Friday Links and Open Thread
Latest cable news links [updated through the day]:
Thursday's numbers: Big Ed flops, fourth place at 8:00 pm.
Glenn Beck's must-see tv: The Office!
FBN open for business.
Why Ratigan quit CNBC.
CNN struggles.
Video fireworks: Buchanan vs O'Donnell.
Who will play Keith? Ignorant punditocracy?
Use our valuable bandwidth to post your cable news comments in today's open thread. Standard rules apply. fox news cable news
vstol
Who will play Keith?
It's already been done in a full length feature.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km7_XGkolRM
April 10, 2009, 1:37:05 AM EDT – Like – Reply
vstol
Under "Ignorant punditocracy," Gavin Mathis of The Daily Evergreen, a self-professed liberal blowhard, headlines his thesis with "Commentary breeds ignorance."
Mathis' opening offering of proof that "Commentary breeds ignorance," is, "Cable news is a vast wasteland for political discourse and what it lacks in thought is made up for in egomaniacal, dimwitted hosts."
There are two points I'd like to make regarding young Gavin and his thesis:
1. When Mr. Mathis declares, "With news coverage that schizophrenically shifts from hyperbole to opinion to news to hyperbole, it is easy to see why so many disaffected Americans abandoned reality for the far extremes of political lunacy with their Snuggies," it is easy to see that he abides by the elitist belief that the audiences are incapable of discerning "opinion" from "news" from "hyperbole," and of deciding for themselves what to accept and what to reject.
2. Evidently, Gavin must believe that the radio and early television commentators from the 1930's, 1940's and 1950's also bred "ignorance." I wonder, if Mathis was writing during those times, if he would have described as "egomaniacal, dimwitted hosts" these commentators; Lowell Thomas, Walter Winchell, Edward R. Murrow, John Cameron Swayze, Douglas Edwards, Paul Harvey, and Les Nessman.
It must be nice being Gavin Mathis, young, witty, intellectually superior.
April 10, 2009, 5:00:07 AM EDT – Like – Reply
Kris
"When Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, sending the residents of New Orleans into the vortex of one of the greatest disasters in American history, Beck displayed his mental incapacity when he said, When I saw these people I didnt think I could hate victims faster than the 9-11 victims.
So exactly when and where did Glenn Beck supposedly made this comment? I would love to know as I am sure a few other people would.
April 10, 2009, 8:18:07 AM EDT – Like – Reply
Blackflon
vstol | Homepage | 04.10.09 - 1:42 am | #
Doesn't Keith already have a job as a nightwatchman on MSNBC?
April 10, 2009, 8:22:55 AM EDT – Like – Reply
Blackflon
Well, it looks like our friends at the Hen House are a bit confused.
They state that the F22 Raptor is manufactured by Northrup-Grumman and then use the information to smear Tom McInerney.
A mistake by one of their producers? A faulty chyron operator? I think not. Ignorance is more like it.
Just for the record the F22 Raptor is manufacture by Lockheed-Martin located in beautiful downtown Marietta, Georgia.
The radar system for the F22 is made by Northrup.
If they are going to report a story and smear someone they should at least get their facts correct. Isn't that what they are always screeching about when they lie/distort/manipulate their "facts" about Fox News?
April 10, 2009, 8:31:14 AM EDT – Like – Reply
cee
From Mathis' commentary:
"The changing of the guard that occurred with President Barack Obamas inauguration was not limited to the White House. Media coverage of the event reflected a similar shift in American power. The bombastic punditry of Fox News was replaced with the bombastic punditry of MSNBC. When MSNBC anchors aligned themselves with the new president, they turned into the same mindless demagogues they revile at FOX News."
###
What a bunch of baloney.
The role of FNC PUNDITS and COMMENTATORS has always been well known and honestly advertised.
The role of advertised JOURNALISTS on MSNBC, like Olbermann has not been so clear.
Olbermann has and still claims the mission of Edward R. Murrow and with that tries to legitimize himself as a journalist....He never has been.
I am sick and tired of the lies leftist ideologues try to pull over on our citizens. Keith Olbermann has been a demogogic partisan long before Obama put his hand on Lincoln's bible.
The dishonesty of Olbermann and NBC NEWS, while O'Reilly, Beck and Hannity have always been upfront on their roles, is the key point.
Lastly, I think Penn Gillete,
http://www.nbc.com/Identity/host.shtml
should be considered to play Olbermann in the TV series. Cut off the facial hair/pony tail, gray it up, get him Ashley Banfield's glasses, have him gain about 20 pounds in the hips, and voila!....we have the perfect physical match and petulant demeanor of the fraudulant pear shaped narcissist we have all grown to love!
April 10, 2009, 8:34:26 AM EDT – Like – Reply
Blackflon
The guy who is commenting on the punditocracy has fallen into the trap of not knowing when to separate hard news from opinion. He would never say those things about a newspaper where they have a clear opinion section similar to the Campbell's, O'Reilly's, et al.
April 10, 2009, 9:01:54 AM EDT – Like – Reply
cee
BTW, I believe the left's elite sell the American people short. People know commentary from news, they can realize the role of drama and bombast, play as "entertainment," and they can control their primitive urges to shoot everything in site with their arsenals after watching Mr. Beck.
My complaint comes when the criticism of FNC seems so strident in the conclusion they are bias and only serve as the tool of the Republicans while the real dishonesty continues over at MSNBC with Keith Olbermann's act. Legitimizing MSNBC all these years is a crock while the overboard sniping at FNC by the elites is getting really old.
April 10, 2009, 9:33:37 AM EDT – Like – Reply
cee
An appropriate sound for all of NBC NEWS at about :19.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5P8U_Yo83o
April 10, 2009, 11:03:38 AM EDT – Like – Reply
Grammie
I really have trouble believing that Laurence O'Donnell has a Catholic education b/c he has no concept of the difference between Ex Cathedra dogma and the Church guiding their flock in individual moral questions! He is totally clueless.
MSDNC strikes again!
April 10, 2009, 11:20:05 AM EDT – Like – Reply
vstol
Rerun from yesterday's thread that was preempted by the breaking news of Patrick being kicked off the island:
Speaking of threads, Megyn's springtime ensemble and Hannity's pink tie remind me of the azaleas and dogwoods at Augusta National.
Serious, and out of character, questions, which would be on topic in any and all of the latest 5 articles:
Glen Beck was on CNN for....., how long?
How long has Beck been at FOXNews?
What is the ratio between the number of profiles, critiques, attacks, slurs, smears, distortions, and glorious technicolor, breathtaking cinemascope and stereophonic sound of blatant lies about Beck between the two periods?
vstol | Homepage | 04.09.09 - 1:39 pm | #
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April 10, 2009, 1:16:45 PM EDT – Like – Reply
ObserverDan
"When Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, sending the residents of New Orleans into the vortex of one of the greatest disasters in American history, Beck displayed his mental incapacity when he said, When I saw these people I didnt think I could hate victims faster than the 9-11 victims.
So exactly when and where did Glenn Beck supposedly made this comment? I would love to know as I am sure a few other people would.
Kris | 04.10.09 - 8:23 am
Being a regular listener to Beck's radio program in that time period, I can assure you that Mr. Beck did indeed make that statement. I heard it in real time, and the loony left picked it up and ran with it like crazy.
Kris, if you believe that he actually did say it (I don't expect you to believe me automatically), what does it tell you about Glen Beck? Just curious.
April 10, 2009, 1:22:18 PM EDT – Like – Reply
GrandpaD
FNC weekend schedule has been updated.
No Brian Wilson. No "Beltway Boys".
April 10, 2009, 2:10:53 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Pegleg Peggy
Here's the audio of the Beck comment in question:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf33g9ep4YU
April 10, 2009, 2:12:26 PM EDT – Like – Reply
cee
"What does it tell you about Glen Beck?"
###
Heard in context it tells me that Glenn Beck is a very honest person.
Heard in context it tells me he is willing to openly discuss a very basic emotional reaction that risks angering and alienating some.
Heard in context it tells me that he was disturbed by the victimhood mentality that was (and is) a large part of the foundation of many of our fellow citizens' worldview.
Although provacative and gut wrenching, the truth such vitriol springs from is the real corrosive on the human spirit as little by little person/family/community is being replaced by a faceless, uncaring, inefficient and unworkable central authority.
Beck's increasing ratings (popularity), is scaring some because he is so blunt and millions of Americans are responding positively to that style. Elites usually react by deriding, then dismissing such phenomena.
That Pavlovian response has come right on cue.
April 10, 2009, 3:09:56 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Blackflon
I didnt think I could hate victims faster than the 9-11 victims.
So exactly when and where did Glenn Beck supposedly made this comment? I would love to know as I am sure a few other people would.
Kris | 04.10.09 - 8:23 am
According to Peg's You Tube post Beck never uttered these words.
April 10, 2009, 3:30:46 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Blackflon
Heard in context it tells me that he was disturbed by the victimhood mentality that was (and is) a large part of the foundation of many of our fellow citizen's worldview
cee | 04.10.09 - 3:14 pm | #
Especially in New Orleans.
April 10, 2009, 3:48:31 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Bet on it
I guess I contribute to Beck's ratings but it's only because I am waiting for him to poop his pants live on TV. I wish the GOP had a few normal people in the media. Glenn, Rush, Sean, Savage, O'Reilly and others are just getting to be an embarassment.
April 10, 2009, 4:00:39 PM EDT – Like – Reply
cee
Speaking about "normal people."
How did Ed Schultz do both in ratings and critics' evaluation?
How's Rachel Maddow doing against Larry 'a cure for insomnia' on CNN? Is she still educating America about what tea baggin' really means (like she would know)?
Has Keith Olbermann announced he donated $25,000 to the IT HAPPENED TO AMANDA TERKEL FOUNDATION yet?
Surrrre....the left has some real winners representing them in the media.
April 10, 2009, 4:35:34 PM EDT – Like – Reply
vermontdave
Johnny,
Sorry for the off-topic.
Why can't you have an open forum like we do at News Hounds?
You have enough regulars that would help moderate.
ps.
I didn't know where else to place this comment.
Again, apologies for the o/t.
Dave
April 10, 2009, 5:57:55 PM EDT – Like – Reply
johnny dollar
I'm not sure what you mean by an 'open forum'? You mean a separate forum like the NH OT forum? The one that is 'unmoderated', except for the times when it's moderated?
A separate forum would require quite a bit of time and work to keep on track. I'm not sure what regulars you speak of but I suppose it's possible volunteer mods could be pressed into service. But really all such a forum would do is draw people away from the main site. I've never understood why websites or blogs think it's a good idea to establish something somewhere else to take viewers away from the main content.
April 10, 2009, 6:01:58 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Cecelia
I'm not sure why we'd need an open forum.
If I wanted to discuss politics I go to OW or a political board. When I want to discuss cooking I go to cooking blogs.
I'm opened to it being pointed out where there would be something of benefit in it, but I don't see one off-hand.
April 10, 2009, 6:37:08 PM EDT – Like – Reply
TR
His concern seems to be the power of the minority. Too much attention focused on a small percentage of the victims. But, Beck hedges at the start of the tape, says it is a feeling and asks if he is the only one with the "feeling". Which is it?
April 10, 2009, 6:41:23 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Mike C.
I was hoping "FBN open for business" meant Cablevision finally added it. But I was hopelessly optimistic there. :o(
April 10, 2009, 7:14:19 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Fox Fan
I've proposed the idea of a forum here as well vermontdave. Rejected back then too, so don't feel bad!
I would love to post at the NH forum but then have to fear for my IP address getting published by the moderators, something that you don't have to worry about here. The mods are also known to edit comments without notation. It's a seedy place for anyone who has a differing opinion.
I value my privacy more than my willingness to discuss the pros and cons of FNC with NHs on their forum.
April 10, 2009, 9:14:28 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Cecelia
Well, FF, I just registered there and put up a thank you note to Aunty Em and Captain America for sounding the alarm about Patrick.
I don't appreciate Aunty Em calling Grammie a liar, but I did want to thank her for her persistence with the other matter.
April 10, 2009, 9:54:25 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Cecelia
FF,
I don't get the purpose of such a forum, when there are so many blogs were you can talk about other topics.
Could you explain?
April 10, 2009, 9:58:47 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Fox Fan
I was impressed with Aunty Em's recognition of Patrick for what he was as well.
As for the idea of a forum here, it might be more trouble than it's worth judging by the way the NHs forum is going with its most popular thread. AAP polluting it with his droppings until even the fetid one chokes.
April 10, 2009, 11:07:49 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Olby Sucks
How long before Cecelia is "policed" by ellen?
April 10, 2009, 11:57:36 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Blackflon
The poor girls at the Hen House keep complaining about J$ not having an forum to post on.
Let me point something out to the poor puppies.
Each day has a title that reads something like this.....
"Friday Links and Open Thread"
I'm guessing that even little johnt can figure out what the words "Open Thread" mean. Even though he is a product of government schools and the union goons.
April 11, 2009, 8:29:51 AM EDT – Like – Reply
Grammie
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f...h? v=f5P8U_Yo83o
cee | 04.10.09 - 11:08 am | # "
Cee, that was great!
Remember SNL (?) doing a spoof of the SOTU, don't remember which Pres) of The Speaker going through a door behind the podium and then a loud toilet flushing drowning out the speech.
It was priceless.
April 11, 2009, 10:28:39 AM EDT – Like – Reply
puck30
So Big Ed made a loud thump into the basement at the 8 p.m. hour thursday night.
'T-Bag' Schuster ran things Friday.
Question: What if 'T-Bag' pulls bigger ratings? What does that say?
About Schultz? or about what tunes into Olbermann?
April 12, 2009, 10:06:09 PM EDT – Like – Reply
UKLD
"The poor girls at the Hen House keep complaining about J$ not having an forum to post on. "
Blackflon | Homepage | 04.11.09 - 8:34 am
---------------------------------------
I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean by 'hen house' - could you elaborate on that metaphor? It sounds dangerously close to being sexist, but from what I gather from the self-righteous attitude taken in elsewhere on this forum, that isn't something you people descend to.
I apologise for posting here. I'm on a self-imposed Sabbatical from NH, and, quite frankly, I'm bored.
So, I've been lurking here off and on over the past 2-3 days...... (partly, I admit, as a way of gleaning what is happening there)
btw, Fox Fan, I must I'm afraid take issue with your assertion that 'that thread' is the 'most popular' on Newshounds. Temporarily being 'one of', if not 'the; highest trafficked thread does NOT make it the most popular.
It might well be the most 'contentious' especially given recent events, and in gauging it, you need to bear in mind that many of the posts on it are actually by people who I, and others, would consider to be more J$ posters than Newshounds.
I'm not going to deny that Johnt, Pegleg etc are ours. I consider them to be valued members of the NH community. I just wish they were not so seemingly obsessed by this site. (Which frankly, I could quite happily ignore) At the other end of the spectrum, Grammie, Cecelia, and probalby others, are clearly 'yours' and I see that they have openly contributed. Moreover, I suspect they are not the only ones from here to venture over and wade into the mire that is that thread.
The people you call 'Patrick' and 'Patsy', (and who I know as MW, and AAP). They are actually the driving force behind that thread. It would never have taken off without them. I understand why you think of them as 'ours', but I think of them as 'yours' since YOUR SITE seems to be their primary interest.... (either by posting here, or by posting about here, over there)
Whether they are 'yours' or 'ours' I consider them to be 'unwelcome' and think that we would both be better off without either of them. Personally, I consider them to be trolls, and the fact that they do their trolling on your site does not make it any more acceptable to me than the r/wingers who come to our patch to do theirs.
As for that thread. From my perspective, (and I know that I am not alone in this) it is probably the most UNPOPULAR, since the genuine regs like myself and others hate it's very existence.
Anyway, I suppose this post will probably get killed by Mr Koldys as being off topic or whatever, and that's fine. It's your forum Mark, I respect that. I don't agree with your absolute defence of Fox, nor with many of your critiques of NH - but I do think that this is 'your' space and you are free to regulate it as you see fit...... and the same for NH.
(Gone 3am here, my beloved Leeds United have a noon kick off on live TV, so I should be retiring to my bed)
Apologies for intruding.
April 12, 2009, 10:43:10 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Fox Fan
btw, Fox Fan, I must I'm afraid take issue with your assertion that 'that thread' is the 'most popular' on Newshounds. Temporarily being 'one of', if not 'the; highest trafficked thread does NOT make it the most popular.
UKLD | 04.12.09 - 10:48 pm | #
Respectfully disagree on that opinion.
Other than that, UKLD, you make some very valid points. Patrick and AAP are the driving force behind that thread and should be considered unwelcome at NHs. The thread should be considered unpopular by the regulars. Unfortunately, your moderators disagree. Seems they have a different agenda in mind.
Well said, UKLD.
April 12, 2009, 11:23:46 PM EDT – Like – Reply
Cecelia
Whether they are 'yours' or 'ours' I consider them to be 'unwelcome' and think that we would both be better off without either of them. Personally, I consider them to be trolls, and the fact that they do their trolling on your site does not make it any more acceptable to me than the r/wingers who come to our patch to do theirs.
UKLD | 04.12.09 - 10:48 pm | #
You've got AAP and Michael Weston right in what they are, but let me suggest to you that they DO do their trolling on NHs as well as anywhere else. The general discomfort you describe for the JD thread is the sort of malaise that trolling brings to a blogboard, as is the fact that the thread is a 'lesser of two evils' compromise, forced upon the site owner in order to keep JD threads from popping up all over the unmoderated board.
That thread and those guys there will continue to be a source of trouble. Good luck with them. You'll need the cyber equivalent of the Great Wall of China to keep them out. Johnny qualifies as such here.
Let me add here, that I'm not entirely sure that Ellen and many others completely share your views about AAP and Michael Weston. I think they do provide the service of saying for them what they wish said, but couldn't say without losing personal credibility.
I'll like to make it clear too, UKLD, that I did not go to NHs to troll. I had been asked once by John T. to come there to that thread with any complaints I had, and most recently, I was asked by Peggy to join discussion on the Mains, which I did.
Actually, I'm putting it nicely when I say Peggy "asked me" to come to NH. In fact, she called me a coward because I had several times refused to come there to "debate".
My career there started and ended in the space of about 24 hours, but be clear about the fact that I was there after having been asked.
April 13, 2009, 6:41:31 AM EDT – Like – Reply
Blackflon
I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean by 'hen house' - could you elaborate on that metaphor? It sounds dangerously close to being sexist.....
UKLD | 04.12.09 - 10:48 pm | #
You really have way too much time on your hands if you think that is "sexist".
April 13, 2009, 8:15:26 AM EDT – Like – Reply
Grammie
"I apologise for posting here. I'm on a self-imposed Sabbatical from NH, and, quite frankly, I'm bored. "
I can, of course, speak only for myself but I am confident that my sentiment will be shared by many if not all here:
Why should you apologize for a thoughtful and well written comment here. It is my experience that Johnny welcomes those with open arms.
He has a few easily understandable and reasonable rules that he enforces, usually with patience and more than one chance to the offender to rectify the situation.
Two completely different situations. Actually, based on my experiences with you I personnally would consider you a welcome addition.
April 13, 2009, 10:13:34 AM EDT – Like – Reply
