Andrew Bolt - is he a credible journalist?

[Gozu]

Bolt & Tony Abbott all buddy buddy and as usual Bolt's playing the victim:

CONSERVATIVE commentator Andrew Bolt considered stepping back from his multiple media commitments in the wake of being found guilty of racial vilification in the Federal Court, until Tony Abbott implored him not to.

In an interview with Good Weekend, published today, Bolt reveals that the court decision, and the gloating reaction from within some sections of the community, had shocked him deeply.

He said he had been painted as a monster and his family had suffered.

However, an impromptu visit to his home by the Opposition Leader, who told Bolt that the country needed him, had restored his resolve.

"[He] made me realise it's not just about me," Bolt says. "There are others to think about."

Mr Abbott dined with Bolt and his wife a week after the judgment, on the same day that a right-wing think-tank run by Bolt's friend, John Roskam, published full-page advertisements proclaiming "support of free speech for Andrew Bolt and every Australian".

At the time it had become clear that Bolt's employer, the Herald Sun, would not be appealing the verdict.

Before the judgment, Bolt had told Good Weekend that he planned to give up one of his media gigs in 2012, most likely his TV show The Bolt Report, which had been rating poorly. But a fortnight later he said the verdict had made it impossible for him to retreat.

"I can't now [give up the TV show]. My enemies would think they have won."

The Bolt brand has taken several knocks in recent months. The future of his radio station, Melbourne Talk Radio, is hanging by a thread while support for Bolt within News Limited also appears on the wane.

Last month, David Penberthy, a former editor of Sydney's The Daily Telegraph and still in News' employ, ridiculed Bolt for playing the ''free speech'' victim.

"His columns make me laugh in disbelief or fold up the paper in anger," Penberthy wrote.

"I am sick of seeing Bolt being held up as if he were a company spokesman."

http://www.theage.com.au/national/abbot ... 1nng0.html

[once_were_warriors]

LOL, Bolt complaining about being hard done by, build a bridge you w****r.

[Leaping Lindner]

Hard to be a credible journalist when your employer has no credibility...
http://www.theage.com.au/national/polic ... 1nsyt.html

[Gozu]

"Do I really need to explain to Andrew Bolt why the “slippery slope” is a logical fallacy?":

Yes, how else to determine where we draw the line? Which is why Bolt now apparently endorses a return to Biblical marriage, where a woman must marry her rapist and the man rules over her.

What, too far? No, sorry. When you destroy the traditional Biblical idea of a marriage being between a Christian man and a Christian woman, in favour of a union between any two consenting adults, you invite more changes. Why stop at atheists? Why not also “respect” polygamy?

Only the rules in the Bible stop us falling down the slippery slope. If you let women be treated as equal, then eventually people will marry dogs. Why not? You’ve already abandoned the Bible, the only clear rules on what should be acceptable. And why should non-Christians be allowed to marry? Recognising non-Christian marriage is the first step to allowing people to marry a tree. Once you’ve abandoned the Biblical principles, where do you stop?

It couldn’t possibly be the case that we can review each development on its merits, and if it has more problems than benefits draw the line there like rational human beings, could it?

Nope. As soon as we let women not marry their rapists, we brought the rest of this on ourselves. And if we don’t want to find ourselves being forced to marry a stockpile of Australian uranium on a dock in India, then we must return to those Biblical principles immediately. All non-Christian marriages must be annulled. All divorcees must be forced to go back to living with their first husband. All rapists must be let out of jail and forced to marry their victims.

Because if we don’t, then where will it end?

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/purepoison/2 ... l-fallacy/

[Bat Pad]

The slippery slope argument is just ridiculous.

Surely the slope begins at heterosexual marriage then doesn't it?

[Gozu]

Bolt makes an arse of himself yet again when he linked approvingly to a fellow climate change denialist called Nils-Axel Morner:

He’s called Nils-Axel Mörner, and among his claims to fame are that he possesses paranormal abilities to find water and metal using a dowsing rod, and that he has discovered “the Hong Kong of the [ancient] Greeks” in Sweden.

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/purepoison/2 ... e-science/

[redandblack]

Well, as we wind down for the year, I thought it was time to rate Andrew's best three efforts for the year.

Opinions will differ and I look forward to the odd poster saying 'he tells it like it is', or 'he might be a looney, but he's right', but I've narrowed it down to three wonderful efforts.

(this leaves out the "I'm being silenced, free speech is dead", after he's found to have written 'facts' with no research at all (apart from Google) which turned out to be the opposite of factual. His protestations of being silenced were somewhat weakened as he shouted it from the rooftops through his nationally syndicated News Ltd columns, his TV show and his radio show.

3rd: Kevin Rudd must resign for disgracefully asking the Japanese about the status of their nuclear reactors when they had an earthquake to deal with. He didn't seem to follow this line up much after that day's column.

2nd: "Julia Gillard will have to resign by Monday morning", referring to an old story containing, shall we say, lies. The newspapers legal department evetually sorted it out, but not before Andrew himself 'left the building in a fit of pique' for a few hours.

1st: "The Norwegian massacre is a direct result of Western countries being too lenient with Islamic extremists. This massacre is what happens as a result".

When the real perpetrator is named, it was all the fault of the Left and the Christian wasn't really a true Christian.

Thank you Andrew. Thanks to your bloggers and those who forgive you these minor inaccuracies.

Credibility?

Nah, but entertaining

[southee]

C'mon R&B .... Where's your humanity ? It's Christmas .... Time to send s bit of love out to Andrew Bolt ....

He's a good man

[redandblack]

Mate, I said he was entertaining

By the way, all the best to you for the New Year, Southee.

[southee]

Mate, I said he was entertaining

By the way, all the best to you for the New Year, Southee.

You too R&B ... Hope the new year is a good one for you and your family

[dedja]

Don't mind us ... do you 2 need a private room?

[redandblack]

Private room?

We're not arseholes like you

[dedja]

excuse me, what are you on about?

[Jimmy_041]

Private room?

We're not arseholes like you

[redandblack]

You're not in the Arseholes' Lounge then, dedja?

Either way, Happy New Year to you and our family.

Jimmy, I look forward to further lively debate again next year and have a Happy New Year also.

[dedja]

You must be if you're so certain who's in there ... whatever it is.

Otherwise you're just being an Andrew Bolt.

[redandblack]

Avoiding the question, too, mate

No, I'm not, only by proxy

[dedja]

The only lounge I know of is the one I'm sitting on ... does that answer satisfy your standards?

I still don't know what the hell you're on about.

[southee]

The only lounge I know of is the one I'm sitting on ... does that answer satisfy your standards?

I still don't know what the hell you're on about.

If there is a crikey link on it .... R&B would be happy with that standard

[redandblack]

Yes, I'd be happy with that