D.C. Media's Gridiron Dinner Still Mocked Bush-Cheney, But Honored Oba

Tim Graham
March 23rd, 2009 7:54 AM

A Playground You Can Believe In

Steve Kroft caught Barack Obama "laughing and chuckling several times while discussing the perilous state of the economy", at one point asking "Are you punch-drunk?" Politico says "his awkward laughter highlighted an issue Obama has faced dating back to the campaign, a sense that he sometimes is too 'cool' and detached to fully grasp the public anxiety over mounting job losses and economic…
Mithridate Ombud
March 23rd, 2009 4:38 AM

CNN Defines 'A Moderate Republican

After earlier this week defining what a moderate Democrat is, on Saturday CNN tried its hand at defining what a moderate Republican is.  CNN Newsroom featured a segment on governors who are refusing stimulus funds because of the inevitable Federal strings.  Anchor Fredricka Whitfield had this exchange with CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser:WHITFIELD: Well, that's interesting, because…
Mike Bates
March 22nd, 2009 11:47 PM

How Will Media Report Chavez Calling Obama 'A Poor Ignoramus

Barack Obama is hailed by sycophantic media members as one of the brightest men to ever be President, and was supposed to improve America's standing around the world.Yet, on Sunday, Venezuela's Hugo Chavez called Obama "a poor ignoramus" who "should read and study a little to understand reality." Given how impressed news members are with our new President, and how they regularly disparaged the…
Noel Sheppard
March 22nd, 2009 10:34 PM

Bailed-Out Car Cos. Want More Money; Bloomberg Fails to Challenge Cons

Anyone who has followed the decline of General Motors and Chrysler since the two companies received a combined $17-plus billion in bailout money in December won't be surprised at the news that they need more -- or at the government's convenient weekend timing of the news. The financial cliff on which Chrysler stands was a given by the time its first bailout installment arrived. But, as shown in…
Tom Blumer
March 22nd, 2009 9:45 PM

NYU Teacher in LAT: 'Hero' Late-Term Abortionist On Par With MLK and S

According to New York University instructor Jacob Appel, Kansas' notorious late-term abortionist George Tiller should be looked upon as "a genuine hero who ranks alongside Susan B. Anthony and Martin Luther King Jr. in the pantheon of defenders of human liberty." Good ... grief. Just when I thought I've read it all.Appel formulated his sick view in a letter to the editor in today's Los Angeles…
Dave Pierre
March 22nd, 2009 8:31 PM

Sun-Sentinel Employee Soap Opera Played Out in Public

This is a soap opera that is currently being played out in similar form at many newspapers around the country as they face imminent collapse. In this case, the melodrama is being played out at the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel but it could be happening at any of a number of newspapers. The departure of an employee, one Pat Thompson who was the Deputy Managing Editor, along with a reshuffling of…
P.J. Gladnick
March 22nd, 2009 8:06 PM

What CNBC's Jim Cramer Should Have Told Jon Stewart

When Jon Stewart eviscerated Jim Cramer for not doing a better job of warning Americans about the looming financial crisis, the "Mad Money" host should have brought videos and transcripts of some of his highly-publicized rants in order to thoroughly disprove the comedian's premise.In fact, as former investigative reporter turned actor and producer Dan Gifford revealed at Big Hollywood Sunday,…
Noel Sheppard
March 22nd, 2009 7:14 PM

Maddow Blames Financial Crisis on Republican Deregulation; Ignores Ove

On Friday, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow accurately blamed a bill enacted in 1999 for today's financial crisis, but in so doing exclusively pointed accusatory fingers at its Republican sponsors while totally ignoring the overwhelming Democrat support it received in both Chambers of Congress. Maybe even more egregious, she chose not to address it being signed into law by President Bill Clinton until a…
Noel Sheppard
March 22nd, 2009 5:22 PM

Parade Names Mugabe World's Worst Dictator, Ignores Carter's Role

Today's Parade Magazine names "The World's 10 Worst Dictators."  Topping the list is Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe:Inflation in Zimbabwe is so bad that in January the government released a $50 billion note — enough to buy two loaves of bread. The unemployment rate has risen to more than 85%. In 2008, Mugabe agreed to hold an election, but it became clear that he would accept the result only if he won…
Mike Bates
March 22nd, 2009 3:20 PM

O'Reilly: Most Everybody At MSNBC Would Be Dead If Cheney Really Had S

Fox New's Bill O'Reilly has a fabulous response to Seymour Hersh's most-recent conspiracy theory about former Vice President Dick Cheney having an executive assassination squad responsible for covertly wiping out America's enemies: If Cheney really had such a crew, Hersh would have been dead a long time ago, and so would most everybody at MSNBC. So wrote O'Reilly in a fabulously tongue-in-cheek…
Noel Sheppard
March 22nd, 2009 12:18 PM

AP Gives Aid and Comfort to Spitzer's Fiction-Based 'I Told You So' on

Disgraced former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer clearly sees the current AIG bonus controversy as an opportunity to redeem his reputation. The Associated Press's Michael Hill provided rehabilitation assistance in his Friday report. Spitzer is best remembered for resigning as the Empire State's chief executive after being caught patronizing high-priced prostitutes over a period of several years,…
Tom Blumer
March 22nd, 2009 11:26 AM

Sunday Sports Open Thread

Well, sports fans, at least we had some excitement last night after mostly boring blowouts throughout the afternoon. What a fabulous finish between W. Kentucky and Gonzaga regardless of the missed TO call. Purdue-Washington was a real pleasure, as was Duke-Texas. What's in store today?
NB Staff
March 22nd, 2009 11:26 AM

Open Thread

For general discussion and debate. Possible talking point: Biden bashes Obama!VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN KILLS AT GRIDIRON: “Axelrod really wanted me to do this on teleprompter -- but I told him I’m much better when I wing it. … I know these evenings run long, so I’m going to be brief. Talk about the audacity of hope. … President Obama does send his greetings, though. He can’t be here tonight --…
NB Staff
March 22nd, 2009 10:55 AM