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MADem

(135,425 posts)

71. This is an ARTFULLY constructed piece--it purports to show "both sides" but it doesn't.

Thu Oct 30, 2014, 05:12 PM

Oct 2014

It shows one side saying "Some people say" this nasty shit about Taibbi, and it throws a very tiny amount of shade towards Omidyar--but it leaves him still looking justified, because, after all, Taibbi was disloyal, he was fomenting hate and discontent amongst his staff, he was abusive towards a woman, he was "The Bad Guy" who would not work/play well with others.

But who is MISSING from this "well rounded" piece?

Answer: Taibbi.

If you can't see that, and see that this is what is wrong with this piece, I can't help you. You're the only one who has this interpretation that it is an equal-opportunity bashing. To me, it reads like a "stoops to conquer" exercise on the part of Omidyar. "See? They can talk a little trash about me...I don't mind!!! Everyone will go with the 'take-away' that Taibbi is a miserable sexist pig who was a lousy manager and disloyal to the firm!"

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The Inside Story of Matt Taibbi's Departure From First Look Media [View all] Luminous Animal Oct 2014 OP

The smearing of Taibbi has begun, I see. LawDeeDah Oct 2014 #1

Clearly, you did not read the article. Matt comes out looking far better than Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #2

Omidyar and Taibbi Both come out looking bad. Raine1967 Oct 2014 #18

My read of the article is that The Intercept could succeed because Omidyar Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #57

I think you and I are having a different read on this article. Raine1967 Oct 2014 #94

Really this is damage control? From the article.... Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #101

I read that part. Raine1967 Oct 2014 #110

Okay... Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #117

It is notable that Greenwald, Scahill, et al never Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #115

How the hell do you know this? The article also states that they wrote a joint letter Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #122

If you want to believe that, be my guest Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #129

They left the smearing to Gawker, so Greenwald/Omdiyar's hands stay clean: Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #128

did you even read this article? m-lekktor Oct 2014 #4

Yes, I read it all. LawDeeDah Oct 2014 #10

Um, those were the allegations from one staffer. Allegations are not proof Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #14

But Greenwald and etc., included the 'allegations' nonetheless. LawDeeDah Oct 2014 #32

I sense an immovable rock/irresistible force moment coming on. randome Oct 2014 #39

Well put. All of these folks are worshipped by a certain segment of DU. That will not survive this stevenleser Oct 2014 #42

Taibbi is a writer, an artist, not a manage. JDPriestly Nov 2014 #202

No. Greenwald did not. Another person who did not read the article. Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #47

Well, he was downgraded based on them, so what's up with that? This is not a good article for MADem Oct 2014 #55

who could have guessed??? VanillaRhapsody Oct 2014 #99

You think they should have lied by omission? I can just imagine the Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #46

That's the new journalism, I suppose. Allegate without proof. LawDeeDah Oct 2014 #70

Greenwald is making no such allegations. A STAFFER DID and the accusations were investigated Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #76

That is Greenwald with his famous weasel words - perfect example that. LawDeeDah Oct 2014 #87

You have it precisely backwards. If they were trying to portray Taibbi as the bad man Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #89

CYA, that is what it is. Fakery just so they don't sound TOO viscious. LawDeeDah Oct 2014 #93

off topic grasswire Oct 2014 #124

A lot of people don't trust or like Greenwald LawDeeDah Oct 2014 #127

topicing? Okey-doke. Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #145

So why is Greenwald taking time out from world-saving to 'report' on office gossip? randome Oct 2014 #150

LOL at Greenwald breaking the irony meter: Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #107

The article tells us what Matt has to say. I saw no smear in the article, if I did I would be the sabrina 1 Oct 2014 #154

Please read the article. Posts based on mere assumptions about what articles say JDPriestly Nov 2014 #201

Awww, it's so sad to find out that " anti-authoritarian iconoclasts" frazzled Oct 2014 #3

I did not post this so people could come here to bash Matt. Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #7

You're being authoritarian, then frazzled Oct 2014 #9

Never suggested any restrictions. Simply stating MY opinion. Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #13

Interesting. That is my general impression of his approach to journalism in a nutshell. stevenleser Oct 2014 #11

Wow. And The Nation published it? No vetting? MADem Oct 2014 #23

Yep. L.A. posted the link below. Seen in the context of what frazzled wrote, it reads as a fake stevenleser Oct 2014 #35

He's had serious (heroin) substance abuse issues in the past. MADem Oct 2014 #72

I found the article, It is a hoot and very insightful into the character of both Clark Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #26

It wasn't the Clark campaign frazzled Oct 2014 #30

See my #35 above. From your reports it's pretty obvious what Taibbi seems to be about. nt stevenleser Oct 2014 #36

He clearly states that it was a meet-up. But he also writes about the Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #50

Seems kinda gotcha and mocking to me...nt MADem Oct 2014 #74

World-class assholes farting on each other. Ykcutnek Oct 2014 #5

Wow. Maedhros Oct 2014 #21

MohRokTah, aka Functioning Cog, aka Pretzel Warrior deserves more than to be ignored. nt Electric Monk Oct 2014 #24

Is there a history lesson in there somewhere? :-) n/t seaglass Oct 2014 #28

Jury results Aerows Oct 2014 #37

99% of my posts are anti-McConnell and people want me banned? Ykcutnek Oct 2014 #41

Basement turtles don't often get their nails clipped. randome Oct 2014 #44

What a rude thing to say. Aerows Oct 2014 #69

That was a McConnell joke, you, you...nice person, you. randome Oct 2014 #149

It's amazing how many people don't realize that one of the most powerful people in Congress MADem Oct 2014 #161

What more need be said? randome Oct 2014 #166

lol LawDeeDah Oct 2014 #78

I'd rather be a "basement turtle" Aerows Oct 2014 #111

That's nice LawDeeDah Oct 2014 #114

It's honest. n/t Aerows Oct 2014 #126

Whatever you are implying Aerows Oct 2014 #61

"batshit crazy Republicans underground" Ykcutnek Oct 2014 #64

We are Democrats Aerows Oct 2014 #67

+1,000 malaise Oct 2014 #162

"batshit crazy Republicans underground" Pfft! Enthusiast Nov 2014 #207

Nah. Those types love the negative attention. Maedhros Oct 2014 #60

I truly do not get it. Aerows Oct 2014 #63

Their lives are empty and shallow. Maedhros Oct 2014 #103

That Piece of Shit Salesman article was really stirring the shit... LawDeeDah Oct 2014 #174

Question is Puglover Oct 2014 #187

I thought that was a fair question and wonder if that poster consistently applies LawDeeDah Oct 2014 #191

Of course. Puglover Oct 2014 #195

not by me....UNignored! VanillaRhapsody Oct 2014 #106

I wanna know a lot more about this, from all sides of the issue. dixiegrrrrl Oct 2014 #6

Me too. Cleita Oct 2014 #58

Google is reporting everyone's POV save Taibbi's. He has not yet commented. nt MADem Oct 2014 #144

i still can't figure out what exactly the problem was JI7 Oct 2014 #8

I think if you research Taibbi's history with The eXile, it may give some insight stevenleser Oct 2014 #16

i see JI7 Oct 2014 #17

Well, I hate to defend any of this bunch because I think all of their practices are questionable... stevenleser Oct 2014 #27

"they could be mean, sexist, drunk, stoned". Sounds an awful lot like FOX, nt adirondacker Oct 2014 #82

No, it doesnt. nt stevenleser Oct 2014 #90

Greenwald isn't an employee anymore. I find that telling that he and Poitras became MADem Oct 2014 #20

He never was an employee. They CHOSE to be independent contractors. Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #40

Well, Taibbi was given an option too--he just didn't "opt" to take it. MADem Oct 2014 #79

Where oh where did you come up with that "fact." Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #83

You have no clue either--so stop pretending you do. I don't think I am the only one who MADem Oct 2014 #119

Greenwald, when he signed on to the Guardian insisted that, in part, his work be reader supported Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #153

A new managing editor was hired in September, Taibbi was out in October. MADem Oct 2014 #159

Oops! That's gonna leave a mark. Tarheel_Dem Nov 2014 #230

I hope independents also don't have non disclosure or non disparage agreements. LawDeeDah Oct 2014 #80

I wouldn't be surprised if Taibbi didn't care, or found a way to have a surrogate tell his story. MADem Oct 2014 #147

Yep, I knew it. See this other OP, Taibbi created a hostile environ for a female employee stevenleser Oct 2014 #66

This is looking more and more like tabloid stuff going on over at 'First Look' Raine1967 Oct 2014 #100

Speaking as an old anti-authoritarian iconoclast... Octafish Oct 2014 #12

re: Help Wanted Electric Monk Oct 2014 #22

would it be appropriate to compare Taibbi to Olbermann? nt grasswire Oct 2014 #133

Ah, yes...The corporate ass-covering press release... Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #15

"He might as well say his anarchist group disbanded because he tried to schedule too many meetings." randome Oct 2014 #25

What's with all the people posting here who apparently didn't actually read the article? Hissyspit Oct 2014 #175

Because it's not an article, it's a press release to get their story out first Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #186

This message was self-deleted by its author Hissyspit Oct 2014 #196

Uh oh---that reads like MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY..... MADem Oct 2014 #19

DU better remember those four names at the top throwing Taibbi under the bus Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #29

Don't hold your breath, and don't expect anyone to tell you of your good judgment when MADem Oct 2014 #33

Um no, they are reporting the events as they happened... I notice that you did not Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #43

Yeah--"None of us witnessed it, but that didn't stop us from gleefully reporting the accusations in MADem Oct 2014 #52

And if they hadn't reported it and some other publication had, you would have bashed Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #62

This is an ARTFULLY constructed piece--it purports to show "both sides" but it doesn't. MADem Oct 2014 #71

You are the one who is painting Taibbi as a miserable sexist pig. That is a characterization Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #75

Where would I get such an idea? From Greenwald, Poitras, etc., that's who. MADem Oct 2014 #85

Yes. They shoved him under the bus that is why they added this update. Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #88

Where's the link? A snip out of context doesn't give us the full picture. MADem Oct 2014 #98

In my OP. He's not calling John Cook an asshole. John Cook is the Editor-in-chief of Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #108

Management of FIRST LOOK is a new guy, brought in a month before Taibbi quit. MADem Oct 2014 #169

When Taibbi speaks, we'll know. The New Yorker is calling his departure "abrupt." MADem Oct 2014 #113

Gawker already did, so you're right. deurbano Oct 2014 #91

The article asks Taibbi to respond to a "When did you stop beating your wife?" type charge. MADem Oct 2014 #123

No it does not. It accurately reports that an accusation was made and Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #130

You're the only one who sees it that way. Everyone else sees it as a hit piece. MADem Oct 2014 #135

Um no. He specifically stated he is grieving for the Racket. Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #136

Well, he should be--looks like he killed it, or his boss did! MADem Oct 2014 #141

Yes. The usual gaggle sees it as a hit piece. And apparently the usual gaggle Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #137

That's a cheap shot, you know. Anyone who doesn't agree with you is a "usual gaggle" of some sort. MADem Oct 2014 #142

Really. Where did you get fired? It's not in the article. The article clearly states he walked Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #143

I read between the lines. We'll know what the deal was when Taibbi speaks--and he hasn't, yet. MADem Oct 2014 #146

"Gaggle"? You mean like the Tiger Beat crowd? Could they not be considered a "usual gaggle"? Tarheel_Dem Nov 2014 #232

Um no,they selectively reported on The Intercept's article. They drew conclusions not Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #151

"Reporting" and "Pre-emptive press release" seem a lot alike Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #131

Of course you have. Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #134

You want my PRSA membership number? Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #138

No. I don't want to know anything about your real life. Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #139

It's cool...I just don't like my credentials being doubted... Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #140

I took all three of them leftynyc Oct 2014 #31

There are FOUR "independent contractors" who wrote this (hit) piece. MADem Oct 2014 #34

What makes you think that John Cook is an independent contractor? Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #45

Because everyone else is--you think he's not? MADem Oct 2014 #48

Who is everyone else? Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #53

Did you read the article? MADem Oct 2014 #65

There are a lot more than 3 people working for First Look. Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #84

These are the people that the fans know, though. The first two, especially. MADem Oct 2014 #92

From my point of view, it is Omidyar who comes off as a shit head and I stated that Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #96

Looks like he is out of work... MADem Oct 2014 #109

Matt was the only one leftynyc Oct 2014 #54

Did he burn bridges on the way out of there? I don't remember. nt MADem Oct 2014 #56

I don't remember but leftynyc Oct 2014 #59

Here--no need, I shouldn't have been lazy, it was an easy find. MADem Oct 2014 #68

He was smart leftynyc Oct 2014 #158

I learned from a lot of smart people to be nice to folks on the way up, MADem Oct 2014 #160

Excellent turn of phrase leftynyc Oct 2014 #167

A lot of people are weighing in on this matter-- reporters on twitter, plus there are a lot MADem Oct 2014 #168

I saw some of the twitter stuff leftynyc Oct 2014 #170

"I'll honestly never understand the worship of Greenwald around here." randome Oct 2014 #171

Well, that's a depressing thought leftynyc Oct 2014 #173

It does seem like a death match over there--I think the Racket franchise might be in trouble. MADem Oct 2014 #179

That's hilarious leftynyc Oct 2014 #180

Really? You took that as a hit piece? Over and over again Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #38

The article calls Matt an abusive, sexist angry flake who was regarded as too volatile to manage the MADem Oct 2014 #49

No the article does not CALL Matt anything. They are REPORTING the accusations. Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #51

No--they are CALLING him those things. How can they "report" what they haven't seen? MADem Oct 2014 #77

Update from The Intercept Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #81

You keep posting that--that guy is outta work, per his twitter feed. nt MADem Oct 2014 #121

You expected otherwise? With Matt gone, the entire division was at risk of closure. Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #125

Maybe Salon will take HIM back...or Wonkette... nt MADem Oct 2014 #132

Well, there's the billionaire's side of the story...nt SidDithers Oct 2014 #73

Yes. From the article Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #86

GG likes being top dog so MT goes under the bus! zappaman Oct 2014 #95

From the article (another person who did not read it.) Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #97

Read it. zappaman Oct 2014 #102

Greenwald, et. al., appended it to the article THEY had written... Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #104

Bwah-hah when a Patron buys stuff, he expects his knickknacks to sit prettily on the shelf!1 UTUSN Oct 2014 #105

You got it in one, I think. MADem Oct 2014 #163

sadly, this thread has become badly polluted navarth Oct 2014 #112

Has it ever! And yes, I will continue to read them as well. Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #118

I am seeing only 8 posts. Maedhros Oct 2014 #155

No, it hasn't. Google Taibbi's name and do some reading. MADem Oct 2014 #164

Yes, it has. Don't tell me what to do. navarth Oct 2014 #177

No, it hasn't--and no one is telling you to not read the writers you have listed. Not one person. MADem Oct 2014 #178

'victimization effort' navarth Oct 2014 #181

You indicated that you were being constrained from accomplishing an action, when that was not MADem Nov 2014 #200

So do we ever hear Taibbi's side? Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #116

I'm sure we will. This article was a preemptive strike. The first blow in the battle. LawDeeDah Oct 2014 #120

From Pando: LawDeeDah Oct 2014 #148

"These simmering problems came to a head this month when a Racket staffer complained Cha Oct 2014 #156

"Matt Taibbi Is Out at First Look Media and That�s a Good Thing (Updated x2)" Cha Oct 2014 #157

Be funny as hell if Snowden turned out to be an NSA 'asset,' along with Greenwald. MADem Oct 2014 #165

Daily Banter is not a legitimate source. grasswire Nov 2014 #203

''So stop citing it!'' My, how anti-authoritarian. LawDeeDah Nov 2014 #209

I'll cite it all I damn well please, mr authoritarian.. I trust that source a hellava lot more Cha Nov 2014 #211

Good. It struck me as a bad fit Warpy Oct 2014 #152

I've been routinely checking the "First Look" site for as long as it has been up. Vinca Oct 2014 #172

First Look staffers finally admit Omidyar massively interfered with editorial Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #176

Next up: Edward Snowden, editor-in-chief! randome Oct 2014 #182

Snowden can just Skype for staff meetings like Greenwald does Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #184

Pando is a mess itself. Hissyspit Oct 2014 #198

what the hell is Pando? grasswire Nov 2014 #204

Hire free spirited, fearless, outspoken truthtellers, and then try to control what they say and do. Zorra Oct 2014 #183

Taibbi returns to Rolling Stone, promises "big story" in next issue Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #185

The new "managing editor" came onboard in September. MADem Oct 2014 #192

The Giant, Ridiculous Soap Opera That Is Matt Taibbi�s Departure from First Look Media Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #188

Pareene came from SALON by way of Wonkette...maybe he can get back there? MADem Oct 2014 #193

come on..........Daily Banter??? grasswire Nov 2014 #205

Slugfest Over Taibbi Exodus From First Look Fails to Address Editorial Meddling Doubts Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #189

Crawling from the wreckage: Looks like Pierre Omidyar drove his fancy $250 million blog empire into Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #190

Holy SHIT, indeed--I guess the polluters were right. MADem Oct 2014 #194

Hit piece. Hissyspit Oct 2014 #197

Absolutely--that's what most of the "polluters" have been saying. MADem Nov 2014 #199

there seem to be quite a few hit pieces out there right now. grasswire Nov 2014 #206

And there are a few articles calling out this Greenwald et. al. opus as a hit piece. MADem Nov 2014 #210

Pando has been posting nothing but hit pieces about First Look for quite a while. Hissyspit Nov 2014 #212

Pando's hitting everyone in that article, though. nt MADem Nov 2014 #215

People who live in glass houses... Hissyspit Nov 2014 #218

Well, who lived in a bigger "glass house" than Matt Taibbi? MADem Nov 2014 #221

This message was self-deleted by its author AtomicKitten Nov 2014 #208

And now the REAL story comes out... Blue_Tires Nov 2014 #213

Everybody sucks, except Matt Taibbi Blue_Tires Nov 2014 #214

Pando especially sucks: Hissyspit Nov 2014 #219

And Greenwald gave them a lot of shit for it... Blue_Tires Nov 2014 #220

It's not turnabout. Hissyspit Nov 2014 #222

Of course, because Taibbi isn't the real story here Blue_Tires Nov 2014 #227

BullsEYE. That's it, exactly. And that's the Big Story. nt MADem Nov 2014 #231

Does anybody still want to believe Glenn Greenwald is still some kind of renegade outsider? Blue_Tires Nov 2014 #216

Anybody who really got suspicious would wonder if he's some kind of ... well ... asset. MADem Nov 2014 #223

Or not. Hissyspit Nov 2014 #224

Well, he's locked in a marriage of commerce with a hyper-controlling boss who MADem Nov 2014 #225

No they won't. Hissyspit Nov 2014 #226

You're, of course, entitled to your opinion. MADem Nov 2014 #229

Revenge of the Interceptors: Oligarch's Team Mugs Renegade Taibbi Blue_Tires Nov 2014 #217

Good read, all makes good sense. K&R LawDeeDah Nov 2014 #228

"Greenwald spewed out a very nasty, petty, personal smear -- an outright lie..." Cha Nov 2014 #233

"I know for a fact that Greenwald will tell lies -- knowing, demonstrable falsehoods-- to blacken.." Tarheel_Dem Nov 2014 #234

Stanford University working with First Look Media on management Blue_Tires Nov 2014 #235

Ah, yes-Stanford University, home of Prof. Condi Rice and the Hoover Institution, which MADem Nov 2014 #236