Could the NBC honchos be a tad touchy about criticism of the Beijing Olympics—especially when it comes from its own talent pool? Was there a kernel of truth in Mika Brzezinski's light-hearted warning that MSNBC's Morning Joe crew would "get a call" if it persisted in its mocking of the games for whose broadcast rights the Peacock Network has over the years paid billions?
When the subject of the Olympics arose during the opening segment of today's show, the panel went into an extended coughing fit, coupled with cracks about tanks in Tiananmen Square. Mika joined in the joshing for a while, before finally putting her foot down . . .
View video here.
Mika touched things off with a news item about the Olympic torch.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: The Olympic torch is now in the final stages of its tour around the world.
JOE SCARBOROUGH: Yao!
BRZEZINSKI: Crowds in Beijing cheered as basketball star Yao Ming carried the torch through Tiananmen Square.
SCARBOROUGH: What a lovely square!
BRZEZINSKI: And a reminder.
SCARBOROUGH: What a lovely history!
WILLIE GEIST: [Unintelligible] the tanks.
SCARBOROUGH: Are the tanks still there?
Mika continued as an Olympic clarion call played in the background.
BRZEZINSKI: Listen, listen. do you hear? What do you hear?SCARBOROUGH: [imitating authoritarian public-address voice]: Clear Tiananmen Square now!
As an image rolled of the Olympic Stadium bathed in smog, Mika was actually the first to
start coughing, with Joe joining in.
BRZEZINSKI: [cough, cough, cough]SCARBOROUGH: [Still in PA mode] Move that bike!
BRZEZINSKI: And a reminder. On Friday night, NBC will --
SCARBOROUGH: Move that bike!
BRZEZINSKI: -- broadcast [cough] the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics beginning at 7:30 Eastern, 6:30 Central, that's about a half-hour earlier than what your TV listings may show.
As Joe continued to cough . . .
BRZEZINSKI: You're fired.SCARBOROUGH: [cough]
BRZEZINSKI: Stop it. It's funny once, it's funny once.
SCARBOROUGH: Listen, I was in L.A. in; 76, that ain't that much worse than L.A. in '76.
BRZEZINSKI: I don't think we should do that. We're going to get a phone call.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Phone call...
August 6, 2008 - 07:38 ET by c5thenRiiiiing
Hello?
Hello, Joe?
Yes?
Morning Joe is going to be replaced by Morning Yao. At least for the next two weeks. You and Mika can take a vacation and recharge or something. By the way, Matt Lauer is being held hostage until you and Mika appologize for the Tiennamen Square jokes. Hello?
Hello?
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
The media companies really
August 6, 2008 - 07:47 ET by benrandThe media companies really aren't American anymore. What a joke.
Hacks' Hacking Cough
August 6, 2008 - 08:18 ET by Lee BoggsI think they'll get a phone call before they're neither entertaining nor informative. How do these hacks get these jobs?
Mika's probably right...
August 6, 2008 - 08:51 ET by ontheright...they will get "A call" from their "one" last viewer.
>>>Mika joined in the
August 6, 2008 - 09:17 ET by seanrobins>>>Mika joined in the joshing for a while, before finally putting her foot down . . .
"Morning Joe" is such a gutless bunch . . . No one really believes that any of them would actually tweak the nose of their feeders?
By the way: Has Big Joe re-registered Democrat, yet? If not, I would certainly support a movement to have his Republican registration revoked.
sean robins
blog.seanrobins.com
Sean: when Joe is accused of
August 6, 2008 - 10:09 ET by Mark FinkelsteinSean: when Joe is accused of forsaking conservatism, he challenges people to point to one position on which he's changed since his days as a Republican congressman and part of Newt's revolution. It's true that he's very accomodating to his liberal guests, and I personally disagree with him on his environmentalism, but by and large he does advocate conservative principles.
My biggest problems with
August 6, 2008 - 12:26 ET by seanrobinsMy biggest problems with Joe are: (1) he has forsaken the advocacy of conservative positions, values, etc. completely. And (2) he simply accepts, with very little (or no) challenge, the liberal tribe his guests spew......
Put this all together... you get, Liberal Joe.......
sean robins
blog.seanrobins.com
Can you give examples of the
August 6, 2008 - 12:36 ET by Mark FinkelsteinCan you give examples of the liberal views Joe accepts? I'll grant you that he sounds liberal in pushing 40 MPG standards and in opposing the Iraq war [though he did originally support it]. Beyond that, what do you have in mind?
Also, please check these three recent items and tell me whether you still think he never advocates any conservative positions:
Mark, I wouldn't say that
August 6, 2008 - 17:46 ET by Chris NormanMark,
I wouldn't say that Scarborough has abandoned conservatism, but I would say that (1) his populistic streak has become more pronounced over the past few years and consequently (2) his cynicism towards Republicans and conservatives has increased (maybe because he's no longer a politician) and (3) he shows signs of being somewhat influenced by his surroundings. I've got to say he seems to have reasserted his conservatism and Republican sympathies over the past year. Is that a fair assessment?
McNotObama '08
China bans an olympian gold
August 6, 2008 - 10:02 ET by mattmChina bans an olympian gold medalist because he's an activist who protests the genocide in Darfur (where the Chinese allied muslim government is persecuting and murdering Christians), and the Left in this country does it's best to make light of, or even ignore, the evil of these kinds of dictatorships, while they constantly seek new ways to bash their own country and their own president.
BTW: Their stadium is the ugliest building I've ever seen.
MEMO to Morning Joe
August 6, 2008 - 10:12 ET by Eileen RightMEMO to Morning Joe crew.
Make immediate preparations for remote broadcasting from Sichuan, China, return date TBD.
Ensure you pack 3 days of food / water and portable shelter.
Have a nice trip.
PS: Don't forget to sign your Organ Donor cards.
Barack doesn't have big ears, it just looks that way because he's skinny.
I woke up late today and
August 6, 2008 - 11:44 ET by marpelI woke up late today and didn't get to see this, but I can always count on Mark to fill me in on Newsbusters. Thanks! BTW: Even though I feel Joe is too liberal for his own good, I find myself routing for him when he goes up against the crazy leftists he has on the show. I wish he would put more conservatives on the show, but I'm sure he doesn't make those decisions...and Mika's an idiot.....
I must be in a good mood today...
Baked While You Sleep ;-)
August 6, 2008 - 12:06 ET by Mark FinkelsteinBaked While You Sleep ;-)
Well, I'm on MT time so
August 6, 2008 - 13:46 ET by bigtimerWell, I'm on MT time so when I woke up this morning, slicked to msnbc to see what was on...they had the Olympics on already....
So nice to see this clip and find out that Mika is really half-way human...
...well fo a brief time anyway...
I laughed, it was amusing...even the "We're going to get a phone call" remark.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh