Saturday, November 06, 2010

MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell Admits That He's A Socialist



What a self-righteous prick:
This morning on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program, Lawrence O’Donnell proudly declared the obvious: he’s a socialist.


After hearing the news today about the suspension of Keith Olbermann from the same network, I can’t say anyone’s all that surprised.


O’Donnell’s proclamation was made when “The Last Word” anchor got into a lively exchange with Salon.com contributor Glenn Greenwald.


“Unlike you, I am not a progressive. I am not a liberal who’s so afraid of the word that I had to change my name to progressive. Liberals amuse me. I am a Socialist. I live to the extreme left - the extreme left – of you mere liberals.”

Mort Zuckerman: America's Love Affair With Obama Is Over


USNews.com:
It was the worst of times for the Democrats and the best of times for the Republicans—almost. The GOP did not succeed in capturing the Senate, or dethroning the Democratic leader, but with an energy boost from the Tea Party movement it certainly reflected the anger and dismay of voters who see their country foundering at home and abroad.

Click here to find out more!
The results represent a sharp rebuke to President Obama, who interpreted his 2008 "vote for change" as a mandate for changing everything and all at once. Right from the start, he got his priorities badly wrong, sacrificing the need to help create jobs in favor of his determination to pass Obamacare. It was the state of the economy that demanded genius and concentration, and it just did not get it. The president will now have to respond to public anger, not with anger management and, not, please God, with still more rhetoric. The unusually revealing exit polls spell it all out—how he re-energized the Republican Party, lost the independent center, and failed to overcome the widespread sense that the country is heading in the wrong direction.

The exit polls conducted by Edison Research for the National Election Pool show that the economy was the dominant issue, rated at 62 percent, while healthcare was only at 18 percent. Minority voters remained loyal (9 in 10 blacks and 2 in 3 among Hispanics), but everywhere else Obama was deserted. Independents and women fled the Democrats; among white women, no less than 57 percent chose the GOP. There are some surprises for the conventional wisdom. The case for creating more jobs by government spending was rated within a hair's breadth of reducing the deficit (37 percent to 39 percent) and opinion was evenly divided (33 to 33) on whether the stimulus had hurt or helped the economy. Voters registered their disapproval of Democratic control of Congress and of what the White House promised but failed to deliver. It is apparent that Obama didn't seem to have understood the problems of the average American.

He came across as a young man in a grown-up's game—impressive but not presidential. A politician but not a leader, managing American policy at home and American power abroad with disturbing amateurishness. Indeed, there was a growing perception of the inability to run the machinery of government and to find the right people to manage it. A man who was once seen as a talented and even charismatic rhetorician is now seen as lacking real experience or even the ability to stop America's decline. "Yes we can," he once said, but now America asks, "Can he?"

The last two years have exposed to the public the risk that came with voting an inexperienced politician into office at a time when there was a crisis in America's economy, as the nation contended with a financial freeze, a painful recession, and two wars. The Democrats were simply not aggressive enough or focused enough in confronting the profound economic crisis represented by millions of ordinary Americans whose main concern was the lack of jobs.

Idiot Liberal Rachel Maddow Defends Keith Olbermann By Attacking FOX News



Of course it's FOX News fault Crazy Keith got suspended by MSNBC, how could it not be?
Hours after it was announced that MSNBC's Keith Olbermann was suspended indefinitely for violating NBC's rules concerning campaign contributions, his buddy Rachel Maddow came to his defense by pointing numerous fingers at Fox News personalities that have made their own political donations.


In fact, she concluded the show bearing her name Friday evening with a seven minute segment excoriating folks like Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Mike Huckabee, and Sarah Palin.
Regardless of her protestations, companies have different rules for their employees, and Olbermann violated NBC's.


As such, mounting a defense for her friend by pointing out that folks did the same thing at a rival network with a different employee code of conduct was irrelevant.


That a Rhodes scholar with a Ph.D. from Oxford doesn't understand this would normally be quite shocking.


However, what folks that have followed Maddow's career know full well is that her intellect and education are never allowed to interfere with her agenda.


Neither is logic.


Nice try, Rach.

Hillary Clinton Rules Out 2012, 2016 Presidential Runs


CBSNews.com:

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is once again shooting down the idea she will run for president in 2012 or 2016. 

While in New Zealand as part of a two-week Asia-Pacific tour, a reporter on Friday asked Clinton whether she had ruled out running for the presidency through 2016, according to the Associated Press.

"Oh yes, yes," Clinton replied. "I'm very pleased to be doing what I'm doing as secretary of state."

In a separate interview with TV New Zealand, Clinton said the United States "should be" ready for a female president, but that it would not be her. "But it will be someone, and it is nice coming to countries that have already proven that they can elect women to the highest governing positions that they have in their systems," she added. New Zealand has had two female prime ministers.

Clinton has said repeatedly she has no intention of running for president again, but that has not stopped speculation or interest in the idea. A Gallup poll in September showed that more than a third of Democrats would support Clinton were she to challenge President Obama in the primaries for the 2012 election. The first 2012 presidential ad was even in support of Clinton. 

Clinton and the White House have also had to shoot down rumors that she would replace Vice President Joe Biden on the 2012 ticket.

Friday, November 05, 2010

President George W. Bush Tells Oprah Winfrey He’s “Through With Politics”



Classy all the way, we miss you Mr. President:
Former President George W. Bush isn’t just talking with Matt Lauer next week – he’s sitting with Oprah Winfrey as well. 

Besides the fact that it should be huge for book sales, the former President also talks about the current political climate, his picks for 2012 and more.


If anyone thought former Pres. Bush would follow in the footsteps of former Pres. Bill Clinton, who has been extremely active on the campaign trail this year – think again. “I’m through with politics,” Bush tells Oprah. “It’s hard for people to believe. I already said that. I am through.”

For that reason, he wasn’t even going to comment on politicians, left or right. When asked about Pres. Obama, he said, ” I want to treat my successor the way I’d like to have been treated. I don’t think it’s good for a former President to be out there opining on every darned issue. He’s got a plenty tough job.”

And how about Sarah Palin? “I am not a political pundit. I’m really not. And secondly, a lot is gonna happen between now and the nominating process. I have no clue.”

Well it took Clinton a few years before he got back into the game – maybe if Jeb Bush runs for office we’ll see George W. come out of political retirement.

Keith Olbermann Contributed Donantions To Three Liberal Democrats, May've Violated NBC Policy


Yeah, but it's FOX News that gets all the grief for supposedly being an "arm" of a certain political party:
Keith Olbermann, MSNBC's primetime firebrand host, may have violated the ethics policies of his employer earlier this year when he donated to three Democrats seeking federal office.

First reported by Politico and confirmed by Federal Election Commission filings, the primetime television host gave $2,400 – the maximum individual amount allowed – to each of the campaigns of Kentucky Senate candidate Jack Conway, and Arizona Reps. Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords. (View PDF's of FEC filings for Conway, Grijalva, and Giffords)

Conway lost his bid to Republican Rand Paul while Grijalva eked out a win over Tea Party-backed candidate Ruth McClung for a fifth term. Grijalva found himself in an increasingly competitive race after he announced his support of a boycott of Arizona businesses in response to the state's controversial new immigration law and often appeared on Olbermann's show where he found a sympathetic audience. CNN, meanwhile, has yet to declare a winner in Giffords' race, but the Democrat currently holds about a 3,000-vote lead with all precincts reporting.

The contributions may have violated an NBC policy that requires employers of the news organization to obtain permission ahead of any political donations or activities that could be deemed as a conflict of interest. CNN institutes a similar policy.

MSNBC has not responded to CNN's request for comment, but in a statement to Politico, Olbermann defended the contributions:

"One week ago, on the night of Thursday October 28 2010, after a discussion with a friend about the state of politics in Arizona, I donated $2,400 each to the re-election campaigns of Democratic Representatives Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords," he said in the statement. "I also donated the same amount to the campaign of Democratic Senatorial candidate Jack Conway in Kentucky."

Olbermann, as well as MSNBC executives, was a vocal critic of the $1 million donation by Fox News' parent News Corp. to the Republican Governor's Association earlier this year, saying at the time, "We now have another million reasons Fox News is the Republican news channel."

Nancy Pelosi Changes Her Mind, May Try To Stay As Democrat Leader


Gee, that was quick:

Tom Petty sang that "the waiting" was "the hardest part."

House Democrats know that refrain all to well these days. Especially if they're waiting for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to decide about her future.

And all indications suggest Pelosi hasn't made up her mind yet. But she could be positioning herself to remain as the top Democrat in the House.

After the Democrats' colossal defeat Tuesday, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) is poised to become the 61st Speaker of the House in January.

But where does that leave Pelosi? She won re-election to her seat in San Francisco. So she could remain in Congress as just a rank-and-file lawmaker. But does Pelosi want to stick around as the House's top Democrat? And does she have the support to do that?

Numerous Congressional sources signal to FOX that the fact that Pelosi hasn't bowed out yet indicates she might not be done.

"She's taking the temperature of the (Democratic) caucus," said one senior House Democratic aide who asked not to be identified.

And there's a difference between taking the temperature. And whipping the vote for your own leadership race.

Few who have trod the halls of Congress are as shrewd at counting votes as Nancy Pelosi. And while Pelosi may be seeking counsel on what to do next - or even figuring out in her own mind what's next for her - the conversations help the speaker gauge whether she would have the votes to remain as the top Democrat in the new Congress.

Thursday, November 04, 2010

Alvin Greene Reacts To Senate Loss



LOL!!! To borrow a line from the great Rick James: "Cocaine is a hell of a drug!"

RELATED: For Greene, 15 Minutes Are Over

Ex-President George W. Bush: "Damn Right" I Approved Waterboarding


Start the calls from the Left to arrest the man for "crimes against humanity" or something in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1....
Human rights experts have long pressed the administration of former president George W. Bush for details of who bore ultimate responsibility for approving the simulated drownings of CIA detainees, a practice that many international legal experts say was illicit torture.

In a memoir due out Tuesday, Bush makes clear that he personally approved the use of that coercive technique against alleged Sept. 11 plotter Khalid Sheik Mohammed, an admission the human rights experts say could one day have legal consequences for him.


In his book, titled "Decision Points," Bush recounts being asked by the CIA whether it could proceed with waterboarding Mohammed, who Bush said was suspected of knowing about still-pending terrorist plots against the United States. Bush writes that his reply was "Damn right" and states that he would make the same decision again to save lives, according to a someone close to Bush who has read the book. 


Bush previously had acknowledged endorsing what he described as the CIA's "enhanced" interrogation techniques - a term meant to encompass irregular, coercive methods - after Justice Department officials and other top aides assured him they were legal. "I was a big supporter of waterboarding," Vice President Richard B. Cheney acknowledged in a television interview in February.

The Justice Department later repudiated some of the underlying legal analysis for the CIA effort. But Bush told an interviewer a week before leaving the White House that "I firmly reject the word 'torture,' " and he reiterates that view in the book. Reuters and the New York Times first published accounts of the book's contents Tuesday evening. 

Obama Has Hired Record Number Of Gay Officials



Source

George Soros Approved Election Day Measures All Failed


Granted, we didn't get rid of Boxer, Reid and Frank, but the getting control of the House, making Barry eat some humble pie and this bit of news should serve as a good measure of payback:
While Democrats went out of their way to portray the Koch brothers as evil billionaires puppeteering this election, I’d venture they feel pretty good about the outcome. However, after last night I’d venture that that George Soros is one unhappy Hungarian.


Where the Kochs stood accused of funding some well-known grassroots political groups, Soros has been heavily invested in some pretty shady attempts at electioneering for Democrats. And fortunately, these efforts aren’t going very well.


The first notable thing is Soros’ funding of the Secretary of State Project — which is basically an attempt to elect Secretaries of State around the country willing to impose Democratic-friendly election laws in an attempt to tilt the playing field in their favor on election day.


Well, yesterday Republicans won 17 of 26 races for Secretary of State taking six of those offices (Arkansas, Ohio, New Mexico, Colorado, Iowa and Kansas) from Democrats. Republicans now control 25 offices to Democrats 22.


And then there was Soros’ backing of a measure in California to put control of redistricting back in the hands of the state legislature, a move that would obviously benefit Democrats. It failed, while another measure to give California’s Citizens Redistricting Commission increased authority over redrawing congressional districts succeeded:


California voters approved a ballot measure financed largely by Charles Munger Jr., son of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.’s Charles Munger, that strips California lawmakers of responsibility for drawing the boundaries of congressional districts.


Proposition 20 was winning 65 percent to 35 percent, with 17 percent of precincts counted, according to the Associated Press. The measure puts the task of reshaping the districts represented by California’s 53 members of the House of Representatives into the hands of a Citizens Redistricting Commission.


Proposition 27, a competing measure backed by billionaire George Soros, unions and Democratic Party leaders to disband the commission and return districting powers to lawmakers, was losing, 61 percent to 39 percent.


I’m sure Soros will keep pushing his agenda, but for now, two big ticket items of his have been stymied.

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

Fox News Offered More Balanced Election Coverage Than MSNBC



Mediaite.com:
If you believe that the cable news landscape is symptomatic of our two-party political system, then you also probably, and predictably, saw a different tone in last nights election results. Fox News presented its coverage with a patina of celebration, while MSNBC’s took a more gloom and doom approach. But there was one important distinction between the two outlets: Fox News offered a far more balanced set of analysts for the election coverage than did MSNBC.


Almost all of the results from yesterday’s midterm elections are in, and there is little question that the GOP has good reason to celebrate the returns. The U.S. House of Representatives has returned to Republican leadership and though it’s premature to definitively say as much, many have seen this as a referendum on the Obama administration.


Fox News’ key decision in their approach to covering the election last night was putting their heaviest hitters on the bench, choosing their up-and-comers Megyn Kelly and Bret Baier to serve as hosts of their coverage, an overt effort to have their news anchors cover the election results instead of their opinion hosts (as opposed to MSNBC.)


But not everyone saw it that way. Writing for the Washington Post, Dana Milbank was rather harsh in his critique, writing:


As Fox’s Megyn Kelly announced that one Democratic senator, expected to lose big, was in a race “too close to call,” she commented: “That’s, uh, an interesting update.” When Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass), said by Fox commentators to be endangered, cruised to an easy win, Kelly commented: “Alas.”


The victory party would have to focus on the 60-seat gain Fox projected for Republicans in the House – an enormous win, though not at the upper end of the forecasts. Fox commentator Karl Rove, pleading for “perspective,” said it still qualified as a “blowout evening.” To be fair and balanced, Fox brought in a nominal Democrat, pollster Doug Schoen. “This is a complete repudiation of the Democratic Party,” he proclaimed.


Milbank’s understandable critique of Fox News’ tone is diminished by his own lack of fairness in his reporting; it seems like he’d have the reader believe that Democratic pollster Doug Schoen was the lone left-of-center voice on the channel. The truth is, FNC offered a panoply of left-of-center voices, including Bob Beckel, Juan Williams, Joe Trippi , Geraldine Ferraro and Kirsten Powers among a handful of others. And, to be fair, there is significant criticism on the left that these pundits might not be the strongest voice for the progressive movement, but they are on the air, nonetheless.


But don’t just take our word for it, read what other media critics had to say. Writing for Time’s Tuned In blog James Poniewozik seemed to agree that Fox News was fairer than the lot:


To be fair, NBC did join coverage earlier, after an all-new Biggest Loser.) Fox News, for all its image as the Republican-friendly network, actually seemed to have the most reserved coverage in tone of the three big cablers, going with a more reserved set and less flashy graphics (granted, by cable news standards) than its competitors. A whiteboard was even employed.


Credit where due, Fox also had a more, well, balanced panel much of the night than its competitor MSNBC. Holding forth from left of center for Fox were the recently-high-profile Juan Williams and Democratic political guru Joe Trippi. MSNBC’s main lineup, on the other hand, was basically its center-to-left lineup of nightly hosts: Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O’Donnell. 
Good to see some people finally catching on to just how much of a joke MSNBC is these days.

New Speaker of the House John Boehner Speaks



The right message. Congratulations Mr. Speaker.

Source

How Sharron Angle Screwed Herself


CNN.com:
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid basked in his re-election Wednesday after Nevada voters helped him turn back a challenge from a Tea Party-backed Republican he painted as too extreme for the state.


The veteran Democrat won his fifth term with strong support from self-described moderates and voters who considered former state lawmaker Sharron Angle too conservative, according to exit polling. With 99 percent of precincts counted, Reid led Angle 50 percent to 45 percent after a race that polls had indicated was neck-and-neck until the end.

"For me, this is not eking out a race," Reid told CNN's "American Morning" on Wednesday. "I've had some close ones. This wasn't close."
It's the only way to excuse her loss to an idiot like Harry Reid in a state where unemployment hovers around 15%. I don't think it was the "racist" ad she released against illegal immigration the other day so much as she should've talked to the media more (esp. FOX and even CNN), her debate performance against Reid last month was pretty wack (although conservatives hailed it, to me she came across as bumbling, timid and inarticulate) and telling Hispanic students that they "might look Asian" was just ass-backwards. I don't think Harry Reid won so much as Sharron Angle lost and yes, in a way Joy Behar does get the last laugh.

Michelle Bachmann Embarrasses Chris Matthews: "I Imagine That Thrill Is Maybe Not Quite So Tingly On Your Leg Anymore, I’m Not Sure Anymore.”



Mediaite.com:
Chris Matthews just had a action-packed interview with triumphant congresswoman Michelle Bachmann during which one brave soul brandished a sign making fun of Sarah Palin, and another wandered through the second half of the interview with a big sign asking ‘How’s the tingle Chris?’ complete with the NBC peacock symbol. 


Otherwise the interview consisted of Matthews asking Bachmann whether, if the GOP took the House, she would follow through with her promise to use the “subpoena power to investigate the Democratic members of Congress for un-American activities?” 

When Bachmann continued to refuse to answer Matthews finally asked her if she was “hypnotized tonight? Has someone hypnotized you? Because no matter what I ask you you give the same answer.” 

Responded Bachmann: “I think people are thrilling tonight, I imagine that thrill is maybe not quite so tingly on your leg anymore, I’m not sure anymore.”

Said Matthews (with a smile, it should be noted): “Yes your sign holder’s already raised that issue.”
Of course Bachmann wasn't "hynotized" so much as she wasn't going to let a radically-liberal, in-the-tank-for-Obama, hates conservatives network play her for a fool with "got'cha" questions.

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

Daniel Webster Defeats Alan Grayson!


Thank goodness, no matter what happens to Congress after today, the room just got a little brighter:
Not even two hours after the polls closed, Congressman Alan Grayson says things didn't work out.


Grayson said he now calls on Webster to alleviate Americans pain.


He said this loss should come as no surprise, as the victory two years ago was a struggle.


Grayson said before the polls even opened, Democrats were behind. After absentee and early voting, Republicans had outvoted by 11,000. He needed a massive Democratic turnout to win and that didn't happen.


"Listen, it's a wave year,” Grayson said. “There are Democrats all over the country that are losing right now and losing big. There’s no reason why Florida should be any different from that. I'm a Democrat. I needed Democrats to vote in order to win."


Grayson said now he will concentrate on being a better husband and father.


Webster issued the following statement after Grayson's concession Tuesday.


"This is a new day for our Country and I am thankful to be a part of it. This is a huge victory for people who are tired of the politics of personal destruction. We ran a positive campaign against a broken system. Now it's time to begin the work of fixing it."

Ann Coulter: Obama Blew The Country Up

Obama Backtracks From Calling Political Opponents "Enemies"


Newsmax.com:
President Barack Obama said Monday he should not have used the word "enemies" to describe his political opponents as Republicans sought to make an issue of the comment a day before congressional elections.


Obama, in an interview with talk radio host Michael Baisden, said, "I probably should have used the word 'opponents' instead of enemies."

He was backtracking from a comment he made a week ago in an interview with Univision radio in which he sought to persuade Hispanics to vote for Democratic candidates instead of Republicans.

"If Latinos sit out the election instead of, 'we're going to punish our enemies and we're going to reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us' -- if they don't see that kind of upsurge in voting in this election, then I think it's going to be harder," Obama had said.

Republicans in hot pursuit of control of the U.S. House of Representatives in Tuesday voting were drawing attention to Obama's "enemies" comment in hopes of encouraging more turnout by Republican voters.

Hammering home the issue was John Boehner, the Republican who would oust Democrat Nancy Pelosi as House speaker if Republicans win control of the House on Tuesday as most pollsters believe will happen.

"Today, sadly, we have president who uses the word 'enemy' for fellow Americans ... fellow citizens. He uses it for people who disagree with his agenda of bigger government ... people speaking out for a smaller, more accountable government that respects freedom and allows small businesses to create jobs," Boehner planned to say in Cincinnati.
Gee, and you wonder sometimes how this country got so partisan?

Monday, November 01, 2010

Shocker: Chris Matthews Says Obama's Too Elitist



That tingling sensation may be fading away.

Source

Ryan Seacrest To Interview President Obama


As if he hasn't destroyed the dignity of the Presidential office enough by appearing on talk shows like "The View" and most recently "The Daily Show", Barack Obama shows us once again that he's not fit to be president by agreeing to talk to "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest:
First "The View," then "The Daily Show" and now "On Air with Ryan Seacrest?"

President Obama will fill the airwaves on Election Day for his first interview with Ryan Seacrest, the radio DJ and host of "American Idol," according to the White House.

Seacrest took to his Facebook page Monday to elicit questions. 


The interview will be available on his website after it airs. "On Air" is syndicated to hundreds of stations across the country. 

According to Deputy White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, the president taped the Seacrest spot, as well as a spot on Russ Parr and Steve Harvey's shows Monday afternoon. He also did local radio interviews with hosts in Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Honolulu and Miami.
I mean, does he not know that 13-year-olds aren't allowed to vote?

Democrat Tom Perriello Supporter Gets Violent



"House nigga:"...how original. Of course he'd be all over the lamestream media if he was in the "RACIST!" Tea Party.

Carl Paladino Walks Out On Interview From Conservative Bashing Website Talking Points Memo



I mean really, I know he's behind like 20 points in the polls and has little chance of winning tomorrow, but that doesn't mean he has to put up with so-called "reporters" with a radically-Left agenda to push:
New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino (R) walked out on a local television interview in Plattsburgh, New York on Friday evening after the anchor asked him whether his comments about Sen. Kirsten Gillbrand (D) were sexist. Paladino had called New York’s junior Senator “[Schumer's] little girl” on Thursday, in reference to Sen. Chuck Schumer (D). 

When asked if he regretted the comments or thought they were sexist, Paladino said, “No, I don’t. I was referring to the fact that Miss Gillbrand seems to vote exactly as Mr. Schumer directs her to. She doesn’t show any mind of her own in voting. And that’s why I referred to her that way.”

When pressed as to whether he thought it was a sexist statement or whether it could hurt his outreach to women, Paladino said, “Well, you can make it whatever you want, Kristen.”

When the reporter tried to continue the interview with what seemed to be a question about how Paladino’s many insensitive remarks were causing rifts with the Republican party, Paladino decided it was time for him to ask the questions. “Are we going to talk issues, or am I leaving you right now?” he asked.

She countered that she thought her questions were about issues, to which Paladino responded by wishing her a good night, taking out his earpiece and mumbling, “I think we’re done talking to this lady.” The Buffalo News reported that, off-camera, Paladino told his aides, “”She wants to talk trash, she can talk to somebody else.”

Politiks As Usual: In The News 11/1/10


Democrats See Hope, Republicans Temper Expectations For Tuesday Vote

Joe Miller: Reporters Caught On Tape Conspiring Against Me

Gawker Editor Defends Anonymous O'Donnell Post

No Help For Obama From Hip-Hop This Time

Exposed! George Soros' Scheme For 'Elite' Judiciary

Obama And DOMA - High Crimes And Misdemeanors?

Sellouts At The NAACP

Obama's Economists Missed What Voters Plainly Saw

Media Help Flailing Liberals Spread Message On Abortion, Gay Rights

Obama: Terror Explosives Found, Bound For U.S.

Dick Armey And Cokie Roberts Make A Fool Of Arianna Huffington

Al Gore Leaves Car Running, Pollutes Sweden

The Commander In Chief Of MSNBC

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Jon Stewart Hurt Keith Olbermann's Feelings At "Restore Sanity"



Mediaite.com:
While most of the mainstream media went into overdrive yesterday to cover Jon Stewart’s much-anticipated Rally to Restore Sanity MSNBC host Keith Olbermann was less than impressed. Apparently Stewart’s criticism of the cablesphere in particular rubbed Olbermann the wrong way. Tweeted Olbermann yesterday afternoon:
“It wasn’t a big shark but Jon Stewart jumped one just now with the “everybody on Thr cable is the same” naiveté”
And a short time later:
“@doughtywench he did not hurt my feelings. I thought his message, on the eve of an election full of Tea Psychos, was terribly timed.”
Olbermann was seemingly also frustrated by the fact Stewart was criticizing both Fox and MSNBC in equal measure:
“@chuckb1999 but he doesn’t distribute it equally. It’s nonsensical to say so, or that each side deserves it equally -his claim today”
What apparently set Olbermann off was the long montage of cable clips Stephen ColbertDaily Show editing that strives (successfully, it must be said) to highlight the ridiculousness of cablesphere. Watch below. It’s probably worth noting that this is not the first time Olbermann has been critical of Stewart, he referred to him as a member of the ‘cranky left’ in an interview with Politico earlier this week.
Yeah, a guy who condescendingly berates all those on the Right while never having the guts to debate the opposition cries like a 'lil girl when he gets called on it.

Democrats Blast GOP 'Front Groups,' But Use Them Too



They're just hypocrites, the whole lot of them:
While President Obama and other Democrats have excoriated Republican "front groups" for using secret money to pay for attack ads, the party's political committees have begun doing something similar: collecting cash from outside nonprofit groups that don't disclose their contributors and using the money to pay for negative campaign commercials, campaign records show.


One group, Patriot Majority PAC — a Democratic political committee that has run a hard-hitting $1.7 million attack ad campaign against Sharron Angle, the Republican candidate for Harry Reid's Senate seat in Nevada — has gotten one of its largest donations, $250,000, from a liberal nonprofit that doesn’t release the names of any of its contributors, the records show.


Another newly formed political committee, America's Families First Action Fund, which is running negative commercials against Republicans in House races across the country, recently got $1 million from a closely related nonprofit affiliate, the records show. Both organizations were set up over the summer by Democratic strategists, who emphasized in a memo to donors that contributions to the nonprofit could be kept anonymous.


These operations illustrate how Democrats have belatedly tried to mimic some of the same GOP money-raising tactics they have sharply criticized, exploiting a controversial Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that allows unlimited contribution to political committees from corporations, labor unions and wealthy individuals. These donations can be kept concealed from the public if made to outside nonprofits, which can either run campaign ads directly or — as the Democratic groups are doing — make contributions to other political committees that run ads on their own.


"It's opened this huge loophole (where) you can launder money though these groups that don't disclose and get it into the campaign," said Bill Allison, editorial director of the Sunlight Foundation, a nonpartisan group that tracks campaign spending. "We've seen this happening on both sides of the aisle."