You’ve probably seen the headline about five Blackwater guards surrendering in Salt Lake City — these men are accused of firing on innocent Iraqis and firing a grenade into a girls’ school last year.
If you didn’t read the story (and I’m finding a lot of people aren’t looking past the headline on this one), you haven’t discovered the utter cowardice that is being displayed by these five men. It’s utterly sickening.
These “men” reportedly intentionally surrendered in Utah because they believe they’ll find a more conservative, ergo compassionate, jury here.
So, in a nutshell, they’re acknowleding they did something wrong (at least inasmuch as it caused them to surrender) but they’re here in Utah in hopes of getting off on charges because we redneck Utahns are more likely to support the Iraq war and “hate them towelheads” enough to label these former Marines innocent.
God willing, these men (if guilty, which they probably are), will get their jury in Utah and will be found guilty by a rational, honest people rather than a military-loving, Iraqi-hating jury as these so called patriots believe they’re likely to get.
-Tyler
I’m with you Tyler. I just hope they get a fair trial without any undue compassion.
Wow, is this a Daily Kos, or the Huffington Post editorial?
If they are guilty, they should be SEVERELY punished.
Lets keep the conversation rational. I have a feeling your tone would be different if it were your brother/son/friend being accused.
I am not arguing their innocence, but only their “innocence until proven guilty.”
Stuart, you’re right, they’re innocent until proven guilty, but if they are guilty (and the fact they surrendered themselves and other details in the case tend to suggest they are) they need to be strung up to the full extent of the law.
So let me get this straight Tyler. Surrendering yourself after being charged is an indication of guilt? So in the alternative it would have looked less guilty if they evaded capture and or forced the authorities to do a felony arrest? This makes no sense.
Second, you failed to point out that at least one of the five Blackwater employees is from West Valley, Utah (and a decorated veteran of Bosnia and Iraq).
Picking the venue where you are effectively going to be put on trial for your life is just smart. Even more so when you are accused of a crime committed during an unpopular war while working for an even less popular employer. Yeah, they must be cowards. Even though they’ll likely be tried together, the guy from Utah should have surrendered elsewhere to prove how confident he was in his innocence.
While they’re at it, they should also waive their 5th and 6th Amendment rights because everyone knows that defending yourself intelligently, let alone seeking refuge behind Constitutional protections is for scoundrels.
Given how inaccurate the initial allegations were in Abu Graib and Haditha, I’d show some restraint in making any judgments.
Your comments are quite telling about your judgment and how you think. I don’t mean for this to be a personal attack, but I’m glad you no longer write for a paper and I hope you never serve on a jury.
Surrendering arrest is a certainty is not an admission of guilt.
Ryan
Defendants of all stripes try to find the most favorable jury they can, and lawyers are always trying to change venue. If I was indicted for something (whether I did it or not), I’d sure want to find the best jury pool for me. That’s not “cowardice.”
I disagree Craig, I think the move to Utah is kind of like the ‘white bronco’ chase. It just makes you look bad. If they are guilty they should be held accountable. I read earlier this summer one of our aircraft carriers had a fire below deck, due to enlisted men smoking. I’m pretty sure the skipper and 2nd were relieved of command. That is how it should work. Accountability.
I think this is cowardly:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynj0Oq_Ucgc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lEMasOiG_s
And, sorry about the Rick Roll:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyjWgo9ixAk&feature=related
Tyler the true coward!
cow⋅ard
/ˈkaʊərd/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [kou-erd] Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. a person who lacks courage in facing danger, difficulty, opposition, pain, etc.; a timid or easily intimidated person.
–adjective
2. lacking courage; very fearful or timid.
3. proceeding from or expressive of fear or timidity: a coward cry.
I have never yelled at my radio as much as i did tonight. Holly shit Tyler your actions tonight were the most hanityesk i have ever heard. a few weeks ago you spent the hole hour of a show going off about how you had friends in the frat group that promiced you they were inocent and no haising accourd yad yada yada and go off about how the hearld journal was reporting haising and that they were rediculas to do so with out geting all the facts, i thought it was ironic how the very next morning the University came out against the groups and the police came out and said haising was involved. Your lips while so quick to throw out critisism the night befor were very slow to mention the fact they were dead on the next night, and your so called friends and good inside info was lieing to your face!
Tonight you do the same that you critiziezed the hearld journal for with out knowing any of the true facts you call the Blackwater agents cowards. You do this with no knowledge and with 30 secounds left to have call ins and debate over it. Its a good showing of someone who is willing to stand up for the Inocent rights of a bunch of drunkin frat boys and wasters and so quick to critisize men who’s choices and challenges you will never understand. im sorry but if you are going to call someone out and a coward you be willing to back it up and give it some time to be debated and recieve all the facts! these men are anything but cowards the fact that they turned themselves in refuseing to take the pleebargins that have been brought with lesser charges because they say they are guilty of nothing and will take no plee. They are risking the higher offenses and allowing it to be brought out in a court of law. instead of cowarding and takeing the reduced charges like so many others have. They will fight for what is right. As to there turning them selves in in Utah. How about you find out that one is from Utah and that he has every right to turn himself in in the state he is from. I hope to hell the State takes more respect for his constatutinal rights then his Fed Nation had for him. And the 1St Marines. And like the first Marines the inocent will be found inocent with not so mention of it except on the back page of the Papers and a 2 secound blurp in the news between edward jones and dr. laura
The incodent was extreamly tragic and while tragic it was not against the law or was it the wrong actions. I like the fact that it will be in Utah were there are many members of the military that know the true pain that these men will go threw for the rest of there lives. A unit here in Utah that is highly respected and Highly decerated went threw one of the uglyst things in the Korean war. they held a front were the Chiniesse used inocent civilians as human shilds to push forward behind these men of the Utah unit had to open fire in order to save themselves and all those around them and attack a company of opposing forces these men still have nightmares of the incodent and dread the things they had to do.
The question at the end of the show of when was the last time you were in a combat situation was a very ligit question to ask someone who is critisizing men who have and calling them cowards but as a coward you backed out of the debate.
I dont think that everyone should have to exsperiance the horors of war or that you can not be critical of a warriors actions. But without finding out all the facts or hearing both sides its a very cowardly act.
Ironicly i opened a weekly letter from blackwater befor writeing you and the quot of the week was this
“The weakling and the coward cannot be saved by honesty alone; but without honesty, the brave and able man is merely a civic wild beast who should be hunted down by every lover of righteousness.”
Teddy Roosevelt
I think it sums it up beter then my bad spelling ever would.
unlike the cowardly way i now open it up to a foram and give you the chance to stand up for yourself now
I agree with you for the most part plow king. It seems there is definitely a double standard when the accusations start flying.
I do remember hearing him defend the Frat boys, “until we know all the facts,” but now he says screw the facts, lets hang these guys!! I am really surprised he didn’t jump into a “Bush lied, People Died” chant.
I too hope the trial is a fair one. While I don’t like the Iraq War, I think all individuals deserve a fair shake. I am not to keen on stacking the cards against them (public opinion, where jurists have convicted them before the trial, and unwilling to look at facts), nor stacking the cards for them (seeking a venue where they will have people that are “sympathetic” for them and unwilling to look at facts).
If you’re truly innocent then face trial “anytime, anywhere” not where the odds are best in your favor. If the trial is to be held in Washington DC then why not say “we are innocent so let’s prepare for trial”?
Moreover, one of these men’s colleagues turned on them (something that did not happen in the usu fraternity case) and there are significantly more details available here, making Sigma Nu not a fair comparison. This also is not a change of venue request in traditional sense. I maintain these men are cowards irrespective of their innocence, because they have sought to game the justice system in advance of the process even starting.
Scoot C,
“Given how inaccurate the initial allegations were in Abu Graib and Haditha, I’d show some restraint in making any judgments. ”
I don’t get your post. Are you saying Abu Graib was a media smear?
Scott C. Sorry man, I can’t type.
I agree Rosa Parks was a total coward for not holding her trial in Gov. George Wallace’s office and you know the Nazi Judges only sentenced the quilty jews to the gas chambers, so ya we should have all of are trials for are military members were the infidals belong there in the caves of afgahnistain because you know if they are ” truly innocent“anytime, anywhere” ” then the sword wont cut threw the inocent mans neck right
asking for a fair trial is not being a coward and the only true coward in this story once again you are standing up for the one backing out and saying what ever anyone wants to hear to save his own neck
Look at who all deems them guilty till proven innocent. That speaks plenty enough for you.
That’s an AP article. This indicates in itself that it’s highly likely to be biased and have at least some lies similar to those they put in print in their articles about the popular domestic violence hysteria (http://www.true-equality.org/archives.php) or their “truth” of global warming which is another of too many scams supported by the AP and others (http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/monckton/goreerrors.html).
I’ve read and heard other accounts of blackwater which are not like what the AP and buddies put out at all.
Guilty until proven innocent??? Now, is that really “For the People?”
This hysteria and govt saviorism fits right in with the other scams of today and what our forefathers warned us of. By the way, THEY were for the people.
I’ll try one more time. At least one of the Blackwater employees is from Utah. Specifically West Valley. If they are all tried together what makes Utah so wrong?
Aside from the slur used to stereotype Utah as racists, is an inference that people here would be too stupid administer a fair trial of these men.
Tyler’s disregard towards the facts and contempt for Utah is regretful. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. People should however take note at how Tyler arrives at his and ask themselves if this is someone they should listen to or take seriously.
The defense of Sigma Nu because of friendships with its members who are at the same time “credible sources” is another
contradiction that bodes poorly for the show. It’s hard to reconcile the judicious treatment of some with the flippant lambasting of others.
FTP has its good, bad and ugly. Most of the time it is good. These types of juvenile rants are the bad. The crony journalism/broadcasting is the ugly.
The direction of the show, but especially this blog make me wonder if there is any editorial review in place. KVNU is a venerable fixture of Cache Valley and the Frandsens are first-rate people. As I’ve read this blog I’ve sometimes wondered if they actually read what is written here. If I were them I’m not sure I’d want the name of my business associated with this.
—-
Tim, at the outset of Abu Graib there were rumblings about evidence of murder, rape and other heinous atrocities taking place. In the subsequent investigations these more serious allegations were found to be inaccurate for the most part. My point wasn’t to minimize AG, but to emphasize that media reports about what did or did not take place 8,000 miles away (let alone up the street) has a way of tendency to be less that reliable at first blush. At least to the extent to where it would be prudent to reserve judgment on a person’s guilt or cowardice.
By the way, we’ll talk about this again tomorrow. It wasn’t designed to have the topic in the last few minutes and then end the show, we just ran over on the earlier topic and then got a call to start the 5:40 segment…but that’s neither here nor there. We’ll have plenty of time to discuss this again tomorrow and you guys can call in and tee off on me.
The trial will not be held in Utah according to a report I heard this morning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJV8K4_Os0k&feature=related
Some estimate close to 1 million Iraqis have died in this war. Is somebody trying to tell me they were all guilty? Or was it just tragic? I still think it is about accoutability. I think it is cowardly that Blackwater leaves these guys hanging, when they have made millions on the contract. Blackwater should be front and center on this deal, standing right next to them and covering all legal costs and handling the media. I feel the same way about Abu Ghraib. ‘Accountability’ stopped at staff sergeant. I think the Army hung those soldiers. Somebody higher than staff sergeant gave those orders.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz7UNxnOI3M
I think torture is the most cowardly act a human can perpetrate on another.
last time i checked, neither this blog NOR the FTP broadcast were a source of “hard news.” it’s a opinion show, an opinion blog. tyler stated his OPINION. if you disagree, great. post a comment. ANYONE can post a comment. if you agree, that’s cool too. that’s what makes this show and this blog successful: all the differing opinions. if you want hard news, go somewhere else to get it.
scott, i’m glad you don’t own KVNU. it sounds to me like you’d want to censor the content and make sure the hosts and writers had the exact same opinion and thoughts that you have.
talk about vanilla.
One more comment on comparing this to my comments regarding Sigma Nu.
I did, passionately, say we needed to wait for more information to come out before making accusations in the Sigma Nu incident. Specifically, I expressed frustration that the newspaper had reported using one source (the victim’s brother) that hazing was involved without any comment from the fraternity. So I contacted some guys I knew who were associated with the fraternity and asked them what they knew, and they defended their fraternity, something that I thought deserved “play” in our discussion on the incident. On the blog, here is a portion of what I said:
“But we need to step back and not fling accusations at individuals or organizations until more FACTS are known. Otherwise, those who report the accusations prematurely (as in The Herald Journal’s case) will end up with egg on their face and have dealt irreparable damage to reputations.
Let’s sit back and wait for the facts to come out before casting stones. If the Sigma Nu fraternity is found culpable in this incident, they may be shut down and they’ll have to pay the price for that. But so far, no one outside Michael Starks’ brother and The Herald Journal is making this claim — an egregious claim with little fact behind it at this point. Let’s not condemn anyone until they deserve to be condemned.”
So when police chief Russ Roper was on the show and said something to the effect of “We are now confirming that hazing was involved in this incident.” I said “Have at them.” One of the two Sigma Nu associates I spoke to for the initial report has since apologized to me profusely and expressed great disgust for what happened in his organization.
Now, back to this issue. This Blackwater incident isn’t a vacuum of information like the Sigma Nu incident was, in fact, there are loads of information out there including the FACT that one of the six men has pleaded guilty and there is an actual indictment (charges still haven’t been filed in Sigma Nu, mind you). While acknowledging several times on the air that these men are of course innocent until proven guilty, it is my personal opinion that the current information available to me as a consumer of information is that there’s a degree of guilt here.
Furthermore, from where I sit, the apparently coordinated decision to seek out a favorable jury is not a normal action. Being indicted on charges, facing the charges in XYZ court and seeking a change of venue in order to obtain a fair jury is one thing and is acceptable and a necessary thing within the system. There is a difference between a fair jury and a favorable jury, however, and at the end of the day this is where I find the biggest problem. And ultimately, this incident is a slap in the face to the intelligence of Utahns, on behalf of these five men, as it suggests that they think a crew of blood-red, gun-toting, Constitution carrying Utahns will do whatever it takes to exonerate them, even if it turns out the facts suggest otherwise. Utahns are smarter than that (and the earlier “redneck” comment was tongue in cheek, by the way.)
Do I HOPE these men are found not guilty of these manslaughter charges? Absolutely. I truly want to believe that these men did not needlessly kill innocent humans. The American justice system, which I absolutely believe in, will sort this out.
At the risk of derailing the comments here, there’s something important going on in “ScottC”s comments that I think is worth a pause to discuss.
Jess said it best in that this is an opinion show and an opinion blog. Tyler offered his opinion (which I agree with… #6 plead, the remaining 5 ran to the last state with a high approval rating for Bush and the War. It’s not rocket science, and it is cowardly… if they were real Marines, they’d already be through the tribunal and acquitted or charged).
But in this comment discussion, in reaction to disagreeing with Tyler, “ScottC” writes:
This is what often frustrates me with our attitudes toward media, and specifically news media. Every day I hear someone, somewhere, reacting to something they disagree with using the most feeble minded of arguments: Media Bias. Every topic engaged in there is at least one person in the audience who chooses, rather in engage in the merits of debate and differing opinions, to malign the purveyor of the original opinion (most often offered as a starting point for discussion) rather than engage in an exchange of ideas on the topic, and why the two may agree or disagree.
The radio show, and this blog, as first envisioned by Tom and Ryan, was a springboard to public conversation. The topics are most often chosen by Tyler, Marc, or Myself simply out of practical necessity of a daily program, but even that process can be interrupted by any reader or listener who suggests a topic appropriate for broadcast. The discussions that erupt on air aren’t an opportunity for Tyler, Marc or Myself to “spin” the news to you, but rather offered as a springboard to a larger debate.
It’s through debate that we learn, and it’s through personalizing disagreement that we stifle our understanding. ScottC, your comments are the best example I could ever provide.
Since Tyler has taken over as host, and Marc and I as co-hosts, it’s popped up several times how “un-objective” the show is. Let me be the first to clarify for you: Hell yes it’s unobjective. It’s about opinions.
But for those who perhaps just can’t handle change, or for those who cannot disagree or make a cohesive argument without reducing yourself to attacking the merits of the hosts, rather than what you may or may not agree with that you hear us say, let me say: this show is not for you.
This show is about the exchange of ideas. And as with any such forum, any one of us can be wrong, misguided in our understanding, or even clouded in our judgment on an issue. Correct us. Tell us why. And expect the same from us and from other readers here. It’s the entire reason the show exists, and it’s the service it offers to the people of Cache Valley.
But do not come here to complain about the spin without providing an argument to support it more substantial than what ScottC has written above.
Debate is king here. Personalization of disagreements is just childish, and there are probably more suitable forums for what those people are looking for than For the People (Hannity has a blog, I hear).
Jason, so you’re against people personalizing matters, but you categorize people you disagree with as “feeble minded.” Well done.
You rely on the “persecuted liberal” bit so much that it becomes your default response to any criticism. My comment towards Tyler and now you, have absolutely nothing to do with your ideology or spin. Nothing. So most of what you went on about has no bearing on this discussion. My criticism of Tyler and FTP is the PROCESS by which certain opinions are formed and the MANNER in which they are communicated.
I would have no problem if Tyler expressed his skepticism on the innoncence of the men. There’s no requirement to be objective. But the argument employed made no sense and was needlessly vitriolic: from the title “Definition of Cowardice,” to the presumption of guilt for surrendering, down to the use of slurs.
For you and your tag-alongs to categorize my comments as a call to homogenize FTP politically or otherwise shows just how shallow the thinking is here. And you worry that I mistake FTP as a source for hard news?
This is a place to be opinionated. So I’m of the opinion that this has nothing to do with bias and more to do with behavior and credibility.
At least no one can call you guys thin-skinned SOBs. Your gracious acceptance of criticism and deference to pluralistic opinion is noted.
I am so glad that this issue will not die and i have to argue that it is thanks to this Forum at For the People and the Frandsen family for alowing it to happen. Yes allowing because as Scott said it is there choice what gets on air and im glad they give everyone a chance to be heard that is the beauty of local radio that local media has lost. That is why i was so upset because i saw it slipping with tyler shoting down the caller asking a hard legit question and why i made the comments i did as jason says it is not to make it personal what we want and have here is a forum that allows for ideas to be challanged and yes if you take it personal you deffenitly do not belong here. This debate is so huge because just like so many other things involved in This War it all should have been looked at more before it started the fact that these men are being tried in a civilian court angers the hell out of me when i look at the 1st marines trials. But here we have agents of the state department technichly when was the last time you seen a CIA opritive tried in a civilian court for his actions do these men fall under that same Jurisdiction? Or are they regular Civilians? When you accept a Blackwater contract for Iraq you are working for the state department as well when you except there contracts in a few other parts of the world. But say you take a Blackwater contract for Exxon or another private company it list your employer as that private company. Why the hell was this question not asked before they came BEGGING Blackwater to get involved. What about that down in mexico Blackwater is also working for the state department and takeing out drug lords. Why is no one saying that they are being Judge Jurior and exicutioner down there is it because we are killing drug runners. No one questions are actions there yet they question the same men in Iraq doing the same job. Technicly if some family of a drug dealer in Mexico wanted to press charges now in the US he could if this trial goes threw and try the sniper for murder. is that going to set off an international incedent, no body is asking these Questions? And we need to because like it or not it is a need Marc i have no problem being called a Mercenary i take great pride in it infact. My skills are just as needed as a Doctor or Lawyer. I used to hate hearing Civilians critisize Military actions in allot of ways i still do exspecialy in incodents like this with ground forces. Dont question it unless you were there!!! type of thing. But are military is moveing more and more into the arena and the future of Preditor drone and remote fighting. That is scary as hell because you have someone just killing with a mouse how do they disearn the diffrence between that and the computer game. Its allot diffrent when you hear the screams and smell the smells every night. you make your disisions diffrently. There will always be a need for ground and special forces. And Blackwater is proff there is also a need for private security forces as well Blackwater has done a hell of a job and a great service to the United States allot more good then negative. But there are allot of questions that need to be asked.
I to have a bias and that is a great thing as jason said its my opinion. My opinion is you kill a Marine we wipe out your Country! But it is people like Jason that keep me in check
I stand by the Fact thow Jas #6 is a complete and total coward and he only proves the inocence of the other 5 (id almost bet he is a Army man because his actions are damn near Air Force pussing out) IF these 5 are quilty he is just as quilty and because he takes the US Senitor route and plees he gets off easy. They pile up and trump up charges against these men and they stand by the fact that they are inocent they have had so many plee deals thrown at them because the state department just wants this to go away. But they refuse to back down because they are TRUE MARINES!!!!! and Honor and RIGHT are not just words to them. Im sorry that i dont share the same trust and faith in are current justice system as Tyler. I think it is rediculas that you can take a plee deal and get off easy if your guilty your guilty.
The Patriot Perspective on this is:
“Before Bennedict Arnold there were many other spies captured in the Revolutionary forces. One was a very loved and respected comander. The penelty for Spying in the Military is hanging. The Comander asked to be shot instead. A more respectiable death in his opinion. Allot of the men in the Army agreed and wanted him to be shot another comander stood and said the Penalty for Spying is hanging, if we are going to bow and shot him we might as well just let him go George Washington agreed and the man was hung”
We in the Military will always take care of are own. That goes both ways if these men are inocent your damn right i will be the first one to call for the exacution of all who brought the false charges against them! If they are guilty i will be the first to line the bastards up and shot them. They dont go to jail for life they dont sit and cost more and more tax payer money the penelty for there actions if guilty in the military in a war time sittuation is death by exicution by there comander or ranking officer. And it is the right move because if guilty every Marine will be the first to say they have disrespected the Corps and comitted the greatest offence. There is a reason why the greatest rulling that can ever be handed down is “actions unbecoming of a Marine” it pains me to even say it. Let us take care of are own we always have and always will we haise we iniciate and we settle are diffrences very diffrent then civilians because are lives are very diffrent then civilians!
Scott C.
“This is a place to be opinionated. So I’m of the opinion that this has nothing to do with bias and more to do with behavior and credibility. ”
I’m not sure this is fair. I don’t know if you listened to the show tonight, but Tyler owned it, I thought. The fact that he might have prejudged their innocence, and communicated it that way. And you are right about the title. I don’t understand your ‘process’ statement though. It is an opinion, after all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h189uuzjeU
Hey PK,
Pretty heated issue, huh? I understand your passion on this. I have a problem with this, though.
“Dont question it unless you were there!!!”
That leaves alot wide open. Aren’t civilians allowed to question the actions of their military that that support with their tax dollars and much more? If we are supposed to dismiss questionable actions by soldiers in ‘time of war’, that is a pretty open ended proposition. Does this only apply to the US military? Or can we apply it to militaries of all nations. If so, Saddam would be able to apply for a ‘shit happens during war’ card for gassing the Kurds, and on and on and on throughout history. There is good and bad as you well know, and for sure it gets alot blurrier in the heat. But close to a million dead Iraqis didn’t all ‘deserve it’, did they? The ‘shit happens in war’ card doesn’t explains it all. I’ve read in this post about how I might feel if one of the Blackwater guys was a relative. That is fair for sure. But on the other end, what if one, or more, of those dead Iraqis was my relative.
I’m with you 100% that the overwhelming majority of those who serve do so with honor and integrity. But we have seen abuses, and as Americans, should be able to look, judge and correct the actions we find questionable of the military that represents this great country we are all proud of.
As for Blackwater contracting with the DEA. I’m not for it at all. Too close to the ‘Posse Commitatus’ thing for me.
Good posts PK.
ScottC. Thank you for re-enforcing my point with further comments and unjustified personal attacks rather than a reasoned and adult argument.
And PK, there is a lot to think about in your comment. Thanks for putting it up.
Jason, I can appreciate what ScottC is saying. While I disagree with his assessment that this is an issue of behavior and credibility, I can see why he made that statement.
For me, the bottom line is I have delivered a strong opinion on this issue, and I acknowledged that it’s unpopular and that I’m violating the “innocent until proven guilty” ideal with my words.
What ScottC is viewing as an issue with my behavior and credibility is seen by me as being passionate and honest about what my opinion is and my feelings about the issue are. Where he sees a dent to credibility, I see myself as being honest with the intention to show that I’m giving a credible opinion.
ScottC has a point, with For the People, just like anything in life, there’s good, bad and ugly. We work hard each day to put on a good show and start good discussions, some days we pick bad topics, and some days the discussions turn ugly. What’s ugly to one is great radio to another, however, and what we’ve got to keep in mind is that ScottC, or plowking, or Jasonthe or Tyler Riggs or whoever is always welcome to be a part of the dialogue, and also to give criticism, but all while remembering that everything is meant to start, foster and grow discussion on any range of issues.
The best we can do is take the information that we have before us and make decisions or form opinions. That’s all I’ll ever claim to do. I’m going to research issues, call them like I see them, and then find the balance between defending my opinion and welcoming the continued inflow of information to continue shaping my view on any given issue.
Well said.
Wow quite a discussion! The purpose of the show is to provide entertainment for people, so they tune their radios in, and the station generates revenue. I am an occasional listener to the show, and like Scott C, I very much dislike the “ranting” which occasionally takes place. So, I turn off the radio when that happens. It is my choice.
I tune in because I appreciate hearing other points of view, I tune out when I don’t like the content. The programming is ultimately responsible to the market (basically…).
Every time you listen, or visit this site you are validating that the programming is working. Even if you strongly disagree with the liberal bias, you are reinforcing it as a success every time you visit this site, or listen to the show. So really the only way to change the programming is to end your (and others) participation in it.
Stuart has hit the nail on the head. If we are getting a good reaction to something, we keep doing it. If there’s no reaction, we change things up. Phone calls, mind you, aren’t the best indicator of a topic resonating. At the end of the day, however, we’ll try and find a balance between delivering what the market wants while at the same time challenging thought and providing good discussion.
Tim i gess i wasnt very clear i dont have a problem with you questioning the actions of the military as a public. I infact hope that we look at it more and more thats why i bring up preditor and the remote fighting. As this become a bigger and bigger role in the military we will need to keep more and more are military in check. The problem i have is most of these questions need to be asked before we send are men in. Once are men are in we need to allow them to do there job. we need to know what is the need before we send them in i wanted so bad to be able to call in tonight and question rocky on this. Because it seems people are so big on wanting to help and do all this stuff in the cango, mogadishu, samolia, darfur and all these places but the only way food and help will do any good is if it is brought in with guns to keep it from getting into the wrong hands, Samolia in the 90′s is a perfect example of this the good we did in the mission at first was amazing it was after people started questioning are actions that all hell broke lose and more wrongs and bad happend makeing the hole mission a screw up the problem is Africa is the next war front and Obama is picking all of the same people that were involved with screwing it up in the 90′s are they going to make the same mistakes this time as they did then or did they learn only time will tell, my hart breaks for the blood that will spill needlessly thow if they didnt learn. And the mission is much hotter this time because we went in loved the first time, we will be going in hated because of pulling out and allowing all are alies massacerd. Before we go in all of hollywood and the do gooders in this nation will have to stomach the idea that alot of people are going to be killed they will be called inocent by standerds in the press and you will have to stomach news shots of 12 11 10 year old boys being killed because they are the ones we will be fighting, and these war lords will not think for half a secound befor useing human shields, because they do not value there opposing tribes more then there cattle. Its a discusting place it is are next war front though but i dont think the american people can do what it takes to fix it.
Good points PK. The drone thing should concern alot of people.
http://news.cnet.com/Drone-aircraft-may-prowl-U.S.-skies/2100-11746_3-6055658.html
http://www.breitbart.com/print.php?id=D94U6UA00&show_article=1
I’m OK with Rocky’s compassion, but, there are alot of things here at home that need fixing first. We go abroad fixin’ things, is just that much more money our kids will owe China.