Ed Rendell's Convenient Spin: Bashes Fox News Now After Praising 'Very

May 24th, 2011 7:14 PM
Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, D, can't seem to make up his mind on whether Fox News is "fair and balanced," or an ideologically-stilted - possibly malicious - political operation. Rendell appeared on Ed Schultz's program Monday night to announce - presumably with a straight face - the removal by a New York Magazine cover story of the "thin veneer of impartiality that Fox may have."…

Chris Matthews Called Conservative Political Talk 'Ugly,' But Laughs a

May 24th, 2011 6:23 PM
A clearly amused Chris Matthews narrated and laughed at a liberal ad showing Republican Paul Ryan murdering an elderly woman by throwing her off a cliff. This is the same MSNBC anchor who railed against "ugly" conservative talk and wondered if it led to the shooting of Representative Gabrielle Giffords.     After playing a lengthy excerpt, Matthews enthused, "Boy, I love the point of view on…

Martin Bashir Parrots Attacks on 'Vicious,' 'Paranoid,' Sarah Palin, Q

May 24th, 2011 4:43 PM
An eager Martin Bashir on Tuesday parroted vicious claims by a former Sarah Palin staffer and repeated attacks questioning the sincerity of the ex-governor's Christian faith. The MSNBC host offered almost no skepticism or tough questions. Instead, he chided, "Love thy neighbor? Not in Sarah Palin's playbook. Her former aide tells all." In a tease for the segment, Bashir intoned, "Vindictive…

Media Throw a Fit Over 'Rude' Netanyahu 'Lecturing' Obama

May 24th, 2011 3:48 PM
For many in the media Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's reaction to Barack Obama insistence that his country return to the 1967 borders was out of bounds. ABC's Christiane Amanpour declared she was "stunned" by his "public lecture" of the President and NBC's Andrea Mitchell hissed, "it was really rude," and charged he treated Obama "like a school boy." Mitchell didn't reserve her criticism to…

Joe Scarborough's Cognitive Dissonance on Ryan Plan

May 24th, 2011 12:33 PM
Joe Scarborough made a puzzling comment today that, to put it generously, could use some clarification. On MSNBC's "Morning Joe," Scarborough argued that Rep. Paul Ryan's 2012 budget plan will fail because "fundamentally changing" Medicare is too extreme. But in a previous show, the morning host sang a remarkably different tune.

Media Pushing False Notion Dem Victory in NY Race Would Mean Rejection

May 24th, 2011 10:46 AM
Many in the press are gearing up to present today's special election in New York's 26th Congressional District as a referendum on Republican budget proposals and plans to reform entitlement programs. MSNBC's website collected examples of such claims from numerous news outlets, including the Associated Press, Roll Call, the Hill, and a pair of local newspapers. Left-wing news outfits such as…

Howard Dean: Far-Right Hates Muslims, Gays and Immigrants

May 23rd, 2011 11:43 PM
As readers are likely aware, former Vermont governor Howard Dean is a contributor to CNBC, and in this role, he continues to say the darnedest things. On Monday's "The Last Word," Dean said of the far-right, "They hate Muslims, they hate gays, they hate immigrants, and the rhetoric in the primaries shows that" (video follows with transcript and commentary):

Chris Matthews: Paul Ryan's Medicare Plan a 'Death Certificate' for Re

May 23rd, 2011 8:37 PM
Remember all that talk four months ago in the wake of the Tucson shootings that political commentators needed to tone down their rhetoric? MSNBC's Chris Matthews certainly doesn't, for on Monday's "Hardball," he called Rep. Paul Ryan's (R-Wisc.) Medicare plan a 'killer politically" and a "death certificate" for Republicans (video follows with transcript and commentary):

Matthews on Romney, Pawlenty and Huntsman: 'I Don't Want An Interview

May 23rd, 2011 7:31 PM
MSNBC's Chris Matthews opened his "Hardball" program Monday by once again bashing the possible Republican presidential candidates. With Indiana governor Mitch Daniels dropping out Saturday, Matthews focused his attention on Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, and Jon Huntsman telling guests John Heilemann and Mark Halperin, "I don’t want an interview with any of these guys" (video follows with…

MSNBC's Tamron Hall Blames Missouri Tornado on Climate Change, Climate

May 23rd, 2011 5:04 PM
Less than 24 hours after a devastating tornado ripped through Joplin, Missouri – killing at least 116 people – an MSNBC anchor was busy putting a political spin on the tragedy. Tamron Hall wondered aloud on "News Nation" today whether climate change was to blame for the rash of hurricanes and tornadoes that ravaged several states, including Missouri, over the last few months.

NBC's Mitchell Admonishes 'Really Rude' Netanyahu Treating Obama 'Like

May 23rd, 2011 4:35 PM
At the end of Sunday's Meet the Press, NBC chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell scolded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for daring to criticize President Obama's call for Israel to return to 1967 borders: "...he criticized the President, and in such a fashion! He lectured him in the Oval Office....basically treating him like a school boy." Mitchell went on to declare…

Scarborough Demands 'Civility' Before Insulting Mitch Daniels' 'Unseem

May 23rd, 2011 1:06 PM
On the May 23 edition of "Morning Joe," Joe Scarborough accused Mitch Daniels of having "resentment" for his wife and derided the Indiana governor as "unseemly." Moments earlier, the MSNBC host and his panel heaped mounds of praise on the "civil" Jon Huntsman, hailing him as the "'Morning Joe' candidate" whose civility deserved to be admired, before lobbing insults at Daniels. [Video…

Morning Joe Hearts Huntsman

May 23rd, 2011 11:12 AM
"He's a Morning Joe candidate." That could be the kiss of death among Republican primary voters, but Mark Halperin meant it as a compliment.  Today's Morning Joe panel was unanimous in its praise for Huntsman's performance in New Hampshire over the weekend. More from Mark Halperin: "As impressive as any couple I've seen . . . I was pretty blown away by how effective he was . . . more […

Rachel Maddow Predicts GOP Presidential Candidate Refusing All Mainstr

May 22nd, 2011 3:27 PM
MSNBC's Rachel Maddow this weekend predicted that there is going to be a Republican presidential candidate that will refuse to do any interviews with the mainstream media. She told her fellow panelists on the syndicated "Chris Matthews Show" that it could be Sarah Palin (video follows with transcript and commentary):