Rachel Maddow Gives Obama's Surge the Benefit of a Doubt

Leno and Olbermann Aren't Sure if AIG is an American Company

Did you know that AIG, aka American International Group, is an American company?Well, on NBC's "Tonight Show" Wednesday, Jay Leno didn't, and the supposedly brilliant Keith Olbermann wasn't sure.Imagine that.A company that has been a hot topic in the news for at least the past six months, and these guys not only didn't know it was American, but also thought its initials stood for American "…

MSNBC's David Shuster Continues to Obsess Over Rove; Questions Manhood

"1600 Pennsylvania Avenue" host David Shuster continued to obsess over and taunt Karl Rove on Tuesday's program, even taking the fight to Twitter. Shuster, who has named Rove a hypocrite three times so far in his daily "Hypocrisy Watch" segment, appeared gleeful that "Bush's Brain finally did respond via Twitter." The political operative told Shuster, through the social networking site, simply to…

On MSNBC Garofalo Paints Conservatives as Angry Racists Who Inspire Mu

On Monday’s Countdown show, MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann hosted left-wing actress and comedian Janeane Garofalo to discuss FNC analyst Bernard Goldberg’s recent enumeration of the "five worst offenders" of what Bill O’Reilly called the "far-left smear machine,"and Garofalo took the opportunity to paint conservatives as angry racists who inspire violence from some of their non-intellectual followers.…

MSNBC's Brzezinski Defends Gibbs' Gaffe

David Shuster Frets Over Conservative 'Fear Mongering,' 'Wing Nuts

"1600 Pennsylvania Avenue" host David Shuster on Monday worried that "conservative fear mongering" about President Barack Obama could be "seriously dangerous." A graphic for the segment hyperbolically read, "Stoking Hatred?" Shuster brought on Republican strategist Brad Blakeman and Democratic counterpart Chris Kofinis to discuss the topic. [audio available here] In a tease for the piece,…

Maddow Delights in Double Standard for Presidential Testiness

Matthews Debates Fleischer Again -- But Without Fleischer Present

As NewsBusters previously reported, Chris Matthews and Ari Fleischer had quite a debate Wednesday evening wherein the "Hardball" host acted like a shameless Democrat operative and the former White House press secretary behaved with grace and aplomb as he wiped the floor with his poorly-matched opponent.Matthews must have realized how foolish he looked, for on Thursday he continued his debate with…

Chris Matthews Grills Ari Fleischer Like an Enemy of the State

I'm not sure I've ever witnessed a more disgraceful performance by a so-called journalist than what transpired on Wednesday's "Hardball."  In fact, from the moment MSNBC's Chris Matthews introduced his guest, former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer, the "Hardball" host went on the attack as if he was interviewing an enemy of the state. Potentially most disgraceful - even beyond…

MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Pleads 'Guilty' to Barney Frank for Media Scru

The Treasury Department oversees the Internal Revenue Service. But if the Secretary of the Treasury - or any other political appointee being considered for the Treasury Department - didn't pay his income payroll taxes, it doesn't matter. That's the message from House Banking Committee Chairman Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and he blamed the fourth estate for acting like it does matter. On MSNBC's…

Rachel Maddow Still Can't Get it Right About Hoover

MSNBC Attacks Limbaugh Again: 'Is Rush Toxic for GOP

MSNBC host David Shuster continued his dogged pursuit of Rush Limbaugh on Monday, hosting a segment with an onscreen graphic that screamed, "Is Rush Toxic for GOP?" After discussing a birthday celebration in honor of Senator Ted Kennedy, Shuster asserted, "About the only thing that might have put a damper on Kennedy's celebration were some jarring comments from conservative heavyweight Rush…

Olbermann: Bush Admin Members Should Be “In Hell” for Ignoring Pre

On the December 9, 2008, Countdown show, MSNBC host Keith Olbermann charged that Bush administration members – whom he did not specify by name but presumably President Bush was meant to be included – deserve to be "in hell," as he cited a report that a post-war insurgency in Iraq using roadside bombs to attack U.S. troops had been predicted by the U.S. military before the invasion. During the…

Rhodes Scholar Maddow Calls Congressman Pence 'Steve

If you're going to criticize a member of Congress on national television, wouldn't you try to get his or her name right?Seems like a slam dunk if you want to be taken seriously, correct?Well, on Thursday's "The View," MSNBC's Rachel Maddow poked fun at Indiana Congressman "Steve" Pence for wanting to freeze government spending. The Stanford and Oxford educated Rhodes scholar with a Ph.D in…