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Media scrutiny of Carly Fiorina paints a picture of a smooth talking liar

September 27, 2015 by AZ BlueMeanie

Back in May, the Washington Post’s Fact Checker, Glenn Kessler, reviewed the claims by Carly Fiorina about her record at Hewlett Packard (HP), and found that “Fiorina’s claims about her business success are questionable in almost every respect,” awarding her “three Pinocchios.” Carly Fiorina’s misleading claims about her business record.

This weekend, the New York Times‘ Steven Rattner writes, Carly Fiorina Really Was That Bad:

Investors were so down on her that H.P.’s shares jumped by almost 7 percent on the day of her firing. And in ensuing years, she appeared on several “worst C.E.O.” lists, including those of CBS News and USA Today.

In 2009, Portfolio magazine ranked her the 19th worst C.E.O. of all time and described her as a “consummate self-promoter” who was “busy pontificating on the lecture circuit and posing for magazine covers while her company floundered.” (That sounds like good preparation for running for president.)

The Times also looked at The Influence of Fiorina at Lucent, in Hindsight:

As Carly Fiorina has risen in the polls over the last week, there is renewed focus on her controversial tenure as chief executive of Hewlett-Packard. Yet her career at Lucent Technologies has been treated as little more than a footnote. It shouldn’t be.

“My story — from secretary to C.E.O. — is only possible in this country,” Mrs. Fiorina likes to say on the hustings. (More about this below.)

Fact Check: Arizona Daily Star publishes a ‘misrepresentation’ about the Iran deal

August 21, 2015August 20, 2015 by AZ BlueMeanie

Our sad small town newspaper, the Arizona Daily Star, published an above-the-fold headline today “Deal let’s Iran self inspect nuke site” by AP reporter George Jahn, with a thumbnail photo of a howling mad Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX). This article does not appear to be linked on its “worst web site of any newspaper in America,” so here is a link to the AP Exclusive: UN to let Iran inspect alleged nuke work site.

A quick Internet search shows that all the usual suspects in the conservative media entertainment complex have latched onto this AP “exclusive” as part of its propaganda against the P5+1 world powers nuclear agreement with Iran, and presumable in favor of the alternative of war with Iran.

Just one big problem: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says the AP (All Propaganda) report is not only wrong but it is a “misrepresentation.” IAEA says report Iran to inspect own military site is ‘misrepresentation’:

The U.N. nuclear watchdog chief on Thursday rejected as “a misrepresentation” suggestions Iran would inspect its own Parchin military site on the agency’s behalf, an issue that could help make or break Tehran’s nuclear deal with big powers.

Without International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmation that Iran is keeping promises enshrined in the landmark July 14 nuclear accord, Tehran will not be granted much-needed relief from international economic sanctions.

Rep. Paul Gosar gets ‘Four Pinocchios’ for lying about immigration

February 20, 2015 by AZ BlueMeanie

The Washington Post’s fact checker, Glenn Kessler, awards Cliven Bundy’s pal Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar “Four Pinocchios” for lying to his constituents about President Obama’s immigration program. Lawmaker bungles immigration facts at town hall meeting:

Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), remarks at a rural issues roundtable, Payson, Ariz., Feb. 9, 2015:

“It was learned the household income deferred tax credit applied retroactively for three years. So each illegal alien will get $24,000 in compensation.” [The crowd expresses some surprise at this fact, with one person saying “what?”] “Yep, absolutely. You start looking at the process where the GDP [gross domestic product] of Mexico, the second largest input to that, is our system of Social Security and benefits.”

[H]ow reliable is the information that is being given at town hall events?

[Watch the video recorded by American Bridge.]

We wondered that as we watched a clip of a town hall meeting held by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.). As you can see, the crowd is quite taken aback by one his assertions — that President Obama proposes to give $24,000 to “each illegal alien.” Then he goes onto to say that the second-largest part of the Mexican gross domestic product consists of benefits from Social Security.

Neither of those statements is remotely true. In one case, there’s an element of truth, but the second statement is really wrong.

‘ObamaCare’ rate shock talking point debunked

November 2, 2014 by AZ BlueMeanie

There have been numerous reports from the conservative media entertainment complex and its echo chamber in the mainstream media (ahem, AP) that Americans should expect a premium rate shock in the second year of the Affordable Care Act aka “ObamaCare.” This is a favorite “fear factor” talking point in GOP campaigns this year.

Considering that health insurance premiums were increasing at double digit increases every year before ObamaCare, it would really have to be something spectacular to be considered worse than what we already experienced.

This favorite GOP talking point just got debunked, big time. Forbes magazine reports Key Study On Obamacare 2015 Premium Rates Is Out And You Won’t Believe What’s Going To Happen:

While political slanting continues to dominate the public’s opinion on Obamacare, there is nothing like throwing a few facts into the mix to cause people to begin scratching their heads in confusion.

One of the best sources of actual facts is the annual study done by the McKinsey Center for U.S. Health System Reform.

Any self-respecting conservative knows all too well that McKinsey is immune from attack as an organization committed to presenting a left leaning political slant as it remains a bastion of business advice and a company that simply cannot be painted with a blue brush.

So, how do we explain the McKinsey findings, which reveal some awfully good news when it comes to premium rates, as Obamacare begins its second year sign up period beginning November 15?

‘Kochtopus’ 60 Plus Association ‘Swift Boats’ Fred DuVal with maliciously false ad

October 28, 2014 by AZ BlueMeanie

While reading the Arizona Republic online today, I see that The Republic is running an online ad from the “Kochtpous” dark money organization 60 Plus Association that accuses Fred DuVal of helping Puerto Rican terrorists gain clemency from the Clinton administration. The ad is also airing on television.

The Republic should be ashamed for having accepted this patently false ad that is purely character assassination, and it should publicly apologize to Fred DuVal for having done so on its editorial page. Today.

The Arizona Capitol Times likewise should publicly apologize to Fred DuVal for publishing a guest op-ed from 60 Plus Association (which I will not link to here), after the Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) did a thorough fact check which found the ad to be without any substance or merit. Fred DuVal is being “Swift Boated” by dark money supporters of Doug Ducey, and the Arizona media is letting them do it. Anti-DuVal group provides no evidence to back up claims:

An independent expenditure group that supports Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Ducey accused rival Fred DuVal of helping a group of Puerto Rican terrorists get clemency from the Clinton administration, despite a lack of evidence that the Democratic nominee had any role in the controversy.