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I'm Done with NPR

by catsmith

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Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:05:40 PM PST

I wake up every day listening to NPR. It's one place where I figure I can get somewhat even-handed reporting. Today, I woke up to a piece by David Welna on "Frist Takes Judicial Filibuster Fight to Churches". And what does Mr. Welna say in that piece?

"Democrats call a simple majority rules change banning judicial filibusters the nuclear option due to the toxic effect they say it would have on Senate relations. They say they would retaliate by slowing Senate business to a virtual standstill..."

The news is full of dreck that sounds like facts but are far from it. Frist in his address makes a point of saying that Democrats originated the phrase "nuclear option", and Welna follows up with this. As a listener would I question it? Do I have the option of asking Mr. Welna which Democrats he's talking about? What is his source? He ends the piece by saying neither side is willing to compromise, after playing an audio quote from Joe Biden describing what he thinks is a reasonable compromise. How lies become facts...I'm done with NPR.

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Permalink | 63 comments

  •  I just sent an e-mail (4.00 / 4)

    to "All Things Considered" regarding a similar incident about 45 minutes ago.  Im not done with them, I want to reform them.  If the top 10 floors of the NPR building on Mass Ave in DC dissappeared....

    Only children and f@gs ride bicycles - received wisdom from the Tea Bagger's Ball

    by calipygian on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:00:27 PM PST

    •  I just sent them an email too... (none / 1)

      I figured I would let them know why I'm done with them. I'm also sick of those Tucker Carlson ads on PBS.

      by catsmith on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:09:54 PM PST

      [ Parent ]

      •  Tucker Schmucker (none / 1)

        Tucker seems to have disappeared from our local affiliate.  When I sent in my yearly membership I mentioned my disgust at their giving airtime to someone like Carlson.  I think they probably got an earful from other folks in this liberal enclave.  So, at least for now...gone.  Keep complaining.  Perhaps it will make a difference.

        About NPR.  I switched stations when I heard them say Democrats put forth the "nuclear option".  So I can understand your reaction.  I'm afraid our push back will take a while yet but keep pushing anyway.

        by pacifica on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:22:46 PM PST

        [ Parent ]

      •  I figured NPR tanked when (none / 1)

        I heard a peice on All Things Considered that was a same day WSJ front page item, word for word, and ATC did not even bother to attribute their so-called "story."

        Back when, Newt wanted to pull the plug on NPR and the white-haired little old Republican campaign contributers who depended on NPR for their classical music warned Newt to keep his hands off.

        He did as told. But...

        He sold NPR to the neocons.


        NPR needs to have the plug pulled. Progressives need to look elsewhere for "news" and Prairie Home Companion. News on NPR is now FOX nite-lite. It's 7.5 watts of what it used to be.

        Thinking about it, All Things Considered became only a fascade when Susan Stamberg left.

        by notcho on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:23:42 PM PST

        [ Parent ]

      •  Bowtie's Show is DOA (none / 1)

        The weekly PBS series "Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered" will end its run after one year in June.
        The conservative commentator's upcoming nightly series on MSNBC and his relocation to New York made it impossible to continue, officials at Washington's WETA-TV, which produces the series, said Wednesday.

        "Tucker's series on PBS is smart and stimulating," said Jacoba Atlas, senior vice president of PBS programming. "We will miss having him on our air."


        ;]

        by lapin on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:29:10 PM PST

        [ Parent ]

        •  Tuckers show (none / 0)

          was being taped at WETA building which is right across the street from my local drink-hole.  I wish to God I could catch that bowtie fuck in the bar one night just so I could spit in his face.  

          Only children and f@gs ride bicycles - received wisdom from the Tea Bagger's Ball

          by calipygian on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:42:50 PM PST

          [ Parent ]

      •  Class Bias (none / 0)

        I've got to be honest - if you gew up working class, NPR is like a broadcast from Mars.  They have a distinctly "anthropological" approach to the U.S. working class:

        ....dishes clanging..."Barb Smith is pouring coffee at the Red Hen Diner".......fork against plate....."Hey, Bob, where's the over easy I just put up?"...........Wind Field, Idaho is a small town with two stores and one diner.....ETC.

        Until several years ago, I'd never listened to NPR.  When I did, and then realized that many regarded it as the perpetual soundtrack of the left, I knew why the left got "left behind."

        It's a raging, irrelevant snore.  The screamfest of right wing radio is part of the reason for the energy on their side.

        by Athena on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 05:00:26 PM PST

        [ Parent ]

    •  and they won't get another dime from me (none / 0)

      either... but I'll still listen to the weekend programs that are not news (Car Talk, Wait Wait, Prarie Home)... and I will listen for free!

      The God I know says no to H8...

      by crkrjx on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:21:00 PM PST

      [ Parent ]

      •  Sorry to disappoint! (none / 0)

        Powder Milk Biscuits has been dumped as the official sponsor of Prarie Home Companion and replaced by Kellogg, Brown, and Root Home Heating Oil!

        KBR Home Heating Oil:  If its good enough for the furnaces in Hell, its good enough for your home!

        by beagleandtabby on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 05:00:16 PM PST

        [ Parent ]

  •  NPR is over (none / 1)

    At least as far as thinking people are concerned -- institutional rot has set in, and they're growing fat and lazy on their reputation. As far as I can tell the new president they brought in back in '01 is doing his best to let the thing erode away. PRI is doing all the cool stuff, IMO.

    by kenlac on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:01:20 PM PST

    •  No (none / 1)

      NPR's political reporting is what is really suffering.  Nina Totenberg is still the tops and some of the other reporters are still among the best going.

      I heard the same reference twice today and just fired off an email.  They won't change, because everyone else is doing he say she say jounralism, but I really want them to know that radio just is not conducive to that.  

      Ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have. - James Baldwin

      by cassandra m on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:07:29 PM PST

      [ Parent ]

    •  NPR News using GOP material (none / 1)

      It's another sign of lazy journalism, or outright collusion. With Air America Radio and blogs you hear/read political issues covered far in advance of NPR's coverage. It's amazing then to hear how blatantly NPR reporters use the GOP-provided language and spin on stories.

      NPR's only value now is the cultural stuff. All Things Considered and related news programs can go away now. I'll listen to the rest of it until the repugs take over and destroy it like they have CPB.

      Are you shaking or biting the invisible hand?

      by puppethead on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:08:36 PM PST

      [ Parent ]

      •  CULTURE???? (none / 1)

        There are 5 bazillion cultures on this planet that are neither heard nor seen in Public Broadcasting. And almost all of them have some influence in American life.

        Public TV is even worse; culture is basically U.S. New Age and contemporary aristocracy, Victorian English aristocracy, and now some Gospel Right. Jeez they've hardly ever stretched as far as Scotland.

        I get much more cultural diversity out of Canadian Broadcasting.

        We are called to speak for the weak, for the voiceless, for victims of our nation and for those it calls enemy.... --ML King "Beyond Vietnam"

        by Gooserock on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:25:11 PM PST

        [ Parent ]

        •  Not news (none / 0)

          I didn't say NPR was culturally diverse. I used the term "cultural programming" to describe the non-news shows. Stuff like This American Life, Splendid Table and A Prairie Home Companion. These and other shows are radio worth listening to, even if not exhibiting much diversity. The NPR news division, however, has been corrupted.

          Are you shaking or biting the invisible hand?

          by puppethead on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:32:13 PM PST

          [ Parent ]

          •  Not to nitpick... (none / 1)

            ...but Prairie Home Companion and Splendid table are both produced by American Public Media, and This American Life is from PRI. Don't make the all-too-common mistake of thinking of public radio and NPR synonymously -- they've got the mindshare on all public radio locked up, and it's probably the biggest reason they get away with the increasing amount of crap they've been pulling.

            by kenlac on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:56:17 PM PST

            [ Parent ]

            •  Stupid me (none / 0)

              Ironically, I'm in Minneapolis, the home of PRI. My mistake was in blurring NPR with "public radio". I guess my whole argument is that public radio has some value, although it's clear many of my favorite shows are PRI shows.

              NPR has a few good shows: Wait Wait… Don't Tell Me; Car Talk; Fresh Air, On The Media. That's about it. PRI is definitely a better source for radio programs. And PRI distributes BBC Radio News, which is real news.

              Are you shaking or biting the invisible hand?

              by puppethead on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 04:52:43 PM PST

              [ Parent ]

        •  They always honor (none / 0)

          African American history month with some retread documentary on MLK!

          by beagleandtabby on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 04:56:46 PM PST

          [ Parent ]

        •  Im done with Public TV too (none / 0)

          I grew up on PBS. I loved their programming, and yes, I have an affection for those sillie english dramas. Every Sunday I looked forward to my visit with Alister Cooke. I learned a great deal about classic literature from Masterpiece Theater. I even gave them money while I was still in college. But recently, Masterpiece Theater hardly exists, same for Mystery. All I see is a constant stream of fundraising (I get Maine, NH and Mass public TV stations). I know they have lost heaps of federal money, but I cannot stand the unending pledge drives and the stupid programs they run during. Who the heck is that idiot German violinist? He can't be interesting to American's. And all those godawful "return to the 50s or 60s music shows" with those old people who should give it up. And, they are still running British comedies from the '60s - almost 40 years ago. Im sorry that they don't have any money, but they have got to come up with more innovative, UP TO DATE programming from what I am seeing now. Its like watching a bad Christopher Guest film (if there was such a thing).

          "Sniff sniff, gasp, sob - goodbye PBS - adieu, mon cheri,adieu" (however, if they should run a real good Frontline or Bill Moyers special, I'm there).

          by AnneElizabeth on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 05:45:56 PM PST

          [ Parent ]

  •  Me too (none / 1)

    I've stopped donating to NPR and my local NPR affiliate KQED (in the bay area, CA) and I've started giving my membership $$ to KPFA, our local affiliate of the Pacifica network that does Democracy Now.

    I did it originally because I didn't hear people on NPR refer to anything Bush has done as a lie, despite all the facts.  KPFA calls a lie a lie ;)

    No on Prop 8::Sometimes I get to hitch a ride on the Democratic Bus--they let me stand on the back bumper.

    by steve04 on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:02:11 PM PST

  •  I heard that, too. (none / 1)

    I wrote to their Ombudsman, Jeffrey A. Dvorkin, expressing my disappointment.

    by marchmoon on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:04:37 PM PST

  •  NPR=Republican shill (none / 1)

    They just read the RNC fax every morning.  Makes me sick and I recently just tuned them out.  I still love some of the programing on my local KUT but forget about news from NPR/PRAVDA.  

    The Long War is not on Iraq, Afghanistan, or Iran. It is on the American people.

    by Geonomist on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:05:36 PM PST

  •  doesn't every body who ever worked there (none / 0)

    go on to some nice, cushy big-3 network job?

    --- Everybody has a right to be stupid; some just abuse the privilege...

    by whartonchild on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:08:06 PM PST

  •  Directors appointed by Bush (none / 0)

    Bush has been appointing people whose only merit is ideological opposition to public broadcasting to the CPB board:
    Asked if he perhaps prefers listening to NPR to watching PBS, he states flatly: "No. I do not get a lot of public radio for one simple reason. I commute to work on my motorcycle, and there is no radio access."

    by silence on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:09:28 PM PST

  •  NPR (none / 0)

    NPR was the best of the mainstream media, but that isn't saying much, it was simply the best rotten apple of the bunch.

    I'm thinking about getting satellite radio.  But there are a lot of good radio programs that I can get on the internet, I think podcasting might be good.

    The wolfpack eats venison. The lone wolf eats mice.

    by A Citizen on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:10:02 PM PST

  •  Here is the email I set to atc@npr.org (4.00 / 3)

    Stop spreading GOP lies.  

    The term "nuclear option" was coined by the GOP, and was used by the GOP until their poll-reading, convictionless PR folks realized the term "nuclear option" didn't go over well with the American people.  The GOP loved to use the term earlier this year because they like to sound macho.  Well, it didn't work out, and now you are helping them lie, and say it was the Democrats who coined the term.

    You have repeated this GOP talking point (aka LIE) repeatedly today on your programming, and I find it completely disgusting that you are toeing the GOP line this much.  Are you afraid of getting kicked off of Air Force One?  Your reporters are either spineless, cowards, stupid, or all three combined.

    Shame on you.

    Listen to the songs I write

    by pacified on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:11:08 PM PST

  •  GREAT PLAN!!!!! (4.00 / 4)

    begin snark

    Yes, let's cut off all financial support for NPR. Great plan! After all, NPR is to the right of George W. Bush and FOX NEWs. Come to think of it, they're to the right of Frist, Hitler, and Mussolini.  They might as well call NPR the National (evangelical) Prayer Radio Network.  

    So by all means, let's join conservatives in their demands that we pull the plug on PUBLIC broadcasting once and for all.  That way, we have the option of listening to more diverse radio programming.  Think of it:  Rush OR O'Reilly, 24/7.  Bliss!

    snark  

    by markymarx on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:11:55 PM PST

  •  SInskeep@npr.org (none / 1)


     That's Neocon/Theocon apologist Steve Inskeep's direct email.  He's the one who goes on Morning Edition now and shills for the GOP.  I got that email address last fall when I wrote an email to the NPR Ombudsman (also known as the "We didn't do it" kid) about one of Inskeep's pandering-to-some-GOP-hack "interviews" and Inskeep wrote to me directly, mewling and whining about how he tries to be "fair" ("Earth's Shape:  Opinions Differ").  A half-baked, Washington Heather hack.

     Tell him what you think.

    BenGoshi
    __________________
     

    "I have to go now. I feel . . . sticky." Anthony Bourdain

    by BenGoshi on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:12:02 PM PST

  •  NPR is still on of the best options. (4.00 / 2)

    It may have flaws, I'd even say its been in decline since at least when they started their highbrow sports coverage, but compared to CNN (getting much worse), CBS (but improving), FOX (yuck!), ABC, and MSNBC it is a great improvement, and it is at least as good as the AP and Reuters most of the time.

    Also, the competition in the niche where NPR operates (radio journalism) is truly an abyss (you can listen to vapid summaries on music channels or far right distorted versions on AM), and radio journalism is about the only option available if you want to get news while also driving a car on your commute to work, or while cooking dinner, or while dragging yourself out of bed before taking a shower.  The BBC is probably a little better in some respects (the World Service is less biased, but also less intellectual in its "reading level"), but generally it is only carried on NPR stations and only when Morning Edition or All Things Considered aren't on the air (i.e. when you are not waking up, driving or getting ready to take a shower).

    And, for all its potential, I still consider Air America to be more of an entertainment/in depth analysis source (like Fresh Air) rather than a run of the mill, all purpose news source.

    "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." -- Albert Einstein

    by ohwilleke on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:12:07 PM PST

  •  Fuck NPR (none / 0)

    Kos is now my daily news source.  Many times I've told people at work what is going on and they haven't heard a thing.  Later they come up to me and tell me they heard or read something about it, but they already had the whole story and laughed at the poor reporting on the commercial services.

    The republican trickle-down economic theory worked. The economy is just a trickle and everything is down.

    by tarminian on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:15:43 PM PST

  •  Please don't. (none / 1)

    There are still GREAT shows on NPR (at least the Philly station).

    Living On Earth
    On the Media
    Justice Talking
    Radio Times
    Voices in the Family
    You Bet Your Garden (organic gardening!)
    Speaking of Faith

    (for just a few)

    Okay, not every show is great. But I challenge you to tell me what other radio station I can listen to where I can hear in-depth, serious analysis of this wide a range of topics. (If you haven't ever listened to some of those shows, follow the link above; many of the shows allow you to listen to the recent shows online).

    I'm perfectly happy that sometimes they include viewpoints that I disagree with. But I also get pissed when, like the diarist recounts, they make stupid statements that essentially shill for Republi-cons. But at those times, I email them and let them know my displeasure. And guess what? Once they even read my letter on the air. Actually that was the BBC but most of the programs I hear on NPR do read some of their mail on every program.

    Don't desert them - give them feedback instead.

    My .02.

    by MH in PA on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:21:23 PM PST

    •  Feedback *IS* given and, it seems... (4.00 / 2)


       ...ignored.

      BenGoshi
      _________________

      "I have to go now. I feel . . . sticky." Anthony Bourdain

      by BenGoshi on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:33:58 PM PST

      [ Parent ]

    •  not to mention (none / 0)

      from philadelphia

      world cafe and terry gross

      Bill Sali

      by sophiebrown on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:35:39 PM PST

      [ Parent ]

    •  Dont forget (none / 0)

      Diane Rehm in DC

      Only children and f@gs ride bicycles - received wisdom from the Tea Bagger's Ball

      by calipygian on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:47:17 PM PST

      [ Parent ]

    •  I agree - Speaking of Faith (4.00 / 2)

      is a wonderful program.  Unfortunately, all religious stuff is getting a bad name now.  But this program is thoughtful and wide ranging in its guests.  I am so sorry to see these theocrat idiots spreading garbage on religion -- it will have a negative effect on religion for a long time.  Speaking of Faith does absolutely no proselytizing -- and conducts the program on an intellectual and ethical level.  

      Democrats, Make it Work. You have until November to bring your electorate in.

      by xanthe on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 04:22:24 PM PST

      [ Parent ]

    •  Point taken... (none / 1)

      You're right...other than the news, there is often programming that is worthwhile, for example a recent piece on the "Eyes Wide Open" exhibit (although I don't think that they mentioned that the Quakers would like our troops to be brought home from Iraq immmediately, and it included a heart-warming story about a letter sent by President Bush to a boy who lost his daddy). See, I'm really getting cynical now. But yes, it's not all bad. And since the election, I realize that I get most of my news on Daily KOS anyway. Maybe I'll try the foreign newspapers.

      Let's face it...after 8 years of Clinton-bashing, Whitewater, Monica Lewinsky, etc. presented as daily news, did I really have any illusions about NPR?

      by catsmith on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 04:29:16 PM PST

      [ Parent ]

  •  I wrote them a letter (none / 0)

    complaining about the nuclear option referenced to democrats on Morning edition. Posted it in the Cheers & Jeers post this morning. I still get a LOT of good news from NPR so I'm not going to stop listening, but I am planning to harass them on their bad calls every time I catch one.

    conscietious objector in the battle of the sexes

    by plymouth on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:33:10 PM PST

  •  It's the culmination (none / 0)

    of years of right wing pressure. When they learned during the last government shut down crisis that the public did not support eradicating PBS funding, they set about on a slow process of supplanting and replacing programming and news executives with conservatives. We are now witnessing the fruits of that labor. If you can't eradicate 'em, take 'em over.

    This is not your mother's PBS anymore. Those days are over forever.

    Intelligent Designer Laments Lapse in Intelligence

    by mrblifil on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:38:18 PM PST

  •  I stopped listening to NPR a long time ago. (none / 0)

    KPFA and Democracy Now! are the best.

    A few years ago KPFA did a series of programs about how NPR censors controversial topics and guests.

    They even censored a poet who they thought was too radical.

    by sadhu on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:49:23 PM PST

  •  IMPORTANT (none / 0)

    If you're done with NPR, follow these instructions so that your voice can be heard one last time.

    In every race, in every district, in every state, the leftmost electable person! Primary the Blue Dogs! BE LEFT OR GET LEFT.

    by ultrageek on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 03:52:55 PM PST

    •  Eddie Haskell's NPR Diary (none / 0)

      Every time an "I'm done with NPR Diary" is posted, Eddie Haskell's diary should be referenced.  Then perhaps those of us upset by NPR's violation of the day could make some concerted effort to remedy the situation.  Maybe if we work together on this, we could even get them to fire Cokie Roberts or Juan Williams (when they get tired of having to issue retractions after their reports).

      "Trolling is a sad reality of internet life...Directly replying to the content of a trollish message is usually a waste of time"

      by Rusty Pipes on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 09:02:17 PM PST

      [ Parent ]

  •  email (none / 0)

    dwelna@npr.org and tell him to STOP drinking the right's koolaid.

    I don't want Cheney, Bush et al in jail, I want them tortured.

    by regis on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 04:18:06 PM PST

  •  (rolling eyes, makin jackoff motion) (none / 0)

    oh yeah where else am i gonna get poems about brother bear treading lightly thru the woods
    (rolling eyes, makin jackoff motion)

    NPR has been worthless for @ least a decade

    www.nornsisland.com

    by n69n on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 04:21:14 PM PST

  •  heard that piece (of shit) too (none / 1)

    it's so sad. i used to religiously listen to npr news. i finally stopped listening day after the election. they were already heading down the wrong path.

    my car radio's been broken, and i very rarely listen to the radio at home (ituned my whole cd collection finally). been using the clock radio lately to wake up early... radio reception out here kinda sucks, so that's really the only quote-unquote 'real' station to listen to...

    then had to wake up to hear that 'reporting'. put me in a bad mood. didn't get enough sleep, either, dammit.

    will have to pick some other station. will -not- use a 'spirit 95' xian station. or the buzzer alarm.

    shit... just realized i could use the computer. much better. problem solved. :)

    ----- most politicians couldn't care less how you vote every four years... but they pay very close attention to where you spend four years' worth of money.

    by n step on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 04:47:38 PM PST

  •  It's not all bad (none / 0)

    NPR's "Day to Day" had a discussion in which the interviewee stated that the Republicans were the first to use the term "nuclear option," and then stopped once they realized it didn't sound good for them.

    The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers. -Thomas Jefferson

    by PeteyP on Mon Apr 25, 2005 at 05:08:16 PM PST

  •  I heard David Welna again today (none / 0)

    Today he said that it was Trent Lott that originated the term.  Looks like he was doing his homework, or that enough of us did.

    by marchmoon on Tue Apr 26, 2005 at 08:18:14 AM PST

Permalink | 63 comments