NB Staff's blog

Ah, Saturday morning. Is there a better time of the week?

 

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U.S. Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV) faces the media at the Capitol building in Washington July 17, 2007. U.S. Senate Democrats, hoping to raise pressure on President George W. Bush and his fellow Republicans to pull troops from Iraq, have scheduled an around-the-clock war debate starting on Tuesday which is expected to last overnight.

The Media Research Center and NewsBusters staff was saddened to learn Friday that David Thibault, Editor-in-Chief of the MRC's CNSNews.com news site, passed away this morning after a long struggle with cancer. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew him, especially his MRC family.

The text of a tribute by CNSNews.com Senior Editor Susan Jones:

David Thibault, RIP: Farewell to a Friend

"I feel great -- much better than before I got sick," wrote CNSNews.com Editor-in-Chief Dave Thibault ten months ago. "Don't worry about me being tired...I sense a miracle in the making. The power of prayer? Oh yeah, baby!"

When Dave wrote those words, he was several months into his second battle with cancer. But this time it was leukemia, and this time it wasn't the disease but the valiant efforts to cure him that killed him at age 49. Dave breathed his last at 6:55 AM, July 20, at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

Thank God it's...well, you know...

If it's Thursday, it must be NewsBusters...

So how's that conversion thing working out for you? Anything else on your mind?

We're converting...

Tell me why...I don't like Mondays.

It's Sunday...have you hugged your kids yet?

Original caption:

Joey Fatone, right, of 'N Sync and 'Dancing with the Stars' fame, reacts with NBC 'Today' television reporter Al Roker, left, and co-host Matt Lauer during his appearance on the program, in New York's Rockefeller Center Monday July 9, 2007.

I think, therefore I write...

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President Bush, right, answers questions during his press conference, Thursday, July 12, 2007, in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington.

Happy Friday!

To debate, or not to debate? That is the question.

Have it your way...

At the end of the 7 PM Eastern hour of CNN’s The Situation Room on Monday night, reporter Jeanne Moos did one of her light "Moost Unusual" stories on Katie Couric’s producer-slapping incident – which prominently included a screen shot of Tim Graham’s Monday morning NewsBusters blog post on "Slap Happy Katie." (No mention of Tim or the blog.) Brian Stelter at TV Newser reported the third most popular video this afternoon on the CNN Video website. It unfolded like this:

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): First we couldn't stop calling her perky. And now, we're perking up our ears because Katie Couric supposedly slapped someone?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my god.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow, that is so unlike Katie Couric.

MOOS: It's more like what Zsa Zsa Gabor might do to a cop or what one Czech politician did to another. Politicians are one thing, but Slap Happy Katie? [NB screen shot]

For general discussion and debate.

Brent Bozell, President of the Media Research Center which publishes NewsBusters, appeared Monday night on the Fox News Channel's Hannity & Colmes. Topics: The liberal blogger who wants Rush Limbaugh and Ted Nugent killed, a posting reported by WorldNetDaily; and the New York magazine profile of CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric which reported that, frustrated with her low ratings, she had “slapped” a colleague: “Couric got angry with news editor Jerry Cipriano for using a word she detested -- 'sputum' -- and the staff grew tense when she began slapping him 'over and over and over again' on the arm...” On the blogger, Bozell pointed out how the media and liberals pounced on Ann Coulter, distorting her comment about John Edwards into how she advocated assassinating him when she said no such thing. NB's Coulter items. MRC CyberAlert on NBC's distortion. MRC's June 28 press release.

Video clip (5:25): Real (4.1 MB) or Windows Media (3.4 MB), plus MP3 audio (1.9 MB).

Can we talk?

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Former US Vice President Al Gore(R) embraces actor Leonardo DiCaprio during the Live Earth concert in Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Pop stars, politicians and Hollywood celebrities drummed home the dangers of global warming Saturday in a series of Live Earth concerts spanning the globe, which urged people to go green.

For general discussion on Live Earth day.

Original caption:

In this photo released by CBS, Democratic presidential hopeful Dennis Kucinich, left, speaks with host David Letterman on the set of 'The Late Show with David Letterman,' Monday, June 25, 2007 in New York.

Any way you want it...

Original caption:

Former Vice President Al Gore poses for a photograph beside Live Earth's Seven Point Pledge at the end of a news conference Thursday June 28, 2007 in New York announcing a series of commitments that Live Earth will be asking people across the globe to make to combat the climate crisis. Live Earth is a music event that will take place in more than 100 nations around the world on July 7, 2007 to combat the climate crisis.

For general, and not so general discussion.

Happy Independence Day!

Today, Wednesday, July 4 at 3:21pm EDT (2:21pm CDT, 1:21pm MDT, 12:21pm PDT), C-SPAN2 is scheduled to carry the MRC's March 29 "2007 DisHonors Awards: Roasting the Most Outrageously Biased Liberal Reporters of 2006" -- the showcase of the MRC's 20th Anniversary Gala -- which was followed by Rush Limbaugh accepting the MRC's first annual "William F. Buckley Award for Media Excellence."

A rundown of the evening's events and winners, with a lot of pictures, as well as Real and Windows Media clips (or see text below).

The C-SPAN schedule page for Wednesday lists the exact start time at 3:21pm EDT, but it may be updated. Check it for any time change.

Can we talk?

For general comment and discussion...

Original caption:

White House Press Secretary Tony Snow (C) performs with his rock band Beats Workin' at the Congressional Picnic on the south lawn of the White House in Washington June 19, 2007.