Citizen Journalism by Josh Mull

[The following is a clip from "Alex Jones and Michelle Malkin: Together at Last?" for Politics in the Zeros]

During the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, I had the somewhat unpleasant task of covering “Shake Your Money Maker,” a protest, or demonstration, or something like that. Basically, a bunch of conspiratorial, Austrian school economics folks (and a few lost or confused peace activists) gathered around the Denver Mint downtown and attempted to “levitate it” (also known as yelling slogans at it). However, what I actually ended up covering was a confrontation between between radio host Alex Jones and pro-torture advocate Michelle Malkin.

Since this happened during the DNC in the middle of a very polarizing election campaign, Malkin immediately went on FOX News and her blog to slam Alex Jones as some sort of Liberal Left Wing Democratic operative (for his part, Jones claims to be an “independent”). But now the political landscape is changed dramatically. The Republican party (the low taxes, small government guys) is nowadays less popular than the Chinese Communist Party (the harvesting organs from live dissidents in a moving vehicle guys). Michelle Malkin and her plucky conservative movement need all the friends they can get.

Read the Whole Article

Popularity: 4% [?]

Popularity: 36% [?]

Popularity: 36% [?]

Day 1: August 23, 2008

As soon as I got to Denver we headed over to some place called Ellitch Gardens, something like that. It was basically a second rate Six Flags, whatever that’s worth to you. It was sort of cool that Google and a few other massive corporations had bought out the entire park so all us media folks large and small could dick around on the tea cups for a while, but I have to admit, aside from the journalist badasses I met at the uptake, the whole party was a bit of a disappointment.

While anyone would appreciate free beer and roller coasters, the whole affair had absolutely nothing to do with politics, the election, or hell, anything to do with the country. Even the press badges didn’t mention what exactly we were there for. If Denver were in Guatemala it’s hard to imagine how it would have been any different.

If for some reason you thought that whole complaint about the mainstream media being bought out by corporations was just some sort of wacky leftist conspiracy theory, all the proof you need was live and in living color here in Denver last night.

Sadly the only protest happening was by a couple of pro-lifers asking why Obama loves to kill babies. I didn’t bother to ask them what’s “pro-life” about the Iraq war or torturing Muslims in Guantanamo, but it’s probably safe to assume your grandma could’ve gotten stoned off the cognitive dissonance.

As I’m writing this, it’s still early I’m the evening of day 2. Check back tomorrow for info on Sunday’s activities.

Popularity: 100% [?]

Popularity: 5% [?]