The Prince of Propaganda

Probably anyone looking at this blog knows that Rupert Murdoch's Fox News, also known as Faux News or--in the inimitable lingo of Keith Olbermann--Fox Noise, is a humungous propaganda machine for the Bush cabal. The June 1 issue of The Week gives us a closer look at Murdoch and the power he loves and wields.

The 76-year-old Australian inherited a media base and started on his own with typical tabloid stuff in England. Now his "News Corp" is worth $70 billion. His television programs reach 75% of the population of the planet. He owns 175 newspapers. In the US, he owns 35 television stations. Through them he reaches 40% of the population.

I used to think the guy was a super-charged ideologue. But he flips around on issues. For example, as he has huge investments in China, he has told his people to downplay criticism of the Chinese regime.

So forget the ideologue part. What we seem to have here is a plain old (super-rich) profiteer with a perpetual thirst for more power and more money.

Change stations, everybody. Please.