At Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting, Jim Naureckas
writes:
You have to wonder: Do journalists covering energy issues imagine they and their loved ones are going to be living on another planet in the not-too-distant future?
That seems like the only reason you would write a piece about the world discovering ways to extract and burn vast new quantities of hydrocarbons without mentioning one word about climate change. That's what Bryan Walsh gave us in the May 21 issue of Time magazine–an article about fracking that doesn't mention the technology's powerful contribution to global warming.
The headline over this article: "The Golden Age."
Walsh does refer to fracking's ecological impact, referring to "environmental concerns over fracking–chiefly the possibility of groundwater pollution." The groundwater contamination associated with fracking is certainly bad, but most environmentalists will tell you that climate change is the biggest challenge facing humanity–and that finding new ways to burn carbon (and release methane as well) is utterly unhelpful.
Walsh concludes his article: "Fracking is here to stay, scrambling a global energy picture that had long seemed settled." Actually, the only thing that was settled was that people would have to totally reinvent their energy systems if they wanted to avoid catastrophe. But for Time magazine, ignoring that catastrophe seems to be the next best thing.
Blast from the Past. At Daily Kos on this date in 2006:
It doesn't matter if it's apologists defending the latest incomprehensible Republican screw-up or Bush's schizophrenic immigration policy. The MO is predictably the same. Some right wing Bozo comes out on a carefully managed stage with a spiel so ridiculous that it would really be more appropriate if presented by a guy pedaling a unicycle and juggling GOP talking points to circus music in full clown regalia, while a mini-Karl Rove chatters around grinding an organ and holding out a cup. It doesn't matter if the clown falls off his unicycle over and over and drops all the talking points. Someone stage right-wing will throw him new talking points to juggle, and he'll just pretend they're the same ones he started with. It doesn't matter if the clown kills a few audience members in the process or sets the big tent on fire. None of that will be mentioned and the reviews will be rave.
Sean Hannity will note that the clown was wearing a yellow ribbon on his vest and the Rove monkey had a miniature Uncle Sam hat on, so critiquing the show is exactly like blowing up the Statue of Liberty and fragging our troops. Bill O'Reilly will angrily denounce anyone who doesn't agree with him that this is the greatest clown ever and the monkey is a super genius. Chris Matthews will say he really, really likes this Bozo personally. Joe Lieberman will be so smitten, he'll rush the stage with a dozen roses and kiss the clown on the lips. [...]
Tweet of the Day:
D.W.Schultz if u & dems do Nothing 2help ppl suffering in Wisconsin under the tyranny of Scott Walker my immense respect 4 u will plummet!
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