When things don't work out, doing business with Murdoch can be the kiss of death.
No matter how hard you try, how loyal you are, if something goes wrong, you can be sure it will be your fault.
Reporting has failed to lay the proper foundation for understanding Rupert Murdoch's remarkable testimony before the Leveson Inquiry in London and his behavior of late.
Rupert Murdoch is a nihilist.
Murdoch's television outlets in the United States stoked the fires for the 2003 invasion of Iraq based on outrageous misrepresentations like the idea that Saddam Hussein was responsible for the 9/11 attacks. The war cost tens of thousands of dead and seriously injured U.S. soldiers, several hundred thousand dead Iraqi civilians, and $3 trillion. (Image: acb)
Last summer, Murdoch went full throttle to support Republicans in the U.S. Congress as they fabricated a debt ceiling crisis that seriously damaged the credit rating of the United States of America.
Murdoch's support of the Tea Party created an utterly irrational voice in U.S. politics that prevents even the most modest necessary reforms. Created by right wing lobbyists, this pseudo party blocks every vital project, from reviving the economy to an effective, coordinated response to the crisis created by climate change.
In the nations occupied by his multinational media empire Murdoch takes the path of maximum damage to the public and governance.
It was appropriate for the House of Common's culture, media, and sport committee to find Rupert Murdoch 'not fit' to lead major international company (May 1).
Where were they and the majority in Parliament over the past three decades while Murdoch exceeded all limits or propriety and civility, trashed the political system in Great Britain and elsewhere, and dragged down the level of public dialog and governance to record lows?
Called to account by the Leveson Inquiry
The Leveson Inquiry (the inquiry) was established on July 13, 2011, just nine days after the Guardian's Nick Davies broke the story of Murdoch's tabloid News of the World hacking the voice mail of deceased kidnap victim Millie Dowler. Prime Minister David Cameron had no choice but to bow to a furious public and appoint an inquiry.
Headed by the distinguished jurist Lord Justice Brian Leveson, the inquiry is examining "the culture, practices and ethics of the media." It seeks to answer the question "Who guards the guardians?" The inquiry began hearing testimony in November 2011.
It was just last summer that Rupert and son James testified confidently before a House of Commons committee. The Murdoch's seemed in control of the MPs, many of whom had spent years groveling before Murdoch and his News Corporation media executives.
Last week's Leveson Inquiry hearings were entirely different. Father and son Murdoch were questioned for hours by a professional prosecutor. Unlike the July 2011 appearance at the House of Commons committee, their testimony was integrated with substantial evidence, carefully gathered and presented to the public before the hearing. The Leveson Inquiry produced a 160-page pdf of emails featuring Rupert Murdoch, James Murdoch, and Frederic Michel, News Corporation's ubiquitous lobbyist.
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