LAT evaluates GOP debaters

In an editorial today, the LAT proclaims the GOP debaters as hardhearted scoundrels undeserving of consideration for the presidency. But the LAT is biased. It hardly ever agrees with anything Republicans say or do. The LAT will nearly always view the debaters' remarks as wrongheaded. That doesn't make it so, however.

You Tube and presidential debates

CNN has a reputation to overcome. In recent years, it has demonstrated a leaning to the left. So it's no surprise that conservatives would question CNN's selection of questioners and questions for this week's Republican candidate debate.

Those who choose not to watch these debates -- because they are farce more than serious debating -- rely mainly on descriptions of the debates supplied by media outlets like the LAT, WaPo, WSJ, Fox News, Lehrer's NewsHour, etc. Therefore, these non-watchers lack first hand knowledge of questions and questioners. However, from the descriptions provided it seems clear that video questioners are selected based on how ridiculous they appear. You must munch on a corn cob or do something similarly stupid to get selected as a questioner, it seems. Given that, it's hard to get excited about whether the questions and questioners are biased, which they clearly are

Petruno AWOL

The Dow is up more that 500 points since the LAT's Tom Petruno last had a piece in the newspaper. Where is Petruno?

Petruno of the LAT

LAT columnist Tom Petruno appears in the newspaper nearly every time the market drops. Yesterday, the Dow was up more than 200 points. No Petruno this morning.

LAT targets McCain

This morning the LAT's target is John McCain, and this continues the LAT's practice of publishing negatives on Republican presidential candidates but positive, even glowing, news about Democrats.

LAT fails to report Congress' failure to act on AMT

The IRS Oversight Board sent a letter to Congress yesterday urging action on an AMT patch and explaining the consequences of further delays, which include IRS's inability to process returns. You would think Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi would sense the urgency and get the work done. But Harry is off on a junket to South America and Nancy may be babysitting her grandchildren. Not wanting to embarrass Congressional Democrats, the LAT shows no interest in reporting this fiasco.

LAT reads Lott's mind

In an editorial today, the LAT criticizes Trent Lott for resigning from the Senate before year end, then looks into his mind and concludes it's because Lott wants to become a lobbyist. Well, maybe. But Lott's resignation might have something to do with having to deal regularly with Democrat Harry Reid, the incompetent and petulant Senate majority leader, not to mention the  several other irrational Democrat senators who are in leadership positions.

LAT: propaganda machine

The LAT today publishes a piece on the front page by Stephen Braun that can only be described as Hillary propaganda. In it, Braun claims Hillary was the brains behind Bill in the Clinton White House, always prepared for meetings or negotiations, "armed with an exhaustively researched grasp of the issues at hand." According to the LAT, her "all-access pass into the West Wing gave her an intimate education in presidential decision-making that none of her opponents can claim." Obviously, that makes her an experienced candidate and clearly qualified to be president -- if you believe the LAT.

The LAT is not a newspaper. It's a propaganda machine.

LAT promotes government healthcare

On the front page today, the LAT shows a picture of a Dana Point, CA family who claim they've been priced out of the health insurance market, although in other ways they have a decent lifestyle. There will always be people who choose to self insure. That shouldn't mean that other people are obligated to pay their health care bills.

LAT's Petruno is repetitive

The LAT's Tom Petruno reports today that "bears are becoming hard to ignore." Relentless bears are ignored and should be, Petruno among them.

LAT calls Romney too perfect

Consistent with past practice, the LAT this morning bashes Mitt Romney by calling him too perfect. It seems an act of desperation.

Petruno of the LAT

LAT reporter Tom Petruno writes today that the "bull run" is over. At least he's consistent. He's been predicting a bear market for six years.

LAT on Supremes

The LAT editorializes this morning on Supreme Court justices, arguing, among other things, that Sam Alito is stridently conservative. Apparently, The LAT bases this partly on Alito's vote this year to prevent public schools from discriminating in order to end discrimination in public schools.

The LAT also argues that Democrat presidential candidates have been clearer on promising to appoint justices that will uphold Roe v Wade than Rudy Guiliani has been on promising not to. But the LAT's arguments are unpersuasive.

Concerning TSA

The LAT editorializes today on TSA, arguing for more tests and better screening. The O.C. Register argued the other day that TSA was so ineffective that it ought to be disbanded. Which is right?

If another 9/11 should happen, there would be hell to pay if the government had not at least tried to improve airport security. Therefore, something like TSA is necessary even if ineffective because it makes it appear that the government is trying to do something. With better people, better training and better management, TSA could be effective, but that isn't likely.

Hopeful sign from the LAT?

Not likely. Today the LAT publishes a positive story on Iraq -- on the front page above the fold. If only this were a sign of a change in policy.

LAT on Obama

While the LAT regularly reports negatively on Republican presidential candidates, it reports positively today on Obama, continuing a pattern.

LAT on working gays

The LAT argues today for a federal bill that would outlaw discrimination against gays in the workplace. Arguments against the measure are spurious, according to the LAT.

Do we need this? How big a problem is this? The LAT doesn't say. It only says that arguments against are invalid, illegitimate, false -- because the LAT says so.

LAT instructs the pope

In an editorial this morning, the LAT instructs the pope to listen more, when he comes to New York and Washington next year, and teach less. The pope needs to know about separation of church and state in the U.S. and ought to listen, even to Muslims, according to the LAT.

Who writes these pompous editorials?

LAT ignores Dow rise -- almost

When the market rises, that's not news -- to the LAT. When it falls, that's front page news and it prompts predictions of recession from the LAT. Yesterday's more-than-300-point rise in the Dow was not entirely ignored by the LAT. It was reported in the Business section.

Ticking time bombs

In an editorial today, the LAT instructs everyone to stop talking about ticking time bombs. The LAT as censor does not inspire, it depresses.

The subject of the editorial is torture, something that has captured liberals' attention like nothing since ... what? Taxing the rich? Beating up on Bush?

Liberals are certain that the the U.S. has tortured but they have no proof. They can't even define torture. They were not concerned about torture when Slick Willie was president. Chances are, they'll forget about it if Hillary or Obama gets elected.

LAT on Romney

Once more, the LAT publishes this morning a critical piece on a Republican presidential candidate, this time Gov. Mitt Romney. The LAT doesn't claim to be either fair or balanced and in this they're accurate.

LAT reports honorably on Bush and Vets

The LAT today publishes a rare piece by reporter James Gerstenzang that describes a Veterans Day ceremony in Waco, Texas which President Bush attended. Gerstenzang's description is so vivid that this reader is able to imagine being there and sensing the emotions of those present. Then Gerstenzang quotes from Bush's speech words that are as elegant as those Lincoln spoke at Gettysburg. The only negative is that this appears on page A9 and few will read it.

LAT repeats Thompson mantra

Consistent with prior practice, the LAT this morning publishes an uncomplimentary piece on a Republican presidential candidate, Fred Thompson, repeating the mantra that Fred is lazy.

LAT annoints Giuliani

Apparently having decided that Rudolph Giuliani will be the Republican nominee for president, the LAT attacks him again this morning, the third morning in a row, arguing that Bernard Kerik's indictment reflects on Rudy and makes him a poor choice for president. Presumably, this is gratuitous. Presumably, no presidential candidate or other opponent has paid for this anti-Giuliani propaganda.

LAT on Giuliani/Robertson

In another editorial today, the LAT quotes from a conversation between the late Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson that took place shortly after 9/11, according to the LAT. In the conversation, the two Protestant ministers argued that 9/11 was partly or wholly God's punishment for Americans' failure to lead a chaste and virtuous life. The LAT paints that as loony and suggests that Giuliani might be better off without supporters like Pat Robertson.

Giuliani likely didn't ask LAT editors for advice and probably wouldn't listen to them. Were they offering advice? Not likely. Most likely, they were painting Robertson as a kook and Giuliani as desperate for his support.

LAT on Blackwater, again

The LAT editorializes on Blackwater again this morning, lamenting that Blackwater personnel who were involved in the shootout in Baghdad in September may not be prosecutable under either U.S. or Iraqi law. The LAT closes by calling the shootout a Blackwater debacle. But what if the Blackwater people were defending themselves and the State Department official they were protecting? What if they did nothing wrong or committed only minor errors in judgment that didn't affect the outcome? Would the LAT then defend them and say they were being railroaded? Not a chance. The LAT obviously has an agenda and justice isn't on that agenda.

LAT anticipates recession

Following on the heals of a favorable GDP report (3.9 percent growth) only two weeks ago, and with unemployment at near record low levels, the LAT this morning, in a front page piece by Peter Nicholas, anticipates a recession, hopeful it will help to elect Democrats next fall.

LAT on Giuliani

Consistent with past practice of never reporting anything good about a Republican, the LAT reports today on Rudolph Giuliani, saying he has a combative style.

LAT highlights Dow drop

As usual, when the market goes down its front page news to the LAT. When it goes up, the LAT ignores it. Today's reporting of the market decrease is by Tom Petruno, which was predictable. Petruno has predicted recession since the last one. One day he'll be right.

Patrick Leahy lies

According to the LAT, Senator Pat Leahy said yesterday that "we ... already have laws and treaty obligations against waterboarding." Leahy knows that's untrue. It would be true if we had a court case holding that waterboarding is illegal but there isn't one. Otherwise, Leahy would have cited it.

If Congress wants to outlaw waterboarding it can. If the president vetoes they can override. Leahy and company can't legitimately insist on enforcement of laws that Congress hasn't passed.

Another House hearing

The LAT reports today that the House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing yesterday to bash Yahoo and its CEO. This is their specialty: holding hearings in order to chastise or embarrass someone. It beats legislating responsibly, apparently. Somebody ought to hold a hearing and tell the Democrat Congress to do their job, which includes passing appropriation bills before each fiscal year begins.

LAT's shrill editorials

LAT editorials are nothing if not shrill. Today, they're excited about Orange County Sheriff Michael Carona's failure to resign after being indicted by a federal grand jury. Carona is no prize, and he ought to take a leave of absence while defending himself, but the LAT has him convicted already and demands that the county Board of Supervisors perform an illegal act: dismiss him. Carona is an elected official and can't be removed that way. The voters can recall him and should. That's what the LAT should be arguing.

LAT says loyalty to GOP tested

Consistent with past practice (publish bad news about Republicans, good about Democrats,) the LAT publishes today a piece by Maura Reynolds about how former Republicans are deserting the party because the housing market is in decline. The piece is based entirely on a few anecdotes from a single county in a single state. It almost seems the LAT had a quota to fill (of GOP bad news) and couldn't come up with anything better.

LAT says utilities need more money

In a front page piece this morning, the LAT suggests that downed power lines, which cause forest fires, are the fault of rate-payers (power customers) who, the LAT suggests, aren't paying enough to allow utilities to maintain their facilities. The utilities don't need anything so much as they need competition. Then, instead of blaming their customers they might start pleasing customers in order not to lose them.

LAT shows its bias, again

The LAT, which hardly ever has anything good to say about a Republican, today publishes a puff piece about Northern California Democratic lawmaker Jerry McNerney, on the front page. Why? Presumably to showcase a Democrat who risks losing his seat next November after only one term in Washington.

Enriching the enemy

That's the title of an LAT editorial today that argues that the next president will need a global energy strategy, one that transcends ideology, to cope with rising oil prices. Well, yes, but such a strategy would involve nuclear power, more reliance on coal and drilling -- in ANWR, along the Pacific coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. But these are things liberals can't stomach, which means no energy policy can transcend ideology. Being liberals, the LAT editors can't see that. Their idea of a global energy strategy would involve more stringent controls on cars, more reliance on wind and solar power and kissing up to Caesar Chavez, Putin and Ahmadinejad.

LAT hides good GDP report

The 3.9 percent growth rate for GDP in the 3rd quarter is reported by the LAT on page C4 of the Business Section from an AP dispatch. The LAT abhors good news.

LAT convicts Carona

In an editorial today, the LAT argues that Orange County Sheriff Michael S. Carona is guilty and should resign, this before his trial has begun. Sentence first, verdict afterwards.

Karen Hughes

LAT reporter Paul Richter this morning reports that Karen Hughes is resigning her position at the State Department and returning to her home state of Texas. In reporting that, however, most of Richter's words are about Hughes' failures, as Richter perceives them, and America's image overseas, which Richter describes as bad and getting worse. Reading Richter's piece, it's hard not to conclude that he took the Hughes resignation as an opportunity to take a few swipes at the Bush administration, something that seems compulsive at the LAT.

Damning with faint praise

The LAT's lead front page story today concerns the reduction in civilian deaths in Iraq in the last 60 days. The LAT acknowledges that "the surge" may have contributed to the decrease but highlights other factors, one of which, the LAT says, is that the sectarian fighting has accomplished it's goal: the separation of Sunnis and Shias. According to that analysis, it seems the "civil war" is over.