More Murdock Madness - in both senses of the word!

[Peter Lemkin]

Rupert Murdoch Threatens to Blacklist Film Stars Unless they Talk to his Media Outlets
7th November 2010


Here at the ACAFE editorial office, we’ve suspected for some time that News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch has entered a state of severe mental decline. Please consider the symptoms: Murdoch has declared “war” on the New York Times; cried that President Obama was “attacking” him by casually noticing the obvious RNC ties; made a doomed-from-the-start attempt to charge Internet fees for his wingnut “news” publications; claimed with a straight face before buying the Wall Street Journal that it would be free of his editorial interference … and expected to be believed; constantly obsesses that bloggers will one day ruin him; hired Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck; claimed in a recent speech delivered in the UK that he employed “real” journalists – and that the media in the U.S. are “liberal”; accepted a humanitarian award from the ADL; now, he wants to revive the Hollywood Blacklist … Mr. Murdoch has been mentally crippled by senility, obviously, but is so wealthy that the press writes off every delusional, paranoid, Napoleanic statement as the prattling of an amusing eccentric. Please, worlld, take notice – this isn’t the Middle Ages – psychiatric intervention is critically needed here. Mr. Murdoch deserves the best established pharmaceutical and neuropsychiatric treatments that money can buy.

- Distraught ACAFE Editors

The Mirror | October 29, 2010

Billionaire media baron Rupert Murdoch is threatening to tell publicity hungry film stars: Talk to us, or you’re blacklisted.

The mogul said he will not report or promote new films unless the stars talk to his worldwide media outlets – which include TV stations and newspapers.

Critics of Mr Murdoch, 79, said the boycott shows how he abuses his power to intimidate rivals.

The Australian-born tycoon wants to take full control of Sky TV in the UK, but has insisted that he will not exploit his dominant commercial position.

A critic of Mr Murdoch’s blasted yesterday: “This bizarre move illustrates just how predatory he will be if the Government roll over and let him have Sky.”

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories...z14fcLIfUt

[David Guyatt]

Murdoch is just too powerful and should have his holdings cut, not increased.

On Sky News this morning, one question raised was (somehting like?) "Is water-boarding legitimate in some cases?

Just framing the question in this way is a disgrace. Water-boarding is torture and torture is outlawed by international law. But Sky News seems to be attempting to slide a different interpretation into being, namely that in some cases it is a legitimate technique.

But just follow the unspoken logic of this line of reasoning: robbery is sometimes legitimate; murder is sometimes legitimate; rape and pillage is sometimes legitimate etc etc. In fact any activity whatsoever classes as illegal can sometimes be legitimate --- it's just a question of who decides when its legal and when its not. Black and white merge into grey.

The whole argument is quite the most sinister tosh of course. But it shows you Murdoch in his comfort zone.