Author Archives: hro50ta1

Olbermann, MSNBC and Red Squads

Posted on November 11, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell Keith Olbermann got it right when he said in his “apology” that MSNBC’s ban on political donations by network employees like Olbermann was “probably not legal.” But why did Keith Olbermann feel the  need to apologize for … Continue reading →

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MSNBC’s invisible hand

Posted on November 9, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell Did you wonder, maybe, why I’ve been beating on New York Times writers for letting the invisible hand of Times company policy guide their printed musings about Keith Olbermann’s suspension by MSNBC? So what? For the Times … Continue reading →

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David Carr, impartiality and a Times ethics policy

Posted on November 8, 2010 by hro50ta1

The sidelines, which is where American journalism and news used to live, have become a far less interesting place. Why merely annotate events when you can tilt the playing field? — David Carr, New York Times, November 8, 2010 By … Continue reading →

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‘Objectivity’ and Olbermann

Posted on November 6, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell It was subtle. It was understated in a shifty way. But The New York Times managed to tell its readers that journalists who give money to political causes are bad people without mentioning that the Times has … Continue reading →

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The Rich Rod punt

Posted on November 6, 2010 by hro50ta1

“I am proud of how our coach has handled all of this, as well as his players.” —  University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman, on the NCAA’s verdict that the UM football program committed five major rules violations By … Continue reading →

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Worse than dogs

Posted on November 5, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell A little question for the FBI. What legal people call a “hypothetical.” What if the FBI were raiding a warehouse with dozens of agents. What if some of the agents were human beings. And what if some … Continue reading →

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JOTR’s ‘legal expert’

Posted on November 4, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Spike Kopee JOTR Editor A number of JOTR staffers have complained about our hiring of Ray Judicata, JOTR’s new “legal expert.” Our music critic, Pete Pizzicato, is all bent out of shape. So is Melanie Munch, JOTR food crtiic. … Continue reading →

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Allah she wrote!

Posted on November 3, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Ray Judicata JOTR Legal Expert Those FBI files about the feds bumping off an imam in Dearborn make the fibbies look kind of, well, bad. Some people might say the FBI acted like, you know, criminals. What really bugs … Continue reading →

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If you were a doctor,…

Posted on October 26, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell If you were a doctor and knew that a certain drug would do your patients no good and might even harm them, would you go ahead and prescribe it anyway? What if the drug that does no … Continue reading →

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Setting an example at UM

Posted on October 24, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell The Detroit Free Press’s Drew Sharp was right on the money when he wrote that Coach Rod needs to fess up, shoulder the responsibility for a third miserable University of Michigan football season and stop blaming assistant … Continue reading →

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