Thoughts on history and the media

[unixronin]

Elsewhere, fruitylips commented that the news media had a field day over Dubya's rescinding a Presidential pardon (after realizing that the father of the pardonee had made large Republican donations and that there was therefore a potential appearance of impropriety), and declared that it had never happened before in the entire history of the US.

Well, it actually turns out it's happened several times before.  In fact, not only have other Presidents rescinded their own pardons in the past, but one President (Grant) even rescinded two pardons issued by another (Johnson).  But the newsies, as usual, didn't bother to check their facts.  After all, outrage trumps factual accuracy.

I put it to you that if those who cannot learn the lessons of history are condemned to repeat them, then those who cannot even be bothered to look them up before making public pronouncements on them are condemned to be pointed at and laughed at.

Comments

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

I can think of several areas where the world would be a better place with more pointing and laughing. Politics and media come near the head of the list . . .

[fruitylips.livejournal.com]

Who has time for research when there's important reporting to be done?

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20081226/BREAKING/81226014

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Journalism FAIL...