Even the American media is eerily silent about this story, despite the fact that one of their own is being attacked--could it be because we've spent 11 years savaging the Western media here?
Meaning Ames has decided the American media was right in some of its criticism of the Kremlin's treatment of the press -- criticism he ridiculed -- and now wants it to defend him?
"One of their own"? Granted, standards have fallen at the NYT and the WaPo, but come on.
All Americans have an innate fear of Russia; it is in our blood.
Erm, having grown up mostly after the Cold War (I vaguely remember the Berlin Wall coming down), I guess this doesn't apply to me. To me, it's just an interesting country run by Neanderthals that I'm glad my German ancestors got the hell out of, for all of America's many flaws.
A real democracy would never let us get off the ground.
Which explains Ames heading for the California suburbs, of course. Also helps to explain Taibbi's job at RS and the persistence of blogs like Rude Pundit. Color me skeptical. Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin
In fairness, they have covered some of the media crackdowns in Russia, so it's not entirely hypocritical of them. What is perhaps hypocritical is they seems to have fallen into the same little trap they made fun of others for, getting themselves in to shady deals and making enemies and then crying foul when it comes back to bite them in the ass. However, one does not read The eXile for their ethical consistency, so it's not really fair to go after them for being hypocrites when they never claimed to be otherwise.
I suspect the real answer as to why people in the Western Press are not covering this is, well, narratively speaking, they don't make very sympathetic victims. Assuming any journalists have any standards left, as you can see, there are a few to many unanswered questions to go to town with this media censorship story. Esp. since the gov't has only done a routine audit. However, most journalists in the MSM have not let facts stop them in the past, so I don't know why they'd get all "objective" now...
One of their own? Ames has contributed to The Nation in the past, maybe other outlets. Plus, Taibbi's dad like works for NBC, and Taibbi used to work for the Exile and it's all one big happy family, don't you know.
No it doesn't, you're right. You just think they are neanderthals and are happy to not have been born there. sigh. Let's pretend for a second you really are not afraid of Russia (even though subconsciously you are). You know, I was never afraid of Russia either. Until the day I tried to get out. Most fear of Russia is irrational. But Drew, I've seen enough to know russophobia is endemic in this country.
Waaaa!!! Why does everyone else get to make vast generalizations but not me?! meanies
If Ames does move back to the US, he is in for some serious surprises. "Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.
If anything you should at least be sympathetic to my plight, facing a world with out the eXile. It makes me fee cold and alone.
And, indeed, I do sympathize with you and Jerome, but that can be separated from Ames, et al.
No it doesn't, you're right. You just think they are neanderthals and are happy to not have been born there. sigh.
Not Russians in general. Just the leadership. As a fellow American, I'm sure you'll agree with my belief that the people shouldn't necessarily be judged by their leadership. Although "Neaderthals" might be a bit generous to them, since I doubt Neaderthals suffered from such a need to be taken seriously. (What is it with Russia and needing to be taken seriously? I think I've read about that issue about seven thousand times since I started paying attention to the politics over there a bit.)
But, yes, happy to have been born here. Not that we're lacking in Neaderthals with inferiority complexes in America, but at least I can shoot my mouth off about it freely.
No, I'm quite sure I don't subconsciously fear Russia. I have no reason to, as all of my experiences with Russians were pleasant, and as Russia just doesn't strike me as a very intimidating country. (One reason: Its need to be taken seriously.) It's not that Russophobia's endemic. It's that a certain portion of America just hates foreigners, and that an additional few from older generations see Russia as a big, scary former enemy.
Well, okay, but I was referring more to quality and exposure than family connections. I suspect the main reason the American press isn't covering it has more to do with most Americans having never heard of it. Say to the typical guy on the street, "They shut down the eXile in Moscow," and he'll look at you as though you're from Mars and say, "What the hell is the eXile?" Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin
Maybe by "one of their own" he just mean "American." Who knows...
Also, I think Russia's desire to be taken seriously is rooted in the way they were treated after the end of the cold war: like children. You just called them neanderthals. I understand you mean only the leaders, but I'm not sure Russia has the monopoly on idiot bureaucrats. If you take the time to carefully read what is reported about Russia and the tone some other neanderthal leaders use when discussing Russia, which I am not asking you to do, one quickly discovers a pattern of stereotypes and patronizing language used to discredit Russia. For crying out loud, how many times have I covered this? If I had to break down all the western media coverage of Russia, I would say there is more use of connotation than actual glaringly obvious facts. It's a valid complaint and one I happen to share, even if they are a bit obsessed about it. "Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.
Also, I think Russia's desire to be taken seriously is rooted in the way they were treated after the end of the cold war: like children. You just called them neanderthals.
In my defense, I meant adult neanderthals. :)
You needn't convince me that they're treated like children in the WesternTM media, often for no reason. I quite agree. But then isn't shutting down a paper like the eXile because of its unseriousness (assuming that's the/a reason) a childish thing to do? A serious government should be able to tolerate a free press and free expression, whether it's serious journalism or guys like me shouting obscenities over this or that. The bureaucrats are only feeding propagandists on our side of the planet with crap like this. Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin
The bureaucrats are only feeding propagandists on our side of the planet with crap like this.
Which is why I called it a short-sighted move.
There are several theories floating about as to where the order to audit them (and let's be clear - they were audited, not closed down, but forced to close themselves as a result of investors bailing upon news of the audit) originated. It's not necessarily an order from the top. It may very well be the work of some over-eager underling thinking he's doing his bosses a favor. Who knows? "Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.
And gangster action.
(Remember Saviano?)The eXile's articles on what seem like very scary people, always left me impressed with the fact that Ames was around to write a follow-up about them and didn't change residence every two days. Either the Russian Mob does not give a damn about the English language press, or they're very charitable about being mocked, or they didn't want to make much noise with Moscow's Americans. I don't know. The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom - William Blake
Witness Denis Robert and the Clearstream affair : http://www.ladominationdumonde.blogspot.com/
The Clearstream lawyers are suing the guy's ass whenever he opens his mouth, so he just quits.
And let us not, please, no matter what, talk about the role Capitalism plays in Freedom of the Press. Please, no one acknowledge the gigantic effing elephant in the room! Repeat after me: "There is no connection between unchecked capitalism and censorship." "Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.
