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Jerk of the year nominee

By Michelle Malkin  •  October 25, 2007 08:46 AM

This story has been making the rounds on the blogosphere the last 24 hours. A Knight-Ridder reporter, Bobby Calvan, blogs his snit fit in Baghdad, where one of our troops dared to ask him for ID–and, gasp, gasp, the soldier didn’t know what Knight-Ridder was. The nerve!!!

Blogs started mocking the troop-bashing MSM jerk…and now he has yanked his blog post.

Fortunately, a blogger saved the original post.

Once a jerk, forever a jerk, thanks to the Internet.

Knight-Ridder will now live in infamy, thanks to Big Bobby Calvan.

***

Mike Carney at USA Today shares some wisdom with The Jerk.

Posted in: Media

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Trackbacks

  1. Bobby Caina Calvan Blog : the entire post with comments preserved « docweaselblog
  2. How Dare A Soldier Ask for Creds At a Checkpoint?! We’re the Media! : American Pundit
  3. Take Our Country Back
  4. Don Surber » Blog Archive » Jerk reporting from Iraq
  5. Defense of Bobby Calvan from a co-worker. « docweaselblog
  6. Media Lies
  7. Java Zen:Thinking Out Loud » When Jerks Attack
  8. Moonbattery
  9. Michelle Malkin » Editors defend Jerk of the Year nominee
  10. Sacramento Bee turns IDIOT Central » Scott’s Morning Brew
  11. Michelle Malkin » Yet another jerk of the year nominee
  12. Michelle Malkin » Malkin’s year-in-review: The surge, the military, and the media
  13. Jack Givens talks with Bobby Calvin about using OnTheIssues.org to Help Choose a Presidential Candidate
  14. Michelle Malkin » MSM jerk of the day

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Comments

  1. #1
    On October 25th, 2007 at 8:50 am, BerryG said:

    Maybe he should have started his post with “I was born a poor black child”

  2. #2
    On October 25th, 2007 at 8:51 am, William Amos said:

    Ah right the MSM isnt liberal I keep forgetting that
    /sarc

  3. #3
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:07 am, DilbertFan said:

    I am retired from the US Army. Security locations require clearance and “need to know”. I have seen Generals that were stopped at the door because they were not on the access roster.
    Same goes for check points, stop everyone until positive ID is made, then determine if they need/are authorized access.
    To me this is common sense.

  4. #4
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:07 am, BigAnge said:

    That comment section following his blog was truly one of the most entertaining reads I have ever seen. Priceless.

  5. #5
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:10 am, lgm said:

    MM did not report the story faithfully.

    At the first check point, a pair of Ugandan soldiers asked for identification. We showed our military-issued badges. Unbeknownst to us, we were supposed to be carrying an additional form of ID.

    He asked for a passport. I told him I didn’t have it on me. (The advice is to lock up your passport once in Baghdad and never take it out until departing.)

    The reporter had the ID he was supposed to have, the ID that had worked in the past. True, he gave the soldier some attitude. The interesting thing about the blog post is that he does not make himself a sympathetic character (makes himself out to be a jerk). This is truly accuracy in the MSM.

  6. #6
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:13 am, 30 pcs of silver said:

    If he didn’t do his job (i.e., checks and balances) they’d complain about that. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t.

    Nothing to lose…what an asshole

  7. #7
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:13 am, granite said:

    #4 BigAnge:

    You beat me to It!

    Priceless!!! is the word.

    What an arrogant little _________.
    (Sorry, I just can’t bring myself to write it down.

    So the big, important reporter knows how to flash his press pass…like The Stooges did, when flashing their door or faucet (I forget which) handles to gain access to the country club to play golf:

    Moe: “Press”

    Larry: “Press”

    Curly: “Pull” “Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk….”

  8. #8
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:14 am, ajmontana said:

    Peck#rwood is more accurate. The smarta$$ should have been turned back.

  9. #9
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:15 am, terrig said:

    “an astonishing encounter” with a US Soldier! Too funny that this guy thought everyone should know who he was. Seriously, the Soldier needed to see his credentials and not just let him go. There is a scene in an old Gregory Peck movie called “12 O’Clock High” where he plays a General and he drives into an air base where the guy at the gate just waved him on in and he stopped and told the guy he could have been a Nazi (it was a WW2 flick). I guess old Bobby never caught this on AMC. Funny that the Soldier kept saying “Knight Rider”. He may have very well have known of old Bob’s outlet and was just being a wiseguy!

  10. #10
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:18 am, William Amos said:

    I love that when liberals get caught being obnoxious they try and wipe away thier mistakes and cover it up.

    Fake but(in their minds)accurate is the MSM

  11. #11
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:20 am, The Raging Republican said:

    He probably didn’t even have that “testy exchange with an American soldier” that he refers too. There is nothing official on this, and it would require all the readers of that blog entry to take his word that then entire thing even happened.

    Just sounds like drummed up anti-war rhetoric to me.

  12. #12
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:23 am, sierra.caddis said:

    Too funny!

  13. #13
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:25 am, granite said:

    #10: William Amos:

    Correct.

    Your statement looks to me like it well illustrates the whole point of Michelle’s putting up the Halle Berry (hope I spelled her name right - but don’t care anywhere near enough to go check) post the other day.

    Wow!

    Erasing history.

    Just like “1984″, or “The Commissar Vanishes”

    And these people presume to lecture us on rights, and fredom of expression (but never on responsibility[ies])?!

  14. #14
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:26 am, MikeOK said:

    A missed opportunity:

    “I’m with Knight-Ridder”

    “Um, oh yeah … the talking car! Wait, I know, you must be David Hasselhoff!”

  15. #15
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:29 am, trailortrash said:

    ha this story has legs, gonna be hearing about this on fox soon i hope ;)

    this reporter is an arogant little jerk, the soldier was just doing his job.

  16. #16
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:31 am, Bogtrotter said:

    Gee, I wonder who he will be working for tomorrow?

  17. #17
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:31 am, The Raging Republican said:

    “Um, oh yeah … the talking car! Wait, I know, you must be David Hasselhoff!”

    Don’t Hassle the Hoff!

  18. #18
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:33 am, Tennessee Dave said:

    I liked this comment:

    I made it known that I was jotting down his name.

    What a dork!!
    That’s the wrong way to try and intimidate a soldier–why didn’t he ask for a badge number too and say that he knew someone important.
    If this nimrod reported something like this to the military authorities, the soldier would probably get called into an office and given some kudos for being vigilent.

  19. #19
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:33 am, The Raging Republican said:

    It also makes me wonder how pissed off “Knight Rider” boy gets when he has to take off his shoes at the airport before he gets on the plane!

  20. #20
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:34 am, DesertLover said:

    Not only is this guy arrogant and obnoxious he is obviously totally deluded as to his own importance to the Iraq situation … his “danger” level is no where near that of the troops protecting his worthless butt …

    he is also quite dumb because:

    1. The show was “Knight Rider” not “night rider” …

    2. Most likely the US military guard simply mispronounced it since he was probably was not even alive when that program was on the air …

    3. His statements to his bodyguard about doing whatever he needed to do would have made certain he didn’t get in if I had been that guard …

    4. He must be a Dem because his first instincts are that someone is going to “attack the messenger” …

    And the news media wonder why they are held in such low esteem by most of the American people and the military … Get a clue you jerk …

    A hearty “Well Done” to that guard who was vigilant and doing his duty …

  21. #21
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:35 am, ajmontana said:

    He would have been better off letting the car do the talking for him.

  22. #22
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:35 am, pressto said:

    First, there is no such thing as the Knight Ridder Company and they were bought out by The McClatchy Company back in June 27, 2006. He states in the article:

    (We use Knight Ridder because it already had a bureau in Baghdad before the chain was bought by the McClatchy Co.)

    How old is his press badge, because I am guessing it is over a year old if he still has Knight Ridder listed on it and he definitely needs to get an updated badge. I would have hoped the soldiers realized this and confiscated his badge, because there should not be badges this old for companies that do not exist still being used as authorized credentials.

    Now the Sacbee editor just resigned last week because of “differences of opinions” on the direction the paper was taking. One issue that cause the loss of a lot of readers was when they decided to take Political Correctness to the extreme by not publishing the race of criminals any more. The comments sections get flooded each time calling them idiots for this and the fact they are not reporting the news.

    Also at the end of almost all Sacbee articles he does he list his contact information. If you decide to contact him on this story please keep it civil.

    The Bee’s Bobby Caina Calvan can be reached at bcalvan@sacbee.com or (916) 321-1067.

    Also here is the contact page for the Editor and others at the paper if you would like to let them know what you think about their reporting.

    http://guide.sacbee.com/100/story/4.html

  23. #23
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:35 am, sierra.caddis said:

    I made it known that I was jotting down his name.

    What would they do to the soldier anyway…send him to a war zone?

  24. #24
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:37 am, Wade said:

    Crapweasel of the day.

  25. #25
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:51 am, Marshall Russ said:

    When I go to the airport to put my young son on flight across country. I just hate it when I want to go with him to the gate, they make me go through security. The nerve! Don’t they know I’m a dad and I wouldn’t want anything to happen to my son’s flight! And they still want to check my I.D. and wand me! I say the nerve!!

  26. #26
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:51 am, Jim M. said:

    So, by his own admission, he “bullied” the soldiers to get his way. Bullying troops that have had no sleep, are under constant threat of attack, and are making about one fourth of what this bozo makes to write about things he does not know.

    The incident points out that this reporter, and probably many others like him, have no clue what a war zone is like. Nor what the protocol at a checkpoint requires - it does not matter who you are, if you do not have the proper permission to pass (via the proper ID), you are not going anywhere). And they are covering a war. Amazing.

    If he would have had no trouble getting through, he probably would have written a story about how lax security was in the Green Zone and how sloppy our troops were about security.

  27. #27
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:52 am, swj719AWG said:

    Jotting down his name… lolz.

    “Please do, sir. Inform them that I am doing exactly my duty. Now please leave or I will have you escorted away.”

  28. #28
    On October 25th, 2007 at 9:54 am, The Raging Republican said:

    The incident points out that this reporter, and probably many others like him, have no clue what a war zone is like.

    It really just a matter of time before “Knight Rider” boy steps on a mine.

  29. #29
    On October 25th, 2007 at 10:00 am, 30 pcs of silver said:

    Thank God for Michael Yon, at least he understands the nature of the beast. Get a clue, Bobby boy…

  30. #30
    On October 25th, 2007 at 10:01 am, jsr said:

    The Americans, however, are the absolute worst.

    I guess he means they are not so likable and easy-going (undisciplined) like those wonderful Peruvian soldiers. From the tone of this comment it sounds like he views them as soldiers of a foreign nation. He must consider himself a “World-Citizen”

  31. #31
    On October 25th, 2007 at 10:06 am, trinitytim said:

    Another confirmation of my decision to NEVER purchase another newspaper.

    I am so smart!!!

  32. #32
    On October 25th, 2007 at 10:07 am, Boomer said:

    I love the arrogance of members of the MSM towards the Military. I work on an Air Force Base and have to show my ID when I enter the base every morning. I’m usually there way before the morning rush and all the sentries working for the contractor know me. Many have recently retired from active duty and a few months earlier we were working together on Wing projects. This ass is very lucky he wasn’t in a controlled area like the flight line he would have been communing with the tarmac with an M-16 barrel in the base of his neck until escorted out of the area (standard procedure). Sounds to me like the sentry was a very forgiving individual of this person’s arrogance and lack of concern for his own personal safety.

  33. #33
    On October 25th, 2007 at 10:14 am, MrVIBEMAN said:

    Oh God, where to begin! This guy definitely has all the earmarks of being the next big MSM News anchor. Arrogrance, disdain for the military, and a belief that he is the center of the world and all should bow before him.

    A few of my more favorite statements that he made:

    Unbeknownst to us, we were supposed to be carrying an additional form of ID.

    Right. I’m sure no one told him what was needed at the checkpoint. They must have just made up that second ID rule just for him.

    I was running late to cover a news conference (because one of my security folks was late for work), and we decided to take a short cut through the Green Zone, instead of driving all the way around to get to the Iraqi foreign minister’s office.

    Blame it all on security, of course, then take a shortcut.

    If we wanted to use our cell phones, we would have to make the far walk beyond the barricades and razor wire. We would have to put ourselves in danger by standing out in the middle of downtown Baghdad where I could become a potential target. (As required, I was wearing my body armour, despite the heat.)

    Poor guy was hot and couldn’t use his cell phone! He might have had to walk all the way to the razor wire! The Horror!

    With nothing to lose I decided to get pushy.

    I’m SURE the Marine was really worried about the wimpy reporter vs. the homicidal terrorists he usually has to worry about.

    if people like you

    Meaning idiot military guys who, I’m sure, he thinks are all high school dropouts.

    Why don’t you call? That’s your job, isn’t it?”

    Vs. protecting America and it’s citizens from Islamic Radicals.

    I hope this guy is fired…but he’ll more likely be promoted.

  34. #34
    On October 25th, 2007 at 10:16 am, JW2 said:

    That is classic. You couldn’t make that stuff up. I read through a good number of the comments…priceless. Not one person that didn’t think he was a little [expletive deleted] for his childish temper tantrum.

    I admit that I too am ignorant of this Knight Ridder. Is it something that people should know?

    As part of his assignment there, shouldn’t this “journalist” know the checkpoint ID requirements?

  35. #35
    On October 25th, 2007 at 10:26 am, Fco said:

    Never heard of this blog, but I like its readers.

  36. #36
    On October 25th, 2007 at 10:27 am, DirkBelig said:

    This reminds me of the old Bloom County strip. Opus was heading to Antarctica to find his mother and got caught up in the middle of the Falkland Islands war. He encounters a reporter when the following exchange takes place:

    * (off-panel voice) Halt! Friend or foe!

    * Press!

    * BANG! (reporter diving for cover)

  37. #37
    On October 25th, 2007 at 10:29 am, Yashmak said:

    MM did not report the story faithfully.

    Uh, yeah she did.

    She said a soldier asked him for ID. The guy himself says that happened. Furthermore, she posts a link to the guy’s own story.

    Nice try, lgm, complete miss.

  38. #38
    On October 25th, 2007 at 10:33 am, Kevin from Ohio in Virginia said:

    Funny how he derides the American by saying that he must have been a fan of “Night Rider.”

    The show was called “Knight Rider,” dummy. Hasselhoff’s character’s name was Michael Knight. Knight-Ridder must be really pleased with the thoroughness with which he does his job. I’m betting the intellectually inferior soldier could have proofread his story and pointed out the mistake to him.

  39. #39
    On October 25th, 2007 at 10:33 am, On-my-soap-box said:

    Maybe idiot of the year would be better. I am still casting my vote for Gerald-who for jerk of the year!

  40. #40
    On October 25th, 2007 at 10:33 am, JW2 said:

    lgm -

    Are you just loathe to participate in any thread if you can’t question MMs credibility and go against the majority here? I agree with Yashmak… I can’t see where “MM did not report the story faithfully.”

  41. #41
    On October 25th, 2007 at 10:33 am, Kevin from Ohio in Virginia said:

    PS. I was six back then, and it seemed cool at the time. Please don’t crucify me. :)

  42. #42
    On October 25th, 2007 at 10:35 am, ajmontana said:

    jw2, yashmak, dont feed the liberal turd troll please. 8)

  43. #43
    On October 25th, 2007 at 10:36 am, On-my-soap-box said:

    This one’s for feebz:

    Taze him bro!

  44. #44
    On October 25th, 2007 at 10:41 am, ajmontana said:

    The taze me bro was a wussy.

  45. #45
    On October 25th, 2007 at 10:44 am, JW2 said:

    Sorry aj. Sometimes I forget that you can’t ask serious questions and expect rational responses out of lgm.

    On a side note, I am waiting for watershed to jump in and turn this to a discussion of MM’s reporting.

  46. #46
    On October 25th, 2007 at 10:45 am, Monkeymom9901 said:

    As Mark Twain said “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.…”
    However, people like Bobby insist on removing that doubt daily, in addition to removing any doubt regarding their bias and self-imposed ignorance to reality…
    Looking for a silver lining from their debacles, perhaps we should be thankful that they have a propensity to do this - I mean where else can you find comedy of this magnitude?

  47. #47
    On October 25th, 2007 at 10:46 am, On-my-soap-box said:

    Seems so is this “Jerk of the year nominee”. Compare what he did to what Michelle did on her trip. I am sure Michelle would have (and did) comply with every request without acting self important.

    This guy could have been helped with a shock back into reality! IMHO

  48. #48
    On October 25th, 2007 at 10:50 am, ajmontana said:

    no need to apologize jw it’s actually none of my business. :)

  49. #49
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:08 am, 29Victor said:

    He sounds like some rich brat trying to intimidate one of his teachers.

    At the first check point beginning of class, a pair of Ugandan soldiers the assistant teacher asked for identification our homework. We showed our military-issued badges book report. Unbeknownst to us, we were supposed to be carrying an additional form of ID turn in our essays too.

    He asked for a passport my homework. I told him I didn’t have it on me. (The advice is to lock up your passport put your homework in your locker once in Baghdad school and never take it out until departing.) He asked for another form of ID a note from my folks, and I replied that I didn’t have anything else.

    The American soldier assigned by the U.S. military to oversee this particular checkpoint teacher came over to investigate the problem.

    He asked if I had a driver’s license the rough draft on me. I told him I didn’t have one. He looked incredulous. Why would I need a driver’s license rough draft in Baghdad class; I wouldn’t be driving writing, I told him.

    He took offense at my response.

    Then he looked at the second ID of my companion. It was a badge issued by our newspaper.I told him who my dad was. He said it wouldn’t do. Besides, he asked, who is Knight Ridder [insert rich guy's name here]?

    “I never heard of it him,” he said. He probably would have never heard of McClatchy, either. (We use Knight Ridder because it already had a bureau in Baghdad before the chain was bought by the McClatchy Co.) I use my “real” dad’s name (at least I think he’s my real dad) because he was a sentator once. But my mom got married again. The guy she married has more money than daddy but no one has ever heard of him.

    I explained that it’s one of the largest newspaper companies he’s one of the most powerful men in the United States. It He owns the Miami Herald, The Sacramento Bee, the Kansas City Star [insert appropriate businesses/acting awards here].

    “You never heard of Knight Ridder my daddy?”

    He didn’t want to be embarrassed. He already looked irritated. He asked me if I knew the number of the military’s media office daddy’s cell phone.

    “I would if you’d let me switch on my phone,” I snapped. … Why don’t you call? That’s your job, isn’t it?” I made it known that I was jotting down his name.

    My security man buddy was struggling with a smirk on his face. He knew my plan. I was going to bully my way back into the Green Zone class.

    The man with the gun teacher glowered as I continued my barrage of protests. The Ugandan soldiers were assistant teacher was oblivious to the commotion, despite the growing line behind me.

    the American soldier My teacher called another soldier on his radio the principal to ask if he had ever heard of “Knight Ridder daddy.”

    To my relief, the voice said that, yes, Knight Ridder daddy is one of the country’s biggest newspaper companies, that it owned many of the country’s largest newspapers rich and powerful and more important than this little pissant.

    The voice on the other side principal suggested that we be let through into class, …

    When you’ve got nothing to lose, I told my security officer buddy, you do what it takes. He nodded in agreement.

  50. #50
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:10 am, granite said:

    #46 Monkeymom9901:

    “As Mark Twain said ‘It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.…’”

    I thought Abe Lincoln said that.

    Regardless, good post.

  51. #51
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:15 am, JW2 said:

    #49 - Ha! I got a kick out of that.

  52. #52
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:15 am, Monkeymom9901 said:

    #50- thanks :)
    I will verify that, but I hope I credited the correct person- it is one of my favorite quotes and I always attribute it to Mark Twain…

  53. #53
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:17 am, JW2 said:

    #52 -

    Please let us know what you find. I always thought it was Twain, but I’ve also heard it attributed to Lincoln, Einstein, and even Groucho Marx.

  54. #54
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:19 am, ajmontana said:

    heres a link
    twain

  55. #55
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:20 am, DesertLover said:

    At least Little Bobby doesn’t have to worry about putting his foot in his mouth anymore … all he has to do from here on out is open his mouth and change feet …

  56. #56
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:21 am, conservativesRus said:

    #45 JW2 - I’ve given up trying to predict what our liberal commenters will come up with as their point of minutia to focus upon.

  57. #57
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:22 am, swj719AWG said:

    51 and 52

    Apparently no one knows for sure who said it.

    I always liked the old proverb “A closed mouth gathers no foot”…

  58. #58
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:24 am, Sanddog said:

    MM did not report the story faithfully.

    Actually, she did. I actually read the blog last night before the edits and prior to the comments being locked.

  59. #59
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:26 am, granite said:

    #49 29Victor:

    Outstanding!!!

  60. #60
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:26 am, right_on said:

    Bobby must have attended Cynthia Mac’s symposium on professional ethics…How to Treat Those Beneath You…otherwise known as the “Outta ‘da Way, Fool! lecture.

  61. #61
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:27 am, feebiebabe said:

    He continues, “I continued to get pushy. I asked him how could he not possibly know Knight Ridder. We’re bigger than the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times.”

    heh? honestly, never heard of him. good nomination Michelle. A title well earned!

  62. #62
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:27 am, granite said:

    #57 swj719AWG:

    “Apparently no one knows for sure who said it.”

    Hmmm…Can I claim it, then?!

  63. #63
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:28 am, conservativesRus said:

    guys - I heard the quote should be correctly attributed to Gore. I mean you only use the internet to look it up. Man it’s getting hot in here.

  64. #64
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:30 am, granite said:

    #45 JW2:

    “On a side note, I am waiting for ——— to jump in and turn this to a discussion of MM’s reporting.”

    The same thought occurred to me here and at another couple of threads.

  65. #65
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:30 am, 30 pcs of silver said:

    Superb #63!

  66. #66
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:32 am, 30 pcs of silver said:

    The “Jerk of the year” nominees keep growing, how about this a-hole.

    http://www.weaselzippers.net/blog/2007/10/ted-rall-death-.html

  67. #67
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:32 am, granite said:

    #63 conservativesRus:

    “guys - I heard the quote should be correctly attributed to Gore.”

    Of course!

    What casme over me?

    Thanks for the heads-up.

  68. #68
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:33 am, sivapragasam said:

    Charles at LGF has two awesome updates to this story here and here

  69. #69
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:34 am, granite said:

    Say, perhaps the “Jerk of the Year” award could take its palce next to Monty Python’s “Upper Class Twit of the Year” award.

    (Front Page Mag already beat me to that bon mot.)

  70. #70
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:35 am, ttevolla said:
  71. #71
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:35 am, granite said:

    place, rather.

    I type too fast.
    I type too fast.
    I type too fast….

  72. #72
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:36 am, sivapragasam said:

    Oops, had to correct the URL Link.
    Charles at LGF has two awesome updates to this story here and here

  73. #73
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:39 am, DesertLover said:

    “Jerk of the Year Award” … how about instead we resurrect Laugh-In’s …

    “Flying Fickle Finger of Fate Award”

  74. #74
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:44 am, Surveyor said:

    swj719AWG said: I always liked the old proverb “A closed mouth gathers no foot”…

    or the directions: “open mouth…insert foot”

    yea, where is waterhead anyway? lgm…go wake waterhead up off the couch…the day’s-a-waistin’!

  75. #75
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:46 am, jbirish said:

    I was just absolutely AMAZED by the comments on his blog! EVERYBODY, as one body of censure. Way to go fellow Americans!

  76. #76
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:48 am, 29Victor said:

    granite
    #59 thanks
    #64 don’t tempt the fates

    right_on #60

    How to Treat Those Beneath You

    LOL!!

  77. #77
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:49 am, DesertLover said:

    Surveyor said:

    “open mouth…insert foot”

    you missed the most important part of the instructions …

    “chew vigorously” …

    just thought I would help you out there …

  78. #78
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:49 am, TimDenchanter said:

    Okay, pardon my cluelesness, everybody, but:

    Who or What the $#%& is Knight Ridder?

    When I first saw the title,
    I thought this was some blogger
    who couldn’t get the KnightRider handle
    because it was already taken.

    (just like TimTheEnchanter is usually taken)

  79. #79
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:53 am, granite said:

    #78 TimDenchanter:

    “There are some that call me…Tim.”

    LOL!

    Knight Ridder is, I believe, a press conglomerate, in the way Hearst Publications, or Newsweek/Washington Post (do I have that right?), is.

  80. #80
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:56 am, Surveyor said:

    Thanks DL! :)

  81. #81
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:57 am, Clyde said:

    I can’t top the 197 people who commented on Calvan’s blog post, I can only agree with them.

    It’s people like him that make me skeptical and somewhat contemptuous of the MSM.

  82. #82
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:59 am, 29Victor said:

    Today’s class is going to be about Irony:

    Irony is when you criticize what someone else has written because it criticizes someone else’s writing.

    Thanks for the excellent example in #75 jbirish. If you would like to do some extra credit you could read #46 quietly to yourself.

  83. #83
    On October 25th, 2007 at 12:00 pm, DesertLover said:

    granite and TimDenchanter

    Knight Ridder was an American media company, specializing in newspaper and Internet publishing. It was bought by The McClatchy Company on June 27, 2006. At that time it was the second-largest newspaper publisher in the United States, with 32 daily newspapers.

    It was noted in someone’s post that if this guy still is using Knight Ridder press credentials he should have been turned away because they are bogus since the company no longer exists.

  84. #84
    On October 25th, 2007 at 12:05 pm, JohnHolliday said:

    #18 - If this nimrod reported something like this to the military authorities, the soldier would probably get called into an office and given some kudos for being vigilent.

    This is pretty similar to what my sergeant told me when I started working for the local police dept when I was in high school. He always said, “If I don’t get complaints about you, you’re not doing your job.”

    #9 - There is a scene in an old Gregory Peck movie called “12 O’Clock High” where he plays a General and he drives into an air base where the guy at the gate just waved him on in and he stopped and told the guy he could have been a Nazi…

    You are absolutely right. The guard did not check the General’s AGO card and got lambasted for it. My father flew B-17s with “The Mighty Eighth” and security was very stringent. You couldn’t even mention the airbase name. The personnel just used the name of the station stop for the local train. “Loose lips sink ships” and all. In this case, one B-17 bomber gets shot down and 10 men die.

    This moron from the media doesn’t understand security. He just thinks the public has the right to know everything. No, we don’t. Not at the expense of wasting the lives of already-endangered soldiers. Mr. “More Equal Than You” Reporter needs to get a clue.

  85. #85
    On October 25th, 2007 at 12:05 pm, Monkeymom9901 said:

    After extensive research, #63 is correct- it was Al Gore who spoke these famous words initially, however he quickly reneged his claim for making such statement after several aides and family members brought to his attention that the statement is indeed applicable to Al, and that most people feel he is referring to himself with said statement.
    (for watershed and the ilk, this preceding is called sarcasm- however IF I carried a press card for one of the MSM outlets, THEN it would be true of course…)
    Otherwise, my apologies to all, including, Twain and Lincoln…I am finding that it is attributable to both gentlemen…and if I research long enough probably Gore too :)

  86. #86
    On October 25th, 2007 at 12:07 pm, 30 pcs of silver said:

    #78, same here.

    Bobby boy has a chip on his shoulder. He forgot where he was and who he was speaking to. And in the momentary lapse, he treated a Marine like he would have treated a waiter at a restaurant.

    He is a pretentious prick, who I wish had his clock cleaned by the very Marine he disrespected.

    But the beauty of it is, the Marine didn’t even bother to waist his precious energy. Instead the whole exchange turned into comic relief for the soldier…that’s priceless.

    I wouldn’t put it past Bobby boy to have wanted the soldier to “straigthen him out.” So, he could play the victim and paint our troops in a bad light.

  87. #87
    On October 25th, 2007 at 12:13 pm, DesertLover said:

    On a more positive note … just shows how well the efforts of our brave military members is going in Iraq … the MSM reporters are so bored that they have to try to manufacture this kind of crap-ola just to have anything to submit as a story … after all … we can’t have these fools reporting anything positive is going on … can we? …

  88. #88
    On October 25th, 2007 at 12:22 pm, granite said:

    As has been said before, elsewhere:

    Deaths in Iraq way down = no news.

    (A paraphrase, to be sure)

    (Sigh….)

  89. #89
    On October 25th, 2007 at 12:44 pm, 29Victor said:

    30 pcs of silver

    But the beauty of it is, the Marine didn’t even bother to waist his precious energy.

    Exactly… That’s how I can find humor in stories like this. I can imagine what was going through the Marine’s mind while all of this was going on. But he was disciplined enough not to act on his impulses.

    And the writer is too dense to realize when he’s in the presence of his betters. He mouths off to a Marine who is doing his job protecting his and everyone else’s safety, and then is such a pretentious moron that he goes and writes about the incident in such a way that he earns the scorn of thousands.

    Which one is honorable, courageous and disciplined?

    Which one is whiney, pushy and just plain stupid?

    I would like to read an article written by the Marine about lefty reporters who are unable to follow simple instructions and ask stupid, stupid questions like “Why would I need a driver’s license in Baghdad?”
    Of course my story would end with a butt stroke to the head.

  90. #90
    On October 25th, 2007 at 12:49 pm, Monkeymom9901 said:

    Bobby = ZERO class
    Our troops = Nothing but class

  91. #91
    On October 25th, 2007 at 12:51 pm, LarryD said:

    And in the momentary lapse, he treated a Marine like he would have treated a waiter at a restaurant.

    I have to wonder, just how much of a “momentary lapse” that behavior is for Mr. Calvan.

    Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Diagnostic Criteria:

    9. Shows arrogant, haughty, patronizing, or contemptuous behaviors or attitudes.

    Translation: They treat other people like dirt.

  92. #92
    On October 25th, 2007 at 12:53 pm, 30 pcs of silver said:

    Well said 29 Victor, well said.

  93. #93
    On October 25th, 2007 at 12:58 pm, 30 pcs of silver said:

    LarryD, trying to give him the benefit of the doubt as I hoped he wouldn’t be stupid enough to bring that false “bravado” to a place where true bravery reigns…

    I agree, he is a narcissistic pig.

  94. #94
    On October 25th, 2007 at 1:00 pm, ajmontana said:

    monkeymom theres a link to one site that twain said it at comment #54. 8)

  95. #95
    On October 25th, 2007 at 1:02 pm, Pulchritudinous Patriot said:

    The comment section of his post was a work of art. Some of the comments had me laughing so loudly that my co-workers were asking questions. I shall have to finish reading them tonight at home. My cat likes it when I laugh.

  96. #96
    On October 25th, 2007 at 1:03 pm, swj719AWG said:

    Calvan was hoisted by his own petard.

    At the very least, he sure acted petarded…

  97. #97
    On October 25th, 2007 at 1:06 pm, Monkeymom9901 said:

    AJ- thanks- I did check that site and several others- statistically, more sites give credit to Twain than they do Lincoln…we could wait to see how Al Gore weighs in (no pun intended- heh heh) on the issue…or we can run with Twain, as I have always attributed ;)

  98. #98
    On October 25th, 2007 at 1:06 pm, ajmontana said:

    maybe geraldo and olberman can adopt him.

  99. #99
    On October 25th, 2007 at 1:06 pm, swj719AWG said:

    “Don’t you know who I am”

    “Yes, you’re the God-Damned Batman. Now show me some ID”

  100. #100
    On October 25th, 2007 at 1:07 pm, ajmontana said:

    ROFL swj….hahahhahaahahahhaha

  101. #101
    On October 25th, 2007 at 1:08 pm, granite said:

    #97 Monkeymom9901:

    Thanks for the tip, folks.

  102. #102
    On October 25th, 2007 at 1:08 pm, ajmontana said:

    still laughing.

  103. #103
    On October 25th, 2007 at 1:11 pm, Monkeymom9901 said:

    #98– Yeah, but we have already done the three stooges…

  104. #104
    On October 25th, 2007 at 1:16 pm, ajmontana said:

    but not the three crapweasels… :lol:

  105. #105
    On October 25th, 2007 at 1:20 pm, Monkeymom9901 said:

    aj- I see the potential for a new reality show…kind of MSM meets Jackass…

  106. #106
    On October 25th, 2007 at 1:26 pm, DesertLover said:

    Monkeymom9901

    sorry … that reality show would never work … you wouldn’t be able to tell the players apart even with a program … :lol:

  107. #107
    On October 25th, 2007 at 1:32 pm, Monkeymom9901 said:

    DesertLover- you are sooooo correct- maybe more like an updated version of Jackass?

  108. #108
    On October 25th, 2007 at 1:35 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    The Marine was probably thinking the same thing Condi Rice was probably thinking yesterday, “Can I just taz this moron and be done with it?”

  109. #109
    On October 25th, 2007 at 1:55 pm, ArmywifeArmymom said:

    Nope. I have never heard of Night Ridder either. I guess I had better pass this along to my son so that he doesn’t offend any pretentious and pompous media staff!

  110. #110
    On October 25th, 2007 at 1:59 pm, DesertLover said:

    ArmywifeArmymom

    too late … they no longer are in business … if he encounters them I hope he takes them in custody …

    check my post # 83

  111. #111
    On October 25th, 2007 at 2:03 pm, meatsss said:

    Was he doing his best John Kerry imitation of “You don’t know who I am?”

  112. #112
    On October 25th, 2007 at 2:06 pm, DesertLover said:

    Wanted to update the quote we keep knocking around today …

    It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool full of crap than to open it and remove all doubt.…

  113. #113
    On October 25th, 2007 at 2:36 pm, gunslingerpatriot said:

    I think he was doing his best Cynthia Mckinney imitation with a little zza gabor mixed in just short of the mandatory two slaps of a policeman.

    GSP :)

  114. #114
    On October 25th, 2007 at 2:52 pm, trinitytim said:

    Somewhat off topic, but a little related because of their both “Jerks”.

    The cops that tazed the guy at UF have been cleared and Bro has been charged with Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest. :roll:

  115. #115
    On October 25th, 2007 at 3:06 pm, DesertLover said:

    that’s good news tim …

  116. #116
    On October 25th, 2007 at 3:12 pm, swj719AWG said:

    Nice!

    Now how about those smearing “satirists” at the university who spread those fake IFAW posters?

  117. #117
    On October 25th, 2007 at 3:13 pm, conservativesRus said:

    I’ve heard the Clintons believe it was Al Gore who said that although it depends on what the meaning of better is.

  118. #118
    On October 25th, 2007 at 4:27 pm, blues said:

    Thanks to doc weasel for pointing out one more example of “they just don’t get it”.In their e-mails,Calvan acknowledges that posting the story was stupid,but doesn’t get that posting it doesn’t make him an asshole-his actions and attitude make him an asshole.The Liberal mindset doesn’t allow for anything resembling common sense or common courtesy.
    29Victor–”butt stroke to the head”–my thoughts exactly.

  119. #119
    On October 25th, 2007 at 4:33 pm, blues said:

    This clown must be related to Olbermann.

  120. #120
    On October 25th, 2007 at 4:37 pm, swj719AWG said:

    He suffers from a chronic case of cranial/anal inversion.

  121. #121
    On October 25th, 2007 at 4:52 pm, ajmontana said:

    Isn’t Calvan one of the Chipmunks?

  122. #122
    On October 25th, 2007 at 5:52 pm, Redog70 said:

    That was the most amusing blog i have read in ages, Thanks Bob!
    True life is deffo stranger than fiction.
    sarc> Ehim a reporter don’t you know! /sarc>

  123. #123
    On October 25th, 2007 at 7:03 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    blog Calvan, blog!

  124. #124
    On October 25th, 2007 at 11:35 pm, swj719AWG said:

    Calvan has reposted the original post (with the comments, but has locked it (perhaps for the best).

    He’s also posted an appology. I have a comment awaiting moderation that I hope everyone would take the time to read and honestly consider.

    And prove “Been There” wrong, and give him a second chance.

  125. #125
    On October 26th, 2007 at 12:36 am, 29Victor said:

    It was a pretty good appology, it was a lot more than most people do (hint…hint…Fauxchamp), but it kind of reminded me of The Simpsons episode 919 where Homer discovers that he can be forgiven for pretty much anything if he just says “it’s my first day.”

  126. #126
    On October 26th, 2007 at 6:45 am, maine yankee said:

    Anybody care to drop a line to this kid’s bureau chief in bagdad ?

    http://washingtonbureau.typepad.com/baghdad/

    He’s also a staff writer for a california newspaper(what a surprise)

    the managing editor’s E-mail;

    jterhaar@sacbee.com jterhaar@sacbee.com

    Or you can contact him directly;

    bcalvan@sacbee.com

  127. #127
    On October 26th, 2007 at 12:16 pm, dmartin said:

    Who’s Knight Ridder?

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