Video- Anderson Cooper goes step by step thru Birther b.s.

Video- CNN's Rick Sanchez Thinks Iceland Is ‘Too Cold’ For Volcanoes

American media at it's finest. Via.

David Shuster may not be back on air for remainder of contract

By GottaLaff

I was just witness to Pat Buchanan defending slavery on MSNBC (I'll post the video when it becomes available). Yes, resident Old White Racist Punditiot Guy still has regular work as contributor while David Shuster gets the cold shoulder for shooting a CNN pilot before his contract with MSNBC was up in December.

I guess contractual issues trump despicable ratings-inducers:

Now that David Shuster has been suspended indefinitely by MSNBC, it looks like he may not be back on the air for the remainder of his contract – up at the end of this year.

The pilot that led to his MSNBC demise was just the latest in a series of run-ins with management.

According to Mediaite, Shuster also got into a scrape or two over at ClusterFox when he erased one of Rita Cosby's scripts about the disbarring of President Clinton.

Whether David is guilty of these things or not (which I do not condone), we do know one thing: Buchanan's disdain for anyone who doesn't look like him is egregious enough to pull him off the air permanently. Where is the logic?

And where is the logic in CNN's exposing their viewers to RedState's Erick Erickson?

I mean other than jacking up ratings at any cost. I mean other than money. I mean other than selling out.

Never mind.

VIDEO- CNN's Kyra Phillips: ‘Is homosexuality a problem in need of a cure?’

By GottaLaff

Remember this interview from The Rachel Maddow Show a few months ago?

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Let's compare and contrast Rachel to Kyra's.

Via Raw Story:

To be fair, the CNN anchor poses the question in the context of discussing a 1950s-era California law which requires health experts to seek a "cure" for gayness. But the segment elevates discredited author Richard Cohen as a serious defender of the law despite the fact he was kicked out of the American Counseling Organization and practices without a license of any kind.

Here's the video of one of CNN's Best Political News Team on Television:

Rachel probes while Kyra... well, she works for CNN. She gives someone credibility where there is none.

MSNBC Could Keep David Shuster Off the Air Indefinitely

Ugh, I'm not awake enough to think this thru, but thought you guys should know. A lot of people over in the comments at Media Bistro seem to think this leaves an in for Lawrence O'Donnell. Don't really like sacrificing one good one for another, but hey, there's still no caffeine in my veins yet.

MSNBC bad boy David Shuster may be on his third strike.

Shuster won't be on the air today for his 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. shows, according to MSNBC insiders. Whether he returns before his contract expires in December is up for debate.

Shuster's last appearance was at 10 a.m. Friday. MSNBC boss Phil Griffin pulled him from his 3 p.m. gig after learning, via The New York Observer, that the anchor had recently shot a pilot for CNN without having informed his bosses.

Griffin, vacationing in Florida, ripped Shuster a new one over the phone, network sources say. A repeat performance is expected today in the office.

VIDEO- Mid-level Fox executive: "Whatever will sell is what we have to say." CNN just as guilty.

By GottaLaff

Just. Watch:



Slightly paraphrased:

"A majority of people at the middle level at Fox News don't believe a word of what they are saying."

Why are you saying it? "Whatever will sell is what we have to say."

Many staffers are considered "left wing", but if they found a message that would sell, the opposite of what they believe, they would do so. That's the Rupert Murdoch way.

Glenn Beck is only as good as his sponsorship. His message doesn't play into Fox News, and he's losing national sponsors, leaving only local, low-paying sponsors. (Thank you, StopBeck).

So how useful is Beck to ClusterFox? He's not. They're selling propaganda to sell products.

From the middle level executive's point of view, there is no political objective at Fox News [sic]. People are stupid enough to believe what they say, and ClusterFox reaps the benefits.

"They'll tell you whatever they sell, and they're only as good as their sponsorship.... at the national expense."

"They're a little annoyed at Ann Coulter... and Glenn Beck."

"CNN is just as guilty as Fox News of being an engine of propaganda... generating fear..." (regarding terrorism)

"News agencies are dangerous to freedom and liberty."

From the horse's mouth.

H/t: t_spano

David Shuster To Be “Punished” By MSNBC If He Filmed CNN Pilot

By GottaLaff

This will answer the questions I've been getting on Twitter. Yes, he's M.I.A., and yes, the two issues were connected. This is in reference to my earlier post about David Shuster's filming a pilot for CNN.

MSNBC didn't approve. He's grounded:

David Shuster isn’t anchoring his 3pmET hour – which is significant, because he was there for his 10amET hour.

It appears Shuster may be in the MSNBC doghouse again after reports he shot a CNN pilot recently, which apparently happened without his MSNBC bosses knowing.

There are a few more details at the link.

David keeps getting in hot water over there. He's had his Twitter account yanked (it's still up, last I looked, but he's not allowed to use it), and he's had a couple of other run-ins with the powers that be at MSNBC.

He's too good to lose. Someone will snatch him up, and it's too bad MSNBC hasn't (apparently) treated him with the respect he deserves, despite the, er, scrapes he gets into. From what I've seen, he's done nothing egregious, he's one of their best, and they should be rewarding him for his good work.

UPDATE: His website, which was up two hours ago, has been removed.

You can contact MSNBC here.

H/t: MADNews101

Report: David Shuster taped CNN pilot

By GottaLaff

Oh how I wish David Shuster would stay at MSNBC. I try to avoid the Worst Political News Team on Television as often as possible. I really don't want a reason to tune into CNN unless I have to.

Now I may have to:

CNN has shot a pilot for a new news show featuring MSNBC anchor David Shuster, the New York Observer's Felix Gillette reports.

According to Gillette's report, Shuster and NPR host Michel Martin co-anchor the news show pilot, which "also featured medical and opinion segments, and included appearances by several current CNN contributors, including [Reuters Global Editor at Large] Chrystia Freeland...and Jeffrey Toobin of The New Yorker."

Now if there is one thing I know, it's the Tee Vee Machine. This pilot is a toe in the water and no guarantee of anything. But it is clear that David is thinking about a move, and CNN is entertaining the idea, too.

Gee, if he does end up there, maybe they'll allow him to start tweeting again.

At least that would be a perk for the Twitterverse.

H/t: MADPolitics101

CNN Fails to Stop Fall in Ratings

By GottaLaff

Let's see now... CNN gets desperate and hires Erick Erickson. If you don't know who that is, here is a reminder from a previous post:

That was then.

This is now:

Health Care Suicide Bombers — Open Thread

Posted by Erick Erickson (Profile)

Saturday, March 13th at 7:34PM EST

33 Comments

Precisely.

Some things never change.

Yes, that's who CNN hired to prop up their sagging ratings.

They might want to rethink their strategy:

CNN continued what has become a precipitous decline in ratings for its prime-time programs in the first quarter of 2010, with its main hosts losing almost half their viewers in a year. [...]

[Larry] King, whose show has been regularly eclipsed by Rachel Maddow’s on MSNBC (and is almost quadrupled by Sean Hannity’s show on Fox), is now threatened by a new host, Joy Behar on HLN (formerly Headline News.)

If by inviting RedState to the family, they're trying to compete with Fox, that won't end well either:

At the same time, Fox News, which had its biggest year in 2009, continues to add viewers. Greta Van Susteren’s show was up 25 percent from a year earlier. Bill O’Reilly, whose show commands the biggest audience in prime time with 3.65 million viewers, was up 28 percent, and Glenn Beck was up 50 percent from a year earlier.

Maybe if hotels, restaurants, etc. would carry MSNBC, we might see some real competition.

Sorry state of affairs all around.

Poll-itics: The truth about health care reform poll numbers

By GottaLaff

I do believe I've posted about this very thing twice today. Here are the latest numbers:

A new CNN poll finds that Americans oppose the current health care reform plan passed by Congess, 59 to 39%.

However, parsing the numbers shows that many of those against the plan actually oppose it because "it is not liberal enough." In fact, 52% of Americans either support the current legislation or think it should be more liberal, while only 43% oppose the plan saying it is "too liberal."

However, no matter what I post, or what CNN posts, or what you read, the not-at-all-biased media will continue to push the lie that America disapproves of the health care bill.

They must really thrive on drama. And drama creates ratings. But still...

Now why else would they continue their shoddy reporting? Think.. think...

Who sponsors their shows...?

BREAKING: Dems say they have 216 votes to pass health bill

Please oh please.

Washington (CNN) - Democrats have the 216 votes needed to pass health care reform legislation in the House on Sunday, the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus told CNN.

"This is a historic day and we are happy warriors," Rep. John Larson, D-Connecticut, told CNN's "State of the Union." He added, "We've got the votes."

On NBC's "Meet the Press," House Minority Leader John Boehner said, "This fight is not lost yet."

Video- RNC Chairman Michael Steele calls CBO health care numbers "a lie"

Watch Steele dance. Via Think Progress.

Christiane Amanpour Leaves CNN to Host ABC's 'This Week'

Why a classy reporter like Amanpour would want to hook up with ABC, especially in the light of finding out that they paid that white trash "grieving mom" Casey Anthony $200k for an interview?

First on TVNewser: CNN's Christiane Amanpour is leaving CNN and will become the new anchor of ABC News' "This Week" TVNewser has learned. ABC News staff was informed internally Thursday afternoon.

She will begin with "This Week" in August, and Jake Tapper will fill-in until then. The show will continue to be shot in Washington at the Newseum. There are no staff changes announced at this time.

In the last few weeks, Amanpour had been rumored to be in talks with ABC for the job, and FishbowlDC reported Monday that ABC News had made the long-time CNN host an offer.

Rep. Patrick Kennedy: “There would be no coverage had I not raised my voice"

By GottaLaff



Original post of this video here.

Boyoboy does Patrick Kennedy nail it. Unless we scream louder than the next guy, get a little theatrical, wave our arms, and make our point emphatically, nobody seems to hear us (which by the way, is the reason I started the Blunt webisodes):

“I understand there’s a certain amount of political theater and opportunity, and the press only covers it if you will raise your voice,” Kennedy said. “There would be no coverage had I not raised my voice, and there needed to be coverage or else it would have been drowned out.”

I find it ironic that Kennedy had to resort to screaming for a little coverage of his excellent points, but RedState's Erick Erickson will get all the free publicity he can hope for over at CNN, now that he's hooked up with TWPNTOTV!!!*

*The Worst Political News Team on Television

RedState's Erick Erickson joins CNN: TWPNTOTV!!!*

By GottaLaff

When CNN had its old Sunday line-up, I used to post a regular feature that mocked them just as regularly.

They call themselves "The Best Political Team on Television." I referred to them as TBPNTOTV!!!... with three exclamation points to emphasize their emphasis on emphasizing their over-emphasized self-importance and self-congratulatory smugness.

I also tried to expose their not-exactly-fair-and-balanced approach.

And I used lots of snarky !!!!!!!!!!!!! Lots.

Just when I thought they couldn't get any worse:

Prominent conservative commentator and RedState.com editor Erick Erickson will join CNN as a political contributor, appearing primarily on CNN's new show John King, USA¸ the network announced Tuesday. [...]

"Joining CNN is like coming home, and being in Atlanta makes the decision right for me and my family," Erickson said in a statement.

Erick the Red feels as if he's "coming home" to CNN. That pretty much says it all.

Under Erickson's leadership, RedState.com has become the preeminent right of center community online. [...]

"Erick's a perfect fit for John King, USA, because not only is he an agenda-setter whose words are closely watched in Washington, but as a person who still lives in small-town America, Erick is in touch with the very people John hopes to reach," said Sam Feist, CNN political director and vice president of Washington-based programming.

So he's "in touch". That's the definition of "in touch": Erick the Red Erickson. That's how CNN's political director feels, that Erick is the "in touch" go-to guy.

Erick.

RedState.

Erickson.

Sam Feist, you are woefully out of touch.

And CNN has now hit bottom. Officially. Out of touch, out of mind.

CNN: TWPNTOTV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*



*The WORST Political News Team on Television, with unlimited exclamation points.

UPDATE: Joeyess reminds me of a post I did back in 2009. Here's a sample:

And this is the unit insignia of the RedState Army's Strike Force:

Like many chickenhawks who struggle with what it means to be a man in the modern era, Erickson and the "soldiers" in his budding "Strike Force" have again tried to imitate serving in the military without actually having to don a uniform, pick up a weapon, or sacrifice much of anything at all.

Could that be any more embarrassing? Or offensive? Or childish? Or presumptuous?

And here's a photo that should have been included, of a typical soldier:


There. Now you're all updated.

VIDEO: Wolf Blitzer's apology

By GottaLaff

I've been posting a lot about this lately:

And by "this" I mean not only CNN's ClusterFoxy chyron, but Liz "Dickette" Cheney's offensive campaign to paint federal lawyers as terrorist sympathizers, Countdown's analysis, as well as Rachel Maddow's superb mockery of Dickette's twisted efforts.

But the "this" of the moment is the issue of the tasteless CNN chyron you see in the screen grab above.

Wolf got the message:



Too little too late?

Video- CNN spends 8 minutes asking if DOJ lawyers are "disloyal"

Glenn Greenwald rips 'em a new one over this here. Via Media Matters.

PhotOh! CNN's clusterFox

By GottaLaff

Via TPM, we get more evidence of CNN's carefully chosen chyron wording as proof of their increasing ClusterFoxitude.

"Dept. of Jihad" was referring to the GOP's attacks on Obama's Justice Department.

I wonder if, while Wolf was busy "reporting" that story, he remembered that the attorneys who are being smeared were presenting cases about habeas corpus and challenging the legality of military commissions in front of the Supreme Court, not defending clients... which they wouldn't be doing there anyway.

No, they were advocating for Constitutional rights, and hey, guess what? The Supreme Court justices agreed with them. Imagine that.

Seems the Jihadists were wearing black robes... all nine of them.

VIDEOS- Obama's health care summit: CNN v. Daily Show

By GottaLaff

CNN:



Now let's see the same summit through Jon Stewart's eyes:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Bipartisan Health Care Reform Summit 2010
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Vancouverage 2010

My favorite moment comes at about 5:40. I want that audio as a ringtone so-o-o badly.

CNN Poll: Majority think government is broken

Weird, I went to the PDF and it seems this is the only result they're putting out right now, question #37. Would be nice if they put out the whole survey.

Washington (CNN) - Americans overwhelmingly think that the government in this country is broken, according to a new national poll. But the CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey, released Sunday morning, also indicates that the public overwhelmingly holds out hope that what's broken can be fixed.

Eighty-six percent of people questioned in the poll say that our system of government is broken, with 14 percent saying no. Of that 86 percent, 81 percent say that the government can be fixed, with 5 percent saying it's beyond repair.

(snip)

The number of Americans who think the government is broken has grown eight points since 2006. "That increase is highest among higher-income Americans and people who live in rural areas," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Maybe it's just a coincidence, but those are the groups that make up the bulk of the Tea Party activists today."