FOX "News" Poll Asks Loaded Questions

Image from source, TPM

That is perhaps one of the least shocking headlines I've ever written. Of course FOX "News" would ask leading questions in their polls. To not do so would be completely out of character for a channel that lays its political agenda out there for the world to see.

Still, many people--almost universally conservatives--will maintain that FOX isn't biased. They buy into the "Fair and Balanced" slogan, just like they buy into anything the hosts of the programs tell them.

I remember back in the late nineties, a time when most people were blissfully unaware that The O'Reilly Factor, and Hannity & Colmes even existed, a drive in Las Vegas to get Prime Cable to carry FOX "News." The drive was headed by local right-wing talk radio host Alan Stock. Stock and his listeners cajoled Prime (now Cox) into slotting the network alongside CNN and CNN Headline News. MSNBC was there too, I believe, but to this day it exists many numbers up the dial, for unknown reasons.

So why, if FOX is unbiased, are such campaigns waged by conservatives? Enquiring liberal minds want to know. . .

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Fox News Poll: Do You Have A Neighbor Who Says Obama "Scares Them"?

Hmmm. It looks like Fox News is asking some rather loaded questions in its latest poll:

Have you heard any of your friends and neighbors say there is something about Barack Obama that scares them?

Yes 49%
No 50%

Read more at: TPM

McCain Gives Speech at German. . .Restaurant

While Barack Obama was speaking to an enthusiastic crowd of 200,000 or so in Berlin, Germany, John McCain was also speaking in a German environment. In Columbus, Ohio. German Village to be precise (the gay neighborhood when I lived in Cowtown, but who knows now). A tip to people who aren't from Columbus: Schmidt’s Restaurant und Sausage Haus is a semi-big deal there. I've only eaten there once--even though I lived in Columbus for 28 years--but it was a special place to most people. Almost as big as The Olde Spaghetti Warehouse or Red Lobster. Seriously.

[Excerpt]

McCain Visits German Restaurant - In Columbus, Ohio

While Barack Obama was greeted by 200,000 Germans chanting “Yes we can” in Berlin, John McCain was greeting a few dozen people at a German restaurant here in Ohio. . .

Read more at: CBS News

Karl Rove, Vote Tampering and Threats in Ohio

Image from source, Brad Blog

I don't think we'll ever know everything Karl Rove has done to subvert the ideals of America. We may never even know the half of it. But it is gratifying to see a trickle of information come out, on various subjects. I'm hoping that the dam will burst, and that Karl will be washed away in a flood of scandal. . .and flushed. And hell, while I'm beating this metaphor to death, he can be processed at the George W. Bush Sewage Plant!

[Excerpt]

Rove Threatened GOP IT Guru If He Does Not 'Take the Fall' for Election Fraud in Ohio, Says Attorney

Karl Rove has threatened a GOP high-tech guru and his wife, if he does not "'take the fall' for election fraud in Ohio," according to a letter sent this morning to Attorney General Michael Mukasey, by Ohio election attorney Cliff Arnebeck. . .

Read more at: Brad Blog

Young Turks on Bush's Hidden Camera Moment

The other day, I posted a video taken of George W. Bush by a hidden camera (camera phone?). In it, he used uncharacteristically frank language about the mortgage crisis, and used inappropriate humor. Here, Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks breaks it down for us. Better than I did.

Worst Anti-Obama Ad Yet: Both Ways Barack

Negative ads are here to stay, we all know that. But what do you do when the message you're trying to get across--in this case that Barack Obama has often changed his positions--is a weakness your own candidate possesses? John McCain has famously changed his positions on nearly everything since his 2000 run.

Let's face it, all politicians change positions, for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, changing your mind is a good thing. Sometimes holding fast--staying the course, if you will--is a bad idea. Even the conservatives' prime example of flip-floppage--John Kerry voting for the war before he voted against it--had a reasonable explanation. The reasoning behind it just couldn't break through the buzz. The conservative media succeeded in branding Kerry as a flip-flopper.

Will it work this time? Will the very loud conservative media drown out all rational discussion again? Will John McCain continue to get a pass on his own, numerous flip flops? Hard to say. But the following ad, in my opinion, is so transparently stupid, it isn't going to change a lot of minds. It barely rises to the level of a local political ad, let alone a national one. My two cents.

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Conservative Group to Air Anti-Obama Ads

An independent conservative group that worked on behalf of President Bush in 2004 is planning to begin broadcasting nationally next week a commercial that attacks Senator Barack Obama as a flip-flopper.

Read more at: New York Times

Get Your Bush Administration Scandal Map Here!

Image from source, Slate

Well, not here exactly. This is just a static version of it. But go to the Slate link below for a fully interactive version. Very nifty, and handy for keeping your Bush Administration scandals straight. Perhaps this should be emailed to all of the House and Senate? They seem to be only vaguely aware of this stuff. . .

[Excerpt]

Crimes and Misdemeanors

Each scandal is represented by a colored circle that encompasses the people who are implicated. As it's easy to see, many of the players here are mixed up in two, three, or more of the alleged crimes. Hence all the overlapping circles (Venn-diagram heaven!). . .

Read more at: Slate

Found at: AmericaBlog

CBS Scrubs Another John McCain Flub?

Image from source, Raw Story

This time on 9/11, of all things. Can we finally dispense with all of the "media loves Barack Obama" criticism? Clearly--at the very least--the media also loves John McCain. Enough to try to cover his butt on the issues he claims to be strongest on.

[Excerpt]

CBS scrubs a second McCain flub from interview broadcast

Keeping up with John McCain's foreign policy gaffes is becoming a cottage industry these days, and a progressive radio host has caught another slip-up from the Republican presidential nominee talking about the war on terror.

And keeping those flubs away from viewers is occupying plenty of network news editors' time. . .

Read more at: Raw Story

Astronaut Claims Alien Cover-Up?

Image from BuddyTV

Wow. Aliens. Really? Cool. Let's hope they're the friendly E.T. type, or even the American Dad Roger type, and not--ohhhh--War of the Worlds.

[Excerpt]

Moon-walker claims alien contact cover-up

FORMER NASA astronaut and moon-walker Dr Edgar Mitchell - a veteran of the Apollo 14 mission - has stunningly claimed aliens exist.

And he says extra-terrestrials have visited Earth on several occasions - but the alien contact has been repeatedly covered up by governments for six decades. Dr Mitchell, 77, said during a radio interview that sources at the space agency who had had contact with aliens described the beings as 'little people who look strange to us. . .'

Read more at: News.com.au

Keith Olbermann on the Loss of the Bill of Rights

Yesterday, I posted a piece where I created a graphic of The Bill of Rights, with the damaged parts crossed out. After doing so, I remembered a segment on Countdown with Keith Olbermann, where Olbermann does much the same thing, explaining why those parts of the Bill have been so damaged.

I found it today, and thought I should post it. The Bill of Rights segment is toward the end.

Barack Obama's Berlin Speech

Say what you will, Barack Obama looks and sounds "presidential." It would be such an unbelievable breath of fresh air to have a President who can string more than a sentence or two together without a major stumble. Just as refreshing would be a President who could energize audiences both at home and abroad.

I know that conservatives are now calling Obama "the Wizard of Uhs," following the lead of their cult leader, Rush Limbaugh. How wise is it to draw comparisons to John McCain--or especially, George W. Bush--regarding speaking ability?

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Cuteness Break: Kitty on the Keys

Yeah, this is hopelessly cute, something I'm not exactly known for. But I couldn't help myself.


kitten vs. frontrow from mattcoats on Vimeo.

New Snickers Candy Bar Ad Homophobic?

During a recent Super Bowl, a series of ads for Snickers candy bars were aired that drew an immediate response for being homophobic. Snickers pulled the ads fairly quickly afterward. Now it would seem they're at it again.

The decision to run their "Get Some Nuts" campaign, featuring--of all people--Mr. T, is pretty perplexing. There can be no other read of this ad, as far as I can see, than making fun of and disparaging gay people. If you have another explanation, I'd love to hear it.



Found at: AmericaBlog

What's the Deal With McCain's Take on "The Surge"?

I wanted to write something about the CBS Katie Couric interview with John McCain. You know the one, where she asked him a question, he answered it--badly--and then CBS edited it to look like he gave a different answer. But after watching this clip, I realized it really can't be summed up any better--or more entertainingly--than this.

Robert Novak Hits Pedestrian, Doesn't Notice

Photo from source, Politico

Have you ever been drawn into one of those discussions about there being an cutoff age for driving? I've always thought it sounded mean, but maybe there ought to be at least some kind of retesting after a certain age.

Case in point, reporter (and CIA covert operative cover blower) Robert Novak, 77, hit a guy in a crosswalk today. He was tooling around in his black Corvette, and plowed into a guy who had a "WALK" sign in his favor, reportedly bouncing him off the windshield. And Novak just kept going like nothing happened. How do you not notice something like that?

Of course, he may have been lying, and had simply planned on hitting and running. I've got to say, the cops seem to have let the old guy off easy. Certainly easier than they'd treat most hit-and-run drivers, don't you think?

[Excerpt]

Novak cited after hitting pedestrian

Syndicated columnist Robert D. Novak was cited by police after he hit a pedestrian with his black Corvette in downtown Washington, D.C., on Wednesday morning. . .

Read more (with video) at: Politico

X-Rated Security Screenings at the Airport?

Image from source, CBS 2 Chicago

We've long accepted a complete lack of Constitutional rights at the airport. People who've travelled more than a few times already have the drill down: Take off your belt, your watch, your shoes; take your computer out of its case; get out your ID and ticket; put everything through the machine, and if you're lucky, gather all your stuff and waddle over to the chairs to put everything back.

But sometimes we're not so lucky. We get pulled out of line, our bags get ransacked, we're wanded. . .ooh! But sometimes it gets more serious than that.

[Excerpt]

Fliers Complain About X-Rated Security Screenings

When travelers go to the airport, they know what kind of security to expect: luggage searches, metal detectors and shoe inspections. It's all part of our post 9-11 reality enforced by the Transportation Security Adminstration.

But as CBS 2 Investigator Pam Zekman reports, thousands of travelers have complained that some of these screenings can become abusive and even x-rated. For arguing with a TSA agent, Robin Kassner wound up being slammed to the floor. She's filed a lawsuit. . .

Read more (with video) at: CBS 2 Chicago

Vanity Fair Spoofs New Yorker Obama Cover

Image from source, The Saccharinist

Vanity Fair magazine has come up with a cover spoofing the recent New Yorker Barack and Michelle Obama "satire" cover. It's pretty funny, and unlike the cartoon on the New Yorker, has the benefit of being real satire. Check it out.

[Excerpt]

Vanity Fair Spoofs New Yorker Cover

Now this is funny because it's true.Vanity Fair has spoofed the ridiculous New Yorker Cover of the Obamas, but unlike the New Yorker cover, it is an accurate portrayal of the facts of the McCains's lives. . .

Read more at: The Saccharinist



Previously:
New Yorker Cartoon Response #1
New Yorker Cartoon Response #2
What the Hell? Anti-Obama New Yorker Cover

CBS News Covering for McCain's Lack of "Surge" Knowledge?

Now, this is interesting. Apparently, CBS News' Katie Couric interviewed John McCain, asked him a hard question, then edited his answer to appear like he knew what he was talking about. Even though he didn't. What do you make of that, all you folks who insist that there is a "liberal media bias?"



From: AmericaBlog

Estelle Getty Passed Away: Thank You For Being A Friend

Image from source, Towleroad

I loved The Golden Girls, long before it was cool. What? It was never cool? OK, but it was popular. What show in recent memory has been a hit on Saturday night? Seriously. The whole cast was great of course. But Estelle Getty was good enough, and popular enough, to end up on three separate series: The Golden Girls, The Golden Palace, and Empty Nest. And she even co-starred in (the admittedly lamentable) Stop, or My Mom Will Shoot! RIP, Estelle.

[Excerpt]

Thank You for Being a Friend, Estelle Getty

Getty, who suffered from advanced dementia, died around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday at her Hollywood Boulevard home, said her son, Carl Gettleman of Santa Monica. . .

Read more at: Towleroad

Frivolity Break: Robin Sparkles Let's Got to the Mall

For no particular reason (except for an escape from politics and seriousness), here is a little fun diversion. One of my favorite sitcoms (and there aren't many) is CBS' How I Met Your Mother. Even though it is built around a gimmick (a dad explaining to his kids how he met their mother), and even though it somehow features Bob Saget, it's a great show. Like Seinfeld, the scripts are very complicated, with A, B and sometimes C story lines alternating in a rapid-fire sequence, ending in a resolution that ties them all together. It's a great show.

One of the subplots of the series features a woman (not the "mother" of the title), who hails from Canada, and once had a career as a teen sensation in the Great White North. Even though she's not old enough for acid wash jeans, and a Tiffany sensibility, that is explained by the slow transition in trends up north. One episode featured the revelation that the woman was once known as "Robin Sparkles," and had a music video to prove it. Enjoy. Or not.

Red State Update: Foreigners Love Barack Obama

The air has gotten thick on the old blog today. . .such seriousness. Time for a little levity, and to provide it, Red State Update!