So Spicey just had a press briefing that reporters could not video or audio record.

[NightWatcher]

The CNN reporter, Jim Acosta just called Spicer and it Useless. Said he just stonewalled and evaded questions.

"I don't know what world we're living in... I don't know why anyone is going along with this."

He added that this would not work at a City council meeting, much less the President.

The WH is obviously under siege and has only lies to sell that they don't want recordings of thrown back in their faces.

[spanone]

1. in other words....let's muzzle the media

anti-american administration

[RKP5637]

3. A dictator coup regime modus operandi! n/t

[spanone]

5. this is a democracy? well, it was.

[RKP5637]

10. How long before they finagle an event to execute martial law? n/t

[spanone]

16. this is only allowed to happen due to the complicity of the entire republican party

can you imagine if democrats did such a thing?

[RKP5637]

23. Republicans consistently get the upper hand in the US. Is this because many Americans fall for

the republicans, or are they just better at messaging.

[spanone]

28. it's really frustrating...wish i knew...but republicans are the only party with fox 'news'

democrats don't have a major 'news' outlet working for them 24/7

by 'major' i mean that only in viewship

[RKP5637]

32. Yeah, I think that's a lot of it. And the Fox News tentacles are wide spread. AM, FM, even shortwave

radio, plus cable, air, internet, etc. ... it's hard to go to any media without Fox being prominent. The democrats have really missed the boat IMO.

[SergeStorms]

48. Many people prefer.....

an autocratic ruler, someone to TELL them what to do, what to think, what to say, because.....let's face it, most Americans are helpless sheep.

[RKP5637]

49. Sadly, I have to agree, most are bred to be helpless sheep. n/t

[Lyricalinklines]

55. Or maybe the republicans are more aggressive in their actions to the point of rudeness...

...and others are stymied - frozen even - by the blatant lies, obstruction and obvious "in-your-face" pointing fingers at everyone besides themselves that responding accurately takes long enough that the next chaotic issue(s) take precedent.


Society has become 'civilized' to a point they expect certain level of social civility and manners. Yet the republican party forcing their agenda while anyone who'd respond is stunned by their strategy of twisting the rules.

It's a strategy used on purpose!

[RKP5637]

62. And sadly it often works. Americans need to get more hardened to their lies, rudeness and strategies

Maybe Trump is teaching them some ...

[Javaman]

31. now that the russians have declared open hostility on our air force....

it's just a matter of time before something "convenient" pops up.

[RKP5637]

37. And I heard someplace Tillerson wants regime change in Iran, then the islands with

China ... and the US is currently involved in some type of war with 7 countries. Just pulling from memory here. And then there's North Korea. Plus as you mentioned with Russia. It's a total WTF!!!

[niyad]

64. this has actually been my worry since reagan. but now, I see it as a truly serious, and

possibly immediate, scenario.

[RKP5637]

65. Americans are far too accepting and naive which for lack of a better way to say it

allows the evil forces a playground. Millions have not seen or ignored the shenanigans at work. Hopefully, millions are all waking up now, not taking America for granted and getting smart about propaganda and deception.

[Warpy]

4. More like "remove their ability to document outrageous lies."

No audio or video, no evidence.

From now on, I think I'd be wired if I were a correspondent

[RKP5637]

8. Definitely should be wired IMO! n/t

[Warpy]

26. Self preservation considering how litigious Asshole is

Being sued over misquoting one of the liars would be more problematic with surreptitious recording. I wouldn't go into a press conference without it.

About the only way they can prevent it is having everybody go in naked.

[RKP5637]

38. And the advent of butt recorders!

[hurple]

30. which will just make them

work that much harder to uncover the truth.

A good piece of advice... Don't piss off the press. They can make or break you.

[kentuck]

2. Very disturbing...

in so many ways.

[RKP5637]

12. As I said in #3. ... Yes, definitely disturbing!!! n/t

[Orrex]

6. The press should have boycotted this so-called briefing

And they should run laundry lists of the scandals plaguing the administration and the potential punishment that could result from each.

[northoftheborder]

46. yes

[LovingA2andMI]

7. The Media Should IMMEDIATELY Refuse to Attend Any Further Press Briefings

And Set Up Outside of the White House to Report On The Fact No Audio and Video is allowed at Press Briefings, until and if the situation changes.

They should also immediately get all U.S. Representatives and Senators on the record with their thoughts about the Freedom of the Press in light of this.

Lastly, the Press should file a lawsuit in the Federal Court District of the Region of Washington, D.C. with an immediate request for a hearing for the Blocking of the Freedom of the Press U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.

[MyOwnPeace]

22. It IS time...........

for the "fourth estate" to stand up and demand their rights before they become "those who did not speak out:"

"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."

....Martin Niemoller

[True Dough]

9. Next step

"Sean sent the response to your question via mental telepathy. You mean you didn't get it???"

[underpants]

11. Can they draw pictures?

[NightWatcher]

18. CNN should hire the cast of SNL to reenact the pressers

Lampoon them so hard they beg for the cameras to come back in.

[teezy]

60. They should hire the entire cast of SNL to be ACTUAL WH correspondents.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

51. DUzy

That would be hysterical!

[Baconator]

13. There was a letter to journalists back at the beginning of this administration...

It basically said something to the effect of 'Block us if you want, we have other sources'

Maybe it was the head AP guy....

[bettyellen]

14. So they can claim the media lied about the briefing?

[msongs]

15. spicer is a government employee with no right to secrecy in his job performance IMO nt

[mulsh]

17. The press corp should wait for Spicer then rise and leave en mass, I know not one of them would

ever do such a thing, "you can say I'm a dreamer"

[LuckyLib]

20. Excellent tactic. All marching out in perfect silence.

Now that would be a statement!

[kentuck]

19. It's their White House - not your White House.

Didn't you hear?

[DeminPennswoods]

21. Recording devices are very tiny these days...

just sayin'...

[WePurrsevere]

33. That was my first thought too but...

there's also a part of me that says, if no one goes to the circus, the circus closes.

This is all so that they can say they didn't say that when they did. The problem with the recording is that they make it much harder to deny that is what actually happened.

Maybe it's time for mainstream media to sue the government for restricting their First Amendment rights.

[JusticeForAll]

44. The supreme court will decide that the media has no standing

Only the government can bring that suit to them...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10141803095

[mainstreetonce]

24. The media should put out really horrible fake news

To force him to come out and deny it.

[NightWatcher]

27. As soon as Spicer made sure no cameras were present, he raped a goat 🐐

[Chickensoup]

25. This Administration is a Joke

But no one is laughing .

[ecstatic]

29. Why are we going along with this? And they wonder why we're worried

about this country becoming a dictatorship? Dictatorships don't happen overnight. It starts with little power grabs here and there... and it looks like nobody is stopping them.

[maddiemom]

66. And where is the outrage about Mitch McConnell?

His behavior has skated toward treasonous since the day President Obama was inaugurated, and he's really warming up the outrageousness since the Repugs got control of all branches of "our" government.

[Blue_Tires]

34. Mafia presidency, plain and simple

just a good old-fashioned pre-revolution banana dictatorship....

I eagerly await comment from the Greenwald-Snowden-Timm brigades, who frequently called Obama the "least transparent president ever"

[Catmusicfan]

35. WHat The Hell?! This is Authoritian tactic.

[hlthe2b]

36. they should just send one designated pool reporter for these worthelss "briefings"...

As much as the WH craves press attention, I'd bet things would change.

[Mrs. Overall]

39. Not allowing any documentation--goodbye objective reality.

Anything "reported" from that press conference can be called inaccurate by the White House.

There is nothing to document what Spicer said.

[NewJeffCT]

40. So Spicer is too cowardly to be recorded

just like Trump is too cowardly to face the news media. I guess they're just a bunch of chickens.

[Mrs. Overall]

41. Acosta just tweeted that CNN wasn't allowed questions, but Russian reporters were allowed.

[dalton99a]

45. +1

[leftstreet]

47. Acosta tweeted a picture of his socks

Link to tweet

Jim Acosta‏Verified account @Acosta 2h2 hours ago

The Spicer off-camera/no audio gaggle has begun. I can't show you a pic of Sean. So here is a look at some new socks I bought over the wknd

[Mrs. Overall]

58. That is funny.

[pangaia]

42. Well, it worked for Stalin.

[George II]

43. All of our town meetings are televised, from the Town Council down to the lowest board.

[Thor_MN]

50. If they can't record, it is not a press briefing

[beachbum bob]

52. boycott all press "breifings" until they return to normal, simple

[MontanaMama]

53. We don't know why anyone is

going along with this either, Jim. We've been wondering that for, I don't know...a fucking YEAR?

On another note, if the press can't video or record...it isn't a press briefing, is it?

[SummerSnow]

54. Stop lying and you wouldn't have to do this. Oh wait, you can't stop lying

[BigmanPigman]

56. Wasn't this his swan song? Promotion to the "big time".

[LisaM]

57. They need to find some older people who remember how to take shorthand.

That would come in handy about now.

[flying_wahini]

59. Maybe not older but someone who knows shorthand... LOL!

[LisaM]

61. Well, sure, but the only person I ever worked with who knew it retired a few years ago.

I don't think it's being taught in the schools right now, but by all means, if you can find a whippersnapper who knows how to take shorthand, let's get him a press credential!

[nolabear]

63. So now they can claim anything reported is fake news.

It's not journalism; it's heresay.

Their only real recourse is just to stop covering him, period. It would give him an edge for a short while but if they had the guts to stick together I think he'd fold, at least somewhat.

What a disgusting little despot.

[rocktivity]

67. Fake freedom of the press.

rocktivity