2014 Congressional

AP Pair Pretends Obama and Staff Were Interested in 'Cooperation' at Friday Lunch
By Tom Blumer | November 8, 2014 | 10:05 AM EST

Late Friday afternoon, John Boehner, Mitch McConnell and Republicans in Washington got their first taste of what they will likely see from the supposedly "objective" reporters at the Associated Press, aka the Administration's Press, as they cover their relationship with President Obama and his White House apparatachiks during the next two years.

The headline at a story by Nedra Pickler and Erica Wener ("Immigration dispute erupts at White House lunch") and that story's first seven words ("A White House lunch aiming for cooperation") are fundamentally dishonest and untrue, respectively. The article's later text proves both of my contentions.

After Huge Dem Loss, Bitter NYT Columnists Ponder 'Broken Politics,' Sabotage' by Victorious GOP
By Clay Waters | November 8, 2014 | 7:46 AM EST

The New York Times liberal columnists (redundant?), given a night to marinade in the bitterness of enormous losses on every level of government for the Democrats, responded with various shades of bile, bias, and unconvincing happy talk.

Time's Joe Klein Goofed In Predicting End of 'Extreme Supply-Side Economics' in Kansas
By Tim Graham | November 7, 2014 | 8:13 PM EST

On the eve of the midterms, Time’s Joe Klein listed “5 Things to Watch for in the Midterm Elections.” But the funniest one was number three. He titled it “Kansas Rejoins The Mainstream.”

Klein gleefully foresaw that in the defeat of Gov. Sam Brownback, “the myth of extreme supply-side economics might finally be put to rest.” But Brownback won, 50 to 46 percent. The grip of voodoo Reaganism continues:

CNN's Lemon: 'Why Do People Vote Against Their Own Interests' With ObamaCare?
By Matthew Balan | November 7, 2014 | 6:22 PM EST

CNN's Don Lemon, Chris Cuomo, and Alisyn Camerota stuck to the left's spin about the results of the 2014 midterm elections on Thursday's CNN Tonight, as they discussed President Obama's Wednesday press conference. Lemon wondered, "Why do people vote against their own interests? Because if you look at West Virginia, Kentucky, Arkansas...they put mostly Republicans in office...But they are the states that are benefiting the most from the Affordable Care Act."

Post-Election Panic: ‘Raising Hope’ Star Cries Sky Is Falling on Twitter
By Kristine Marsh | November 7, 2014 | 4:06 PM EST

Oscar Wilde famously wrote about a Dickens character: “One must have a heart of stone to read the death of little Nell without laughing.” And you’d have to have a heart of stone not to read the post-election tweets of liberal celebrities without at least a schadenfreude-tastic giggle.

 Really, Hollywood’s election reaction has rarely been more entertaining. Daily Show writer Lizz Winstead moaned, “Republicans win control of your body.” Bette Midler tweeted bitterly, “We can look forward to unregulated banks, no health care, filthy air and oceans, and WAR, WAR, AND MORE WAR. Thanks, folks!” 

 Now here comes Lucas Neff, star of Fox’s “Raising Hope,” whose post-election tweets prove he’s second to none in the Celebrity Chicken Little Sweepstakes.

Sharpton Claims Clintons Are More Responsible Than Obama For Dem Debacle
By Tom Blumer | November 7, 2014 | 3:27 PM EST

The delusion is strong with this one.

On Friday's Morning Joe program on what remains of MSNBC, Al Sharpton, completely ignoring how late appearances in Maryland and Illinois by President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle coincided with significant deterioration in the situations of Democratic Party gubernatorial candidates in Maryland and Illinois, blamed Bill and Hillary Clinton, and not the Obamas, for Tuesday's Democratic debacle.

NYT's Ross Douthat: Wendy Davis Shows Media's Liberal Bias Can Hurt Democrats
By Tim Graham | November 7, 2014 | 2:22 PM EST

Using a spin no one in the liberal chattering class would imagine, New York Times columnist Ross Douthat compared Wendy Davis to Delaware’s Senate nominee Christine O’Donnell. Both were ideologically mismatched with the states they were running in, but O’Donnell’s victory was a political shocker.

Douthat said the media's bias on culture-war issues can lead to "fond delusions" like Wendy Davis could win in a red state on a pro-abortion platform.

NBC: 'Republicans Have Drawn Their Own Battle Lines' By 'Doubling Down' On ObamaCare Repeal
By Kyle Drennen | November 7, 2014 | 1:05 PM EST

In a report for Friday's NBC Today, White House correspondent Kristen Welker continued the network's effort to preemptively blame Republicans for any gridlock that may occur in Washington following the GOP's landslide win in Tuesday's midterm election: "Republicans have drawn their own battle lines, doubling down on their pledge to repeal the President's signature piece of legislation, ObamaCare, and vowing to approve the Keystone Pipeline, which the President has resisted."

Clay Aiken Donors Upset Over Campaign Turned Into Reality Show
By P.J. Gladnick | November 7, 2014 | 12:57 PM EST

Clay Aiken lost in a landslide in his campaign for a congressional seat from North Carolina yet he is overjoyed. Why? Because it is now apparent that winning was besides the point for Aiken. His real goal now appears to be a TV reality show as announced in Poltico. Unfortunately for reality show wannabee Clay his celebrity donors in Los Angeles feel as if they have been duped by the former "American Idol" contestant and are demanding that footage of their September 30 fundraiser not be used in the reality show.
 

Nets Predicted Republican Doom With Hispanics, Yawn at GOP Surge
By Scott Whitlock | November 7, 2014 | 12:38 PM EST

For years, liberal journalists have been predicting Republican doom with Hispanics, declaring that rage from the growing ethnic population would result in a permanent GOP minority. NBC's Matt Lauer, for instance, wondered if the severe "damage" could be repaired. Yet, the Republican landslide on Tuesday was powered, in part, by a strong showing with Latinos. So far, this has been met with disinterest from the three networks. 

MSNBC's Welker to GOP: Pass Immigration Bill So Obama Doesn't 'Have' To Issue Executive Order
By Mark Finkelstein | November 7, 2014 | 10:01 AM EST

The Republican devil would make him do it! On MSNBC's Daily Rundown today, Kristen Welker repeatedly blocked GOP Senator Ron Johnson's attempts to talk about President Obama's threat to issue an executive order granting amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants.

When she finally deigned to discuss the issue, Welker suggested that Republicans pass immigration legislation so that Obama doesn't "have" to issue an executive order.  

Scarborough, Heilemann to GOP: Ignore Rush, Do Deals With Obama
By Mark Finkelstein | November 7, 2014 | 8:11 AM EST

Rush Limbaugh likes to say that when the liberal media says "talk radio," they mean him.  Rush's point was perfectly illustrated on today's Morning Joe.  John Heilemann first spoke of "talk radio  . . . howling" at Boehner and McConnell not to capitulate to President Obama.  Just a moment later, Heilemann made explicitly clear whom he had in mind: "you got to listen to Rush Limbaugh for just one day right now."

Then it was Joe Scarborough's turn to fulminate: "I keep hearing Rush Limbaugh, Rush Limbaugh, Rush Limbaugh." The message that Heilemann and Scarborough had for Republicans was clear: ignore Rush and do deals with President Obama.  Specifically on immigration, Scarborough suggested that Republicans not "capitulate" but "work with the president and meet in the middle."