has the journalistic muscle and the money to compete head-to-head with CNN and other news channels in the United States.
Al Jazeera did not disclose the purchase price, but people with direct knowledge of the deal pegged it at around $500 million, indicating a $100 million payout for Mr. Gore, who owned 20 percent of Current.
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Al Jazeera apparently has been looking for ways to sneak in for some time. Al Gore provided them the key.
In thinking of what I’d like to say to Mr. Gore about this, I’m reminded of House Speaker Boehner’s missive to Harry Reid making the news today.
There’s a silver lining though, next time Gore bloviates about climate skeptics “being in the pay of big oil”, we can hit him upside the head with his own pathetic hypocrisy.
As for cable TV subscribers, I’d say the best way to exercise your rights of protest is to not pay your bill, and/or disconnect. That will be my choice should it show up in my home.
UPDATES: (via Tom Graves in comments)
“Glenn Beck Tried to Buy Current TV But Was Rejected”
http://news.yahoo.com/glenn-beck-tried-buy-current-tv-rejected-032853589–finance.html
“Time Warner Cable Drops Al Gore’s Current TV Due To Purchase By Al Jazeera”
markx,
I will concede that the American news media has a pro-Israel slant. But when I read comments by various Islamist leaders that emanate from numerous Middle Eastern countries, pledging to wipe Israel off the face of the earth and similar genocidal threats of total annihilation, my conclusion is that the Arabs/Islamists are completely in the wrong. I never read about CAIR or any other Muslim organisations, or individuals for that matter, reprimanding those warmongering haters. Silence is concurrence.
I am not jewish, and I suppose there is wrongdoing on both sides. But the fact remains that Israel is just a sliver of land that has been made productive, and the Islamists cannot stand to see that success. It is the same hate-filled tribalism that China exhibits toward Taiwan. Islamist cults are deliberately instigating and escalating this conflict by firing thousands of rockets into civilian areas, bombing civilian buses, etc. If they stopped, Israel would stop retaliating. Thus, the blame must be laid squarely at the feet of the Islamist haters.
Self defense is a human right, so being an apologist for instigating violence is a very weak argument. If your neighbor constantly threw hand grenades over the fence onto your land, I would not criticize you for retaliating. The situation in Israel is no different.
markx;
David, in effect you are saying, “I don’t like them, I don’t understand them, and I don’t see what the hell they have got to be upset about,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
And that is an ugly, ignorant, and abhorrent assertion. I have responded to you with the facts of the matter in any number of issues, historical perspective, and big picture, showing you who the Palestinians are the victims of, and stating for the record that my heart goes out to them for the predicament they find themselves in, and the manner in which they have been abused to no end by their Arab brethren and their astoundingly corrupt leadership. I’m bleeding for them, and you accuse me of not liking them, not understanding them. I say the things I do because my heart breaks for what they are going through.
But you are locked into a bigoted, racist and ignorant view of the world that will continue to get people on both sides killed. You indeed are a useful idiot, tragic for the Palestinians that there are so many of you.
http://freebeacon.com/7-things-you-need-to-know-about-al-jazeera/
“In February of last year, Gore said investors in oil and gas companies that ignore the cost of carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gases are making a mistake similar to those who invested in subprime mortgages.”
Al is stepping away from CAGW. He’s “done his bit”. That is what he will soon say: he “raised consciousness”, helped increase our awareness of Man’s impact on the planet, assisted in bringing the people of the world to see their joint responsibilities and power to create a kinder, sustainable lifestyle. He has nothing to regret, nothing to apologize for. CAGW may not be the demon that it first appeared to be, but perhaps that is in part due to our understanding of what we can do to minimize CO2 pollution.
Al is smiling all the way to the bank. We may think he is a hypocritical opportunist but there are many others who will say that the world is in a better place than it would have been without his involvement, despite the “reduced” role of anthropogenic CO2 to our changing climate.
He makes me think of the idiots pushing sub-prime mortgages while we knew they were a bad idea: they ended up with the mansions by the sea and we ended up with the second jobs at WalMart. Ultimately, who are the idiots in these stories ….
… idiots in the street-sense, not the philosophical, ethical or moral sense.
Doug Proctor says:
January 4, 2013 at 11:52 am
“In February of last year, Gore said investors in oil and gas companies that ignore the cost of carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gases are making a mistake similar to those who invested in subprime mortgages.”
Al is stepping away from CAGW. He’s “done his bit”. That is what he will soon say: he “raised consciousness”, helped increase our awareness of Man’s impact on the planet, assisted in bringing the people of the world to see their joint responsibilities and power to create a kinder, sustainable lifestyle. He has nothing to regret, nothing to apologize for. CAGW may not be the demon that it first appeared to be, but perhaps that is in part due to our understanding of what we can do to minimize CO2 pollution.
=========================================================================
Maybe I’m wrong here, but wasn’t one of the Climategate emails about Algore becoming a liability to “The Cause”?
D Böehm says: January 4, 2013 at 10:52 am
“…. there is wrongdoing on both sides. ….”
In this we agree.
“….. Israel is just a sliver of land that has been made productive, and the Islamists cannot stand to see that success…..”
That is not the main issue, it is ownership of that land that is the issue.
“….. If they stopped, Israel would stop retaliating…..”
True. And calmly continue to take their land while allowing them to live as second class citizens with a lower level of rights somewhere near the place where they once owned the land.
“……. If your neighbor constantly threw hand grenades over the fence onto your land….” ….
…..that you had taken from them because you could, you would understand the attitude of the dispossessed. Older, wiser men know there is little to be gained from such violence in the face of such overwhelming odds, but surely they understand the bitter defiance of youth.
markx says:
“…it is ownership of that land that is the issue.”
Just about every country owns its land by right of conquest. Do you propose that the U.S. and Canada should give their territory to the various Indian tribes? What about Australia?
My view of the so-called Palestinians is not good. Why don’t their fellow Arabs take them in? There’s plenty of room in neighboring countries.
I don’t think we will ever be in agreement, because as far as I’m concerned, Israel should run them all off permanently. Their incessant, whining grievances over everything are a real turnoff. Arabs must be born with a grievance gene, and I’m tired of hearing about their problems. We all have problems.
markx;
True. And calmly continue to take their land while allowing them to live as second class citizens with a lower level of rights somewhere near the place where they once owned the land
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
They were offered 100% of Gaza, 98% of the West Bank, land swaps to make up the difference, complete control over their land and borders. Their leadership responded with a new wave of terror. Despite which they have today: 100% of Gaza, 98% of the West Bank, and an agreed to road map that outlines the specific land swaps that will be finalized in a future peace agreement.
Now are you tired of spouting worn out anti-Semitic screeds that have no basis in fact, or do you wish to continue demonstrating your remarkable inability to separate facts from propaganda?
• davidmhoffer says: January 4, 2013 at 10:41 am
……(re) articles ….. “Mainly the ones that come from bigoted sources that play directly into the hands of those who keep the conflict alive”.
I am not sure it would be fair to label Jewish and Israeli publications I have quoted above as bigoted.
• davidmhoffer says: January 4, 2013 at 10:53 am
“…..showing you who the Palestinians are the victims of, and stating for the record that my heart goes out to them for the predicament they find themselves in, and the manner in which they have been abused to no end by their Arab brethren and their astoundingly corrupt leadership. I’m bleeding for them……I say the things I do because my heart breaks for what they are going through…..”
I am glad to hear that you are in fact human, David. But they were not just wronged by their neighbours and so-called brethren, a process in which the colonial powers played a huge part, But also the Truman decisions, and ongoing dispossession of land and rights by the Israelis.
They are, quite simply, a people who have been grievously wronged.
I presume both of us are old enough to see that fighting in the face of these odds will get them nothing but dead, and no doubt the older citizens amongst the Palestinians feel the same. But if Ehud Barak, Israel’s most decorated soldier understood (and stated, in spite of being a former Israeli PM with all the politics that entails), why the Palestinians fight, surely we should be able to understand too.
“….. bigoted, racist and ignorant view of the world ……idiot…..”
Just because someone calls ‘you’ on an issue that they perceive is wrong, does not mean they in any way dislike ‘your people’. Labeling and ‘name calling’ the other side because you disagree with that viewpoint does not make you correct. We see similar tactics used constantly in the debate on CAGW.
D Boem;
I don’t think we will ever be in agreement, because as far as I’m concerned, Israel should run them all off permanently.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
With all due respect, I have to strenuously disagree. There are a lot, and I do mean a LOT of countries in this world whose history includes solving problems by doing just that. Civilized countries simply don’t do such things.
The fact is that Egypt turned their guns on the Palestinians which forced many of them to flee to Jordan. Jordan murdered 100,000 of them and many of the rest fled to Lebanon. The Christian Philange in Lebanon murdered thousands there. Israel was excoriated for not intervening and rightfully so. But when it later turned out that Palestinian gunmen on Arafat’s orders herded unarmed men, women and children toward the fighting in order to ensure a body count high enough to get world attention, it went nearly unreported.
The Palestinians have been screwed over by everyone in the region, their own leadership most of all. Their only hope for a life with any normalcy at all is to make peace with Israel. But that doesn’t serve the interests of the Islamists who pull the strings of Hamas, Hezbollah and others from the comfort of their oil rich capitals. Everyone lauded Saudi Arabia for stepping up and supplying K-12 education materials for all of Gaza. Not much reporting of the fact that the social studies text books contain explicit claims that Jews murder Palestinian children to make matzoh for Passover. That’s what they are taught in Grade 3. The teaching of hate begins early, it is systemic, insidious, and it produces suicide bombers precisely as it was intended to.
So what should Israel do? Frankly I haven’t a clue. Defend themselves as best they can I suppose, and hope for some fundamental change that will produce a Palestinian leadership with some real interest in doing what is right for their people. As it stands now however, the Palestinians have been manipulated into a seething cauldron of hate for the only people in the region that have treated them in a humane manner.
markx;
I am not sure it would be fair to label Jewish and Israeli publications I have quoted above as bigoted.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If you suppose that there are no bigoted publications from Jewish and Israeli sources, then you are a bigger fool than I imagine. There are many, and you’ve quoted several of them. You’ve even quoted as well a British politician attempting to make the case that Jews should not be allowed to buy land in Israel because they are Jews. A more bigoted position than that cannot exist.
markx;
and ongoing dispossession of land and rights by the Israelis.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Which part of 100% of Gaza, 98% of the West Bank, and land swaps to make up the difference, do you fail to understand?
davidmhoffer says: January 4, 2013 at 7:53 pm
“….Despite which they have today, 100% of Gaza, 98% of the West Bank…..”
Ah. No, they don’t. And his brings us right back to the maps, David.
http://www.btselem.org/maps
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_settlement
http://peacenow.org/map.php
http://www.principiamarsupia.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/settlements_map_eng_201101.pdf
and..
The telling point is, the Israelis never went to peace talk with a map at any time, but now, in this age of the Internet, no one can continue to say one thing yet do another, and simply expect to be believed.
markx says:
“They are, quite simply, a people who have been grievously wronged.”
So? Lots of people have been grievously wronged. How about the Aus aborigines, or the Amerinds? Why are you being such a busybody over Palis? You do know that a “Palestinian” is anyone who happens to be in a certain location. It’s not like they are a discrete tribe. Technically, some Israelis are Palis, too.
This particular pot is being constantly stirred by outside interests with ulterior motives. The totally corrupt UN, which legally established Israel and gave it legitimacy, is now the home of more than 190 countries that are overtly anti-Semitic, and which would cry crocodile tears — but would secretly cheer if Israel was destroyed. [Israel will not be destroyed. It serves those outside interests too well as it is. Without Israel, who would there be for Islamists to hate on?]
It’s time to ask yourself why you’re not beating the drum for other oppressed groups. Why is your agenda strictly with the Palestinians? Many Palis are Israeli citizens, with full rights. How many jews are citizens of Islamist countries, with full rights? Do you beat the drum for their predicament?
You really need to re-think your position.
markx;
Just because someone calls ‘you’ on an issue that they perceive is wrong, does not mean they in any way dislike ‘your people’.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sir, you accused me of disliking them, an assertion which is false and which a reading of my comments in this thread will demonstrate is false. I said nothing to justify that accusation, nor the one I’ve quoted above.
markx;
Israeli journalist Amira Hass, “Israel Has Failed The Test,” in Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz, 10/18/00.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
You have an impressive array out of out of context quotes and misinformation at your fingertips. Stock in trade for what you are.
• davidmhoffer says: January 4, 2013 at 8:30 pm
Sir, you accused me of disliking them, an assertion which is false and which a reading of my comments in this thread will demonstrate is false. I said nothing to justify that accusation, nor the one I’ve quoted above.
You may misunderstand me here. This was in response to you calling me an anti-Semite, and bigoted. Ie, your perception is that I don’t like a particular people. Just because I disagree with how a particular nation and its government are acting quite obviously says nothing about how I perceive its people.
• davidmhoffer says: January 4, 2013 at 8:51 pm
….an impressive array out of out of context quotes and misinformation ….”
It would be hard to put that particular quote from an Israeli journalist in a different context, titled as it was, “Israel Has Failed The Test”? ….
I have no dog in the Israel/Pali fight, but I can see that the situation is being manipulated by outside interests and useful idiots. Also, I am certainly not encouraging Israel to run the so-called “Palestinians” off their land; I just wouldn’t care if they did. Or not. I just get tired of the incessant Arab whining over every perceived slight. They need to man up and make something of themselves, like the Israelis did. Instead, they engage in their incessant complaining.
What I wonder about is why someone would get all riled up over this particular issue, when there are plenty of similar problems in the world. IMHO, one of the primary culprits in this whole sorry episode is the nefarious United Nations. I can just see George Soros behind the scenes, pulling strings. Soros was the quintessential Judas Goat in WWII, herding his own people into boxcars. The bastard is still at it.
D Böehm says: January 4, 2013 at 8:25 pm
“…..So? Lots of people have been grievously wronged. How about the Aus aborigines, or the Amerinds? …”
True, those people were also wronged, and reading their history is heartbreaking.
We can also see that the damage to a dispossessed people carries down through many generations.
“…busybody…” ???
I’m stating my opinion. You are stating your opposing viewpoint. Equally busy, perhaps?
markx,
As I stated, I have no dog in this fight, so ‘busybody’ does not apply. What I’m still wondering is why you care so much about this particular situation above all others.
I’m going to bed. You can have the last word; it’s more important to you than it is to me.
A clearer map.
http://www.principiamarsupia.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/settlements_map_eng_201101.pdf
markx;
It would be hard to put that particular quote from an Israeli journalist in a different context, titled as it was, “Israel Has Failed The Test”? ….
>>>>>>
Yes, one comment, from over ten years ago, completely out of context, by a single journalist who happens to be an Israeli defines the entire reality of the middle east. I could drown you in quotes from Israeli journalists arguing any position you would like on any topic you would like. As I said before, you have an impressive array of out of context talking points and quotes at your fingertips. I’ve seen most of them before, I know where they come from, and I know what you are.
@Day by Day
Spare us this drivel: http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2013/01/leading-zionist-orthodox-rabbi-issues-hyper-restrictive-womens-modesty-rules-345.html
@policycritic:
Speaking of drivel, cherry-picking one example of a wacko and presuming that he represents mainstream culture, is nothing but lame propaganda. Day-by-day has it right. There is no comparison between the 7th Century backward Islamist barbarians and modern Israelis, who are culturally no different than modern Europeans.
Al Jazeera is the Middle East counterpart to the American mainstream media. It emits heavily biased propaganda just like CNN and MSNBC. For the straight skinny you need to read a wide range of internet news, and make up your mind after filtering out the spin. It’s not easy. But it is a much better system than listening to AJ’s cheerleaders. If there is one defining trait among Islamists, it is their propensity to look you in the eye, smile, and lie.
D Böehm says: January 5, 2013 at 4:44 am
says “…If there is one defining trait among Islamists…” and “…incessant whining…”
Without quoting the rest of your views I think it is obvious what sort of a person you are. Labels abound, but I won’t use them, as they are superfluous in your case. Your words speak volumes.
davidmhoffer says: January 4, 2013 at 9:36 pm
“…. quotes at your fingertips. I’ve seen most of them before, I know where they come from, and I know what you are….”
Internet, books and on my hard drive. It’s not hard.
And I think you would be very surprised at what I am. Science background, hence the propensity to research and cite. Jewish ancestry, though brought up in a largely atheist household. Skeptical enough to realize all the ‘history’ we read from either viewpoint has been slanted and re-written enough to justify the actions of one side or the other. And pragmatic enough to sift through much of that and have my own views of right and wrong.
We are in agreement perhaps in some areas: there is now no clear solution, and perhaps (in retrospect, and with the pragmatism of advancing years on my part) the Palestinians should have taken that which they were offered in the past (and there are, of course, distinctly opposing positions about what such deals really offered).
Though it is plain why they did not; accepting any deal accepted all the damage they had been dealt to that point, and all that had been taken from them. And perhaps they were hoping, obviously in vain, for a fairer, caring ‘world community” to have some say at some future point in time.