NBC/Wonkette Writer Praises Bush... for Refusing to Criticize Obama
Former President George W. Bush is a "classy guy" who might "mature into a proper elder statesman" some day.That's the verdict of NBC and Wonkette contributor Sara K. Smith in her March 18 article about how Bush refused to publicly criticize his successor to the presidency when given the chance at a Q&A session following at a luncheon in Canada. (h/t Twitter tipster @Thatcher):The one thing…
Time's Joe Klein: Obama May Have to Lecture Israel on Its 'Moral Stand
President Obama may need to call out Israel on its compromised "moral standing" in the world, Time's Joe Klein [file photo at right] argues in a March 17 Swampland blog post.So what does Klein see as Israel's sin? Prime Minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu's choice of the hawkish Avigdor Lieberman for foreign secretary. Lieberman's campaign for prime minister was distinguished by his call for a…
ABC's Stephanopoulos, Sen. McCain Conduct 'Twitterview'; Blogger Mal
Going on right now: the first-ever "Twitterview" between Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and a mainstream journalist. McCain is being interviewed by ABC's George Stephanopoulos. You can follow the debate by checking out the @SenJohnMcCain and @GStephanopoulos feeds on Twitter.Update (12:53 EDT): Below is a transcript of the interview, courtesy of MRC intern Mike Sargent. Sargent also noticed that at…
Seattle P-I Runs Final Dead-tree Edition Tomorrow
Unable to find a buyer for its print operation, Hearst Newspapers has opted to convert the Seattle Post-Intelligencer into an online-only operation.:The Seattle Post-Intelligencer will roll off the presses for the last time Tuesday, ending a 146-year run.The Hearst Corp. announced Monday that it would stop publishing the newspaper, Seattle's oldest business, and cease delivery to more than 117,…
The Last Word on Obama Stem's Cell EO: '9 Things the Media Messed Up
Josh Brahm of Right to Life of Central California has done the definitive dissection of the comprehensive media failure in reporting on President Obama's recent Executive Order (EO) allowing federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.
Brahm's "9 Things the Media Messed Up About the Obama Stem Cell Story" (HT to an e-mail from LifeNews.com) is an exceptional magnum opus that must be read in…
Retiring Mayor: Bloggers Biggest Danger to City; AP Ignores Dem Party
The Associated Press wire relayed a short item on Friday about how outgoing Mayor Barrie Parsons Tilghman (D-Salisbury, Md.) recently slammed bloggers as the greatest threat to her fair Eastern Shore city. Via the Maryland Daily Record: SALISBURY — In her final State of the City address, Salisbury Mayor Barrie Parsons Tilghman warned residents of what she sees as…
Gibbs on Cramer’s 'Daily Show' Dismal Performance: 'I Enjoyed It Tho
What's a little salt on the wound after a seemingly humiliating performance by CNBC "Mad Money" host Jim Cramer on Comedy Central's March 12 "The Daily Show?" At least that's the way White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs acted when he took the opportunity to comment on last night's "Daily Show" during his March 13 press briefing. Gibbs was asked what he thought of the interview, where "Daily…
USNews's Erbe: Bristol Palin Has More Maturity than Mother
With the writing style and gravitas worthy of a high school newspaper columnist, PBS "To the Contrary" host and US News & World Report columnist Bonnie Erbe slammed Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in her March 12 column, pitting her against her daughter Bristol who "displays a lot more personal maturity and decision-making ability than her mother" as evidenced by the breaking off of her engagement…
So Why DID H. Rodgin Cohen Withdraw as Treasury's No. 2? Press Is Curi
There seems to be a wall of silence surrounding the sudden withdrawal of H. Rodgin Cohen (pictured at right) from consideration for the Number 2 job at the Treasury Department. The party line, according to ABC's This Week host and former Clinton administration adviser George Stephanopoulos, is that "an issue arose in the final stages of the vetting process." David Cho at the Washington Post…
WaPo Chats with Time Writer Turned Biden Gaffe Goalie Jay Carney
In case you were worried, former Time magazine staffer Jay Carney has "had very little trouble adapting" to his job as Vice President Biden's director of communications. From a recent interview with Washington Post's Mary Ann Akers published in the March 12 paper: [Akers]: You left journalism after 20 years with Time. How is life on the other side? Carney: It's great. I have had very little…
Fox's Sammon: Carville, Greenburg Told Reporters They Wanted Bush to F
The above headline isn't even the half of it. After the attacks were known to all, James Carville told assembled Washington reporters at a hotel conference room breakfast where he and Democratic pollster Stanley Greenberg spoke (photo is from the May 20, 2004 Christian Science Monitor) to "Disregard everything we just said! This changes everything!" The assembled press apparently understood that…
USA Today Hints Hypocrisy in Catholic Church Views on Lenten Technolog
USA Today's Cathy Lynn Grossman sought to create a rift between Pope Benedict XVI and Italian clerics in a March 4 blog post, "'Virtually' signing off technology for Lent?"The rage among some Italian dioceses is to call on Catholics to shut off the Internet connection, put down the I-pod and chill out on texting for the Lenten fast. This may contradict the pope, who just recently extolled social…
GM's Auditor Issues 'Going Concern' Warning; Press Ignores Post-Bailou
An early review of press coverage relating to this morning's warning by General Motors that "there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern" shows no coverage of the reason why, despite $13.4 billion in taxpayer money (NOT counting bailout money going to GMAC), things have gotten so much worse so quickly.The reason is that sales in the two full months since the Bush-…
Video: Meredith Vieira's Twitter Gaffe [Mild Content Warning
Meredith Vieira cracked up "Today" show co-hosts Ann Curry, Matt Lauer, and Al Roker today as she tried, apparently, to make a joke about micro-blogging application Twitter.The gaffe is somewhat reminiscent to her unintentional use of double entendre in a similar segment in late January. Video below the fold.: