Olbermann's Worst Persons in the World, Bill O'Reilly and the Tides

Included because a) I haven't posted a Countdown with Keith Olbermann clip in a while, b) I don't cover religion vs. non-believer stories often enough and c) because I delight in showing FOX "News" hosts being complete fools. And no doubt, Bill O'Reilly is an idiot if he thinks we don't understand what causes tides.

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David Letterman's Top 10 Reasons FOX "News" May Be In Trouble

I know the blog is a little video-heavy lately, but I couldn't resist this one.

Bill O'Reilly and Porn. . .

Vaguely creepy image from
source, Raw Story

Ex. . .excuse me. . .(blugh!). . .while I go wash out my mind's eye with bleach. . . I'll leave you with a topic: Bill O'Reilly's first big show was called Inside Edition. Discuss. . .

[Excerpt]

Young Bill O’Reilly’s early work foreshadowed ‘obsession with porn’

Digging through their archives after being tipped off by a blog post, a Massachusetts newspaper has unearthed decades-old writings by Fox News editorial personality Bill O'Reilly that appears to reinforce what one online magazine called a professional "fixation" on the world of adult films. . .

Read more at: Raw Story

Bill O'Reilly Against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"?

War of the Words: Bill O'Reilly vs. Rachel Maddow

Is a seven-post gap enough space between Rachel Maddow Show posts? It'll have to be, because there is a battle afoot between the top-rated cable news host (if you consider FOX to be "News") and the second-highest-rated non-FOX host.  This is tangentially related to my post below, about false equivalency.  See, from my admittedly biased point of view, Maddow and O'Reilly are not equals at what they do. O'Reilly is higher rated, but Maddow is by far the more principled of the two (and smartest, and funniest, etc., etc.).  O'Reilly has a scolding parent, tsk tsking, "because I said so" disposition, and Maddow has a smart alecky, smart kid (who happens to be right) demeanor.   O'Reilly is apt to blow his top.  Maddow more likely to be amused, even if she's scolding.  Just take a peek at the clip below. See if you agree.

Oh, and I really ought to stop promising a temporary moratorium on TRMS posts, because I apparently just don't have it in me. [And it's worth pointing out that this video got truncated in its trip to the internets. Maddow's last words to O'Reilly?  "Your Highness."]

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Bill O'Reilly: Atheists Jealous of Christmas?

This is the "No Spin Zone?" Really?!? Phooey. I'm an agnostic-bordering-on atheist, and I love Christmas. It's fun, it's family, it's a great season. Still, I see nothing wrong with atheists showing a little visibility, and certainly don't see anything wrong with the ad being discussed by the FOXbots below. This is just a furtherance of the bogus FOX "News" War on Christmas meme, and is nothing more than a bone to throw to their audience. Still, if you want to see a gaggle of idiots discussing this faux outrage, have at it.

It's Back! The "War on Christmas"

In my cursory readings of the goings on in news and whatnot, I've already stumbled into a few stories on the bogus FOX "News"- fueled "War on Christmas." Since this is still officially a holiday weekend, and my brain is still saturated with too much turkey and wine, here is a rant from my earlier blogging days. . .

ORIGINAL POST:

Let me first say that "the War on Christmas" is a ridiculous myth that is only believed by drooling, mouth-breathing FOX-heads. It's stupid, sooooo stupid, and yet every year they get energized by it. The very fact that "Christians" are all up in arms because the holiday of Christmas is not commercial enough, is part of the stupid.

Let me lay this out for you, Christmas Warriors: "Happy Holidays" and "Seasons' Greetings" are not a new invention. They've been around for decades, possibly over a century. People who say these phrases and print them on cards, packaging and advertising are not trying to insult anybody. They're not trying to denigrate your religious beliefs or anyone else's. It's a nice thing to say, and is universally relayed with the best of intentions. You taking offense is stupid.

Get this through your thick skulls. Christmas is one day. Two if you count Christmas Eve. It makes no sense to be wishing people "Merry Christmas" from Thanksgiving until New Year's Day. "Happy Holidays" and "Seasons' Greetings" are nice catch-all phrases that not only spare you from having to guess your intended's religious holiday beliefs, the phrases cover: Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, not to mention Advent, Boxing Day, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and Chanukah. It's not a freaking war on Christmas.

Christmas is the most over-celebrated, over-prepared for, over-abundant holiday there is. The fact that any sane person thinks it is somehow under attack; in some sort of danger of being cancelled; or somehow not celebrated enough is stupid.

Maddow Clip #1: Rachel Takes on Americans for Prosperity Head

Rachel Maddow, long a fave of Greenlee Gazette was out sick for much of the last week or so, though I doubt it was the H1N1 swine flu, since she already had that once. Upon her return to The Rachel Maddow Show, she dove right in, croaky voice and all. In a contentious interview with faux grass roots organization "Americans for Prosperity" head, Tim Phillips, Rachel took the gloves off.

The thing I love about Rachel, and the thing that her detractors always get wrong, is that she's not simply the flip side to a Glenn Beck or a Bill O'Reilly. She doesn't turn all red and blustery, or scream ("Get off my phone!" anyone?). There's no Hannity-like ham-handedness or posturing. She's capable of keeping her composure, even when delivering a blistering dressing down of someone she feels deserves it. I believe she means what she says, and I don't ever get that from the FOX hen house. So score one point for the appearance of a non-like-minded guest. Score one more for conviction.

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

If you can stomach it, take a gander at the right-wing world response to these clips at FreeRepublic. Ignore the sub-Jr. High School "humor" about Rachel being a lesbian, and see if any of their commentary comes anywhere near reality for you: FreeRepublic

More Rachel, More ACORN. . .

Sorry for the lack of new posts, but it is going to be a regular thing for about a week. We had friends over for a big soiree, and are embarking on a nearly week-long vacation, so posting will be much lighter than usual until about October 5th.

In the mean time, BOY, I wish more people watched The Rachel Maddow Show. See, here's the difference between right-wing punditry and left-wing punditry. Rachel tells the truth. And if she gets something wrong, she owns up to it. You want a no-spin zone? Well, TRMS may not be that 100%, but it's a damn sight closer than The O'Reilly Factor.

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Would YOU Want to Be a Citizen of "FOX Nation?"

One of my least favorite types of sales pitches, is the rapidly edited appeal by several voices, repeating the same phrase: "Together/TOGETHER/together. . .we/WE/We all will prevail. . .all prevail!" It's hackneyed, old, cliched. And when it is a bunch of FOX "News" personalities? Almost unendurable.

Even worse, when it tries to make it look like FOX "News" and the website FOX Nation are fair and balanced like their worn-out motto implies, by using commentators from both sides. But the sides are out of balance to the point of absurdity. From the left, Bob Beckel, Alan Colmes and Juan Williams. From the middle, Greta Van Whatsername! And from the right, Sean Hannity, Bill Kristol, Bill O'Reilly, Ollie North, and Karl Freakin' Rove!!! If you've never been to FOX Nation though, you can be forgiven for believing this ad's intended purpose. Once you've been there, though, you'll never be fooled into thinking it's got any sort of balance at all.

The Real Reason Bill O'Reilly Quit His Radio Show

Image from source, NewsCorpse

I already reported on this story, but simply could not resist the image in this article. The writing is pretty good too!

[Excerpt]

The Real Reason Bill O’Reilly Bailed On His Radio Show

“It is with great regret that I’ve come to the decision to leave the Radio Factor, but with the success of the O’Reilly Factor, I can no longer give both TV and radio the time they deserve.”

TV and radio must have done something very bad to deserve any time at all from Bill O’Reilly. More likely it is O’Reilly who has been bad. . .

Read more at: NewsCorpse

MSNBC: Right or Wrong to Cut from Mumbai?

Wednesday night, pretty much right after reports of the terror attacks in India were coming in, MSNBC continued on with their broadcasts of Countdown with Keith Olbermann and The Rachel Maddow Show. They had updates, and cutaways, but ran much of the regularly scheduled segments of both shows. For that, they are being challenged and criticized.

Add to that the fact that both of the above shows are left-of-center commentary shows, and you have a recipe for right-wing frothing and lathering. The article excerpted below takes them to task for all of this, and says that MSNBC is no longer a news channel. I have no problem with that.

I'm a regular MSNBC watcher; not a fan of the network per se, but a fan of both of the criticized shows. And while I believe that calling them the anti-FOX is a bit overblown, I agree that at least in prime time, they are not a news channel. Neither is FOX "News", Headline News, or arguably CNN. Most of the cable news prime-time lineup is news commentary, or news commentary debate. To comment on news requires that subjective opinion be entered into the mix, and thus you have--by definition--a bias.

I am all for labeling these programs as such, across the board. If a program is to be known as news, it should have to meet certain journalistic standards. If it is commentary, it should be disclaimered as it used to be back in the 70s. This would mean disclaimers before (or during) Countdown, Maddow, Hardball, The O'Reilly Factor, Hannity & Colmes, and. . .shoot. . .darned near everything on FOX "News." Go for it. It should be pointed out that of the four cable news channels, MSNBC does not have the word "news" in its name anyway, so they're half-way there.

But there is another point here, and that is when there is "breaking news" like Mumbai, there is often not yet much to say. They tend to show the same looped footage over and over while the talking heads. . .um. . .comment on the event. News commentary. Biased. Am I right?

And one more thing: If this guy thinks that MSNBC is no longer news "after Maddow," what must he think of FOX "News" after Alan Colmes leaves?

[Excerpt]

MSNBC since Maddow -- the used-to-be news channel

In an analysis of TV journalism on Wednesday night, I wrote that a red-ball event like the terrorist attacks in Mumbai often provided a great look into a news oganization.

But in expressing my dismay at the way MSNBC couldn't let go of the comedic shtick of Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow to provide viewers with a steady diet of hard news and information on Mumbai during prime time, I missed a key point: MSNBC isn't a news channel any more in any way, shape or form. It is a 24-hour used-to-be-news channel that now appears to want to be a cross between Comedy Central's The Daily Show and Fox News from the left. . .

Read more at: Z on TV

Bill O'Reilly: Most Hated Man on Television?

Photo from source, Asylum

Well, my personal vote is Sean Hannity, but Bill O'Reilly will do nicely. And I'm not shocked to see one of my favorites, Keith Olbermann on the list. The right really does hate him, but I'm sure Olbermann takes that as a badge of honor. The funny thing is, I don't think O'Reilly feels the same way. From past experience, I'd say he's livid to be included on such a list.

[Excerpt]

Fox News host Bill O'Reilly is both America's favorite and least favorite political journalist.

Five percent of respondents to a Pew Research Center post-election survey named O'Reilly as their favorite political news personality, while six percent singled him out as the one they liked least -- the highest percentage in both categories. This isn't a huge surprise, considering the ratings for "The O'Reilly Factor" consistently lead the cable news pack. . .

Read more at: Asylum

Bill O'Reilly Spins the Electoral Map

Image from source, Daily Kos

Everyone knows that FOX "News" is being disingenuous with their "Fair and Balanced" motto. But only Bill O'Reilly takes it further by declaring his show, The O'Reilly Factor, a "No Spin Zone." That can be disproven nightly by just watching the show and having a brain.

Keith Olberman takes delight almost nightly in deriding O'Reilly's spin, and has christened him "Billo the Clown" and "The Big Giant Head." To me, he's just that big splotchy guy who hates Al Franken. But he loves spinning like a hurricane, while pretending not to.

Here, O'Reilly presents his United States electoral map. The map is unique, in that it doesn't reflect any current reality. It may be O'Reilly's wished for reality, hell it might even turn out to be reality on November 4th. While I certainly hope not, we Democrats have been disappointed before (and how). But where does O'Reilly get off presenting this as the way things are today?

[Excerpt]

O'Reilly's map, and ratings

Oh noes! We're behind! Yeah, Oregon, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and New Mexico are tossups, but Indiana, Georgia, North Carolina, South Dakota and Montana are not. Got it.

To be fair, if you're Bill O'Reilly, you've got to make shit up. He can't help it. And how else is he supposed to show McCain in the lead?

Read more at: Daily Kos

FOX "News" Amps Up "Fair and Balanced" Image

There are websites dedicated to proving--daily--that FOX "News" is anything but fair and balanced. Even if there weren't, people with eyes, ears and brains can figure it out for themselves. Do a search for "FOX" at the top left of this page to find dozens of examples on this site alone--and that isn't even my focus!

Still, for some unfathomable reason, FOX "News" is once again trumpeting their slogan (this time as "balanced, fair" and their other standby, "we report, you decide" in a new advertisement. The first time I saw it, I actually burst out laughing. If--as is my hope--Democrats once again attain the White House this fall, FOX might do well to abandon this tack once and for all, and just brand themselves "Your Conservative Center for News" or something. I mean, what are they gonna do without their daily White House talking points?



Found at: Newshounds

UPDATE: At the Newshounds comments section (link above), I found this hilarious script for a more truthful ad:

Bill O'Reilly: "Soapy Boobs"
Megyn Kelly: "No, you're never gonna get it."
Sean Hannity: "SIEG HEIL!"
Alan Colmes: "I'm the evil cheating Wrassler that hits people over the head with a chair when they're not looking" Boooooooo!
Shepard Smith: "I'm the Gay one"
Greta Van Susteren: "I inform you of missing White Women"
Megyn Kelly: "Don't you wish your Girlfriend was a freak like me?"
Trace Gallagher: "I read off the prompter thingie"
Martha McCallum: "I am the cute one"
Brit Hume: "I like funny youtube clips"
Bill O'Reilly: "Great Big Soapy Boobs"
Fox News: We are on TV. (Posted by Escape Goat News Network)