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Pelosi ready to save newspapers or something

posted at 8:33 pm on March 16, 2009 by Allahpundit
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Faced with a choice between corporate consolidation of ownership of newspapers and no newspapers at all, Madam Speaker bites the bullet:

In the carefully worded letter, Pelosi urged the Justice Department to take a broader view of media competition in the Bay Area. Rather than seeing The Chronicle’s main competitors as other newspapers, she urged the department to consider television and Internet media sources and online advertising outlets as competitors as part of any future anti-trust review.

A broader view of competition could smooth the way for future discussions of a merger or a consolidation of advertising, distribution and other business operations between The Chronicle and the Bay Area News Group, which owns the San Jose Mercury News, the Contra Costa Times and the Oakland Tribune. Hearst has a nearly one-third stake in the non-Bay Area papers of MediaNews, the Denver-based chain that owns the Bay Area News Group.

“I am confident that the Antitrust Division, in assessing any concerns that any proposed mergers or other arrangements in the San Francisco area might reduce competition, will take into appropriate account, as relevant, not only the number of daily and weekly newspapers in the Bay Area, but also the other sources of news and advertising outlets available in the electronic and digital age, so that the conclusions reached reflect current market realities,” Pelosi wrote.

I have a hunch Rupert Murdoch’s lawyers are reading this story very carefully, given the rumors about his interest in the Times notwithstanding the fact that he already owns the Journal. Exit question: If all forms of media are competitors with all other forms, does that mean HA is a competitor of National Review? That doesn’t mean a right-wing media mogul won’t be able to buy us out eventually, does it? Heart-ache.


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Propaganda Czar needed. Will need to have numerous questionable relations with either terrorists, leftist groups, or drug dealers. Will also need to have tax problems.

HornetSting on March 16, 2009 at 8:36 PM

I think we need an anti Trust investigation of Pelosi and Obama. I dont trust them.

William Amos on March 16, 2009 at 8:36 PM

well with the liberal education system like ours…it wont really matter when no one can read…

alexraye on March 16, 2009 at 8:38 PM

I think it’s up to companies to come up with innovative ideas to adapt, survive, thrive and prosper. Take a gander at Reuters video on how this can be done.
http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=100074&feedType=VideoRSS&feedName=Business&videoChannel=5

Kokonut on March 16, 2009 at 8:39 PM

Let me guess, Nancy has a financial stake in The Chronicle.

GarandFan on March 16, 2009 at 8:40 PM

Wow…you guys just keep em’ rolling in!!!

You know, this ‘Fairness’ thing could go all the way.

This is all kind of like those sports leagues for kids where they don’t keep score…Everybody Wins!!! Too bad the real world does keep score.

BigWyo on March 16, 2009 at 8:40 PM

One newspaper bailout…coming right up.

Next thing you know, Air America will be federally funded.

kingsjester on March 16, 2009 at 8:40 PM

“………but also the other sources of news and advertising outlets available in the electronic and digital age, so that the conclusions reached reflect current market realities,” Pelosi wrote.”

Doesn’t Mrs. Blinky’s argument shoot down the need for any Fairness Doctrine………….?

Seven Percent Solution on March 16, 2009 at 8:41 PM

Does this mean that the requirements for diversity in media ownership of radio stations is no longer an issue?

Skandia Recluse on March 16, 2009 at 8:42 PM

She needs the paper to line the House cage…

Gohawgs on March 16, 2009 at 8:44 PM

Note to Murdoch:

forget the papers, go after CBS.

artist on March 16, 2009 at 8:45 PM

Next thing you know, Air America will be federally funded.

William Amos on March 16, 2009 at 8:44 PM

Goody. Then it can have as many listeners as NPR.

ddrintn on March 16, 2009 at 8:48 PM

Keep over reaching Nancy.

ctmom on March 16, 2009 at 8:49 PM

Okay thats it,its time

for,

-investigations,
-FBI,
-hearings,
-A special prosecutor,
-raids on all Democrats in offices
-and shut down the entire government
accept for Republicans.
-audits

canopfor on March 16, 2009 at 8:50 PM

That doesn’t mean a right-wing media mogul won’t be able to buy us out eventually, does it? Heart-ache

.

Do you like suits?

Weight of Glory on March 16, 2009 at 8:51 PM

Nancy just makes up her job detail along the way,…

christene on March 16, 2009 at 8:51 PM

One newspaper bailout…coming right up.

Next thing you know, Air America will be federally funded.

kingsjester on March 16, 2009 at 8:40 PM

It already funded, but its known as NPR.

belad on March 16, 2009 at 8:52 PM

In 2004 a political action committee (PAC), Team Majority, controlled by Pelosi was fined $21,000 for “for improperly accepting donations over federal limits, according to records and interviews.”[14] Pelosi used two PACs, including Team Majority, to raise money for her colleagues during the 2002 election. The fine came from Pelosi’s use of multiple PACs to exceed donation limits to other members campaign committees. Two Democratic lawmakers, Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Julie Thomas (D-Md.), paid fines of $2,500 each for receiving illegal contributions from Pelosi’s PAC. Team Majority ceased operating before the fine was issued.[15]

Time to look into Nancy Nance. I am so sick of this crap. Going to SF on Wednesday, can’t stand the town now, but will be interesting. Will talk lots!

Funny I didn’t see Hearst on her major donor list. Hidden in the wallows, I am sure.

OI@

seesalrun on March 16, 2009 at 8:53 PM

belad on March 16, 2009 at 8:52 PM

You’re right. I only watch PBS during beg-a-thons when they run the great music shows or the good programs like Victor Borge or Red Skelton.

kingsjester on March 16, 2009 at 8:54 PM

It already funded, but its known as NPR.

belad on March 16, 2009 at 8:52 PM

Beat me to the punch.

Lance Murdock on March 16, 2009 at 8:55 PM

Pay no attention to this turd that floats in the polluted punchbowl that is the Obama adminiswtration. This turd will be flushed. Twice, just to make sure it goes down. All the way down. Hopefully to forever abide with the beloved $30,000,000.00 salt marsh mouse that we all just paid to protect.

/spit

Key West Reader on March 16, 2009 at 8:55 PM

heh…SanFran Nan lacks the stones to bail-out the fishwrap but ANY effort to save their biggest boosters will not be spared short of that.

sven10077 on March 16, 2009 at 8:55 PM

Control the military – Check
COntrol the Treasury – Check
Control the Banks – Check
Control Manufacturing- Check
Control Healthcare – Coming Soon
Control the Media – Coming Soon

Two more “checks” and we’ll officially be a Socialist country.

I just hope I can keep my Dacha. Although, I’m sure I’ll be pleased to allow our leaders to convert it to recreational structure #27672.

BobMbx on March 16, 2009 at 8:55 PM

AP, please… That photo of this thing hurts my brand new monitor! That face has so much plastic in it, I bet that thing would deflect a scud missile. Damn!

Keemo on March 16, 2009 at 8:57 PM

New headline: “Pelosi ready to OK funding for Pravda West”

Dr.Cwac.Cwac on March 16, 2009 at 8:57 PM

I just hope I can keep my Dacha. Although, I’m sure I’ll be pleased to allow our leaders to convert it to recreational structure #27672.

BobMbx on March 16, 2009 at 8:55 PM

smile when you type that comrade…

sven10077 on March 16, 2009 at 8:57 PM

I tell you what I will save the chronicle of SF Dumps Pelosi

400lb Gorilla on March 16, 2009 at 8:57 PM

Maxine Waters speaks;

Let me,ah..ah..(regains compuser)tell you sumpin Mr.Newspaper bigshot,if you,you(pauses again)don’t
make a profit(starts to hyperventalate)we will buy
you out and I,(pauses again,regains her wits),

or,rather,the government(starts to lose it again)will
run you,now what do you think of that!(Snark)

canopfor on March 16, 2009 at 8:59 PM

You’re right. I only watch PBS during beg-a-thons when they run the great music shows or the good programs like Victor Borge or Red Skelton.

kingsjester on March 16, 2009 at 8:54 PM

Our local NPR station is like extortioners now. They’ll come on for the “membership festival” and stay on until they reach their goal. If after counting the money they don’t actually have enough to meet the goal, on they come again with “this will be painless and less of a bother if you’ll send in your money now”. It’s really gotten funny.

ddrintn on March 16, 2009 at 9:00 PM

I want to subpoena her face and her medical records. Just to see how many billions of dollars we have spent to keep this creature looking so fresh and lively past her expiration date of 1902. B.C.

Key West Reader on March 16, 2009 at 9:00 PM

The the TV news outlets will need saving. People are going internet for their news. Iphones? Ever hear of them? Blackberries? Ever hear of them? Saving print is peeing the money into the drain. Where the hell are these people from? Bomma has pissed off the military now this moron want sto try and save newspapers. Get them out of office pronto!

johnnyU on March 16, 2009 at 9:01 PM

Note to Murdoch:

forget the papers, go after CBS.

artist on March 16, 2009 at 8:45 PM

Forget CBS….The way GE is tanking, go after the real BS’s in NBC…..Nothing would make me happier that to see the two dummies, (bevus Matthews and butthead Olbermann) get their walkin’ papers.

Rovin on March 16, 2009 at 9:01 PM

Propaganda Czar needed.

Keith Olbermann?

econavenger on March 16, 2009 at 9:01 PM

AP, please… That photo of this thing hurts my brand new monitor! That face has so much plastic in it, I bet that thing would deflect a scud missile. Damn!

Keemo on March 16, 2009 at 8:57 PM

That picture always makes me laugh. I disagree with you though. I think this is the one she saw, printed off and ran to her plastic surgeon screaming “shoot me up”. Check out that forehead – looks like a sharpei’s neck.

sherry on March 16, 2009 at 9:02 PM

This is nothing more than an expansion,

of Hopey/Changey’s Ministry of Mis-Information!!
—————–

And since Liberals have their sticky little fingers in every
aspect of American life,

now they want to influence the Newspaper industry!!

And there not going to waste one minute of Hopey’s
term to accomplish the Liberal Utopian Dreams!!!!!

canopfor on March 16, 2009 at 9:07 PM

I believe this sort of thing is typically called a bribe.

Trent1289 on March 16, 2009 at 9:08 PM

Forget CBS….The way GE is tanking,

……

That makes it more vulnerable.

Seriously, we need one of the big 3’s.

artist on March 16, 2009 at 9:08 PM

sherry on March 16, 2009 at 9:02 PM

If my wife ever wants to have some face work done, I’m going to show her that picture and hope it has the same effect on her as it has on me!

BTW: good observation on the forehead thing… :)

Keemo on March 16, 2009 at 9:11 PM

God save the queens!

SouthernGent on March 16, 2009 at 9:12 PM

It wouldn’t offend me if someone smashed the teeth out of Pelosi and Reid’s lying mouths. Spit.

marklmail on March 16, 2009 at 9:16 PM

Next Tea Party. When. Where

DrStock on March 16, 2009 at 9:31 PM

Doesn’t Mrs. Blinky’s argument shoot down the need for any Fairness Doctrine………….?

Seven Percent Solution on March 16, 2009 at 8:41 PM

Yes, it absolutely does. I doubt she’d realize that though.

strictnein on March 16, 2009 at 9:32 PM

Good lord. that plastic face moron makes me throw up in my mouth.

rplat on March 16, 2009 at 9:34 PM

SouthernGent on March 16, 2009 at 9:12 PM

Thurwee, thumwon weesents that. Dwee-dwee-dwuh-dwuh.

Feedie on March 16, 2009 at 9:37 PM

Note to Murdoch:

forget the papers, go after CBS.

artist on March 16, 2009 at 8:45 PM

Forget CBS….The way GE is tanking, go after the real BS’s in NBC…..Nothing would make me happier that to see the two dummies, (bevus Matthews and butthead Olbermann) get their walkin’ papers.

Rovin on March 16, 2009 at 9:01 PM

Ummm…if Murdoch takes over the Times, NBC and CBS both lose out on at least half their material.

ddrintn on March 16, 2009 at 9:47 PM

Allah

Is there a window in the room you blog in? I am just beginning to wonder what your surroundings must look like.

Exit question: If all forms of media are competitors with all other forms, does that mean HA is a competitor of National Review? That doesn’t mean a right-wing media mogul won’t be able to buy us out eventually, does it? Heart-ache.

So would you be looking forward to being sprung or are you experiencing what they call the Stockholm syndrome?

Dr Evil on March 16, 2009 at 9:59 PM

I’ve lived out there; combining the newspapers would create one huge steaming pile of Liberal idiocy. So much for fairness doctrine “It’s only fair if we win”.

mad scientist on March 16, 2009 at 10:22 PM

I remember reading where during Sherman’s March to the Sea Federal soldiers ransacked a southern town including their local newspaper. They smashed the printing presses and scattered the type in the street.

Maybe they were on to something?

Dr. ZhivBlago on March 16, 2009 at 10:38 PM

line in the sand

Ed Graef on March 16, 2009 at 10:53 PM

Who gives the money calls the shots.

Tzetzes on March 16, 2009 at 11:30 PM

Let me guess, Nancy has a financial stake in The Chronicle.

GarandFan on March 16, 2009 at 8:40 PM

Er, yeah… it’s her campaign media manager.

juanito on March 16, 2009 at 11:56 PM

“I am confident that the Antitrust Division, in assessing any concerns that any proposed mergers or other arrangements in the San Francisco area might reduce competition, will take into appropriate account, as relevant, not only the number of daily and weekly newspapers in the Bay Area, but also the other sources of news and advertising outlets available in the electronic and digital age, so that the conclusions reached reflect current market realities,” Pelosi wrote.

What does she plan to do? Go door-to-door to see who’s getting their news from yahoo.com? Wonder if the Bay Area is fond of Al Jazera news?

oh, and the price of Kindle will skyrocket!

TN Mom on March 17, 2009 at 12:03 AM

so that the conclusions reached reflect current market realities,” Pelosi wrote.

For a minute there, I thought she was talking about freezing government spending and cutting taxes…………

TN Mom on March 17, 2009 at 12:08 AM

I’m Pop-Eye the Speaker Man
I’m Pop-Eye the Speaker Man
NYT’s got the vapors
Better bail out the papers
I’m Pop-Eye the Speaker Man

Aug aug aug aug aug!

gordo on March 17, 2009 at 12:11 AM

I am sorry but the entire congress needs to be thrown out on its ears
Both parties

Pelozi is a dingbay

Obaba an incompeting liberal laywer
and the rest are blithering fools..

I am sorry it is almost time for a revolution..
and i really dont want it..
but sometimes the only way to get rid of all the pests
is to fumigate..

and man the halls of our hallowed halls
are full of
Democroaches
ReplicRATS

I am sorry if they wont clean up now
we will do it for you,,

jcila on March 17, 2009 at 1:09 AM

First things first – rescue the Brazilian wax salons.

Fuquay Steve on March 17, 2009 at 7:21 AM

Does this mean that the requirements for diversity in media ownership of radio stations is no longer an issue?
Skandia Recluse on March 16, 2009 at 8:42 PM

“Localism” is the word of the day when it comes to radio station ownership and/or content, because that’s how you can shut down conservative syndicated shows like El Rushbo. But localism and fairness doctrines do not apply in San Francisco, because Madame Speaker realizes that all those media outlets are going belly-up, and she needs to pave the way for Soros & other leftist sugar daddies to come to the rescue.

Outlander on March 17, 2009 at 7:39 AM

Sure, let’s bail out newspapers… what could possibly go wrong?

Instead of getting upset every day over the government power grab, I kind of wish they would just do one big socialization bill.

That way I only have to get upsept the one time and if I survive that coronary episode, I can go on about my life.

myrenovations on March 17, 2009 at 8:20 AM

Isn’t the gov illegally encroaching on the First Amendment?

Freedom of the press. Whereas the gov will not impede said freedom – and last time I checked – “media” isn’t in the Constitution.

Gov manipulation of anti trust to include “all forms of media” as one is akin to claiming “all professional sports -NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL” are really one entity.

There is no end to the “labeling” they prefer.

Odie1941 on March 17, 2009 at 9:06 AM

She has a point: if the web media are eating the newspapers’ shorts, that does make them the newspapers’ competitors. By all means let the papers in a market consolidate – then sink smoothly as a unit, as they will.

PersonFromPorlock on March 17, 2009 at 10:15 AM

Pretty soon we will be sending tax dollars to PBS…oh wait…

sabbott on March 17, 2009 at 10:19 AM

nance please wear sunglasses.

wade underhile on March 17, 2009 at 6:38 PM

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