Andrew Bolt - is he a credible journalist?

[dedja]

I'd like to do a straw poll on this.

I've followed Bolt's comments quite closely for a number of years and I've rarely (if ever) agreed with him. Now there's nothing wrong with that but I am appalled at how he structures his arguments.

His usual way is to belittle his opponents and to portray himself as the righteous martyr, the voice of reason amonst the insane. The problem he has is that he has great trouble in proposing a rational argument. His editorials are littered with unfetted bias, deliberately provacative and in some cases racist and intolerant of minorities.

His obsession with denying climate change is caused by human activity is a classic example. Read his blog to see what I mean. http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/

Now there is no problem with him taking the view that he has on climate change, but by trying to backup the argument as if it's a world wide conspiracy I think makes him a laughing stock.

His views are so far right that Nick Minchin is a socialist compared to him.

Anyway, my thoughts ... anyone else have an opinion?

[Jimmy_041]

I'd like to do a straw poll on this.

I've followed Bolt's comments quite closely for a number of years and I've rarely (if ever) agreed with him. Now there's nothing wrong with that but I am appalled at how he structures his arguments.

His usual way is to belittle his opponents and to portray himself as the righteous martyr, the voice of reason amonst the insane. The problem he has is that he has great trouble in proposing a rational argument. His editorials are littered with unfetted bias, deliberately provacative and in some cases racist and intolerant of minorities.

His obsession with denying climate change is caused by human activity is a classic example. Read his blog to see what I mean. http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/

Now there is no problem with him taking the view that he has on climate change, but by trying to backup the argument as if it's a world wide conspiracy I think makes him a laughing stock.

His views are so far right that Nick Minchin is a socialist compared to him.

Anyway, my thoughts ... anyone else have an opinion?

No wonder Gozu doesnt like him - must be like looking in the mirror

[dedja]

C'mon Jimmy, what's your opinion of Bolt? I'd be saying the same if he was swinging just as far left.

[Gozu]

Bolt's not a journalist (his "journalistic" skills have been torn to bits on PP) he's an opinion writer. Aside from being a right-wing extremist his MO on his blogs is to usually just imply something (e.g. look at this "light skinned" Aboriginal and ask yourself is something fishy?) and let his commenters do the dirty work for him (trying to not get sued again).

The ironic thing is now his comments have pretty much been turned off which has led to plenty of speculation from those who go after him (the Pure Poison guys) when Bolt has previosuly threatened Crikey with legal action over being called a racist or a liar in the comments of PP but has always maintained he should not be held responsible for the comments on his News Ltd blog.

Here's the Andrew Bolt archive on Pure Poison:

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/purepoison/c ... drew-bolt/

I was shocked to learn Joe Hockey is actually a "leftist"

[Gozu]

I'd like to do a straw poll on this.

I've followed Bolt's comments quite closely for a number of years and I've rarely (if ever) agreed with him. Now there's nothing wrong with that but I am appalled at how he structures his arguments.

His usual way is to belittle his opponents and to portray himself as the righteous martyr, the voice of reason amonst the insane. The problem he has is that he has great trouble in proposing a rational argument. His editorials are littered with unfetted bias, deliberately provacative and in some cases racist and intolerant of minorities.

His obsession with denying climate change is caused by human activity is a classic example. Read his blog to see what I mean. http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/

Now there is no problem with him taking the view that he has on climate change, but by trying to backup the argument as if it's a world wide conspiracy I think makes him a laughing stock.

His views are so far right that Nick Minchin is a socialist compared to him.

Anyway, my thoughts ... anyone else have an opinion?

No wonder Gozu doesnt like him - must be like looking in the mirror

Says the guy who has defended Bolt via PM to me.

[Jimmy_041]

I actually have never read any of his work

I heard him on the ABC radio on Friday night. He was saying the major proponent of global warming (cant remember his name) is now saying the world is cooling

It was a very poor interview with the commentator trying to score cheap points and not addressing what Bolt was saying

I still dont know enough about this issue - I probably should get off Farm Town and do some research

[Jimmy_041]

I'd like to do a straw poll on this.

I've followed Bolt's comments quite closely for a number of years and I've rarely (if ever) agreed with him. Now there's nothing wrong with that but I am appalled at how he structures his arguments.

His usual way is to belittle his opponents and to portray himself as the righteous martyr, the voice of reason amonst the insane. The problem he has is that he has great trouble in proposing a rational argument. His editorials are littered with unfetted bias, deliberately provacative and in some cases racist and intolerant of minorities.

His obsession with denying climate change is caused by human activity is a classic example. Read his blog to see what I mean. http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/

Now there is no problem with him taking the view that he has on climate change, but by trying to backup the argument as if it's a world wide conspiracy I think makes him a laughing stock.

His views are so far right that Nick Minchin is a socialist compared to him.

Anyway, my thoughts ... anyone else have an opinion?

No wonder Gozu doesnt like him - must be like looking in the mirror

Says the guy who has defended Bolt via PM to me.

Hey - guess what Gozu - I have you unblocked

You say I PM'd you - post it on here

[dedja]

Fair enough Jimmy.

As Gozu has mentioned, I did note that comments were being blocked on Bolt's blog today.

Let's see if we can confine comments to Bolt and not each other!

[Gozu]

I actually have never read any of his work

Oh really? I've still got the PM, Jimmy.

[Jimmy_041]

Post it

[Gozu]

Hey - guess what Gozu - I have you unblocked

You say I PM'd you - post it on here

You don't say lol Ahh no most forums have rules about posting PM's publicly so I'll refrain from your offer to get banned. But this was the first PM you sent me on the subject of Bolt:

Andrew Bolt. Racist? I think not.
From: Jimmy_041
Sent at: Mon Mar 16, 2009 9:38 pm

[Jimmy_041]

You have my permission

[Gozu]

You have my permission

No dice, buddy.

[Jimmy_041]

no - I didn't think so

[Jimmy_041]

PM it to me then

[Gozu]

Jimmy stop the games mate. You sent me that PM due to what I posted on that Bolt topic in the general section earlier this year. We actually exchanged a few PM's on that topic and no, I won't be posting any of them on here or sending them to you (again) just to refresh your memory.

[Jimmy_041]

Regardless - you have no right to refer to me as mate

Back on the ignore list where you deserve to be

[Gozu]

Regardless - you have no right to refer to me as mate

Back on the ignore list where you deserve to be

Gee sorry, I'm not actually mates with any right-wingers.

[Dutchy]

settle gents, this thread is OT....get back on topic or it will be removed...thanks

[fish]

Regardless - you have no right to refer to me as mate

Back on the ignore list where you deserve to be

Gee sorry, I'm not actually mates with any right-wingers.

Hey this is just like the two Chris's!