Price of the Bailout: Media Holding BoA Culpable for Plant Closing

Bailout recipient Bank of America should keep lending to failing business, workers say.
Jeff Poor
December 9th, 2008 2:30 PM

MNSBC: Blago, Shmago—Leno's Moving to 10 PM

Sure, the sitting Democratic governor of Illinois has been arrested and charged with attempting to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat.  But enough about that.  Jay Leno is starting his show 90 minutes earlier!!  Yes, a bit after 1 PM today, MSNBC actually pre-empted its Blago coverage to go to a news conference at which NBC honchos, with Leno present, announced that the Tonight show host would be…
Mark Finkelstein
December 9th, 2008 1:42 PM

Label Bias: Previous Corrupt Illinois Governor Labeled 'Republican

Much as when then-New York Governor Eliot Spitzer was caught with a prostitute last March, the arrest Tuesday of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich on allegations he was trying to sell Barack Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat raises the issue of whether or not the Big Three networks will forthrightly tag him as a “Democrat.”Among wire services, the Associated Press has included the “Democrat” label…
Rich Noyes
December 9th, 2008 1:38 PM

CNN Anchor Bumbles: O.J. Simpson Should Have Said He Didn't Know Murde

Tim Graham
December 9th, 2008 1:34 PM

Dear Baltimore Sun: Nationalizing Auto Industry Means Sacrificing Othe

It is impossible to know if the future benefits of electric cars are worth what could be lost by subsidizing them.
Donald J. Boudreaux, Ph.D.
December 9th, 2008 1:13 PM

AP Cites Workers 'Occupying' Factory as 'Rallying Point

In an article heroically chronicling the efforts of 200 union workers "occupying" their old window and door factory the Associated Press made sure to emphasize how the squatters have given the nation's grim economy a "rallying point." Here is how they introduced the story (emphasis added): The nation's grim economy now has a rallying point: Employees at a window-and-door factory that went out of…
Stephen Gutowski
December 9th, 2008 1:03 PM

ABC's Ross: Governor Blagojevich Called Obama A 'Motherf***er

As more comes out about Tuesday's arrest of Democrat Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, it has been learned that he was caught on tape referring to Barack Obama as a "motherf***er".I kid you not.As reported moments ago by ABC's Brian Ross (h/t NB reader Steve):
Noel Sheppard
December 9th, 2008 12:29 PM

Ill. Governor Arrested by Feds, Media Ignored Connection To Obama

Media ignored Guv's party today, but also links to Rezko corruption and Barack Obama and his chief strategist David Axelrod during presidential campaign. As folks in Illinois were waking up or just getting to work, news hit like an avalanche that Governor Rod Blagojevich had been taken into custody by federal authorities this morning. The news was flying hot and heavy, and still is, over what…
Warner Todd Huston
December 9th, 2008 11:38 AM

Blago Should Have Put It on Ebay

I'm looking for the first MSM wag who will have the gumption to suggest that Rod Blagojevich, the Dem Illinois governor accused of trying to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat, should have put it on Ebay.Suggested MSM defense of Blago: hey, even with the bailouts, car czars and other government intervention in the economy, we're still trying to encourage the free market system, aren't we?
Mark Finkelstein
December 9th, 2008 11:32 AM

IL Gov. Blagojevich Arrested: Name That Party Roundup

(Also, see Matthew Balan's NB post on CNN.com's Name That Party Blagojevich whiff, and related posts by Mark Finkelstein and Warner Todd Huston.)Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested today. The Associated Press's Mike Robinson actually identified "Blago's" party in the third paragraph of his 10:27 a.m. report (link is dynamic; cited report is also here for future reference; underlying…
Tom Blumer
December 9th, 2008 11:26 AM

CNN.com Fails to Mention Governor Blagojevich’s Party Affiliation

Updated below: CNN.com now noting Blago's Democratic affiliation An unsigned CNN.com article on Tuesday which broke the news that Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich had been arrested by federal authorities omitted his Democratic party affiliation. Both Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris face conspiracy and bribery charges related to the appointment of Barack Obama’s successor to his…
Matthew Balan
December 9th, 2008 11:17 AM

MRC's Motley Reacts to Rev. Wright's 'Gates of Hell' Screed Against Me

"I don't know why he's attacking Time magazine," a puzzled Seton Motley told "Fox & Friends" host Steve Doocy this morning, referring to the president-elect's former longtime pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright. On Sunday the retired minister -- who married the Obamas and baptized their children -- issued a fiery screed against the media -- calling the mainstream media the "gates of hell" -- from…
NB Staff
December 9th, 2008 10:56 AM

Open Thread

NB Staff
December 9th, 2008 10:27 AM

'The New York Times Isn't Going Anywhere

Promise, or threat?  John Harwood declares "the New York Times isn't going anywhere."  The Times correspondent, who also toils for CNBC, made his unconditional claim on today's Morning Joe in response to Joe Scarborough's envisioning of a future in which major news organizations, including the Times, might disappear. Scarborough was concerned that the public would be deprived of the media's…
Mark Finkelstein
December 9th, 2008 10:25 AM