AP(!) reports Justice lied about use of Patriot Act - and MSM says nothing

Could MSM be trying to help the RW GOP destroy civil liberties (as they did in McCarthy era RW security games) via a re-up of the Patriot Act? Like say burying the fact Justice has been lying about its use? The Bush administration used the Patriot Act's powers to listen to cell phone conversations and examine business records 84 times in 3 1/2 years - at least per the Bush administration as the Bush administration says prior statements on Patriot Act use were lies.

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1112778310144

Gonzales Admits Patriot Act Used in Mayfield Case
Rukmini Callimachi
The Associated Press
04-07-2005

Ever since the FBI admitted it wrongly arrested him in connection with the Madrid train bombings, Brandon Mayfield has contended the government used the Patriot Act to search his home and gather personal information to portray him as a Muslim militant.

The Justice Department denied Mayfield's claims -- until Tuesday.

At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., Attorney General Alberto Gonzales acknowledged that provisions of the controversial act were used to investigate Mayfield, a Muslim convert. <snip>

Gonzales said one code from the act that was used deals with extending the duration of electronic surveillance. Another makes it easier to obtain warrants to search the private residences of U.S. citizens -- a provision that has raised concerns about constitutional guarantees against unreasonable searches and seizures. <snip>

There's NOTHING "mainstream" about their twisted agenda of greed and manipulation. Please call them the Corporate Media.

NGU.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

They are called mainstream b/c of their reach & circulation numbers, years in business, and other measurable factors. It never was intended to be a term of approval in the way you construe. I don't think it's become one by connotation, either. Corporate media is another descriptive phrase, and it's a fine one. But I don't think your campaign to substitute it for a phrase already in wide use is necessary. JMO

Do you believe "death tax" and "pro-life" were never intended to be terms of approval, too? That's how the corporatists of the Radical RW work their propaganda plan - by getting us to pass along "innocent" terms.

NGU.

though. I don't know if anyone's done an etymology on it yet, but I have been reading the term since last spring, which was when I started heavily reading online (liberal) commentary. My recollection is that at first it was spelled out, but gained such immediate currency that people soon began using the acronym only. It has the benefit of being a distinctive, recognizable acronym. Even pleasing to look at & say. It's a natural.

Again, my memory of its early usage was to distinguish it from newer, less widely-circulated and recognized media--specifically blogs and online zines. That is, what "establishment" versus "alternative" or "underground" publications were, in another era.

I understand your POV, for sure--that we should be aware of how powerful language can be in framing issues. I just don't think this one is on a par with your other examples. I don't expect to convince you, really, but I thought I'd weigh in with my attempt to explain why you probably will continue to see it used.

Actually, I think MSM is evolving into a term of opprobrium for both left and right, and I think they know that, and are running scared about it too. It might just dissolve, in its present form, and then we won't have to call it anything. :)

...out of the mainstream. That's counterproductive.

NGU.

no distinction anymore between the federal government and corporate America.

By keeping the two of them linked - rather than advancing the frame that the government is for, by, and of the people - we're again promoting the Radical RW corporatists' agenda.

and again 11/2004

I'm not sure how many more deaths she can die with this crew having their hands around her throat, but 'taint many more.

If bushco denies something, you know it's true. If they assert something, you can bet it's false. Unfortunately, bushco has grown to encompass all branches of government, MSM and multi-national corporations. bushco = World Inc.