Rachel Maddow: Trump's Real Potential Scandal is Azerbaijan and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard

I don't care if you are a hard-right Republican who thinks Rachel Maddow is "our" version of Glenn Beck or Sean Hannity (tip: she's not), or if it's your knee-jerk reaction to a) call her MadCow, and/or b) make fun of her sexuality or gender, watch this clip. For one thing, it's fascinating as an instruction on how to tell a story, and make it interesting. It's also fascinating to see the connections between things you'd never considered (and I'm not even yet talking about the political stuff). But it's stunning to see where she's going with this one. [Story continues below]



The Rachel Maddow Show is currently experiencing an upsurge in popularity, vying for and sometimes surpassing actual network prime time television. Part of the reason is that she's elected not to focus on Trump's latest tweets, and the incendiary things 45 says. She's been reporting what they're up to; in some cases what they seem to be up to, sure, but that's part of investigative reporting. Connecting the dots. And not in the boring (and crazy) Beck chalkboard way, but by linking actual, real events.

This story does involve Donald Trump, in a rather grave way. and it's worth your full attention, if you are an American, I don't care what party you are.

And if you won't watch that, at least read the article from The New Yorker that inspired it.

Image from The New Yorker

[Excerpt]

Donald Trump's Worst Deal

Heydar Aliyev Prospekti, a broad avenue in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, connects the airport to the city. The road is meant to highlight Baku’s recent modernization, and it is lined with sleek new buildings. The Heydar Aliyev Center, an undulating wave of concrete and glass, was designed by Zaha Hadid. The state oil company is housed in a twisting glass tower, and the headquarters of the state water company looks like a giant water droplet. “It’s like Potemkin,” my translator told me. “It’s only the buildings right next to the road.” Behind the gleaming structures stand decaying Soviet-era apartment blocks, with clothes hanging out of windows and wallboards exposed by fallen brickwork. . .

Read more at: The New Yorker

EDITED TO NOTE: In an epic Freudian slip, my original headline said "Republican," rather than "Revolutionary" Guard. I do not regret the error.

Rachel Maddow Explains What Hillary Clinton's Official Email Policy Should Have Been

When people ponder Hillary Clinton's very tedious email "scandal" (and isn't the very word tedious, when attached to Clintons particularly?), if they're not being knee-jerk defensive, or knee-jerk offensive, they might ponder "why?" Why would the official way be undesirable (assuming there wasn't anything particularly nefarious intended, which I realize, many people would never, ever assume)? For the first time that I'm aware of, we have an explanation, courtesy of Rachel Maddow.

And don't get all, "well of course Rachel's shilling for Hillary," since she's just as likely to get criticized for being on Bernie's side, or even for allowing a Trump speech during her show, and just listen.

[Excerpt]

Clinton e-mail report illustrates antiquated IT system

Rachel Maddow looks at how a new inspector general's report on Hillary Clinton's violation of State Department e-mail rules describes the archaic archiving system Clinton was supposed to have followed.



Kinda nuts, right? But apparently, the rest of the MSNBC crew doesn't watch Rachel's show, because the Morning Joe crew seemed absolutely baffled at why Clinton wouldn't done this "for convenience." Maybe for the same reason her predecessors did? Nah, had to be nefarious, right?

Keith Olbermann on His Exit from MSNBC, Transition to Current TV

Image from source, The Hollywood Reporter

The departure of Countdown with Keith Olbermann from MSNBC left a surprisingly small hole in my life. I was a regular watcher, an ardent fan, and an easy mark for its "spin off," The Rachel Maddow Show. I was already a fan of Maddow, after all. I was stunned the night that Keith announced that he was done, as was my sister who called me from Ohio as soon as she heard. Initially, I sort of had the wind knocked out of my sails: I'd been watching Countdown almost from the beginning, and certainly since the last couple of years of the Bush era. I was pissed, and feeling very anti-MSNBC, as were fans.

When The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell (now badly named) took over the 5:00 spot, I was a casual watcher, sometimes skipping it. I couldn't break my Rachel habit though, and eventually, I started watching both hours on the DVR, with the commercials skipped. And I sort of forgot about Olbermann. Sorry, Keith, but you trained a couple of really good replacements!

Still, I am intrigued by the rebirth of Countdown on Al Gore's Current TV. But I'll have to keep tabs via the internet, since COX Cable doesn't carry the channel in Las Vegas. I wrote the mucky-mucks, but they say "no current plans to carry Current." Bah. They caved on giving me MSNBC in HD, so maybe they'll cave on Current too, eventually. Meantime, I'll just have to seek out the clips. Good luck, Keith!

[Excerpt]

Keith Olbermann Breaks Silence On MSNBC Exit; Could Earn $100M at Current TV

In a sometimes explosive interview, Olbermann details for The Hollywood Reporter how Jeff Zucker turned on him at MSNBC, why he’s not talking to Rachel Maddow, and the surprise name who’ll be his substitute anchor. . .

Read more at: The Hollywood Reporter

Maddow: Media Love Affair with Paul Ryan Obscures His Radical Budget Plan

One thing good about The Rachel Maddow Show is that no matter how depressing and jaw-dropping the news is, she manages to at least put some gallows humor into telling you about it. And occasionally, she manages to take a wrong-headed media meme and help change its direction. Yes, Paul Ryan is kind of cute, and possibly buff. But his budget plan is not just extreme, but based on faulty numbers. Let me check out his ass, beltway media! You do your jobs!

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

Rachel Maddow Beats Glenn Beck in Ratings Numbers

Image from AlterNet

"Nobody" watches The Rachel Maddow Show. "Nobody" watches MSNBC at all. If you don't believe me, go to any of the many right-wing blogs that discuss such things. They'll tell you in detail about how FOX "News" is #1 with a bullet, and nobody watches that dude named Rachel. And then they'll call her "Mancow." Or "Madcow." Funny thing though. Rachel's show topped Glenn Beck's in the ratings for the coveted 25-54 age demographic last week. In the actual total viewers, he still beat her (about 1.9 to 1.5 million viewers), but the difference is quite narrow. If "nobody" is watching Rachel, then "nobody" watches Glenn either.

[Excerpt]

Rachel Maddow Beats Glenn Beck -- Covering Wisconsin Protests



Who says you need celebrities to get ratings? Rachel Maddow had a nice surprise last Wednesday when her show got a major ratings boost -- as she covered the protests and injustices in Wisconsin and Ohio. With guests like WI State Senator Jon Erpenbach and OH Congressman Tim Ryan, plus a little segment on Newt Gingrich's website. . .
 
Read more at: AlterNet

The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell Debuts Monday

Image from source, NY Times

This summer, I've noticed that I'm in something of a rut.  It goes way beyond just this summer, but I started doing the math this year.  I watch Countdown with Keith Olbermann and The Rachel Maddow Show most weeknights, then come into my office to blog. . .and stay there the rest of the evening.  Now, I'm not just blogging, and it isn't all politics, but one way or another, I'm spending an awful lot of my awake time in front of an electronic screen of some sort.

MSNBC is trying to tempt me into making my "problem" worse, by debuting The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell.  I like the host--who has appeared as both a guest and a host of the other two shows--for his wit, tenacity and big juicy brain.  O'Donnell has worked both with the real Congress and the fictional, idealized White House (on The West Wing).  So, while it will be tempting to expand my nightly news/commentary intake, I think I'm going to have to beg off.  But I'm sure I'll sample it on occasion, and if something newsworthy comes out of the program, I'll feature clips here.  Oh, and if The Other Half is away, I might get lured into watching live.  But I wish O'Donnell luck, and ratings.

[Excerpt]


And in the Left Corner, Weighing In ...


“I’M one of those actors who finds the part in the wardrobe,” Lawrence O’Donnell said. “So this dressing like an anchorman thing is beginning to work. . .”

Read more at: New York Times

Rachel Maddow: Did the "Top Kill" Work?

Good question. . .

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Rachel Maddow Grills President of FAIR

Something I really like about The Rachel Maddow Show, is how she prods the underbelly of the big stories, digging underneath to see who the players are, and what they're up to.  A lot of those players like being more anonymous, and really don't like it when she does that.  In the case of FAIR (Federation for American Immigration Reform), a group that helped form the recent draconian immigration law in Arizona, there are some decidedly hinky characters behind the scenes. Rachel interviewed Dan Stein, the President of FAIR on Thursday's show, and it was contentious, to say the least.

Stein didn't like the fact that Rachel kept bringing up people tied to FAIR who are racist or worse, and protested vociferously. "Guilt by association!" he bellowed at one point. Really?  The founder of the organization, who sits on the board of directors is not relevant?  Rachel had lots and lots of research on her side. Stein didn't like where she allegedly got her information, and said it was all wrong. But he had a very difficult time pointing out how it was wrong.

I've seen people like Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly throw around "guilt by association" charges (Bill Ayers, anyone?) with far less to allege.  Say what you will about Rachel, she's damned good at what she does.  It's hard to say that she won the "debate" since Stein wasn't exactly playing along.  But it was entertaining television.

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Rachel Maddow Overtakes Keith Olbermann in Ratings

Image from source, TV by theNumbers

I'm a regular--some might say obsessive--viewer of both shows. And some of Olbermann's ratings erosion is likely due to his frequent absences (because of the ill health, then death of his father). But I still feel a little proud of Rachel, like I "discovered" her or something. I've been a fan since her early days at Air America Radio, and one of her biggest cheerleaders since her first appearances at MSNBC.  Plus, the photo is cute.

[Excerpt]

Keith Olbermann Takes A Ratings Backseat To Rachel Maddow At MSNBC

Has Keith Olbermann slipped from his top ratings perch within MSNBC?



During the month of April* MSNBC’s Countdown With Keith Olbermann trailed the Rachel Maddow Show in primetime adults 25-54 ratings, the demo group that news advertisers target. Although Countdown also trailed Maddow in March, Keith was gone from the show effectively the entire month.


The Rachel Maddow Show is up noticeably in the adults 25-54 demo since January-February, but Countdown has been flat. . .

Read more at: TV By the Numbers

Bill Nye Debunks the Climate Change Debunkers

Did you see Bill Nye the science guy on The Rachel Maddow Show last week? She had him on to talk about the "snowpocalypse" in Washington D.C. and the east coast, and how conservatives are using the winter storm to somehow disprove "global warming." Several prominent pundits from right-wing world have pointed to the piles of snow, and cackled about how wrong Al Gore is on climate change.

I was surprised to find that conservatives apparently consider this humor. We're not supposed to think that Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and others are serious when they use the above example. Uh, ha ha? Sorry, conservative humor can be somewhat elusive. But they sure seem like they mean it to me. I wonder what Limbaugh will have to say about climate change if he finds his Florida mansion waist deep in water? Oh, wait, he doesn't have a waist! Anyway, here's the clip. It's entertaining, and debunks this "issue" whether it is a joke or not.

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Ted Olson, David Boies and the Case for Gay Marriage

This is the first of a couple of Rachel Maddow Show posts, since if you like this blog, you probably like her too. If'n you don't, just scroll on past. There's other stuff here too (even if it doesn't seem like it some times!).

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Rachel Maddow Takes on King of Astroturfing, Rick Berman

Critics of MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show often mischaracterize both the show and the host. You'll read that she's just the flip-side of a Glenn Beck or a Sean Hannity. You'll hear that she's shrill. You'll hear that she never allows competing views on her program. All of those things are false, as is obvious to anyone who has actually watched her show.

Case in point, the following interview with non-profit, pro-corporate web-site and "astroturfing" (fake grass roots) maven, Rick Berman. The interview is fascinating for several reasons, but mostly for the tone and tenor of the host. To say that Maddow's sympathies do not lie with Berman would be understating things. And while she does interrupt him to keep the interview on track, she's polite, thoughtful and engaging. What other cable news host could you say that about?

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

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

Rachel-palooza: A Trio of Clips from Thursday's Show

Rather than post three separate posts all from one episode of The Rachel Maddow Show, I decided just to post them all here. Thursday's show was that good. Much of it is about the current spate of faux grass roots town hall "mobs." This issue isn't getting better coverage anywhere on television. The highlight is the last clip, with Maddow interviewing, Tim Phillips, one of the big-wigs behind these orchestrated events. He's very evasive, but Maddow goes after him with polite intensity. Seriously, I can't imagine any other cable news host conducting an interview with a "hostile witness" in such a controlled way.

Rachel Maddow Dissects the Town Hall Disruptions

Today really seems to be video day here at Greenlee Gazette, doesn't it? I mean, more than usual. But sometimes, that's just where the good stuff is. This clip, from The Rachel Maddow Show, is an excellent primer for you on the puppet masters behind all of these "spontaneous" town hall disruptions that have sprung up in the last week. Would you be surprised to know that it's a bunch of rich white guys?

Oh, and the whole idea that the health care bill would kill old people? It's twisted from a living will section that was introduced by Republicans. Yeah, I know!

Rachel Maddow on Being Called "Tea Bagging Queen" by Lou Dobbs

As everybody knows, I'm a huge Rachel Maddow fan. I like her feisty combination of brains and snark, and loved her double-entendre laden coverage of the "Tea Parties." Those were the vague protests staged by. . .er. . .people who don't like Barack Obama. Totally nothing to do with the fact that he's black or anything. Rachel seized upon the double-meaning of the phrase "tea bag" and its spin offs, "tea bagging," "tea bagger" and all the rest. Hilarious.

Even funnier was the prim, put-upon response by the Tea Baggers themselves, and other conservatives. How dare this woman make such off-color fun of these stand-up people? Heh. Since the tea has stopped steeping, Rachel has of course moved on. I've particularly enjoyed her take on C Street, and the creepy conflagration of religion and politics in "The Family," the religious cult that runs this halfway house for wayward Senators. Rachel has also been featuring pieces on the "birther" movement, and skewering them with her usual aplomb.

This has rubbed cranky old CNN talking head, Lou Dobbs the wrong way. Even so, I think him calling Rachel a "tea bagging queen" was a classless--and kind of bizarre--move. Don't worry though. She took it in stride, while snarkily smacking the old poop upside the head.

Maddow: Sen. John Ensign Scandal Widens

I know that Rachel Maddow has become my "go to" gal for blog posts about Senator John Ensign. But it's because she is so succinct--and snarky--in her explanations. Also, the freeze frame of Senator Hairdo is great.

Rachel Maddow Has Fun With Boehner

With a name like John Boner Boehner, it would be wise to choose ones words a little more carefully. . .

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Rachel Maddow on the Scary GOP Ad

I'll stop beating this horse--for now--after this post. The Rachel Maddow reports on the new GOP Guantanamo Bay "scary" ad, in the most entertaining way possible. Flat-out parody! It's great.

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Rachel Maddow InsaniTEA: Teabagging

The very strange GOP strategy of holding "tea parties" is inexplicably picking up steam. It doesn't hurt that all of the right-wing radio blowholes are promoting it, along with "fair and balanced" FOX "News." You'd think that these 'pubbies would know that the term "tea bagging" is a double-entendre. If they do, they must think we're laughing with them, and not at them. But they're wrong!

Here, Rachel Maddow and Ana Marie Cox discuss the practice of tea bagging, with predictable hilarious results. Enjoy.

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Rachel Maddow and Paul Krugman on the Economy

Image from Rachel Maddow's Facebook Page


I've already lamented about my woeful lack of knowledge about all things Wall Street and stocks and bonds. I watch the rollercoaster ride of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and I just get queasy. So, it's good when you can find intelligent, knowledgable people to explain some of it to you.

Sadly, knowing isn't always a good thing. I'm still queasy.


"Talk Me Down" with Rachel Maddow and Paul Krugman