Historian and author Jean Edward Smith, in a recent op ed article in The New York Times, suggested that, “the Democrats could increase the size of [the Supreme] Court to protect liberal values if they win the presidency and Congress in 2008.” His suggestion was thereafter reviled in the letters to the editor column of the Times. Dean Lawrence R. Velvel of the Massachusetts School of Law, in a recent post on http://www.velvelonnationalaffairs.com/, takes strong issue with the letters that blasted Smith. Those letters, said Velvel, “represent[s] historically uninformed, antichange, pro status quo conventional wisdom, an ideological genre that is all too common in this country and is used in nearly every political field.”
Read Velvel’s full post and find out more at http://www.velvelonnationalaffairs.com/.
keywords: liberal media, progressive, supreme court
07 August, 2007
9/11, Were Aircraft Attacks Foreseeable?
In this broadcast of What the Media Doesn't Tell you, host Larry Velvel and veteran journalist Sherwood Ross discuss whether the air attack of 9/11 was, in any way, foreseeable. There were pronouncements by the administration that it was totally unforeseeable, was this true? Had aircraft ever been used as weapons before, had any ever struck tall buildings? Should the press have contradicted the official White House information?
The Massachusetts School of Law, located in Andover, Massachusetts, makes high quality, affordable legal education available to less privileged persons who are traditionally excluded from the legal profession. As part of its mission of providing high quality education and information for both law students and the general public, the Massachusetts School of Law also presents information on important current affairs to the general public via television and radio broadcasts, an intellectual journal, conferences, author appearances, blogs and books. For more information visit http://www.mslaw.edu/. MSLAW podcasts are available from http://mslaw.libsyn.com/rss, for subscriptions, or http://mslaw.libsyn.com/, for direct downloads. MSLAW videos are available from Google Video.
Keywords: liberal media, media criticism, 9/11
The Massachusetts School of Law, located in Andover, Massachusetts, makes high quality, affordable legal education available to less privileged persons who are traditionally excluded from the legal profession. As part of its mission of providing high quality education and information for both law students and the general public, the Massachusetts School of Law also presents information on important current affairs to the general public via television and radio broadcasts, an intellectual journal, conferences, author appearances, blogs and books. For more information visit http://www.mslaw.edu/. MSLAW podcasts are available from http://mslaw.libsyn.com/rss, for subscriptions, or http://mslaw.libsyn.com/, for direct downloads. MSLAW videos are available from Google Video.
Keywords: liberal media, media criticism, 9/11
Does Iran Have A Right To...
In this broadcast of What the Media Doesn't Tell you, host Larry Velvel and writer Randy Shaw discuss the issue of whether Iran has a right to be upset about what is happening in their neighboring nation, Iraq. Do they have valid vested interests in the political outcome in Iraq? Can any possible justification be given for their potential development of nuclear weaponry? Why does the mass media either ignore Iran or assume that the administration's pronouncements are correct?
The Massachusetts School of Law, located in Andover, Massachusetts, makes high quality, affordable legal education available to less privileged persons who are traditionally excluded from the legal profession. As part of its mission of providing high quality education and information for both law students and the general public, the Massachusetts School of Law also presents information on important current affairs to the general public via television and radio broadcasts, an intellectual journal, conferences, author appearances, blogs and books. For more information visit www.mslaw.edu. MSLAW podcasts are available from http://mslaw.libsyn.com/rss, for subscriptions, or http://mslaw.libsyn.com, for direct downloads. MSLAW videos are available from Google Video.
The Massachusetts School of Law, located in Andover, Massachusetts, makes high quality, affordable legal education available to less privileged persons who are traditionally excluded from the legal profession. As part of its mission of providing high quality education and information for both law students and the general public, the Massachusetts School of Law also presents information on important current affairs to the general public via television and radio broadcasts, an intellectual journal, conferences, author appearances, blogs and books. For more information visit www.mslaw.edu. MSLAW podcasts are available from http://mslaw.libsyn.com/rss, for subscriptions, or http://mslaw.libsyn.com, for direct downloads. MSLAW videos are available from Google Video.
Why Do We HAve Corrupt Politicians
In this program, MSL dean Larry Velvel and guests, professor David M. Green and Alan Ehrenhalt, editor of Governing magazine, discuss why so many politicians seem to be corrupt and why the media does a minimal job of covering this phenomenon
The Massachusetts School of Law, located in Andover, Massachusetts, makes high quality, affordable legal education available to less privileged persons who are traditionally excluded from the legal profession. As part of its mission of providing high quality education and information for both law students and the general public, the Massachusetts School of Law also presents information on important current affairs to the general public via television and radio broadcasts, an intellectual journal, conferences, author appearances, blogs and books. For more information visit www.mslaw.edu. MSLAW podcasts are available from http://mslaw.libsyn.com/rss, for subscriptions, or http://mslaw.libsyn.com, for direct downloads. MSLAW videos are available from Google Video.
The Massachusetts School of Law, located in Andover, Massachusetts, makes high quality, affordable legal education available to less privileged persons who are traditionally excluded from the legal profession. As part of its mission of providing high quality education and information for both law students and the general public, the Massachusetts School of Law also presents information on important current affairs to the general public via television and radio broadcasts, an intellectual journal, conferences, author appearances, blogs and books. For more information visit www.mslaw.edu. MSLAW podcasts are available from http://mslaw.libsyn.com/rss, for subscriptions, or http://mslaw.libsyn.com, for direct downloads. MSLAW videos are available from Google Video.
Gasoline
In this program of What the Media Doesn't Tell You, Larry Velvel and his guest, Tyson Slocum of Public Citizen discuss the real causes for the price we pay for gasoline at the pump. How has the market become separated from the old formula of supply and demand? Why doesn't the media cover the real reasons for the inflated price of gasoline? How does futures trading affect the present price?
The Massachusetts School of Law, located in Andover, Massachusetts, makes high quality, affordable legal education available to less privileged persons who are traditionally excluded from the legal profession. As part of its mission of providing high quality education and information for both law students and the general public, the Massachusetts School of Law also presents information on important current affairs to the general public via television and radio broadcasts, an intellectual journal, conferences, author appearances, blogs and books. For more information visit www.mslaw.edu. MSLAW podcasts are available from http://mslaw.libsyn.com/rss, for subscriptions, or http://mslaw.libsyn.com, for direct downloads. MSLAW videos are available from Google Video.
The Massachusetts School of Law, located in Andover, Massachusetts, makes high quality, affordable legal education available to less privileged persons who are traditionally excluded from the legal profession. As part of its mission of providing high quality education and information for both law students and the general public, the Massachusetts School of Law also presents information on important current affairs to the general public via television and radio broadcasts, an intellectual journal, conferences, author appearances, blogs and books. For more information visit www.mslaw.edu. MSLAW podcasts are available from http://mslaw.libsyn.com/rss, for subscriptions, or http://mslaw.libsyn.com, for direct downloads. MSLAW videos are available from Google Video.
War Funding
In this edition of What the Media Doesn't Tell you, host Larry Velvel discusses with long-time journalist Sherwood Ross and peace activist David Swanson issues surrounding the reluctance of Congress to cut off funding for the Iraq war. Would such a move place our troops in jeopardy? Does the media investigate this issue and if not, why not? Has such a move ever been executed before now?
The Massachusetts School of Law, located in Andover, Massachusetts, makes high quality, affordable legal education available to less privileged persons who are traditionally excluded from the legal profession. As part of its mission of providing high quality education and information for both law students and the general public, the Massachusetts School of Law also presents information on important current affairs to the general public via television and radio broadcasts, an intellectual journal, conferences, author appearances, blogs and books. For more information visit www.mslaw.edu. MSLAW podcasts are available from http://mslaw.libsyn.com/rss, for subscriptions, or http://mslaw.libsyn.com, for direct downloads. MSLAW videos are available from Google Video.
The Massachusetts School of Law, located in Andover, Massachusetts, makes high quality, affordable legal education available to less privileged persons who are traditionally excluded from the legal profession. As part of its mission of providing high quality education and information for both law students and the general public, the Massachusetts School of Law also presents information on important current affairs to the general public via television and radio broadcasts, an intellectual journal, conferences, author appearances, blogs and books. For more information visit www.mslaw.edu. MSLAW podcasts are available from http://mslaw.libsyn.com/rss, for subscriptions, or http://mslaw.libsyn.com, for direct downloads. MSLAW videos are available from Google Video.
Why Did George Bush Win In 2007?
Attorney Glenn Greenwald, a former constitutional lawyer who is now ablogger on politics and the media for Salon.com, was interviewed by DeanLawrence R. Velvel on how George Bush became the Republican candidate in2000. Greenwald has just written a book, to be published on Tuesday, June26th, on the disaster of George Bush’s presidency. The interview withVelvel was for the radio show called What The Media Doesn’t Tell You, whichdiscusses subjects the mainstream does not present (or presents only verybriefly) and why the media ignores these subjects.
Greenwald said that there were three fundamental reasons why George Bushbecame the Republican candidate in 2000. One he called “tribalism,” meaningthe cultural ideology of the right wing. Another was the political lineageof the Bush family. Finally, Bush has an affable personality that the medialiked. This last point was of major importance, said Greenwald, because themass media focuses on personal amiability and attractiveness, not oncompetence or knowledge. It also focuses, he said, on the horse raceaspects of politics - - who is ahead, by how much and why. Here too itignores competence and knowledge.
The reason the mass media ignores substance is that it is now largely ownedby large corporations, which feel they get more readers and viewers - - andmake more money - - by focusing on personalities rather than substance.Reporters have to go along with this to advance in their careers. In thisvacuum of substance, said Greenwald, blogs are making an importantcontribution because they are focusing on the substance neglected by themass media.
In addition to the foregoing reasons, there were also other reasons too whyGeorge Bush became the Republican candidate. The Republican politicalestablishment was desperate to win, especially because it hated theClintons, and was persuaded that George Bush had the best chance to win.And while member of the Republican establishment weren’t completely sureabout Bush’s ideology, they knew they did not like John McCain’s. Bush alsohad name recognition because of membership in a political dynasty, and hehad access to huge sums of money. Nor did the Republican politicalestablishment care a whit about the inadequacy of Bush’s record as Governorof Texas, nor about the fact that he had been a continuous failure inbusiness - - and thus had never demonstrated competence.
When asked whether America needs a third party because currently it has“only one party with two branches,” Greenwald demurred. In his view, thesituation is currently so terrible that it is crucial to defeat theRepublicans in 2008, and he feels the Democrats have the best chance to dothis. He thus favors efforts to change the Democrat Party so that, in thoseareas where it closely overlaps the Republicans, it would instead stand forthe very things that a third party would otherwise stand for. In responseto the possible objection that the nation is claimed to be in a criticalstate in every single presidential election - - a claim that would alwaysaugur against a third party and would make it impossible ever to start one -- Greenwald said that this time the situation truly is dire.
Greenwald concluded by saying that it is now essential to findcandidates who will engage in honest, competent debate, for the edificationof the American people, about America’s role in the world.
The Massachusetts School of Law, located in Andover, Massachusetts, makes high quality, affordable legal education available to less privileged persons who are traditionally excluded from the legal profession. As part of its mission of providing high quality education and information for both law students and the general public, the Massachusetts School of Law also presents information on important current affairs to the general public via television and radio broadcasts, an intellectual journal, conferences, author appearances, blogs and books. For more information visit www.mslaw.edu. MSLAW podcasts are available from http://mslaw.libsyn.com/rss, for subscriptions, or http://mslaw.libsyn.com, for direct downloads. MSLAW videos are available from Google Video.
Direct download: vm7.mp3
Greenwald said that there were three fundamental reasons why George Bushbecame the Republican candidate in 2000. One he called “tribalism,” meaningthe cultural ideology of the right wing. Another was the political lineageof the Bush family. Finally, Bush has an affable personality that the medialiked. This last point was of major importance, said Greenwald, because themass media focuses on personal amiability and attractiveness, not oncompetence or knowledge. It also focuses, he said, on the horse raceaspects of politics - - who is ahead, by how much and why. Here too itignores competence and knowledge.
The reason the mass media ignores substance is that it is now largely ownedby large corporations, which feel they get more readers and viewers - - andmake more money - - by focusing on personalities rather than substance.Reporters have to go along with this to advance in their careers. In thisvacuum of substance, said Greenwald, blogs are making an importantcontribution because they are focusing on the substance neglected by themass media.
In addition to the foregoing reasons, there were also other reasons too whyGeorge Bush became the Republican candidate. The Republican politicalestablishment was desperate to win, especially because it hated theClintons, and was persuaded that George Bush had the best chance to win.And while member of the Republican establishment weren’t completely sureabout Bush’s ideology, they knew they did not like John McCain’s. Bush alsohad name recognition because of membership in a political dynasty, and hehad access to huge sums of money. Nor did the Republican politicalestablishment care a whit about the inadequacy of Bush’s record as Governorof Texas, nor about the fact that he had been a continuous failure inbusiness - - and thus had never demonstrated competence.
When asked whether America needs a third party because currently it has“only one party with two branches,” Greenwald demurred. In his view, thesituation is currently so terrible that it is crucial to defeat theRepublicans in 2008, and he feels the Democrats have the best chance to dothis. He thus favors efforts to change the Democrat Party so that, in thoseareas where it closely overlaps the Republicans, it would instead stand forthe very things that a third party would otherwise stand for. In responseto the possible objection that the nation is claimed to be in a criticalstate in every single presidential election - - a claim that would alwaysaugur against a third party and would make it impossible ever to start one -- Greenwald said that this time the situation truly is dire.
Greenwald concluded by saying that it is now essential to findcandidates who will engage in honest, competent debate, for the edificationof the American people, about America’s role in the world.
The Massachusetts School of Law, located in Andover, Massachusetts, makes high quality, affordable legal education available to less privileged persons who are traditionally excluded from the legal profession. As part of its mission of providing high quality education and information for both law students and the general public, the Massachusetts School of Law also presents information on important current affairs to the general public via television and radio broadcasts, an intellectual journal, conferences, author appearances, blogs and books. For more information visit www.mslaw.edu. MSLAW podcasts are available from http://mslaw.libsyn.com/rss, for subscriptions, or http://mslaw.libsyn.com, for direct downloads. MSLAW videos are available from Google Video.
Direct download: vm7.mp3
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