Cain's Convincing Fla. Straw Poll Win Refutes Press Meme That GOP Nomi

Herman Cain won the Florida straw poll tonight, winning the votes of 37% of those who participated. No other candidate came within 20 points of Cain. As of 8:20 p.m., roughly two hours after the result was announced, the Associated Press's Philip Elliott and Kasie Hunt had a blatantly obvious contradiction in their 6:51 p.m. story ("Perry works to show he's strongest GOP contender"; saved…
Tom Blumer
September 24th, 2011 9:29 PM

Look, in the Sky! MSNBC Host Chris Hayes Dazzled by Obama's 'Superpowe

Forget the birther theory that Obama was born in Kenya. Chris Hayes wants you to believe the president was born on Krypton. How else to explain his over-the-top gushing for Dear Leader during an appearance on MSNBC colleague Rachel Maddow's show on Thursday (video after page break) --
Jack Coleman
September 24th, 2011 7:24 PM

MSNBC Uses Liberal Green Jobs Activist to Blame Solyndra on George W

The lengths MSNBC will go to deflect blame from President Obama for anything bad that can be tied to his administration is simply amazing. On Friday, a liberal green jobs activist was brought on "MSNBC Live" to falsely accuse former President George W. Bush of making that ill-advised loan to failed solar company Solyndra (video follows with transcript and commentary):
Noel Sheppard
September 24th, 2011 5:00 PM

NPR Publicizes 'Rascally' Joe McGinniss; Insisted 'We Know' Corsi Was

In 2008, NPR's All Things Considered tried to take apart the "swift-booking" of Barack Obama by conservative author Jerome Corsi, insisting in several places "we know" Corsi's reporting wasn't factual. On Friday's All Things Considered, NPR media reporter David Folkenflik took a looser standard in publicizing the Palin-bashing book by liberal author Joe McGinniss. Folkenflik eventually found…
Tim Graham
September 24th, 2011 2:42 PM

Bill Maher: Sarah Palin Would 'F--k' Rick Perry If He Was Black

For the second week in a row since returning from his summer hiatus, it didn't take HBO's Bill Maher long to begin attacking conservatives. Roughly one minute into his opening monolog on Friday's "Real Time," the host mocked Texas governor Rick Perry's performance at Thursday's presidential debate and disgustingly quipped, "Sarah Palin was watching and she said, 'If only he was black, I'd f--…
Noel Sheppard
September 24th, 2011 11:33 AM

Former Congresswoman Smacks Down Bill Maher for Calling Fox's Megyn Ke

Former Congresswoman Jane Harman called out Bill Maher Friday evening for saying Fox News's Megyn Kelly was a "blonde twink" who's "not bright." Appearing on HBO's "Real Time," Harman responded by noting that Maher had just minutes before discussed with author Ron Suskind the sexist treatment of women in the Obama White House, and then said, "I want to point out that the last time I was on…
Noel Sheppard
September 24th, 2011 10:34 AM

Name That Party: WaPo Leaves Out the D In Maryland Scandal

"Gay marriage" advocates are probably delighted, but The Washington Post once again can't find any place to put a troublesome "D" next to the name of a Maryland state delegate charged with theft. Aaron Davis reported: A young Prince George's [County] politician who seemed to embody Maryland's crisis of conscience over approving same-sex marriage was charged Friday with stealing campaign funds…
Tim Graham
September 24th, 2011 10:04 AM

Weekend Open Thread

For general discussion and debate about politics, economics, sports, and whatever else tickles your fancy.
NB Staff
September 24th, 2011 9:29 AM

Bozell Column: Charlie Sheen Roasts and Boasts

It’s easy to get nostalgic for those classic Dean Martin TV celebrity roasts. Just watch a Comedy Central Friars Club roast. This is not comedy; they are unremittingly vicious. When they announced they were going to roast Charlie Sheen, a disgraceful human being if ever there was one, there was a sense of karmic comeuppance. Then the show aired. Only someone as deranged as Sheen would find it…
Brent Bozell
September 24th, 2011 9:05 AM

Was Obama's 'Intercontinental Railroad' Reference Lifted from Previous

It's probably not much of a stretch to believe that Barack Obama and his speechwriters frequently peruse the New York Times in print or online. Their likely affinity for the Times may explain why the President referred to the "intercontinental railroad" in his speech yesterday in Cincinnati near the Brent Spence Bridge:
Tom Blumer
September 23rd, 2011 11:56 PM

Admitted: Katie Couric Played 'Out of Position' at CBS

Broadcasting & Cable magazine's cover story this week was on Katie Couric and her new afternoon talk show (not arriving until next autumn). Her longtime NBC producer and friend Jeff Zucker, axed by NBC in the Comcast merger, is now helping her put the show together. But when asked if Couric was destined to be a failure in the evening news, where the gummy smiles and perky trills aren't in…
Tim Graham
September 23rd, 2011 11:27 PM

NPR Uses Joplin's Tea Party Congressman to Gush Over Obama Disaster Re

On Thursday, NPR's Morning Edition used a Republican mayor to boost Obama's push for infrastructure spending. On Friday, the same show displayed a new Tea Party Republican House member representing tornado-ravaged Joplin, Missouri to gush over the effectiveness of the Obama disaster relief team, as if to say "No Katrinas here, America." Janet Napolitano told NPR Long would give them a "12" out…
Tim Graham
September 23rd, 2011 11:05 PM

Crazy Larry: Perry Is GOP's 'Favorite Killer, Favorite State-Sanctione

It's going to be a long campaign . . . Republicans haven't come close to choosing their presidential candidate yet, but already a proud member of the MSM is calling a leading GOP contender a "killer." On his MSNBC show this evening, Crazy Larry O'Donnell accused Rick Perry of being--for his record of enforcing the Texas law on capital punishment--the Republicans' "favorite killer, favorite…
Mark Finkelstein
September 23rd, 2011 10:13 PM

CNN's Foreman: Romney's Assault on Texas Dream Act 'a Little Mislead

In recent years, various media outlets have established self-styled truth squads to "fact check"  politicians.  Today on CNN Newsroom anchored by Brooke Baldwin, correspondent Tom Foreman examined statements made at last night's GOP presidential candidate debate.  One was former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's criticism of Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s support for a law allowing children of illegal…
Mike Bates
September 23rd, 2011 7:02 PM