The NewsBusters Weekly Recap: November 25 to December 1

Photo of Scott Whitlock.
By Scott Whitlock | December 1, 2006 - 15:08 ET

Ever wonder what makes Keith Olbermann such a fine journalist? Well, according to the former sportscaster, it’s the fact that he doesn’t "make the facts up" like Rush Limbaugh does.

PBS host Jim Lehrer trumpeted his objectivity in a more creative way. Using a food analogy, the anchor deemed himself the "flavor of neutrality." (Just a thought, but where do the liberal flavors originate? Ben and Jerry's?)

Perhaps longing for the "good old days," NBC News chose no less an authoritative source than Matt Lauer to announce that the situation in Iraq is a civil war. Maybe NBC is attempting to recreate the famous "Cronkite moment"?

Interestingly, this same network that is so eager to declare a civil war, has, at times, been hesitant to label Hezbollah a terrorist group.

Over on CBS, reporter Laura Logan essentially declared that the U.S. has lost in Iraq. She questioned General John Abizaid about how the U.S. will "minimize" its defeat in that country. Later in the week, Logan took a White House Christmas moment with Laura Bush and used it to grill the First Lady over Iraq.

Jimmy Carter’s new book brought a fresh round of media fawning. Harry Smith gushed about Carter’s attempts to "promote world peace."  (Something, presumably, he didn’t get around to during his presidency.) CNN, incredibly, cited the former President as an expert on how to deal with Iran! On MSNBC, guest host David Shuster quizzed Carter about his feelings. Members of the media can be so thoughtful sometimes.

Finally, showing his typical level of civility, "McLaughlin Group" host John McLaughlin asserted that those who express doubts on global warming are "neanderthals." Isn’t tolerance a wonderful thing?

—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center.

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Finally, showing his typical

Finally, showing his typical level of civility, "McLaughlin Group" host John McLaughlin asserted that those who express doubts on global warming are "neanderthals."

I saw that show....it was completely almost unbearable, like McLaughlin and most of his gang are. By the way McLaughlin calling those that do not believe in Global Warming neanderthals is something akin to pot calling kettle....

"Once the coffers of the federal government are opened to the public, there will be no shutting them again." - Grover Cleveland

So I’m driving on a Sunday

So I’m driving on a Sunday night and the only thing on the radio is this Bob Costas radio show. The first guest talking about Howard Cosell says Keith Olbermann and Bryant Gumbel were the greatest sports broadcasters of our era. Then Bill Maher comes on as guest to argue for steroids  but didn’t have his facts straight on steroids.

 If these are the best names we can come up with for sports commentators, I’ll stick with just watching the game and hearing the local commentators.

 Didn’t Olbermann get fired from ESPN for some Kramer-type tirade?

BRYANT Gumbel?  Greg Gumbel,

BRYANT Gumbel?  Greg Gumbel, now THAT I could understand, for he is a good sports announcer, but BRYANT?  Ugh.

And Olbermann was perfectly fine on ESPN and Fox Sports Net...but even if he were to go back into the announcer's booth now I would have to change the channel or otherwise avoid him.  His antics have forever contaminated whatever abilities he had in the sports world (which couldn't have been much or he would still be with ESPN now I am sure).

"Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy."  -Sir Winston Churchill, British statesman (1874-1965)