This... is... Fox... News...

Folks... I've said it before and I'll say it now... Fox News is no "conservative" firebrand.

Oh... sure... they're more "conservative" than the networks... than CNN... than the New York Times and Washington Post... than Time Magazine... but that's not really saying much, is it?

Here... let's deconstruct a typical Fox News piece of... er... reporting: 

"The Tea Party has had an up-and-down political ride since the movement helped Republicans take control of the House in 2010, but those elected in the midterm elections still appear to wield considerable power in the fiscal negotiations."

Uh-huh...

They... er... "helped" the Republicans take control of the House in 2010, huh? That's how Fox sees it...?

(*CHUCKLING*)

And I suppose the Gingrich Republicans "helped" give Republicans control of the House for the first time is what... 40 years... back in '94 as well... huh!

(*GUFFAW*) 

"The roughly 50 members elected to the House two years ago have been a challenge for the more moderate House Speaker John Boehner since they took office. Perhaps most memorably, many of them refused last year to support a debt-ceiling bill because they said it didn’t reduce federal spending enough."

Ah... "moderate" House Speaker John Boehner. (Not "unprincipled"... not "phony"... not even "incompetent"... but just... er... "moderate.")

Oh... and to be accurate... the bills Boehner supported in 2011 and 2012 increased federal spending from previous highs... that's kinda the opposite of "reducing" spending.

(*SMIRK*)

"Just last week they squashed Boehner’s fiscal plan by refusing to compromise and vote on a tax increase for any American, despite the House speaker - in his so-called “Plan B” - having suggested extending tax cuts only for those making more than $1 million annually."

Folks... think about the language being used here... the "story" being told. It's "Good Sir John" against the "Evil Tea Party Dragon."

(*SNORT*)

And their most powerful vote might be yet to come, should Tea Party-backed House members reject a possible Senate proposal over the next two days to extend tax cuts and perhaps avert massive federal spending cuts that start January 1.

But... but... but... weren't massive federal spending cuts the GOP agenda...??? Shrinking government? Shrinking deficits and controlling debt...???

Folks... what you're reading... this is "The Wizard" at Fox behind the curtain. Fox stands with the GOP Establishment and thus against "We the People." You need to understand this.

“They lost in November, rather resoundingly, but still appear to be doubling down,” Democratic strategist Christy Setzer told Fox News on Saturday.

Common tactic, folks; choose a statement to highlight which reflects the underlying worldview of the writer/editor of the piece. Yes... "Democratic stategist Christy Setzer" no doubt said this... but also without a doubt the writer/editor of this piece believes it's true... believes that it was the Tea Party standing on principle rather than the GOP avoiding principled stands that "cost" us the election.

(*SPITTING ON THE GROUND*)

"To be sure, the campaigns of several Tea Party-backed Senate candidates imploded late in the 2012 election cycle, which in part resulted in Republicans failing to take control of the chamber and party leaders vowing afterward to take a more active role in future primaries."

Notice... none of the Tea Party wins is mentioned... nor or any of the RINO losses highlighted by the author/editor.

(*SNICKER*)

"It's the same 40 to 50 chuckleheads that have screwed this place up all year," complained retiring Rep. Steven LaTourette, R-Ohio. Boehner has “done everything to make nice to them. Bring them along. It hasn't mattered. I don't fault him. He's done his best." 

Again... pick a quote... use that quote to highlight your own (twisted, wrongheaded) view.

(*SHRUG*)

Boehner has passed major legislation in the past two years, but the Tea Party-backed lawmakers have led the opposition on several bills.

Boehner GOOD... "Chucklehead" Tea Party-backed lawmakers BAD...

(*SMIRK*)

Well, folks... that's it. (That's enough - right...?!)

I'm not saying "don't watch Fox." 

I'm not saying "don't read Fox."

What I'm saying is... read carefully. Understand the subtle (and often unsubtle) bias against TRUE conservatism you'll get from many of the movers and shakers not just at Fox, but at the Wall Street Journal, National Review, and in other "conservative" media.

Who can you trust...?

Me.

(*GRIN*)

(*SHRUG*)