Open Thread

NB Staff

Networks Downplay $42 Million in 'Outrageous' Bonuses, 'Unlimited' Bai

The network news media cheered when Obama called for restrictions on CEO pay or bonuses that, according to reporters, exemplify the Wall Street "greed" that toppled the American economy. But when $42 million in cash compensation packages were announced on Christmas Eve for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac executives, the networks couldn't muster any anger toward the highly connected groups. Although…
Julia A. Seymour

CBS Tells Parents Teens Should Wait for Sex; Pushes Contraceptives on

Medical correspondent Jennifer Ashton gives parents and teens conflicting advice about sex.
Colleen Raezler

John Alo-vicious Farrell: Brit Hume Pushes Certainty That Leads to 'Fa

Tim Graham

Olbermann Turns To Conspiracy Theories to Absolve Obama of Underwear B

Sometimes being such fans of President Obama makes liberal media types tie themselves into knots.  As I documented earlier today, the New York Times went to great lengths to insist America's rising debt is not the administration's fault.MSNBC ranter Keith Olbermann decided to try his hand at the absurd apologetics Tuesday by concocting a wild vision of intelligence officials who care nothing…
Lachlan Markay

FNC’s Shepard Smith: Guantanamo Gave U.S. A ‘Black Eye

In an interview on Fox News Channel’s Studio B on Wednesday, New York Congressman Peter King criticized President Obama for his “race to close Guantanamo,” prompting host Shepard Smith to parrot left-wing talking points on the subject: “[Obama] said that gave us a black eye around the world and studies seem to suggest that’s exactly what it did.” King went on to staunchly defend the military…
Kyle Drennen

MSNBC’s David Shuster Defends Liberal Avatar, Attacks ‘Shameless a

MSNBC host David Shuster on Wednesday attacked conservatives who have a problem with the liberal agenda of the film Avatar, dismissing their arguments as "shameless and crazy." Shuster and New Live co-host Tamron Hall seemed bewildered by right-wing complaints about the environmentally-themed movie. Talking with film critic Mike Taibbi, Shuster derided, "Could this be just about the political…
Scott Whitlock

CNN's Cafferty Slams Democrats' Closed-Door Negotiations on Health Car

On Wednesday’s Situation Room, CNN’s Jack Cafferty surprisingly blasted top Democrats, especially President Obama, over the secret negotiations being conducted to reconcile the House and Senate versions of health care “reform” legislation: “President Obama hasn’t even made a token effort to keep his campaign promises of more openness and transparency in government. It was all just another lie.”…
Matthew Balan

‘Eat, Pray, Love’ Author: Straight Couples Aren’t Marrying Becau

Back in 2006, Brad Pitt announced during an interview with Esquire magazine that he will only tie the knot with his (perhaps, still) girlfriend Angelina Jolie when "everyone else in the country who wants to be married is legally able." (It's assumed he was talking about gays and not, say, first cousins or fathers and daughters - although he did leave it rather open-ended.) Well, best-selling…
Carolyn Plocher

BREAKING: Convicted Dem Mayor of Baltimore Resigning; BaltSun Leaves O

Criminally-challenged Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon (D) today announced her resignation from office effective February 4. Nowhere in their 9-paragraph breaking news article filed at 3:44 p.m. EST today did Baltimore Sun reporters Liz F. Kay and Liz Bowie note Dixon is a Democrat, even though her party has a monopoly on the city's elected officials and has for decades. Dixon, you may recall, was…
Ken Shepherd

CBS’ Medical Correspondent Gives Mixed Messages on Teen Sex

Teenagers don't need to ask their friends anymore about sex. Now they can just turn to CBS' medical correspondent, Dr. Jennifer Ashton. On Jan. 6, Dr. Ashton met with a group of teenage girls on CBS' "Early Show" to advertise her new book "The Body Scoop for Girls" - a book that anchor Maggie Rodriguez said "parents of daughters really appreciate." But most parents that watched this segment were…
Carolyn Plocher

On Failure To Reduce Deficit, NYT Writer Blames Everyone But Obama

In the eyes of many in the liberal media, President Obama can do no wrong. If he does, it's not his fault; he is simply a victim of circumstance, or he made the best decision he could given the options. One can tell news items portraying Obama in this light by their descriptions of problems in the passive voice.Take yesterday's New York Times article by Jackie Calmes, for instance. The piece…
Lachlan Markay

CBS’s Rodriguez Calls on GOP to Stop ‘Partisan Bickering’ Over S

Speaking with Republican New York Congressman Peter King on Wednesday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez declared: “Congressman, here you are a Republican talking about everything that’s wrong and everything that went wrong....Tom Kean, who was the co-chairman of the 9/11 Commission said quote, ‘we should dismiss the partisan bickering over the security failures over this issue.”Rodriguez…
Kyle Drennen

Robin Roberts Shut Out: New Host George Stephanopoulos Hogs GMA's Poli

Despite promises from ABC to the contrary, Good Morning America co-host Robin Roberts appears to have been almost completely shut out from political and policy interviews since George Stephanopoulos joined the show on December 14. The former Democratic operative has now anchored 11 mornings and conducted all but one of the big interviews. Back on December 10, GMA executive producer Jim Murphy…
Scott Whitlock