Iraq Withdrawal

This past week, Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) called for an immediate withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. His proposal sparked a heated debate on Capitol Hill about the Iraq War; Republicans, like Rep. Duncan Hunter, argued that American credibility was at stake, and many Democrats, like Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. John Kerry, disagreed with their Democratic colleague and called for a more gradual withdrawal. What do you think would happen if American forces withdrew immediately from Iraq? Since America captured Saddam Hussein and helped establish a new democratic government, is America's responsibility in Iraq over (as Murtha argues)? Would the situation in Iraq deteriorate into civil war (as Masoud Barzani, president of Iraq's northern Kurdistan region, has argued)? What is America's obligation to Iraq at this point? In your post, draw from our readings in class over the last couple of weeks. Also, here are links to the complete transcripts of Murtha's speech and the Republican response.

Transcript of Rep. Murtha's call for withdrawal

Republican response

CIA Leak

Patrick Fitzgerald, the special prosecutor in the CIA leak case, has indicted Lewis “Scooter” Libby on charges of obstruction of justice, making a false statement and perjury (for the exact charges, see Fitzgerald’s website: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/osc/) For a summary of the investigation, I suggest you go to cnn.com and read the Gallery: Key Players and Timeline (as of Friday, 1:00 p.m., this is located on the CNN home page under “Breaking News.”) The Daily Show, as usual, as a satirical summary of the events: http://movies.crooksandliars.com/The%20Daily_Show_Rove_Leak.mov

After you read up on the investigation, check out the political spin of Fitzgerald’s announcement. Sunday morning shows like Meet the Press, This Morning (with George Stephanopoulos), and Face the Nation are great places to start. Here are some sites on the internet:

Right:

http://www.michellemalkin.com/
http://www.andrewsullivan.com/
http://www.therealitycheck.org/Political.htm
http://wizbangblog.com/
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Weblogs/
http://www.freerepublic.com (conservative discussion forum)


Libertarian

http://boortz.com/ (Atlanta’s own Neal Boortz—listen live)

Left:

http://www.dailykos.com/
http://www.ariannaonline.com/columns/index.php
http://www.airamericaradio.com/ (liberal talk radio—you can listen live on online or find podcasts of older shows (Al Franken, Janeane Garofalo, Randi Rhodes)
http://www.foxliberal.com/
http://mediamatters.org/
http://www.newshounds.us/
http://www.democraticunderground.com (liberal discussion forum)



Be sure to look at several different sites to get a variety of opinions. Also in your post, discuss how this case relates to topics you’ve discussed in our Media and Politics class AND Professor Barke’s course (For my 3:00 class, obviously ignore the part about Professor Barke). For example, what is the relationship between the media and government? Is this James Madison’s idea of the role of the press in a democracy? Don’t limit your discussion to these questions—for example, comment on the political analysis. Already on CNN, Joseph DiGenova, a Republican and former federal prosecutor, speculated that Libby’s trial will lead to serious questions about the manipulation of CIA intelligence in the build-up to war. Other pundits and reporters believe the trial will be a public battle between the CIA and the White House.

The Dixie Chicks

In March of 2003, during the American build-up to war in Iraq, Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks criticized President George Bush. During a concert in London, Maines, a Texan, declared that she was "ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas." Her remarks caused a furor back in the states. Several Clear Channel radio stations organized boycotts of the group, refused to play their music, and encouraged listeners to throw away their Dixie Chicks discs. What do you think of this incident? Should Americans criticize their president during wartime? Did the group have a right to speak out against a policy they considered unjust? Some critics of the group claimed Maines' actions were particularly vile because they occured on foreign soil. Do you agree? Do you consider Maines' comments unpatriotic? What is your definition of patriotism?

Outfoxed

Use your class notes to discuss the documentary, Outfoxed, by Robert Greenwald. Suggested topics: Jeremy Glick on The O'Reilly Factor, reporter Christiane Amanpour's claim that CNN censored its Iraq War coverage ("I think the press was muzzled, and I think the press self-muzzled. I'm sorry to say, but certainly television and, perhaps, to a certain extent, my station was intimidated by the administration and its foot soldiers at Fox News. And it did, in fact, put a climate of fear and self-censorship, in my view, in terms of the kind of broadcast work we did."), the injection of opinion into the news, the University of Maryland PIPA study (regardless of their political affiliation, Americans who relied on the Fox News Channel for their coverage of the Iraq war were the most likely to believe misinformation about the war--discovery of WMDS, Saddam Hussein-Al Qaeda connection, international opinion favored Iraq War).

Jon Stewart and Crossfire

For those of you in my 10, 12, and 1:00 classes, Professor Barke sent you the clip of Jon Stewart’s appearance on Crossfire with Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala. For my 3:00 class, this may be the first time you've seen this footage. In any case, watch this clip again to refresh your memory, then discuss your reaction to Stewart’s allegations. For example, do you think shows like Crossfire and Hardball are “hurting America?” If so, how? Do these shows present opposing viewpoints which inform audiences about particular issues, or are they simply forums for politicians, political parties, and “partisan hacks” to present carefully crafted talking points? What does Stewart mean when he claims these shows help “politicians and corporations?

James Madison and Freedom of the Press

This past summer, the revelation of former FBI assistant director Mark Felt as “Deep Throat,” Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein’s secret informant, prompted many Americans to revisit the Watergate scandal of the early 1970s. Published in the Washington Post, Woodward and Bernstein’s investigation began with an inquiry into a seemingly harmless break-in at the Watergate Hotel, but eventually resulted in the downfall and resignation of the President of the United States.

For many, the reporters’ watchdog journalism was the finest example of James Madison’s belief that the press should serve the citizens, and not the government. In 1789, prompted by fears of the federal government’s abuse of power, Madison wrote: “The people shall not be deprived or abridged of their right to speak, to write, or to publish their sentiments; and the freedom of the press, as one of the great bulwarks of liberty, shall be inviolable.” For your post, I want you to discuss the role of journalism in today’s society. Do you think the press is living up to Madison’s expectations? Is it a defender of liberty, or an uncritical defender of the status quo? Do journalists question authority, or do they simply relay the government’s version of the “truth?” Do you think watchdog journalism similar to the Watergate investigation could happen in today’s political climate? Use specific examples in your response.

Media Coverage of Hurricane Katrina's Aftermath

Discuss the media's coverage of Hurricane Katrina. Here are some questions to consider--these are just suggestions, so feel free to address any issue that interests you.


1. How are Bush administration officials answering criticism they bungled the rescue and relief efforts in New Orleans? Do you think they have utilized the media to "spin" their response? If so, how?
2. During NBC's A Concert for Hurricane Relief, rapper Kanye West blasted the media's coverage of the victims of the hurricane: "I hate the way they portray us in the media. If you see a black family, it says they're looting. See a white family, it says they're looking for food." Do you think news reports have been biased? In coverage you've seen, have journalists acknowledged the racial and class dimensions of this disaster?
3. Find foreign news reports about the hurricane. How would you describe their characterization of the events in New Orleans?

Public Display of the Ten Commandments

From Critical Thinking to Argument Page 21 Exercise 3:

On the evening of July 31, 2001, after court employees had left the Alabama Judicial Building in Montgomery, Chief Justice Roy S. Moore of the Alabama Supreme Court and his supporters installed in the lobby of the courthouse a four-foot high, 5,200 pound granite block bearing the text of the Ten Commandments. Moore had not discussed his plan with other justices. Civil liberties groups complained that the monument was an unconstitutional attempt to endorse a specific religion (the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion"), and in 2002 a federal judge ordered Moore to remove the monument. He refused, saying that the monument is a symbol of the roots of American law. He also said, "To do my duty, I must first obey God." His supporters have offered several arguments on his behalf, notably that (a) the Founding Fathers often spoke of God; (b) every courtroom has a Bible to swear in witnesses and jurors; (c) the U.S. Supreme Court has a frieze of lawgivers, including Moses with the Ten Commandments, Hammurabi, Confucius, and Muhammad. In August 2003, Moore was suspended from his position on the court, and the monument was removed from view. Your views?