Why do I read Newsweek?

I never buy Newsweek, because frankly I find most the of the articles unbalance and bias. Today while at the gym in my cooling down phase I decided to read the May 1 edition. One of the reporters Jonathan Alter had and article touting his new book on FDR as a news article. The problem with the article is he used to promote his book and to ridicule George W. Bush and his policies. A person can objectively analyze the policies of the current administration, but you will not find that in this article.

He immediately makes a comparison that both President want to have more power in the executive, but FDR never circumvented Congress to conduct illegal wiretapping. One, that statement is not accurate and many legal scholars state the under the Constitution the President does have the power to conduct such surveillance and even if not under the Constitution the act passed by Congress allows the President to conduct any means necessary to prosecute the war not in contravention of FISA. (There are many more legal arguments I will not get into regarding this matter.) Two, Mr. Alter would like to ignore the evidence that FDR did have his own extensive wiretapping program in place without the knowledge of Congress.

He also alluded to FDR being secretive, yet being informed from capable individuals. He even cited Halliburton and war profiteering and how he appointed Truman to investigate. I hardly think a company making about 5% on a contract is war profiteering, but remember Cheney once and insider of the company. The one thing Alter did not mention was FDR was so secretive that he failed to include and prepared the Vice President to effective lead the nation in the time of war. When FDR died , Truman was unaware of most of the major development in the war including agreements between the allies and most importantly the Atomic bomb. You would think that the measure of greatness of a President is assure the American people that they would have an informed and smooth transition in power, which FDR did not.

This just an example of lazy reporting in order to promote the liberal media's agenda. Although, a reporters article can be mostly factual just look at what, how, and the words they write in their stories and it will give a way their bias. Mr. Alter has constantly bashed Bush with out giving a balance approach. Yes, if you have an honest criticism of the President's policy and present all sides as an objective reporter, instead of the facade of objectivity.