Trump Inauguration Ratings Second Biggest in 36 Years

MSG (Join to see) - So, your short answer is "Yes, there were more people at the 2009 inauguration." That's what I was looking for.

That being said, and accepted by both of us, regardless of the reasons, doesn't that make it a complete fabrication by the White House Press Secretary to say the opposite of that?

Like I said, the numbers don't really matter to me - it's the lying about the numbers that matters.

Not really, I am saying I can understand where there would most likely be more. While there appears to be more, I was not there and can not say for certain. From your bio, it doesn't look like you were there either.
Additionally, I have seen photos that I have shown you where the amount of people in attendance is drastically more than what the media was reporting which would confirm that the media is lying wouldn't you agree?
Another thing, wouldn't you also agree that there is no evidence showing people were being prevented from attending the 2009 Inauguration while there is ample evidence that they were being prevented from attending the 2017?
I think the media's refusal to admit to their open bias and lying is cause for national concern and is the reason why Trump's admin is pushing back.

MSG (Join to see) - The media has always had a bias - all of them - and will continue to do so. The media has no real obligation to be unbiased - the media works for $ and is accountable to shareholders. The government SHOULD be unbiased. It is a government for the people. So, I will absolutely hold a the government, and it's spokespeople, to a higher standard than I do media. *I* know the media is biased. I filter my reading/listening of their news based on the biases I recognize that they have.

The American people should not be required to filter the official government position based on any biases.

So, short version - yes, the media is biased. I expect that. I would be concerned if the President is going to continue to spend inordinate amounts of time dissecting every news story for bias and making counter-arguments that are equally dubious.

MAJ Bryan Zeski - I agree with you on all points. My long term concern is the press abrogated their duty to thoroughly investigate and report the truth. In essence, own the story. They failed to investigate wrongdoings in the Obama administration and to call them in obvious false statements such as having had no scandals. They failed to investigate the Clinton/DNC emails and related issues of influence pandering. They gave one sided stories on Trump continuously, some rightfully, and some with made up stories based on opinion posts or unproven data. It seems the media is stuck in a campaign confrontation loop as evidenced by the CNN reporter and Trump exchange. The reporter seemed to think Trump owed him talk time which has never been the case with any President.
The trust level between both is low and I don't see it improving anytime soon. While the administration has a duty to put out honest information, the news media has an equal responsibility to report it honestly, if not, other news agencies would love to take their place.
Final. I read an interesting article about the reason why news articles have become so slanted even when the news media is respected. It has everything to do with the reporters they are hiring. Many at New York times, Washington Post, CNN, and more are hiring left leaning journalists who report based on their world view.

Amen, brother.