Rhetorica: Press-Politics Journal

11 Responses

1. Sisyphus  February 4th, 2005 at 2:37 am

   “… and who’s fun to shoot.”

   Is there a reason you expressed an opinion on Lt. Gen. James Mattis before you expressed an opinion on Eason Jordan?

   Marine general: It’s ‘fun to shoot people’ (CNN)
   The Eason Jordan Repository
   CNN’s Skeleton and Eason Jordan’s Davos Gossip

   I’d link to a transcript, audio or video of Jordan’s comments but MSM didn’t find it newsworthy.

2. acline  February 4th, 2005 at 9:06 am

   Yes, there is a reason: I was doing other things when the Jordan incident broke. It passed me by. I was looking for something to say re: free speech when the Mattis article popped up.

   A transcript would help. You’ll get no argument from me that the MSM ought to make it public asap because it certainly is newsworthy.

3. rgrafton  February 4th, 2005 at 11:48 am

   If there was ever proof that we’ve become a nation of weenies, check out this speech by Patton. Can you imagine the level of hysteria that would be generated by the PC left/lib/press/academics of today by his remarks? Hee!Hee! Yes, things are much different today. Where Marine Mattis prefers to just shoot men who “slap women around for five years for not wearing a veil”, I’m sure the PC patrol would rather have them take anger management classes so they could live to slap another day. Jeez! Ladies, arm yourselves in case there is not a Marine close at hand! Oh, yeah, here’s the Patton stemwinder http://www.bob-west.com/PATTON-SPEECH.html

4. Sisyphus  February 4th, 2005 at 12:22 pm

   ac -

   It doesn’t help the media, with their low credibility, that they have no problem acquiring and broadcasting every half hour video of Boykin or Mattis, but completely ignore Jordan.

   It also doesn’t help because it demonstrates either genuine or feigned ignorance that the press is a player.

   Is Eason Jordan the New Dan Rather?
   What if Nothing Changed for Journalists on September 11th?

   - 40 -

5. acline  February 4th, 2005 at 1:37 pm

   R- The Patton speech is interesting. I did a detailed analysis of it in grad school for a class in great American addresses. And, yes, it does speak to a different time.

   But nowhere in this address does Patton use the word “fun” or even allude to a concept of fun. His use of “love” and “like” is a far different expression of pathos regarding a far more desperate war. (That said: Patton exceeds his argument by equating war with the kind of fighting men like.)

   I have no problem with American soldiers loving to fight out of a sense of duty–especially in desperate times. I have a great deal of problem with them having “fun” at it.

6. acline  February 4th, 2005 at 1:38 pm

   S- Agreed. And thanks for using -40- That gives me an idea!

7. rgrafton  February 4th, 2005 at 1:52 pm

   I must have a higher testosterone level than you because, frankly, I can understand the “fun” in delivering justice immediately rather than waiting for years of anger management therapy and endless years of legal wrangling to do the job. Not that your testosterone level isn’t fine, I’m sure, whatever, not that it’s any of my business, but you know, oh, nevermind!

8. rgrafton  February 4th, 2005 at 2:43 pm

   Well, count on me to shoot my keyboard off before I have all my ducks lined up. The problem with the left/lib/press/academia axis is their complete lack of military experience. However, James Joyner is not only a former military man, he is also a polysci PhD. His remarks on the Mattis matter are more valid than those given by those with no military experience, and especially those stuck in the quagmire of VietNam/Watergate groupthink. Joyner says “Professional soldiers don’t enjoy killing but they do feel good about fighting in a cause so obviously just as removing the despicable Taliban from power.” Why don’t the left/lib/press/academia axis support what we are doing in Afghanistan? The Taliban persecuted gays, women, different religions, etc. It pains me to say this, but I do believe that if GWB discovered the cure for cancer, the left/lib/press/academia would be FOR cancer, they’re just so juvenile. Here’s the link to James post http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/9127

9. rgrafton  February 4th, 2005 at 2:45 pm

   Also Doc, you’re not going to hang Mattis on the fact that he used the word “fun” instead of the word “like”? Puhleeeez!

10. Sven  February 4th, 2005 at 5:15 pm

    Well, if were going to use military experience as a guide…

    You see Willard, in this war, things get confused out there: power, ideals, the old morality, and practical military necessity.

11. acline  February 4th, 2005 at 5:22 pm

    R- “Like” and “fun” are entirely different concepts used in entirely different contexts. So yes I am.

    And you are entirely correct…no liberal or journalist knows the slighest thing about the military. Except, perhaps, for my gay cousin who served as a Navy journalist. Hmmmmmmm… okay, so there was one.

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