Bill Maher on Bristol Palin: 'The S--t Doesn't Fall Far From The Bat

Bill Maher on Friday once again spent a good amount of his HBO program bashing Sarah Palin and her family. In the concluding segment, the "Real Time" host actually said of Bristol, "The s--t doesn't fall far from the bat" (video follows with transcript and commentary, vulgarity warning):
Noel Sheppard
June 25th, 2011 6:33 PM

Karl Rove Asks Juan Williams: How Can an Obscure Guy Who Did Diddly Sq

Karl Rove and Juan Williams had quite a lively debate Friday evening about politics, the economy, and who can beat Barack Obama in 2012. With Williams acting as substitute host on "The O'Reilly Factor," guest Rove asked the question that has been plaguing conservatives for approaching three years - "How can an obscure United States senator from Illinois who had done diddly squat in the senate…
Noel Sheppard
June 25th, 2011 4:32 PM

ABC and NBC Refuse to ID Party of Mobster’s Brother, ‘Celebrated S

The ABC and NBC evening newscasts have focused stories on Billy Bulger, the long-time Massachusetts Democratic political hack who is the younger brother of just-captured reputed mass-murdering Mobster Whitey Bulger, but both refused to identify Billy Bulger’s party affiliation. (The CBS Evening News has, so far, not even mentioned Billy.) “While Whitey Bulger was running a gang, his brother…
Brent Baker
June 25th, 2011 2:54 PM

PBS 'Conservative' David Brooks Hammers Grover Norquist as 'Completely

If if is Friday, that means New York Times columnist David Brooks is hammering conservatives on the PBS NewsHour. On Friday, he condemned Grover Norquist and the entire no-new-taxes contingent as "completely wrong" in the current budget battle: JIM LEHRER: David, how do you see the Republican divide on taxes? DAVID BROOKS: Tom Coburn is completely right, and Grover Norquist is completely…
Tim Graham
June 25th, 2011 2:00 PM

Weekend Open Thread

For general discussion and debate about politics, the economy, sports, and whatever else tickles your fancy.
NB Staff
June 25th, 2011 10:22 AM

Michelle Obama Tells CNN 'Fortunately We Have Help From The Media

In today's "Truer Words Might Never Have Been Spoken" segment, Michelle Obama told CNN's Robyn Curnow Friday, "Fortunately we have help from the media." Such came during an interview with the First Lady in Botswana aired on the 6PM installment of "The Situation Room" (video follows with transcript and commentary):
Noel Sheppard
June 25th, 2011 10:13 AM

Daily Kos: GOP Women Couldn't Possibly Be Pro-Women

Kaili Joy Gray at the Daily Kos obviously subscribes to the tired old theory of DNC chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz that the Republicans are waging a "war on women." On Thursday, she mocked the idea that GOP women like Rep. Kristi Noem of South Dakota could speak for the fairer sex. Noem told the AP "The Republican agenda is indeed pro-woman. It is pro-woman because it is pro-small business,…
Tim Graham
June 25th, 2011 7:55 AM

Gainor Column: Media Declare Huntsman GOP's Obama (Too Bad They Prefer

John Lennon once wrote "all you need is love." If that's the case, then GOP unknown Jon Huntsman will be the next president of the United States. The quasi-Republican former ambassador to China is finding the media environment filled with love. Huntsman, who was also the governor of Utah, is trying to position himself as "electable" because liberals, gays and the media love him. (Yes,…
Dan Gainor
June 25th, 2011 7:52 AM

Bozell Column: Even Bedtime Stories Get Profane

The mass-marketing of profanity just won’t stop. Now’s it topping the best-selling book list – in children’s picture books. You might have heard by now that there’s a “subversive” little bedtime book for adults. It should not be read to children. It’s called “Go the F— to Sleep.” Anyone who’s ever been up at 2 in the morning with a baby or toddler knows exactly the feeling that is being…
Brent Bozell
June 25th, 2011 7:22 AM

Michele Bachmann Opposes Liberty and Justice For All

Rep. Keith Ellison, ultraliberal Democrat of Minnesota, appeared on C-SPAN's Washington Journal Thursday morning, and was asked about his Gopher State colleague Michele Bachmann. What unfolded was a classic elaboration of today's liberal creed -- which Ellison dressed up as "liberty and justice for all" -- and then insisted Bachmann was opposed to that concept down the line: PETER SLEN, C-…
Tim Graham
June 25th, 2011 6:30 AM

Joe Klein's 2012 Scenario: Pragmatic Democrat vs. 'Dangerous, Inbred

Who on Earth would claim the next election matchup is Pragmatic Democrat vs. Radical End-of-All-Regulation Republican? Time’s Joe Klein would, in Time’s June 27 cover story on the GOP candidates. He ended the piece like this: Some presidential campaigns - 1960, 1980, 1992, 2008 - are exhilarating, suffused with hope and excitement. This is not likely to be one of those. It is likely to be an…
Tim Graham
June 24th, 2011 11:11 PM

Colby King Calls Michele Bachmann 'Barbie With Fangs

Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post columnist Colby King on Friday disgracefully called Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann "Barbie with fangs." His fellow "Inside Washington" panelist Charles Krauthammer - obviously annoyed by this sexist display - replied, "It’s good to see how civil and non-ad hominem we are here in the Huntsman spirit" (video follows with transcript and…
Noel Sheppard
June 24th, 2011 7:44 PM

ABC, NBC Kowtow to Michelle Obama, but Took Shots at Laura Bush

When ABC and NBC interview First Ladies, both the tone and substance of the discussion tend to hinge on whether the husband is an Obama or a Bush. On Wednesday's ABC "World News" and NBC "Nightly News," network correspondents sat down with Michelle Obama in South Africa for exclusive interviews in which they lobbed softball questions and avoided her husband's policies. But in interviews with…
Alex Fitzsimmons
June 24th, 2011 5:35 PM

A Tale of Two State Trios, and Their Comparative Press Coverage

I can't say that I'm up on what every state is doing, but it's hard not to notice contrasts between two trios of states singing decidedly different tunes: Wisconsin, Ohio and New Jersey, three states with recently elected conservative Republican governors, have either put their budgets to bed, or are on the verge of doing so, by cutting costs and not raising taxes. Connecticut,…
Tom Blumer
June 24th, 2011 5:32 PM