So, Finally, Here's What Happened to Lawrence O'Donnell

Image from The Daily Beast

If you follow any particular news/entertainment programs on either radio or television (which is easier to do if you're a conservative fan of such programming, than if you're a liberal), you may be accustomed to programming changes with little explanation. Again, this may happen more to liberals like me whose hosts don't have a rock-solid perch (like say a Rush Limbaugh). Anyway, when something happens, the host is gone, or the format changes, news about what happened is somehow always shrouded in mystery. When radio host Randi Rhodes was mysteriously off the air (two or three times), the only way to get any information was online, and then it was sparse and untrustworthy.

So, when Lawrence O'Donnell, host of The Last Word on MSNBC, suddenly wasn't on the air, it was no surprise that details were few. We were told he'd been in a crash with his brother in a foreign country, and that he was convalescing. That was it, there was no more information. I haven't looked, but I'm sure there were online conspiracy theories on both sides about what happened. That's just par for the course.

On Thursday, Lawrence appeared on The Rachel Maddow Show to announce his return this coming Monday. And now, we have an account of where he was and what happened. It's actually a harrowing, yet interesting story.

[Excerpt]

The Crash and Churn of Lawrence O’Donnell

“What a stupid way to die,” Lawrence O’Donnell thought to himself. A split-second earlier, the host of MSNBC’s 10 p.m. program, The Last Word, had been gazing down at a map on his iPhone, following the progress of his taxi, a Chevy van, as he and his older brother Michael rode to dinner on the resort island of Tortola. It was around 7:45 p.m., Saturday, April 12, the start of what promised to be a lovely vacation in the British Virgin Islands with his big brother, a Boston lawyer. . .

Read more at: The Daily Beast

George Zimmerman Helps Rescue People from Car Wreck, Maybe?

Okay, let me start by saying that when I heard that George Zimmerman had stopped to help rescue some people from an overturned vehicle, my first thought was, "Imagine taking THAT 911 call!" Second, I thought. . .Okay. And? And then when they reported it happened a week ago, and that it was being reported by Zimmerman's smarmy lawyer, I thought. . .where's the police report? Because it just sounds odd.

Stephanie Miller, image from NewsBusters

Obviously, if you have a political talk show, particularly one that has been hashing and re-hashing Zimmerman's trial in the death of Trayvon Martin, a fishy story does more than raise your eyebrows, it gives you something to talk about, speculate about on your show. The only one I can speak to on the story is the one I'm familiar with, The Stephanie Miller Show. I listened to today's show, and the topic was discussed, both by the on-air talent and phone callers.

The show is political, but is primarily political humor. So, they had some fun with this one, going so far as to invoke NewsBusters, the so-called "liberal media" watchdog site, not once but several times. Little wonder then, that NewsBusters bit. They saved most of their ire for Bill Press, who I don't listen to. But they did go after Steph and her mooks, mostly by just block-quoting only their comedy riff on the topic, not even jumping on the actual speculation! There had even been a caller who (not citing a source other than being a local) said Zimmerman was merely one of several people who called 911. I'd like to know if that is true, wouldn't you?

Anyway, you can read it all at NewsBusters if you feel motivated. But I warn you, stay out of their comments section if you haven't had your shots. For everything.

Award-winning Journalist Michael Hastings Dies in Car Crash

Image from source, Talking Points Memo

This one is really too bad. Michael Hastings was an accomplished investigating journalist, well-spoken and telegenic. To see that he was born in 1980, well, he just died way too young. Already, there are conspiracy theories blooming: killed by the government, killed by someone he was investigating, and on and on. I'm sure they'll connect it to Breitbart eventually. And who knows, stranger things have happened. What we know for sure is that this really sucks. RIP, Michael.

[Excerpt]

Award-Winning Journalist Michael Hastings Dies At 33

Award-winning journalist and war correspondent Michael Hastings died early Tuesday in a car accident in Los Angeles, his employer and family said. Hastings, who was 33, was described by many of his colleagues as an unfailingly bright and hard-charging reporter who wrote stories that mattered. Most recently, he wrote about politics for the news website BuzzFeed, where the top editor said colleagues were devastated by the loss. . .

Read more at: Talking Points Memo

Hastings was a friend and sometime guest of Rachel Maddow on her show. In Tuesday night's show, she remembered him on her show. She also points out that Hastings was engaged to Andrea Parhamovich, who was killed in Baghdad in 2007 in the Iraq War. Hastings had written a book about her death.

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

What Happens in Vegas: Sen. Harry Reid OK After Multi-Car Wreck

Image from 8NewsNow

Glad to hear the Senator is okay. Sounds like it could have been much worse. Hang in there, Harry!

[Excerpt]

Sen. Reid in Good Condition Following Crash

. . .Initial reports had Reid being taken to the hospital by members of his security detail. The apparent chain-reaction crash happened about 1 p.m. north of Sahara Avenue and involved six cars, including two Las Vegas police vehicles, two civilian vehicle and two Capitol Police vehicles. . .

Read more at: 8NewsNow