NPR just shocked and disappointed me.........

[Hailtothechimp]

I was driving home from work today, listening to Chicago Public Radio as I often do. At around 5:15 Central Time, Daniel Schorr was delivering a rather hard-hitting analysis of Chalabi and Allawi. And suddenly, it went silent. Then, presumably for the rest of the time alotted for the piece, some soft string music was played. Then the local announcer, without any explanation of what had happened, went right to the traffic report. I was stunned. Flabbergasted. I called the station (312.948.4701) and left a voice message telling them what had happened and how I felt about it.

I thought NPR was more insulated from pressure than networks and other media. Apparently not. The traffic report, after all, was sponsored by General Motors. Explains a lot, actually.

What has happened to this country????

[stepnw1f]

1. Corporate Influences

That goes for the whole country.

[fob]

2. Please report to your local disinfo center, you have heard some things

you weren't supposed to hear. Your health is in danger.

I only wish I were kidding.

[RoundRockD]

Same thing happened here in Austin. n/t

[theorist]

3. I heard a pretty glowing profile of Regnery Publishing company.

If you don't know about these guys, go read the section on them in David Brock's The Republican Noise Machine the next time your at the local bookstore.

This company is sickening to say the least. They published Man Coulter's first book, High Crimes and Misdemeanors, where she "cutely" suggests that Clinton might as well be assassinated because it would save time.

on edit: The program was "All Things Considered", I believe.

[wtmusic]

4. Reminds me of C-SPAN's interview of Jon Stewart

where Jon said, "You know, a lot of people say the president is stupid. I don't think he's stupid at all..., he's"

and then cut to black for approx. 1 min 45 sec (apparently criticism of the president being "stupid" is no longer allowed).

[Owlet]

5. What's happened to NPR...

..is Joan Croc's $200,000,000 donation. No longer is NPR dependent on those annoying listeners for their financial wellbeing. The local stations are screwed, of course, 'cause people like me get pissed at NPR programming and stop contributing.

[Randypiper]

6. You can stream it online

http://www.npr.org/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=2&prgDate=current

[cornermouse]

7. On the other side of the equation...

They had a pretty strong report about DeLay and his tactics. Quite horrifying. I didn't realize that DeLay was also making the christian connection. I won't tell you my opinion of DeLay's idea of christianity...

Both DeLay and Hastert were offered to opportunity to make their case and are reportedly are negotiating or some such thing.

[BlueNomad]

8. NPR has really come

down for me..though they can still pull the rabbit out the hat once in a while. They covered the MOVEON ad in the NYTimes about Gallup and did a piece on their dinner news hour (last night). So I was pleased about that. Diane Rehm still giving them hell but it's alot harder when WALMART is one of your "sponsors".

[AgadorSparticus]

9. NPR is total shit now. I don't have anything to do with them anymore.

[greatauntoftriplets]

10. Dan's Schorr's commentary went fine when the played it at 3:15.

They seem to have a lot of technical difficulties through the day. I listen at the office and it happens quite frequently.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

11. It's a bit off topic

but this is why you should support your local community radio station. They are around, a lot rarer than NPR but still they are public stations. Where I live, (Everett, WA) we have 90.7fm, KSER. Try them at www.kser.org. They air 'The Nation' among other things. Anyhow, the difference is, this station by my house is beholden to NO ONE, except its supporters.

[Wickerman]

12. I heard the same driving home around 5:15

and that's why I went searching for him here at DU.

It was a telling piece and more reporting than Schorr often does - normally he is commentary but he had direct quotes from Iyad Allawi outlining US CIA involvement since prior to Sadam.

link here:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4053175

Analysis
Shadows of U.S. Rivalry in Iraq

All Things Considered audio

All Things Considered, September 29, 2004 · Senior news analyst NPR's Daniel Schorr says that the deep rivalry between the Pentagon and the CIA comes to the surface in their support of different Iraqi leaders. Ahmed Chalabi was the Pentagon favorite, while Iyad Allawi was a friend of the CIA.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

13. It's called FASCISM!!!

[Raven]

14. Put the tin hats away!

There have been troubles with NPR all day today...it has been fading in and out...I don't think it is intentional. :-)