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Post by revirdsuba99 on Oct 25, 2024 22:42:35 GMT
Bezos has given in to TFG threats. He has caved through The Washington Post decision not to support a candidate after 36 years. Note: Jamie Dimon has already endorsed Harris! Pure GREED. He does not need the cash. .I am reconsidering my Amazon account... Billionaire CEO Jeff Bezos’ decision to scrap the Washington Posts’ 36-year tradition of endorsing a presidential candidate – which an editorial writer referred to as “signaling his submission” to Donald Trump – is a lesson for business leaders around the world seeing him “getting in line” with the former president.While critics immediately pounced on the non-endorsement by the Washington Post, which is owned by Bezos and reported that he made the decision, The Bullwark's Jonathan Last wrote Friday that the development is more a story about business than it is about journalism. "It’s a situation analogous to what we saw in Russia in the early 2000s: We are witnessing the surrender of the American business community to Donald Trump,” Last wrote. He noted that following Trump’s 2016 victory, Bezos found himself on the receiving end of Trump’s threats due to the paper’s aggressive reporting of the former president’s administration. And that’s what this story is about: It’s about the most consequential American entrepreneur of his generation signaling his submission to Trump — and the message that sends to every other corporation and business leader in the country. In the world,” according to the editorial. Last argued that the situation is reminiscent of Vladamir Putin’s rise in Russia after jailing the country's wealthiest man – Mikhail Khodorkovsky – who “had the kind of wealth and power that made him untouchable” and floated the idea of one day running for office.
“And so the oligarchs fell in line and ceased to be a source of concern to Putin. Instead of alternative power centers, they became vassals. Which is exactly what Jeff Bezos has just taught Jamie Dimon and every other important American businessman,” the editorial said. It added: “Just the fact that he has an even-money chance to become president was threat enough” for Bezos “to secure his compliance” to Trump. Last concluded by warning readers that the guardrails are already collapsing “before a single sat has been called.” www.rawstory.com/jeff-bezos/Seems Bezos has stepped down as Amazon CEO .... Jeff Bezos will be stepping aside as Amazon CEO while keeping the title of executive chair at the tech and e-commerce titan |
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Post by Merge on Oct 25, 2024 23:00:50 GMT
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Oct 25, 2024 23:17:08 GMT
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ellen
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,806 
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Post by ellen on Oct 26, 2024 0:07:09 GMT
I cancelled my WP subscription. Unfortunately I paid for it this summer, so I still have it a while. I also renewed my Prime membership at that time. I’d love it if I could end them both immediately and get money back.
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Post by epeanymous on Oct 26, 2024 0:43:44 GMT
Me too. I was really sad to do it but it was necessary. |
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Post by peasapie on Oct 26, 2024 1:19:02 GMT
I wasn’t enjoying WaPo anyway. Watch as it goes out of business. 3,2,1…
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Post by aj2hall on Oct 26, 2024 2:00:31 GMT
I'm really torn. I want to cancel my subscription but I haven't been happy with The New York Times either and have been tempted to cancel my subscription there, too. Maybe I will cancel both and get news from NPR, PBS & BBC?
Looking at the bigger picture, if the Wa Post, NYT or La Times fold, then what? Are they better than the alternatives?
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Post by aj2hall on Oct 26, 2024 2:03:48 GMT
The writers are really mad. The opinion page is full of letters from the criticizing the decision. This was signed by 13 of them. Maybe the decision would have made sense a few months ago. But 2 weeks before the election? And the post already endorsed candidates in local Virginia races. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/10/25/post-columnist-no-endorsement-2024-trump-harris/The Washington Post’s decision not to make an endorsement in the presidential campaign is a terrible mistake. It represents an abandonment of the fundamental editorial convictions of the newspaper that we love. This is a moment for the institution to be making clear its commitment to democratic values, the rule of law and international alliances, and the threat that Donald Trump poses to them — the precise points The Post made in endorsing Trump’s opponents in 2016 and 2020. There is no contradiction between The Post’s important role as an independent newspaper and its practice of making political endorsements, both as a matter of guidance to readers and as a statement of core beliefs. That has never been more true than in the current campaign. An independent newspaper might someday choose to back away from making presidential endorsements. But this isn’t the right moment, when one candidate is advocating positions that directly threaten freedom of the press and the values of the Constitution. |
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Post by peano on Oct 26, 2024 2:06:14 GMT
Cancelled.
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Post by katlady on Oct 26, 2024 2:15:25 GMT
Same thing is happening at the LA Times. People are quitting and they are losing subscribers. The union is asking people not to cancel because it could mean their jobs.
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Post by aj2hall on Oct 26, 2024 2:16:57 GMT
From the union x.com/PostGuild/status/1849868082900250885Bezos' decision1/ "We are deeply concerned that The Washington Post — an American news institution in the nation's capital — would make the decision to no longer endorse presidential candidates, especially a mere 11 days ahead of an immensely consequential election [...]"
2/ "The role of an Editorial Board is to do just this: to share opinions on the news impacting our society and culture and endorse candidates to help guide readers [...]"
3/ "The message from our chief executive, Will Lewis — not from the Editorial Board itself — makes us concerned that management interfered with the work of our members in Editorial [...]"
4/ "According to our own reporters and Guild members, an endorsement for Harris was already drafted, and the decision to not to publish was made by The Post’s owner, Jeff Bezos [...]"
5/ "We are already seeing cancellations from once loyal readers. This decision undercuts the work of our members at a time when we should be building our readers’ trust, not losing it." |
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lindas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,305
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Post by lindas on Oct 26, 2024 2:26:05 GMT
At least 40 states have already started voting so what difference is an endorsement, or lack of one, going to make at this point. The vast majority of voters have already made up their minds and the few that remain undecided aren’t aitting on the fence waiting to see who the WP endorses.
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Post by lucyg on Oct 26, 2024 2:32:46 GMT
It’s a cowardly move, and Jeff Bezos should be ashamed of himself. I will not cancel, not at the moment, anyway. I need a decent national newspaper and that ain’t the NYT. But if content goes further downhill, I guess that could change. One thing this tells me, though … Jeff Bezos thinks Trump is going to win.  |
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Oct 26, 2024 2:33:40 GMT
At least 40 states have already started voting so what difference is an endorsement, or lack of one, going to make at this point. The vast majority of voters have already made up their minds and the few that remain undecided aren’t aitting on the fence waiting to see who the WP endorses. I’ve never quite understood why newspapers endorse candidates but if it doesn’t matter why did Trump make such a stink about it? |
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Post by lucyg on Oct 26, 2024 2:37:09 GMT
At least 40 states have already started voting so what difference is an endorsement, or lack of one, going to make at this point. The vast majority of voters have already made up their minds and the few that remain undecided aren’t aitting on the fence waiting to see who the WP endorses. I don’t think it will make much (or any) difference to the election. But it’s a cowardly sellout of the high journalistic standards the Post has always been known for. One more step on our road to an authoritarian government. Jeff Bezos didn’t have to make it happen, but he chose to. I guess we really ARE doomed. |
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pilcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,237
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Post by pilcas on Oct 26, 2024 2:38:23 GMT
At least 40 states have already started voting so what difference is an endorsement, or lack of one, going to make at this point. The vast majority of voters have already made up their minds and the few that remain undecided aren’t aitting on the fence waiting to see who the WP endorses. It’s more about the principle than the actual endorsement. |
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pinklady
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,064
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Post by pinklady on Oct 26, 2024 2:47:31 GMT
At least 40 states have already started voting so what difference is an endorsement, or lack of one, going to make at this point. The vast majority of voters have already made up their minds and the few that remain undecided aren’t aitting on the fence waiting to see who the WP endorses. It’s kowtowing to authoritarianism. Are you really that obtuse? |
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Post by AussieMeg on Oct 26, 2024 2:52:47 GMT
Merge and epeanymous, I respect both of your opinions immensely, you are two of the smartest Peas I know, so please may I ask why this is a negative thing in your eyes? I would have thought that people want their news sources to be completely unbiased, and therefore would not want them to endorse either of the candidates. Mine is a genuine question, I honestly would like to understand. 
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Post by peano on Oct 26, 2024 3:10:27 GMT
At least 40 states have already started voting so what difference is an endorsement, or lack of one, going to make at this point. The vast majority of voters have already made up their minds and the few that remain undecided aren’t aitting on the fence waiting to see who the WP endorses. It's not the endorsement per se, but the fact that Bezos thinks T is going to win, and is afraid of reprisals to his business once in office. After all, T has unfettered power now, thanks to the Supreme Court. If T is good for anything, it is that he shows us the true nature, character and integrity (or lack thereof) of people. |
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Post by katlady on Oct 26, 2024 3:28:45 GMT
At least 40 states have already started voting so what difference is an endorsement, or lack of one, going to make at this point. The vast majority of voters have already made up their minds and the few that remain undecided aren’t aitting on the fence waiting to see who the WP endorses. It's not the endorsement per se, but the fact that Bezos thinks T is going to win, and is afraid of reprisals to his business once in office. After all, T has unfettered power now, thanks to the Supreme Court. If T is good for anything, it is that he shows us the true nature, character and integrity (or lack thereof) of people. Bezo’s company, Blue Orion, has several multi-billion dollar government contracts. I think Bezo is protecting those. Amazon alleges they did lose one Pentagon contract when Trump was in office over something published in the Washington Post. Bezo thinks Trump will win and he is covering his a$$! |
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Oct 26, 2024 3:38:11 GMT
Merge and epeanymous, I respect both of your opinions immensely, you are two of the smartest Peas I know, so please may I ask why this is a negative thing in your eyes? I would have thought that people want their news sources to be completely unbiased, and therefore would not want them to endorse either of the candidates. Mine is a genuine question, I honestly would like to understand. For the last 36 years the WaPo HAS endorsed a presidential candidate. It's the principle of why it is not being done this year. |
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Post by lucyg on Oct 26, 2024 4:08:38 GMT
Merge and epeanymous , I respect both of your opinions immensely, you are two of the smartest Peas I know, so please may I ask why this is a negative thing in your eyes? I would have thought that people want their news sources to be completely unbiased, and therefore would not want them to endorse either of the candidates. Mine is a genuine question, I honestly would like to understand. Most U.S. newspapers routinely make endorsements in all elections, both for candidates and state/local measures. They generally provide the reasons why for each choice. There should always be a wall between news reporting and opinion page content. For example, the Wall Street Journal is a highly respected news source, particularly for financial news. But their opinion pages are pretty right-wing. I pay attention to their news reporting, but ignore their opinions. Because they suck. We are angry, not because it really matters whether they endorse or not, but because Jeff Bezos has backed down due to threats from Trump. |
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Post by hopemax on Oct 26, 2024 4:26:11 GMT
Newspapers in America typically endorse candidates. Until recently, readers could trust that the editors have done the deep research into all the candidates and issues on their local ballot that they may not have the time to do themselves, or know where to look. Normally, journalists will have the opportunity to do Q&As with candidates, watch all the debates and stump speeches.
I canceled my subscription in August, so unfortunately I can’t cancel it again.
I went on vacation to Japan on the 13th feeling anxious but not overwhelmingly concerned. It was as expected too close to call. I’ve come back feeling terrified. Between Bezos and the LA Times, to many connected people are making decisions that Trump had already won and they need to take steps to protect themselves. We’ve been abandoned.
Edit to add: one of Bezos companies (looked it up, it was Amazon Web Services) was denied defense contracts during his first term because of Trump’s personal annoyance of things the Washington Post published. Trump has already demonstrated he will retaliate against Bezos. Now Trump’s talking about using the military against citizens and deporting citizens. Bezos chose his ass.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Oct 26, 2024 4:50:05 GMT
If the billionaires are so afraid of TFG where does that leave us?
Although there are more of us!!!
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Post by hopemax on Oct 26, 2024 5:02:09 GMT
If the billionaires are so afraid of TFG where does that leave us? Although there are more of us!!! Well, it depends on the color of your skin and if you have pissed off Trump personally. It is has been said that living under fascism and authoritarianism is actually pretty mundane if you aren't a target. Extreme terror if you are. However, with the things Trump has promised expect everything to be more expensive, less available, and federal services to evaporate. Well, except the deportation squads who won't really want to be bothered with your paperwork. Remember, these people don't think Obama is an American citizen even with a long from birth certificate from the state of Hawaii. You think they are going to bother with yours? |
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Post by katlady on Oct 26, 2024 5:23:04 GMT
Well, except the deportation squads who won't really want to be bothered with your paperwork. Remember, these people don't think Obama is an American citizen even with a long from birth certificate from the state of Hawaii. You think they are going to bother with yours? I see cases where they will pick up people first, then ask questions later, if at all. I wouldn't be surprised if American citizens get deported, and that should scare people. |
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Post by Lurkingpea on Oct 26, 2024 5:51:37 GMT
I will just be sticking with NPR I guess. This is disappointing.
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dawnnikol
Prolific Pea
'A life without books is a life not lived.' Jay Kristoff
Posts: 8,555
Sept 21, 2015 18:39:25 GMT
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Post by dawnnikol on Oct 26, 2024 9:13:54 GMT
Merge and epeanymous , I respect both of your opinions immensely, you are two of the smartest Peas I know, so please may I ask why this is a negative thing in your eyes? I would have thought that people want their news sources to be completely unbiased, and therefore would not want them to endorse either of the candidates. Mine is a genuine question, I honestly would like to understand. When a former President and person running for the office again says this type of shit, everyone who does not want a fascist in office should speak up and they chose to protect themselves:  See how he points out "Donors", too? Totally normal. |
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Post by mollycoddle on Oct 26, 2024 10:32:52 GMT
This is not good. I believe that Harris is going to win, but still, media barons are already trying to avoid pissing off Trump-just in case he wins. They are hedging their bets.
“ Two weeks ago, Ian Bassin and Maximillian Potter wrote what might be the most prophetic essay of the year. They warned about “anticipatory obedience” in the media.
Seventeen days later, Bezos made his demonstration.”
They fear retaliation if they endorse Harris and Trump wins. It’s gutless. The endorsement itself isn’t important; what’s important is that Bezos is afraid to publish it.
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Post by mollycoddle on Oct 26, 2024 11:39:32 GMT
Margaret Sullivan, who worked at the Post, wrote in The Guardian why this is dangerous: “The choice for president has seldom been starker. On one side is Donald Trump, a felonious and twice-impeached conman, raring to finish off the job of dismantling American democracy. On the other is Kamala Harris, a capable and experienced leader who stands for traditional democratic principles. Nevertheless – and shockingly – the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post have decided to sit this one out. Both major news organizations, each owned by a billionaire, announced this week that their editorial boards would not make a presidential endorsement, despite their decades-long traditions of doing so. There’s no other way to see this other than as an appalling display of cowardice and a dereliction of their public duty.“ Link to the rest of the piece: www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/oct/25/news-election-endorsements-washington-post-la-times |
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