A Bias-Fest At The LA Times

The pilot of our Southwest flight from OC to Phoenix today had everyone sit down and belt up, and suspended drink service because rough weather was ahead ... but the plane barely bounced.

Could this foretell what will happen to the GOP in November? A lot of doomsaying but a pretty good election?

It just might happen, if you use the LATimes as your doomsaying source. I had the opportunity (I can't say pleasure) to read today's edition on the flight out, thanks to a seatmate who contributed 50 cents of his own money to that sinking enterprise.

What can I say? The paper appeared to be just a wee tad biased. Since I'm supposed to be seeking out cheats on this blog, here's a list of the political stories run today in LAT's effort to cheat the election.

Front page:

• Latino and Black voters reassessing ties to GOP. A few black and Latino leaders express their frustration on faith and border issues, respectively. It's pointed out that blacks and Latinos helped Bush win previously. Really?
• Sort of related, Old rivals united in Nigaragua -- a portrait of the "new" Daniel Ortega. As if he's suddenly palatable or something.

Inside A section:

• Bloodletting continues in Iraq's south -- Hunting up bad war news.
• GI is possibly kidnapped in Baghdad -- Refers to the insurgents as "daring."
• Beating the torture horse, Countries cite U.S. to deflect criticism on jails, official says -- Uh, huh. A UN lackey says countries -- naming only Jordan -- "are kind of saying, 'But why are you criticizing us; we are not doing something different from what the United States is doing.'" Kind of? Pathetic news-mongering.
• Following a death trail in Sadr City -- A profile of the Shi'ite human dump in Baghdad, emphasizing that the US can't control it.
  
• For Jefferson, anger and applause -- Yes, the vastly corrupt Louisiana Dem (Dept. of Reduncancy Department ...) still has constituents who love him. Many more lovers than critics are quoted.
• New voting systems, rules may spell trouble at polls -- The set up story for the inevitable Dem election challenges. "Some of the voting changes have alarmed political partisans. Democrats, in particular, are concerned...." Duh.
  
• Hastert aide questioned about Foley -- Gotta keep that story alive!
• GOP attack ad draws heat for racial overtone -- Big display for a seemingly insensitive DNC ad in Tennesee. Close race; gotta find a way to attack Corker ...
• Web activists have a plan for Democrats -- What are the chances of finding a story on GOP web activists?

Editorial

• Immigration's front line -- In which one Arizona Congressional race takes center stage. The GOP candidate's position is "quite unrealistic" while the Dem's position is "sensible." The difference? The GOP guy opposes guests workers.

And that's just the A section. The B section added a couple more. Sports, Food and Entertainment probably chimed in, but I didn't read them.

If there had been a GOP-leaning story, I would have told you, but there wasn't. Nary a one.

Yes, LA is a Dem county, but there are a few GOP folks there, as there are in OC, SD and the Inland Empire. No news for them. Which is why my 50 cents is still in my pocket!

Related Tags: Politics, Media bias, Los Angeles Times, GOP, DNC, Republicans, Democrats