What makes him not a journalist? -XC
His show is classified as an entertainment show, meaning he doesn't do journalism. He's Howard Stern with a political bent. He doesn't break stories, or have sources; he doesn't fact check, or pretend to give equal time. In short, nothing he does resembles journalism; that's what makes him not a journalist.
I don't know that I agree. Even though Rush is a blowhard hypocrite shockjock, if he were to disclose information from a source on air, I think that would be Rush practicing journalism, and he should be protected as such. Regardless of whether or not he was doped up at the time. It's the action that is protected, not the profession.
It's good that people can make fun of Rush's drug problem. People rarely mention Hilary's pathological lying, or Bill's Duchovney-esque sexual addiction every single time the name comes up. But you are right on about the protected action. I say that everyone has the same free speech rights and same 4th amendement protections as the "special" ones "given" to the press. Fark that, everyone should be able to protest email and phone record searches. -XC
Not only is it good, it's proper that they do since Rush not only does the same, he uses the disease of addiction to shame and discredit his political rivals, and uses it as one would a slur. The best remedy for that sort of thing is reminding people that the messenger is guilty of behavior he is attacking others for engaging in.It's good that people can make fun of Rush's drug problem.
They may not mention it regarding Bill, but somewhere in their heads they are thinking about it. If you were of age during it, the epic impeachment process and the media frenzy that surrounded it means you cannot disassociate him from it. For example: OJ Simpson What did you just think of? Kudos to you if the answer was either, football, the Naked Gun movies or Hertz rental car.
I think mk's "glass house" comment is spot on. When you live by the sword...
So when Hilary finger-wags and they don't mention her serial pathological lying and a 25+ year investment in a sham marriage, that's not a glass house double standard? When Bill gets on the campaign trail as a surrogate for Obama and accuses Romney of lying or Rand of saying kooky stuff, nobody mentions his gigantic history of sexual harassment (proven), financial scandals, etc, etc? Nope, no double standard here, move right along..... Did you hear Leno last night? Fox is changing their tagline from "Fair and Balanced" to "I told you so!" -XC
Only because he throws so many stones from that glass house. But, yes, I am aware of Hillary's truth issues. Everyone is aware of Bill's issue. Absolutely agree on the second point. Both parties failing us there. It seems a systemic problem.It's good that people can make fun of Rush's drug problem.
You don't agree that he's not a journalist?!?! You or I could get a source and blog about it, and then we'd be journalists. For now, however, we're not, so it's hypothetical. Same applies to him. He has to right to practice journalism if he chooses, but he doesn't so he has nothing to worry about from the administration.
the collection and editing of news for presentation through the media
-According to Merriam Webster, he would fall under the journalism definition. -It's pretty broad.
I think you and mk don't have any idea what I was saying, so I'll restate it. Rush doesn't need to worry about the gov't coming down on him, because he doesn't, as far as I know, practice journalism in the way the word is usually used--that is, investigative journalism. I never said that he doesn't have a right to say what he wants, when he wants, to whomever he wants.