July 4, 2010
As BP makes its latest attempt to plug its gushing oil well, news photographers are complaining their efforts to document the slow-motion disaster in the Gulf of Mexico are being thwarted by local and federal officials—working with BP—who are blocking access to the sites where the effects of the spill are most visible.
Luke Thomas
Luke Thomas is a former software developer and computer consultant who proudly hails from London, England. In 2001, Thomas took a yearlong sabbatical to travel and develop a photographic portfolio. Upon his return to the US, Thomas studied photojournalism to pursue a career in journalism. In 2004, Thomas worked for several neighborhood newspapers in San Francisco before accepting a partnership agreement with the SanFranciscoSentinel.com, a news website formerly covering local, state and national politics. In September 2006, Thomas launched FogCityJournal.com. The BBC, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, New York Times, Der Spiegel, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Magazine, 7x7, San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Bay Guardian and the San Francisco Weekly, among other publications and news outlets, have published his work. Thomas is a member of the Freelance Unit of the Pacific Media Workers Guild, TNG-CWA Local 39521 and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.
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July 5, 2010 at 8:15 am
Like singers who for two decades have dully mimicked Mariah Carey’s warbling songbird singing style, Cooper sings his tune of righteous indignation against Admiral Thad Allen in a way that calls to mind the successful propagandistic style of Keith Olbermann, the refreshing “alternative” to Bill O’Reilly and Rush Limbaugh.
Are we being exposed to something new here, or are we just getting a chance to participate in yet another Orwellian “two minute hate”?
“We are not the enemy here,” Cooper repeats, as though we did not get it the first time. “We are not talking about a CIA station,” says the former two-summer Langley intern referring to a medical trailer that public broadcasting journalists couldn’t access.
“If we can’t show what is happening warts and all… that makes it very easy to hide failure and hide incompetence,” says Cooper adding, “and makes it hard to highlight the hard work of cleanup crews and the Coast Guard.”
Need we ask about our unprovoked aggressive wars abroad and the need to show what is happening… er, “warts” and all?
And our need to discover failure and incompetence… or even to highlight the “hard work” of our military, now jubilant, we suppose, because Petraeus is in charge so they can take their gloves off in their battle to safeguard our vulnerable Homeland?
What did Cooper have to say about Obama’s record of promising a new transparency? Or the need to hold our chief executive accountable?
I heard nothing– only vitriol directed against Admiral Thad Allen, who, if one doesn’t read the scroll, sounds like Admiral “Fat” Allen.
Our two minute hate.
Remember how we all hated the horse breeder, “Way-To-Go Brownie”?
Some say now the frat boy had actually struggled to wake Bush Junior up about the magnitude of the Katrina disaster. But, like the continuing saga of all the hurricane’s victims, that is yesterday’s news.
As will be today’s tomorrow.
Meanwhile… wars without end continue; unquestioned profits for a few remain a near certainty.
July 5, 2010 at 7:49 am
Somewhat a non-sequitor – but somewhat relevant
If you have not been following the work of Patrick Monette-Shaw, like Annie he is one of “The Examiners.” I suggest you check it out. While his focus is primarily the deplorable activities of the “Public Health” Department and the corruption and nepotism rampant under the present “leadership,” it is just another slimy tentacle of the octopus that is strangling our city.
July 4, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Hear hear, Erika. But I don’t know what else we could possibly expect or whether it even makes any sense to address an American president about “shame.” It cost well over half a billion to elect Obama and it will almost certainly cost a billion to elect the next prez, Obama or no. And that still represents the best corporate rate of return on investment, far and away.
July 4, 2010 at 11:19 am
Welcome to Obama America!
Seriously. when this kind of censorship happened under Bush, Democrats shouted about how we needed a president from the (D) column.
We now have one, and yet the censorship continues! Shame on Obama! The Coast Guard reports directly to him; he is the one person we can blame for this outrage..