CNN’s Gergen: ‘Liberal Establishment Doesn’t Exist Anymore

Just before 9:00 last night during CNN's Republican convention coverage, CNN political analyst David Gergen asserted that the liberal establishment "doesn't exist anymore," leading Republican strategist Alex Castellanos to poke back with, "I think if David Gergen thinks the liberal establishment does not exist anymore, I think he has become a part of it." Gergen responded to Castellanos, "First…
Colleen Raezler

Will Obama Support Chicago Surge? Hometown Death Toll Double Iraq's

Barack Obama famously refused to support the surge in Iraq, claiming it would "make things worse." Events have of course proved him very wrong, as Obama had to admit to Bill O'Reilly. Now that he's acknowledged the efficacy of a surge, will he call for one . . . in his own hometown?As per this item [via Drudge] from the CBS affiliate in Chicago:An estimated 123 people were shot and killed over…
Mark Finkelstein

Always a Spinmeister: ABC’s Stephanopoulos Offers Democratic Spin Tw

One week ago, former Clinton campaign spinner George Stephanopoulos found nothing to criticize when he reviewed Barack Obama’s speech and the overall Democratic convention for Good Morning America. But on Friday, the ABC host relayed the Obama campaign’s negative take on McCain and stressed how voters don’t think Sarah Palin has as much experience as Joe Biden, and that she doesn’t help her…
Rich Noyes

On CNN, WaPo's Quinn Questions Palin's Ability to 'Put Country First

Appearing on Friday's "American Morning," Washington Post faith columnist Sally Quinn again attacked the choice of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as Senator John McCain's vice presidential pick. During her interview with co-host Kiran Chetry, Quinn suggested Palin would not be able to balance her five children along with the duties of the vice presidency and potentially the presidency. Chetry first…
Lyndsi Thomas

Open Thread

For general discussion and debate. Possible talking point: John McCain.So, how do you feel McCain did? What were the high points and low points?The people I spoke to at the convention felt it was a sincere, tender discussion with Americans about his past, his love for country, and his devotion to the nation. How do you feel it went?
NB Staff

What About Williams? Vieira Claims Only Blogs Went After Palin Family

Hard to believe, but Meredith Vieira is apparently not a regular NewsBusters reader.  The Today co-anchor would otherwise have avoided an embarrassing lapse.  On Today this morning, Vieira claimed that it was only "blogs" that went after Sarah Palin's family matters.  That left her vulnerable to McCain senior adviser Steve Schmidt's zinger, pointing out that one of her own network's anchors had…
Mark Finkelstein

Stephanopoulos Corrects McCain But Last Week Defended Obama

Assessing Barack Obama's speech last Thursday, for the “Nightline Report Card,” ABC's George Stephanopoulos awarded Obama A's as he dismissed Republican complaints about his “red meat” attacks on John McCain, declaring they allowed Obama to affirmatively answer “the commander-in-chief question” and hailed how he addressed social issues “in a way that a majority of Americans” will embrace. But…
Brent Baker

Us Magazine Hit Hard by Canceling Subscribers After Palin Attack

Courtney Hazlett over at MSNBC's "The Scoop" is reporting that thousands of "Us Weekly" subscribers have not only called the magazine to cancel their subscriptions -- some reports say up to 10,000 cancellations have occurred -- but have also contacted advertisers and expressed their outrage that they are advertising with the celebrity news magazine that would so blatantly try to destroy Governor…
Warner Todd Huston

AP Says Shame on GOP for Showing Palin's Kids at Convention

Apparently Ted Anthony of the Associated Press thinks it is somehow "contradictory" of the GOP to show VP candidate Governor Sarah Palin's kids at the GOP convention on TV. He seems to imagine that, since the GOP objected to the media attempting to use the kids against Governor Palin, that the GOP shouldn't be allowed to have the kids attend the convention to see their Mother accept her…
Warner Todd Huston

Schieffer Pleased McCain Speech 'More Inclusive' Than Palin's

CBS's Bob Schieffer on Thursday night praised John McCain's acceptance speech at the Republican convention, especially compared to VP nominee Sarah Palin's address from the night before. He was pleased that McCain appealed to “our better angels” with a speech that was “much more inclusive” than what Palin delivered: I thought this was a fine speech tonight that appeals to our better angels,…
Brent Baker

Blitzer: 9/11 Video at GOP ‘Provocative,’ Brown Asks About ‘Fea

Just after the bottom half of the 8 pm Eastern hour of CNN’s coverage of the Republican convention, as Oklahoma Congresswoman Mary Fallin began an introduction of a video presentation about Islamist attacks on the U.S. over the past decades, host Wolf Blitzer gave a bit of a warning about the content of the video: "Let's listen to Congresswoman Mary Fallin of Oklahoma. She's going to make the…
Matthew Balan

Matthews & Olbermann Deny Media Doubted Palin's Maternal Fitness

Apparently fed up of hearing what they believe was a phony line being delivered by GOP spokesmen – that women across the country were offended by the media questioning Sarah Palin's fitness as a mother – Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann defied critics to find examples of any news outlets making that charge. Matthews and Olbermann, spurred on by criticism from Hawaii's Republican governor Linda…
Geoffrey Dickens

CNN’s Gloria Borger to Giuliani: Has the GOP Gotten ‘Narrower

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani faced liberal lines of questioning from CNN’s Wolf Blitzer and Gloria Borger during the 6 PM EDT hour of The Situation Room before the network’s Thursday night coverage of the Republican convention. In particular, Borger pressed Giuliani on his differences with Sarah Palin on social issues: "Last night, you spoke before Sarah Palin, a woman who -- with…
Matthew Balan

Toxic Beverly Hills

Five minutes into the family hour, the lame, recycled 90210 opened with – an oral sex scene.
L. Brent Bozell III