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The Republican mantra has long been that the government shouldn't dole out funds to people in the form of entitlements but instead pull themselves up by their bootstraps and work hard to achieve the American dream. Of course we know that there are many groups in this country, mostly people of color who do not have the opportunity. But when someone like Biden does, all of a sudden it's a bad thing. The Republicans and apparently the New York Times want it both ways. When the Reps do it', it's a testament to hard work. When the Dems do it, they're a bunch of phonies. I've had it with the New York Times.

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It’s sad to watch NYT cling to that GOP narrative

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Now it turns out that the Rolex watch that the Screw York Times pitched a tent over belonged to Beau Biden.

Funny how the Screw York Times just "forgot" to do some fact checking.

Just waiting to see when The Times will once again team up with BreitFART to crank the Hate Hunter Biden machine up to 11. We know that's coming from the Times...

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oh gee I was wondering if the watch had been a gift or something like that

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Holy Effing Moly. I knew there had to be a backstory.

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Screw York Times— I love it!!!! If that catches on Dean Baquet will flip.

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I was thinking about that. For Joe Biden, that would make sense.

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They hire the NASTIEST customer service representatives.

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I think it's ridiculous to spend that much money on a watch (though it could have been a gift), but I sort of expect a person with a little more money to have some fun exercise equipment like Peloton. And FOUR acres in Delaware with a nice kitchen? Come on. What's the bare bones of arguing he's not "everyman" like he claims? Is he out of touch? Does he mistreat his staff? Not pay contractors? Hire illegal workers? ... He seems pretty in tune with what the country needs and what "normal" Americans are going through during the pandemic.

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Exactly. There are ways to ‘prove’ someone’s an elitist/phony etc. a watch isn’t one of them

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Butbutbutbut ... "optics"! The Times must appear as authoritative.

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And fair and balanced just like Fox News.

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They can't seem to let a good man enjoy what he has earned. Do they mention the part of his life that he gave up all to be home at night with his boys, after their mother and sister died? He rode a train for gawd sake to and from work. He didn't keep a penthouse in DC,, he went home. He wrote what 1 or 2 best selling books, to help him heal from the death of his son. He served his country for many, many, years. So what if he has a nice peaceful home for him and Jill. He relates to the people he served/serves, because he was as they are. He understands what it is like to be a normal human.. I know. Maybe Jill and his kids chipped in and bought the watch? Oh, gasp. That is too easy an explanation.. everyday, I dislike the NYT, more and more.

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I noticed yesterday Margaret Sullivan acknowledged Mr. Boehlert in the Post; possibly some of that self examination may follow...Thanks Eric.

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I saw that too. Sullivan is doing great reporting on the media. Too bad the Post got rid of its public ombudsman. She did that job for the NY Times until they eliminated that post, saying they would allow more comments instead. If anything the Times allows comments on fewer articles. The Post is starting to do the same, claiming high traffic and “civility”. The high traffic excuse is ridiculous. The Post could easily cut the time limit from comments when that is a problem.

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I often comment on editorials at The NY Times, and lately I’ve suspected some of them fail to appear, or are approved hours after posting so they get buried by all the other comments in the interval.

There’s no way to prove a selection bias, of course, without insider access to the review process.

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I think the review process is ridiculous. The WaPo doesn’t do that and their comment section is at least as good as the Times is. Sure they get some trolls but for the most part it is a reasonable discussion.

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The NY Times may owe Biden an apology. I’ve seen a report that the watch in question belonged to his late son Beau, and the President wears it as a tribute to him.

If true, the Times allegations have a particular element of cruelty. Regardless, painting Democrats as hypocrites is a standard media narrative to discredit Democratic policies.

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This just angers me! I saw an article in the Washington Post yesterday saying Dems were infighting and cited a photo from Portland, OR showing so called Antifa burning a Biden banner as evidence of the infighting. It's just insane!

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Oh geez! that’s bonkers

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I emailed The Times and complained. The poor guy who makes his job trying to defend the indefensible replied, "Politicians frequently communicate through fashion and we will continue to cover those choices as a smaller part of our broad, robust and independent political coverage." I wrote back and said I was curious to know about all of the stories they did about Trump's use of fashion to communicate his populism to his supporters. Ahem.

Anyway, I'm sure Dean Baquet moved into a studio apartment to better understand the economic anxiety afflicting Trump supporters.

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"Robust" is the new "sycophancy".

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I think the Rolex issue has clarified your central gripe about the Beltway press more than any other, Eric: it's breathtakingly hypocritical.

I keep looking to read even a passing mention of tRump's gold toilet, inter plura alia ..

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I had no idea you could get a Rolex for as little as $7K. And the New York Times is flagrantly biased against Democratic presidents who aren't Barack Obama. What else is new?

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I missed that article which is probably a good thing for my blood pressure. I am so tired of the media trashing wealthy Democrats as if they can’t relate to or help the poor. LBJ didn’t grow up rich but by the time he became President he was a wealthy man becauseLady Bird came from an affluent family. LBJ did an enormous amount to help eliminate the dire poverty that was so common in Appalachia where I grew up. Medicaid, food stamps, Head Start are just of War on Poverty programs that made a huge difference for poor people, white and black.

As bad as that article was I am even more worried by something else. I am seeing evidence that the media is going to blame Republican obstructionism on Biden breaking his promise to be bipartisan. For example this was the headline in a recent WaPo story:

“Turned off by Biden’s approach, GOP opposition to stimulus relief intensifies”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/01/23/covid-relief-biden-gop/

Call me crazy (you’d be right) but that sure sounds to me like the authors are putting the blame on Biden for offending Republicans. The story begins with this:

“Biden’s relief package is being declared dead on arrival by senior Senate Republicans, some of whom say there has been little, if any, outreach from the Biden team to get their support.”

This was DAY TWO of Biden’s administration!! Any fair report would have made it clear that Republicans have already made up their minds to not cooperate, that they knew Biden had not had time to reach out on just his second working day in office.

The article then goes on to describe how people on the left are demanding Biden just ram the bill through bringing in the “Democrats in disarray” frame.

I was furious that the Post didn’t allow comments on this terrible article. It isn’t even faux balance, it is echo chamber amplifying Republicans deflecting blame on Biden, not being “turned off” by his approach. That headline should have been something more like this:

“Republicans immediately reject Biden’s plans, refusing to wait for his outreach: whine that Biden is neglecting them”

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Biden didn't ask Republicans how their day went so they threw the dinner plate at him.

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Also they just won’t shut up about Trump. Some pretend to be exhausted from covering him yet continue to cover him. NYT!

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They must fear broken windows in the main building if they don't boost Trump and his agenda. Even after leaving office. They, like so many others have lost their way with the truth, out of fear of Trump followers.

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Friend said the Rolex was his predeceased son's.

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New York Times is the new Fashion Club (hat tip: Daria)

Is this a variation of their other obsession: what are women politicians wearing?

I honestly don’t care what any American buys with their own money. I kinda thought that was the point of both consumerism and capitalism, both of which the NYTimes encourages.

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There is an audience to be mined with even a little of this kind of thing in the Times. As the Fox cult splinters the pieces will be up for grabs. Brian Stelter has a piece on CNN this morning on how Fox is "reporting" on the Biden administration, and it is truly scary. With the help of far-right media, the divided nation is the story, and it seems it will be the story for the duration without some self examination within the legitimate (the kind that employs real, trained, source-vetting, fact-checking journalists) press.

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Eric .

I will subscribe soon, when I can afford it..

I live in VA, love your perceptive take on the media and their intentions to manipulate the masses. I know the obvious answer to why us money and access, but I feel like I am missing a motive. They are feeding in too the deep divide in society and I know they are aware of their role, their must be another reason.

Great work

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Three of my friends have the same watch. None are “elite” though one of them thinks he is, but that’s another story... the Times is dead to me.

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