FOX NEWS Commentary: Fair Elections = Terrorism.

 Oh god oh god oh god oh god oh god!

 I was just flipping channels yesterday when I caught the tail end of John Gibson's show on FOX.

 

I have seen what happens when a half-baked, or nonsensical idea cooked up anywhere on the planet gets revved up on the Internet.

I guarantee it will be a matter of days, if not hours, before Al Jazeera is repeating the assertions of my desperate cable colleagues.

Then some dimwit French author will write a book, and it will sell a few million in Arabic.

Then some Marine colonel will lead his men into the next Fallujah and find the damn book in a jihadi terrorist decapitation dungeon -- inspirational reading before sawing off someone's head.

This is how stupid ideas get people killed.

 Full text below:

 

Election Questions That Just Won't Quit

By John Gibson

Friday, November 12, 2004

Most of the world figured America had the monkey off its back... we had a presidential election and there was a clear winner.

George W. Bush was the winner. Even John Kerry admitted it.

You'd think that would be enough, but no... there are forces at work trying to sow doubt and delegitimize this election and solely because of the name of the winner.

It has been clear to everyone that Bush won -- except to the dead-enders and former Baathists of U.S. politics... those die-hard "anybody but Bush people" and the bloggers who just want to stir up trouble and never seem to run out of gullible readers.

Two of my colleague news anchors on other networks actually gave this non-story cable network coverage. It is unconscionable.

Look at these words from Jack Corrigan, a longtime Kerry aide who was in charge of 3,600 Democrat lawyers ready to challenge the election.
Corrigan was quoted in The Boston Globe saying this:

"No one would be more interested than me in finding out that we really won, but that ain't the case.

I get why people are frustrated, but they (the Republicans) did not steal this election.

There were a few problems here and there in the election, but unlike 2000 there is no doubt that they (the Republicans) actually got more votes than we did, and they got them in the states that mattered."

Corrigan is speaking the truth to the truth deniers.

He's being ignored by certain people because they want the idea to germinate that Bush stole this election... that he stole two in a row.

I wrote a book about hating America. I have seen what happens when a half-baked, or nonsensical idea cooked up anywhere on the planet gets revved up on the Internet.

I guarantee it will be a matter of days, if not hours, before Al Jazeera is repeating the assertions of my desperate cable colleagues.

Then some dimwit French author will write a book, and it will sell a few million in Arabic.

Then some Marine colonel will lead his men into the next Fallujah and find the damn book in a jihadi terrorist decapitation dungeon -- inspirational reading before sawing off someone's head.

This is how stupid ideas get people killed.

That's My Word.

Watch John Gibson weekdays at 5 p.m. ET on "The Big Story" and send your comments to: [e-mail]

 Ok, I know this is from his "commentary" portion, but still ... what a fucking putz.

 I could dissect his arguments, take it apart point by point, but why do it myself when I can watch all of you lovely folks do it better than I ever could.

Oh, and please feel free to write him, I know how much he loves fan mail.

[e-mail]

God I love the internet.

Update [2004-11-12 13:37:56 by Baldwiny]:

Damn, I forgot the Poll

•  So it's come to this, has it?

  I'm not sure about this whole fraud issue.

  Still, having said that, I think it's ridiculous that someone could, essentially, equate a desire to ensure a fair election with treason.

  "Nothing to see here folks.  Move along."

  by WWGray on Fri Nov 12, 2004 at 09:45:16 AM PDT

•  Gee, he really lays out an airtight case

  for how "thinking" causes beheadings. A logical tour de force.

  Shit, did I just use French? Now someone is going to translate it into Arabic and use it as inspiration for another beheading.

  by speranza on Fri Nov 12, 2004 at 09:49:31 AM PDT

•  democracy

  so the enemy could possibly use our desire to make sure our voting system works as it should as a weapon against us? So if we are true patriots we will never question anything because Lord knows we don't want that to happen. Idiots are as idiots do or is that say? This is the same rationale behind not questioning he so called patriot act. Just makes me want to go forward with the recount even more. Count every vote.

  by bjshakerheightsOh on Fri Nov 12, 2004 at 09:58:29 AM PDT

•  Hurray!

  We have a weiner!

  John Gibson is hereby awarded this week's Mental Midgetry trophy.   This trophy is a lovely rendering, in antique cardboard with a faux bronze finish, of a peanut on a toothpick.

  Clues

  by Clues on Fri Nov 12, 2004 at 10:07:12 AM PDT

•  Questioning Authorty

  and wanting to make sure the election was valid = a terrorist activity.

  I bet if Kerry won by the same fucking margin, Gibson would be screaming for a recount of every fucking vote tabulation in the country.

  What a cocksucker.

  by bonddad on Fri Nov 12, 2004 at 10:07:21 AM PDT

•  crap like this essay

  make me feel like, damn, we are on to something.  he wants us to shut up so badly, why?  

  by gothmom on Fri Nov 12, 2004 at 10:08:55 AM PDT

•  Even worse than O'Reilly

  Gibson, to me, is the worst on-air "personality" at FOX - stupider than even O'Reilly, but not nearly as cunning or talented (O'Reilly is a master propagandist).  Oh yeah, he's ugly as shit, too.  Aside from his fascist tendencies, how did that putz get a broadcasting job?  Did he fellate Murdoch?  Give O'Reilly or Hannity a hand job?  What gives?

  by CrackWhore on Fri Nov 12, 2004 at 10:12:34 AM PDT

•  are you surprised??

  these comments are coming from the author of the recent book HATING AMERICA

  a wonderful read......heheheh

  by End of Shrub on Fri Nov 12, 2004 at 10:12:48 AM PDT

•  It never ceases to amaze

  how wingnuts just know things. Without any evidence to support the things they know, they procede to demonstate that they know the absolute and universal truth, which can only be obtained by knowing the things that they know.

  Why bother with messy little things, like facts, when you're a God appointed clarvoyant?

  by JoeWPgh on Fri Nov 12, 2004 at 10:19:09 AM PDT

•  My Word

  don't you know how to program your remote to skip fox? Who the fuck cares what those loofa rubbing wingnuts have to say?
  Jeeze I hate those assholes

  by mpc12 on Fri Nov 12, 2004 at 10:20:42 AM PDT

•  My email to Faux News:

  Mr. Gibson,

  With regard to your recent commentary "Election questions that just won't quit"

   A journalist with integrity would study all facts and follow all leads before jumping to conclusions...but faux news apparently doesn't hold you to such a standard.

  Don't you get it? NO ONE EXPECTS TO CHANGE TO OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION!
  It is in the best interest of our country (that's right, it's my country too!) to have transparent, auditable elections with voter verified paper ballots.

  Sure, there are a few tin-foil hat conspiracy theorists saying "Bush stole the election". I don't believe he was involved, but there are irregularities. Most of us just want a fair, non-partisan and accountable election process.

  If companies responsible for ATM machines used at banks around the world can't make voting machines with a paper trail, I sure don't trust them with my money...oh, wait ATM's DO provide a receipt! Why would they want to make voting machines that don't? Hmmm....that is a puzzle. Federal laws are very specific about how electronic transfers of money should be handled. I only want similar laws with regard to elections. Why don't you? What do you have to lose?

  It is not a theory, but a FACT that our elections are susceptible to hacking and fraud. We need to vote on machines that provide a paper receipt and  use open source code. Our current system is a terrorists' paradise.

  Whether you wish to acknowledge it or not, a nation so deeply divided is a danger. Your actions are not helping. I would appreciate it you stopped weilding your influence so recklessly. It's time we all started requiring more of ourselves. I will, if you will.

  Think responsibly,
  

  by rcvanoz on Fri Nov 12, 2004 at 10:22:22 AM PDT