Note to Punditiots: Gulf oil disaster is NOT "Obama's Katrina"

By GottaLaff

In an earlier post, I mentioned how some in the media (Gee, guess who?) are pushing the meme that the Gulf oil catastrophe is "Obama's Katrina". Wrong. It's a memorable catch phrase, but it's inaccurate, to say the least. But that won't stop them from perpetuating the lies. It never has, it never will.

While BP was the first responder, the Coast Guard reacted right away to the situation and deployed 70 vessels and 1 million feet of boom for possible service, Napolitano said.

Salazar noted that the Obama administration has ordered inspections of "blowout preventers" on other Gulf rigs. The government's job was to "keep the boot on the neck" of BP to ensure it meets its obligations in stopping the spill, dealing with the oil slick and paying for all costs and damages.

President Obama is on his way:

President Obama headed to Louisiana on Sunday to see for himself the growing oil slick from a damaged offshore well that threatens the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Compare that to this memory jogger, "A Tale of Two Photos":

As for the meme, maybe this will help, Via Greg Sargent:

Michael Shear counts the ways that the Gulf oil spill isn’t Katrina:

The gulf oil spill is no Katrina, in which 1,836 people died amid the near total devastation of one of America’s great cities…

Unlike Katrina, there has been no obvious failures of government, no images to compare to the Superdome or the flooded streets of St. Bernard Parish. And unlike Katrina, there is an easy target for blame in the current oil spill: the oil giant BP, which by law is the “responsible party” and must pay for all of the costs of the cleanup.

However, if you are a Rushpublic, it's all Obama's fault. So is that paper cut I just got, according to them.... And that flat tire that caused gridlock on the 101 freeway, along with global warming, terrorism, locusts, Vanilla Ice's career, and Trump's hair.

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.

Poll-itics: Voters prefer brains to boots

By GottaLaff

Of course, the Big Recession is all President Obama's fault. That's why he polls 10 points ahead of Bush:

In case you were wondering, a new Zogby/Newsmax poll shows President Obama would beat George W. Bush in a hypothetical match up, 48% to 38%.

Said Zogby: "Despite the turbulent crises that face Barack Obama and the sense of dashed expectations that Americans, especially independents and moderates, feel, he still handily defeats George W. Bush in a face-off."

As I type this, I'm listening to Howard Fineman and Chris Matthews compare the Obama White House to a sputtering car with its muffler dragging on the road.

Looks like the punditiots are looking under the wrong hood.

Doonesbury: Punditiot edition

By GottaLaff

It's nearly Oscar time, when I disappear into Tinsel Townitude. Meanwhile:

(Click on image to enlarge)

VIDEO: Kristol meth

By GottaLaff

Via Think Progress:




How nice that Mr. Liz is comfortable. Too bad about the rest of us, huh?

But on to William K...

Apparently, you can be a ClusterFox punditiot without having to do any homework on the subject at hand.

Who does he think he is, Sarah McDimWitty? What a meth.

Election 2012: Meet the CandiPundit

By GottaLaff

Everything has turned into a reality show. This time the ultimate prize is becoming the leader of the free world:

The New York Times looks at the television of punditry of Newt Gingrich, Mike Huckabee and Sarah Palin and notes it could be a list of 2012 presidential contenders.

"Television and politics have always been intertwined, but never to this degree, TV executives and journalism professionals say. It would seem that the so-called revolving door for political operatives has been extended to the politicians themselves, at a time when cable news is more politically charged than ever."

"To viewers, it seems to be an endless televised political campaign, with former, and possibly future, politicians biding their time giving sound-bite versions of stump speeches."

Punditiots gone wild.

Obama Will Reaffirm Committment to Reform

By GottaLaff

He'll also focus on jobs and education, per MSNBC:

President Obama will "reiterate his commitment to a comprehensive overhaul of the nation's health care system" in his State of the Union address tonight, the New York Times reports. [...]

Andrew Sullivan: "I have one simple test: if the health bill dies from neglect and irresolution, Obama is no leader."

I've already heard so much about what could, might, should, will maybe, probably, most likely be in the State of the Union speech, as well as about as much punditiocy as I can stomach about something that has yet to take place.

I may not even have to watch. Everyone's filled me in and then some.

Welcome to Speculation, Inc.

Shallow Thoughts: Shut Up, Pat Buchanan edition

By GottaLaff

Today's Shallow Thought:

I was watching Alex Witt on MSNBC this morning as she discussed the 2010 elections with Pat Buchanan. She suggested that the Democrats would not be able to hold on to their 60-seat super majority, and asked "Uncle Pat", "Does that mean the government will come grinding to a halt?"

Pat Buchanan's response: "Hopefully."

MSNBC had no problem hiring this anti-American--not to mention racist-- windbag as a regular political analyst. Punditiots who advocate government failure should be given less, if any, air time, not more. Vigorous debate is a good thing, and freedom of speech should continue to be alive and well.

But to warmly welcome noxious obstructionists like Buchanan to the airwaves does not serve what's left of the news media well, because he does not inform, he infects. And that is destructive to a healthy democracy.

That was today's Shallow Thought. Thank you for wading in.

Video- Sunday Loon Watch: Conservapundits celebrate Olympic loss

Vid via Jed.

VIDEO: With Congress away, the punditiots play

By GottaLaff

Summer in retrospect. Grab your Pepto:

VIDEO: Deathers thrive on the Tee Vee Machine

By GottaLaff



Deathy McDeathertons en masse:

Ingraham and Tantaros' comments are the latest in a long line of attempts by conservatives to attack Democrats and progressives by attaching the word "death" to progressive initiatives, most recently in the debate over health care reform.

You'd think the Rushpublics would want to associate themselves with something just a tad more upbeat. Now they've gone and attached themselves to this guy:

No matter how hard they try to connect Democrats with killing and death, it reminds me of the old "I am rubber you are glue, whatever you say bounces off of me and sticks to you" rhyme. It's the Rushpublics who constantly make those references, carry assault weapons to town hall meetings, assassinate physicians, and wear shoes like these.

Great p.r. Gee, from now on, whenever I want to impress people, maybe I should use death as the ice-breaker.

VIDEO-- Punditiots: John McCain could be ‘the new Ted Kennedy.’

By GottaLaff

Per the punditiots, this, yes this, is the face of the next Ted Kennedy:

This obviously is isn't as offensive as outright Breitbart hate-spew, but it's just as far-fetched:

Yesterday, Cynthia Tucker, a columnist with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and frequent television pundit, argued that “John McCain could be the Senate’s new Ted Kennedy.” While acknowledging McCain has “bowed to the harsh nihilism that seems to be all that Republicans represent these days,” Tucker said there’s hope that McCain could embrace Kennedy’s “reputation for pragmatism.” Yesterday afternoon on CNN, host Wolf Blitzer amplified the emerging meme.

Ahem:

Ted Kennedy said “Americans want the choice of enrolling in a health insurance program backed by the government for the public good”; McCain says we have to “abandon the public option.” Kennedy joined with McCain to push aggressively for comprehensive immigration reform in 2007, a bill that McCain “would not” vote for anymore. Kennedy is remembered as a passionate gay rights advocate; McCain thinks discrimination against gays in the military is “working well.” See the similarities?

I think that pretty much does away with equating J Sid with Uncle Teddy.

VIDEOS: Senator Al Franken accepts, is "thrilled" + MSNBC reaction

By GottaLaff

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

And now, the punditiots:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Media Matters Week In Review- Health Care Coverage

Tuh-Weet! Alex Witt hearts Pat Buchanan edition

By GottaLaff

I beg to differ. I have an aversion to "learning" from racists, especially those who have overstayed their welcome on the Tee Vee Machine.

Pat Buchanan, or as bafflingly affectionate Rachel Maddow calls him, "Uncle Pat", offers nothing of value. He is a failed presidential candidate whose credibility rivals Sarah Palin's.

So, Alex, the only thing that punditiot inspires, IMHO, is revulsion.

VIDEO-- Liz Cheney, Punditiot Extraordinaire: "[Cheney] has not said that there's a connection between Saddam Hussein & 9/11."

By GottaLaff

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Earlier, I liveblogged this nugget from Liz "I Wanna Be Just Like Daddy Dearest" Cheney. Above is the video of the statements I grabbed.

Seems we're all getting nauseous from the dizzying number of Tee Vee Machine appearances she's made lately:

IS SHE A PROFESSIONAL PUNDIT NOW?.... [...] Apparently concerned that Liz Cheney hasn't been on the cable networks nearly enough lately, "Morning Joe" invited the former Bush administration official to offer more obligatory criticism of the president.

Former VP's daughter tells MSNBC she "was troubled by the extent to which I heard moral relativism."

[...] Concerns about "moral relativism," coming from a Bush administration official, are a little too ironic, anyway.

And therein lies the point: why is Liz Cheney on television every day? Are we approaching the point at which every important presidential speech requires a Cheney response?

We've all been asking that question here at TPC, now haven't we? The question is, why hasn't the corporate media? Oo! Oo! I know! Pick me!

1) Ratings.
2) She's a Cheney.
3) Ratings.
4) Corporate media bias.
5) Ratings.
6) Corporate media need to fill up 24 hours.
7) Ratings.
8) Everyone's sick of Pat Buchanan and Newt Gingrich.
9) Ratings.
10) Extinction of real news, genuflection to infotainment.
11) Ratings.

Video- Conservatives react to historic Supreme Court nominee by smearing Sotomayor as "racist," "bigot"

Not doing themselves any favors at all.

Quote-O'-The-Day: Punditiot Karl Rove edition

By GottaLaff

Charlie Rose mentioned, in an interview with KKKarl Rove, that [Supreme Court judge nominee Sotomayor] attended Princeton and Yale Law School, and Rove responded:

Charlie - “She is very smart.”

Rove “Not necessarily.”

Charlie - “What do you mean? She went to Princeton where she graduating with honors and then went on to Yale Law School….”

Rove- “I know lots of stupid people who went to Ivy League schools.”

Speaking of stupid people, here's what he said about his little pal Georgie:

“The myth was that this guy, who was a Yale history grad and a Harvard MBA, was not smart,” Rove told the Chicago Tribune. In December 2008, Rove also touted Bush’s time at Harvard and Yale in a Wall Street Journal column, writing, “You don’t make it through either unless you are a reader.”

I'm still trying to figure out 1) How putzes like Rove remain on the air (Never mind, it's the Faux News Channel), and 2) Why they get so much air time elsewhere (Never mind, it's the corporate media).

VIDEO: Punditiot quotes anonymous source slamming Supreme Court nominee Sotomayor

By GottaLaff

Chris Wilson, Rushpublic punditiot, calls Sotomayor "radical", and spews talking points and lies, quoting as gospel an anonymous source, who called Sodomayor "not that smart":

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

6 Years Ago Today

Greg has a killer rundown of the various media reaction, well worth remembering how stupid they were. Here's a taste-

NEW YORK On May 1, 2003, Richard Perle advised, in a USA Today Op-Ed, "Relax, Celebrate Victory." The same day, exactly six years ago, President Bush, dressed in a flight suit, landed on the deck of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln and declared an end to major military operations in Iraq -- with the now-infamous "Mission Accomplished" banner arrayed behind him in the war's greatest photo op.

Chris Matthews on MSNBC called Bush a "hero" and boomed, "He won the war. He was an effective commander. Everybody recognizes that, I believe, except a few critics." He added: "Women like a guy who's president. Check it out. The women like this war. I think we like having a hero as our president. It's simple."