I hate to be the one to write this article; but it is time that someone called this group of people out on their intellectual dishonesty. As most of you know, I live in the Detroit, Michigan area. I was born and raised on the southwest side of Detroit. When someone engages in dishonesty, all to make a cheap political point, as a citizen of this state and as someone who grew up in Detroit, I have to speak out against it.
It appears that the Jewish owned and pseudo-Conservative —- Pajama’s Media has stooped to the level of yellow journalism. Now first off, let me say this; I happen to agree with the premise of the video, that Democratic politics has contributed to the decline of the city of Detroit, this is nothing new. In fact, that decline goes back to the days of the former Mayor Coleman A. Young. What bothered me is the impression that the video conveys; that ALL of Detroit and surrounding area is like what is presented in that video. It also bothered me that the makers of this video used selective filming locations to prove their silly political points. In addition, they never bothered to contact me, at all. I could have given them a more honest assessment of the area and showed them more than they covered. However, they were not interested in honesty; they were interested in making a cheap political point.
I now fully see why Charles Johnson of little green footballs fame, bailed on this company back in 2006. While again, I am, as much as anyone else on the right, am against socialism. Nevertheless, to engage in this rather juvenile dishonesty is just beyond the pail.
Click the picture and watch as a group of Neo-Conservatives slam the city of Detroit. If this does not disgust you, something is wrong.
Update: ….and of course, Turban Boy over at HotAir just had to post the damn video. Asshole. 😡
Update #2: From the comments section of the video:
Anonymous – 3 hours agoDec. 22, 2009 6:52 AM PST
You ignored the elephant in the middle of the room. The population of Detroit is 82% black. The schools didn’t fail, the students failed. Ozzie and Harriet didn’t ravage the city, Jamal and Latisha did. When the refugees from New Orleans settled in other places, they brought a crime wave with them. In Detroit they drove out the decent people and mostly refuse is left. All you say about Leftists and unions is true, but without factoring in the huge element of race, your analysis is meaningless. Drop the PC and try again.
Dude, it is comedy. Relax.
Nah, they were making a hit piece. They know it, just read the comments over there.
This is interesting.
There is a real opportunity for you to contribute, by pointing out the cheapness of the cheap shots.
The crucial point is to avoid the appearance of “fact checking SNL”.
Thus, you want to laugh a little bit with them, then gently serve up a counter-argument, then laugh a little more, then throw out more facts.
That way you dodge the sour grapes response, and add to your elan. Done carefully, you readers will come to the conclusion that PJTV, like anything else, bears taking with a grain of salt. Or five.
I’ve got a friend in your area who is a Navigators missionary, and I’ll forward him this URL. No idea whether he contacts you or anything.
Cheers,
Chris
If I knew someone that had a decent car, I’d hop in it and go around town doing some shots… (Recordings… not the drinks!)
If they had a nice camera too, would be nice.
Thanks,
-Pat
I used to hang out with some friends at a joint in Canton, only place in the whole state of Michigan I ever saw that wasn’t eat up with dumbasses…
Sorry Patrick, Michigan left me kinda cold I guess you could say…
I hear ya man. There are those kind of people here in Detroit. What was the name of the joint and what year where you here? I might know of it?
Patrick – I too live in Metro Detroit, and have for the last 34 years, and I find your “commentary” to be whiny at best. My favorite line is where you blamed the Jews and mentioned “Turban Boy”, your comments do as much damage to the city as any video.
You say they used “selective filming locations”. And…? Do me a favor and list the three sites in the city of Detroit that you would prefer they shoot in? What sites would portray the city in a good light?
I presume you will say Foxtown by Comerica Park and Ford Field, a vibrant (ahem) area of the city, when there is a game going on; which is usually about 100 days out of the year.
Where else? Downtown (only using night shots from Windsor)?
The point is that every city has pockets that aren’t too bad or are even nice, Detroit, has nothing else of value. Our best is their worst.
The City of Detroit has a vast number of problems that only recently have begun to be addressed. As you point out, “Democratic” (I used the quotes because the people of the city finally elected as close to a Republican as you can get without the (R)) leadership in the city has destroyed 95% of the city from the CBD to the subdivisions to the schools. The purpose of the video is to demonstrate that liberal principles erode people’s ability and desire to produce for themselves, which is why you see so few new companies spring up in our area.
Keep in mind, the people bashing Detroit, from Crowder to Gingrich, are doing so for a reason. To ultimately save it, and others from following it, by showing the dark underbelly of what liberal policies due to a population.
Thanks for your comments. You are entitled to your opinion. Therefore I am allowing the comment to stand.
It was a smear piece, made by those with an anti-Detroit bias. Period.
I appreciate the openness of your policy. Why do you think the bias is “anti-Detroit” as opposed to anti-big city or anti-anything else.
I will be perfectly honest with you, the people of this city/region tend to be overly sensitive about people who criticize us. Sadly, the defense mechanisms that people raise stand in the way of the real reform that is needed. Too much killing the messenger goes on in this town.
See: Bill Cosby, Newt Gingrich, Robert Bobb, “Oakland County”
I get the feeling we disagree on the motives for the piece but agree on many other issues. The reality is that we are plagued by an us vs. them mentality which tends to paranoia. The Dems and unions have beat into the population a belief that the big bad whoever is trying to take OUR money (which usually means someone else’s money that we want). The bogeyman can take the shape of corporations, white people, republicans, suburbanites, and even to an extent (especially at election time) the West side of the state, but is always either directly called out, or implied.
No problem, I do not mind constructive and thoughtful dialogue; it is the trolls and their insults that do not and will not tolerate.
The reason I say that is this; being from this area, you have to know, that PJTV use selective areas to film, possibly the worst areas to film, in the city of Detroit. The issue I have with it, is that it gives the impression that the ENTIRE city looks like those buildings. We both know that is not true at all.
Well, I don’t disagree with that now, I am not saying Detroit is not without it’s problems. But do we honestly need a Jewish owned, ‘So-Called” Conservative production company coming here to exploit our problems? I think not. You ask me why I mention that it is Jewish-owned, I’ll tell you why. It just so happens that this same Jewish owners were the ones playing cheerleader for us to get into a war in Iraq and were cheer-leading some of the Former President’s polices that border-lined on unconstitutional, not to mention imperialistic. (see Patriot act) They’re Neo-Conservatives. Wilsonian Republicans, whatever you want to call them.
I do agree with this, although I think that is just a natural reflex. I am from the city, I do not like when I see an asshole kid from Canada, who lives in California coming to MY state and my hometown city and acting like it’s a fucking dump. Just pisses me off. Way I see it, the fucking kid don’t like it, don’t bring his half gay lookin’ ass around here no more. Know what I mean?
-Pat
It just so happens that this same Jewish owners were the ones playing cheerleader for us to get into a war in Iraq and were cheer-leading some of the Former President’s polices that border-lined on unconstitutional, not to mention imperialistic. (see Patriot act) They’re Neo-Conservatives. Wilsonian Republicans, whatever you want to call them.
We can debate the merits of the Patriot Act another time, and I have to admit that I have not seen every PJ.tv skit ever produced, but I will say this: Would we have seen democratic protests in Iran if not for the fact that there are young democracies surrounding it?
IMO President Bush’s plan was simple.
#1 Fight the terrorists in the cities and desert where you can see them and our technology can be an asset as opposed to the mountains.
#2 Pakistan has nukes so we couldn’t go in there, besides we knew they were “helping”
#3 A functioning democracy in Iraq would put considerable internal pressure on the Iranian regime
#4 However weak you may consider it, he had cause to go to war via the Security Council and both parties agreed to it (including our current President as I recall), millions of Iraqis were freed from a dictator and intelligence agencies around the world agreed that Saddam had WMD (some woudl say there was a “consensus”)
And if spreading democracy and freedom are imperialistic, then call me an imperialist.
Oh and oil. Yes we went to war for oil, both times.
Anyway back to Detroit,
The issue I have with it, is that it gives the impression that the ENTIRE city looks like those buildings. We both know that is not true at all
He was framing the story and showing what a vast majority of the city looks like. which I think is indisputable. Be it 70%, 80% 90% it is still a majority of the city that is in horrible shape.
don’t bring his half gay lookin’ ass around here no more. Know what I mean?
I DO know what you mean. But I think that is part of the problem. When I was a kid there were T-shirts that said “Detroit: Where the weak are killed and eaten” and it was supposed to be something someone from here would wear with pride. We should recognize the failings of our city and work to fix them. The “Get out, we don’t need you anyway” line of thinking is part of what leaves people with the bad taste in their mouths about the city.
By the way, did you grow up in the city?
Sure Did! Southwest side, Lived on Oakdale Street, off Woodmere, right by the Patton Park Rec center. 3 blocks away from there.
It supposed to be called “City Pride“, However, as you note, there ain’t much to be proud of anymore. But, I just do not believe that it is all the fault of the unions and Democrats. Some of that is about leadership and corruption and Republicans can be just as corrupt. We both know that.
Your opinion. He was using selective filming. Period. End of that discussion. Plus, he’s an outsider and was on a political mission. So, that right there, in my eyes, discredits him from even having an opinion.
Meh, I was not a Bush fan and still am not. He was warmonger and a bit of an asshole. I did not vote for him and if the G.O.P puts another one in like him, I will not vote for that person either.
Thanks for the discussion.
-Pat
Meh, I was not a Bush fan and still am not.
I thought he was better than our alternatives in the general elections, but there were plenty of better candidates then and when McCain ran. That said, the liberal meme that everything Bush did was evil is overblown and is a symptom of our overly poliiticized landscape today. People have lost respect for other people’s perspectives and good politics has gotten in the way of good policy. I thought Bush sold out, especially at the end of his presidency, but I shudder to think where this country would be if Gore had 8 years.
It supposed to be called “City Pride“, However, as you note, there ain’t much to be proud of anymore. But, I just do not believe that it is all the fault of the unions and Democrats. Some of that is about leadership and corruption and Republicans can be just as corrupt. We both know that
Very true, but there are very few Republicans in City politics.
I see it as an erosion in City Pride due to the fact that:
A. People have been told they are not in charge of their own destiny and that the big bad ….. is holding them back. This is sadly no more evident than in the population who has been surrounded by that mindset for a few generations, namely the African American’s. The hispanic population tends to be less indoctinated, if you will.
B. Detroiters are ostracized for trying to find a better life. Education is seen as a bad thing, people who move to suburbs to get away from crime are said to be traitors, etc… Too many Detroiters/Metro-Detroiters see the problems of the city as The City’s Problems. But frankly the problems are too big for anyone to remedy on their own at this point.
Hate PJTV all you want, I tend to think Crowder is funny, not hysterical, but funny. It is a voice, as long as people are objectively listening to it, and judging it for themselves, the democracy is that much stronger.
I hate to admit it, But I agree with above.
I dunno about all that stuff about blacks versus Hispanics… they’ve got their own little set of grievances. Namely Texas. They want to take the US over. Ever heard of La Rasa? or “The Race” as it is called.
I agree with that first part. There’s a forum, that I will never link to, in million years. At least publicly; their whole thing is, if you come from ‘Burbs and you register to their forum — You’ll be greeting with a nice “F— You.” Sadly, that’s the mentality of that whole city now. That whole Cobo Hall debacle proved all that.
Oh, I don’t hate them in a monolithic sense, I just disliked this piece. As for Crowder; most of his stuff, comes off to me, as overly white, campy and a bit silly. Not my kind of humor. Now, Zo’s stuff is hilariously funny. Mainly because he knows how to take that Black vs White thing and toss it back in the faces of the Democrats….. and the stuff he says doing it, has had me holding my sides laughing my butt off! 😆
Thanks for the discussion. 🙂
-Pat