from arse poetica: And in Other News, Pigs Fly

Downing Street Memo Mostly Ignored in U.S.

That's right, friends. FAUX actually reported on something -- to undermine it, of course -- but actual reportage leaks through, nonetheless. After a fair description of what the memo contains, as well as a link to the memo, they note:

The memo, which received sporadic reporting in major newspapers in the United States throughout May, has sparked an outcry from more than 88 Democratic members of Congress who have signed two letters to President Bush demanding a response.

Led by Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., the signatories are mostly representatives who opposed the war in Iraq and make up the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Conyers says the mainstream media have ignored the story and let President Bush off the hook. He noted that liberal blogs and alternative media have been keeping the story alive. "But these voices are too few and too diffuse to overcome the blatant biases of our cable channels and the negligence and neglect of our major newspapers," Conyers said in a recent statement.

Careful, don't bump your head on the low-flying pigs overhead! But wait! Scotty the Tool has to get in on the porcine fun, mucking around in his pen delivering the day's load of shite:

White House spokesman Scott McClellan has said there is "no need" to respond to the memos, the authenticity of which has not been denied.

Yeah, whatever, tool. What do you think, Dante?

Dante Zappala does not agree. For Zappala, the Downing Street Memo strikes a critical and personal chord. His brother, Sgt. Sherwood Baker, 30, a soldier in the Pennsylvania National Guard, was killed in Baghdad 13 months ago on what Zappala said was a mission to find weapons there.

"My family knows the consequences of the decision they made to go to war," said Zappala, 29, of Philadelphia. He is a member of Military Families Speak Out, a group that opposes the war and, according to Zappala, now has more than 2,000 members.

"I can't speak for what the TV news decides to focus their attention on," Zappala said. "They seem to have a willful deference to all relevant information. I think they've really just dropped the ball on this."

Nicely said, Dante. Your family clearly knows the sadness and waste of the horrible, coldhearted, criminal decision B*sh made. What have you to say, conservatives? Ah, the usual fancy "logic," I see:

"As a smoking gun it leaves a lot to be desired," said Kevin Aylward, a northern Virginia-based technology consultant who runs the conservative-leaning blog, Wizbangblog.com. "It's interesting, but it's probably fourth- or fifth-hand information."

What does that mean, "fourth- or fifth-hand information"? Isn't it a first-hand account by a person charged with reporting faithfully on the proceedings to the top governing officials of his own government? That person's actual memo was leaked; there is a copy of it.We're not hearing about the memo's contents from someone's ex-boyfriend's cousin's next-door-neighbor's dog walker. Helloooo?

Aylward added: "I suspect the more interesting story at this point, seeing it three weeks later, is who is behind the letter-writing campaign to push it in the media."

And here's comes the framing y'all have been waiting for. Remember: The memo means nothing because lefty, Murka-hatin' blogs have an interest in people reading it. In other words, kill the messenger and smoke the message.

Several popular left-leaning blogs have taken up the cause to keep the story alive, encouraging readers to contact media outlets. A Web site, DowningStreetMemo.com, tells readers to contact the White House directly with complaints.

"This is a test of the left-wing blogosphere," said Jim Pinkerton, syndicated columnist and regular contributor to FOX News Watch, who pointed out that The Sunday Times article came out just before the British election and apparently had little effect on voters' decisions.

"In many ways that memo might prove all of the arguments the critics of the war have made," he added. "But the bulk of Americans don't agree, or don't seem that alarmed, so it is a power test to see if they can drive it back on the agenda."

Okay, um, "the bulk of Murkans," yeah, see, they're not that "alarmed," because they haven't heard much about it! That's where the lefty blogs come in, hence the push, hence the reason for the article and the forced framing. Sheesh, wingers, keep up, please.

As for the "power test to see if (we) can drive it back on the agenda," you want a piece of this, FAUX? Oh, it's on.

Sign the Conyers letter here. Write your congressperson here. Call your momma, too.