Major Garrett Says He's 'Militantly Non-Partisan'--But Sounds Like Oba

On Morning Joe, Major Garrett, formerly of Fox News, now with the National Journal, claimed to be "militantly non-partisan" . . . then proceeded to offer a passionate defense of President Obama's Libya policy. As an hors d'oeuvre during the discussion of the need for the media to acknowledge their leanings, Katrina vanden Heuvel risibly refused to admit that her Nation magazine is left-wing…
Mark Finkelstein
March 25th, 2011 9:41 AM

Open Thread: Why Comedians Can't Do Obama Jokes

Something a bit more light-hearted for today's OT. Check out the video below the break for comedian Ross Bennet's explanation of why you just can't do Obama jokes.
NB Staff
March 25th, 2011 9:05 AM

Rich Galen: Hillary's 3 AM Ad Came True with Libya 'Non-War

Former Gingrich adviser Rich Galen is having fun with his Mullings on Libya. Starting with this terse observation: That "3 AM" ad from the 2008 primary campaign finally came true. Obama started a non-war and headed off to South America. Hillary really did have to answer the phone. There's more, and Galen's on a roll:  
Tim Graham
March 25th, 2011 7:15 AM

PBS's Tavis Smiley Replays Deeply Fawning Interview of Warren Christop

It’s not surprising that PBS talk show host Tavis Smiley would replay an old interview upon the death of Warren Christopher, Secretary of State in Bill Clinton's first term and chief hostage negotiator/Deputy Secretary of State to Jimmy Carter. On Monday night’s show, Smiley closed by quoting Clinton in tribute: “Warren Christopher had the lowest ratio of ego to accomplishment of any public…
Tim Graham
March 24th, 2011 10:53 PM

MSNBC's Cenk Uygur and Dem Congressman: Dissent Is Unpatriotic

Q. When did liberals rip those 'Dissent Is Patriotic' bumper stickers off their Priuses? A. January 20, 2009 Latest evidence: on his MSNBC show this evening, Cenk Uygur suggested that opposition to President Obama's Libya policy is "unpatriotic." For good measure, Dem congressman Gary Ackerman stated that opposing the president is "cheering for the wrong team." View video after the jump…
Mark Finkelstein
March 24th, 2011 10:36 PM

As National Anchor Touts Local NPR News, Indiana Affiliate Celebrates

[Update, 10:20 am Friday: The original version of this item stated that Brandon Smith worked for Indiana Public Radio. He is actually affiliated with Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations.] NPR's Steve Inskeep, who used "deceitful sophistry" to contend that his network's audience leaned right in a Thursday WSJ column, also claimed in the same piece that "not much of the media pays attention to…
Matthew Balan
March 24th, 2011 7:10 PM

CBS Touts FDA Taking On 'Caloric Catastrophe' of Movie Theater Popcorn

In a report for Thursday's CBS Early Show, contributor Taryn Winter Brill fretted over the impact of movie theater popcorn on Americans' waistlines: "Have you ever wondered how many calories you're actually consuming in that large popcorn with butter? You probably don't want to know. Pretty soon, though, you may not have a choice." Moments later, nutritionist Katherine Brooking declared the…
Kyle Drennen
March 24th, 2011 5:53 PM

On Obama's Puzzling Non-policy Policy on Libya

Amid all the confusion of our new little war in Libya, one thing is clear: Notwithstanding the bravery and professionalism of our troops, in naming it Operation Odyssey Dawn, the Pentagon has invoked a haunting specter. The war's namesake — Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey" — is the tale of the hero, Odysseus, taking 10 years to get home from the Trojan War — which itself took 10 years to fight…
Tony Blankley
March 24th, 2011 5:43 PM

NCIS: Los Angeles Sneers That Murderous Venezuelan Villain Is the 'Kar

CBS's primetime drama NCIS: L.A. on Tuesday took a gratuitous swipe at a prominent conservative strategist, referring to a murderous Venezuelan villain as "the Karl Rove of Caracas." As if to emphasize the point, the jab was repeated later in the episode. The March 22 show, titled, "Enemy Within," revolved around a Venezuelan politician who was supposedly pro-American, but turned out to be…
Scott Whitlock
March 24th, 2011 5:20 PM

Dovish New York Times Columnist Kristof: We're Being Greeted as Libera

Liberal columnists who were reliably opposed to Republican presidents warring against Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein (see Bush I and II) often do an about-face and strike up a martial tune when it's a Democratic president dropping bombs. Ask former New York Times columnist and good liberal Anthony Lewis, who pushed the Clinton administration to intervene in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The reliably…
Clay Waters
March 24th, 2011 4:48 PM

Sarah Palin: 'I Need NOW's Defense Like a Fish Needs a Bicycle

As NewsBusters reported Wednesday, the National Organization for Women finally responded to Bill Maher calling Sarah Palin a highly derogatory term for a woman's vagina, but did so without mentioning Maher's name, the program he said it on, or the television network he represents. Later that day, while discussing with Fox News's Greta Van Susteren the double standard surrounding the…
Noel Sheppard
March 24th, 2011 4:41 PM

WaPo Labels Liberal Group Pushing FCC End-run Around Supreme Court Rul

Are you a liberal journalist looking for a way to gloss over an interest group's liberal bent? Just follow the lead of Washington Post staffer Dan Eggen and call it a "public-interest" or "consumer advocacy" group. That's how Eggen tagged the Media Access Project (MAP) in an article on the March 24 Washington Post "Fed Page" (emphases mine):
Ken Shepherd
March 24th, 2011 4:36 PM

NBC Affiliate Tries Playing Defense For Dem House Candidate, Fails Mis

While NB usually focuses on the national news media, sometimes a local news segment is just so brazenly biased that it merits at least a mention. A local NBC News affiliate in New York decided it would fact-check a National Republican Congressional Committee attack ad aimed at Kathy Hochul, the Democratic candidate for the congressional seat left vacant by former Rep. Chris Lee (R). The…
Lachlan Markay
March 24th, 2011 4:11 PM

Daily Kos Cheers Notion Religion May Become Extinct

The leftist atheists at the Daily Kos really know how to write headlines. Take this one: Thank god for evolution!: Religion may become extinct. The blogger with the byline Rosieeriter was delighted on Tuesday with a BBC story that says religion may become extinct in nine European countries: Australia, Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand and…
Tim Graham
March 24th, 2011 4:07 PM