Four Years Later, Kerry Admits He's a Liberal

During the 2004 presidential campaign, John Kerry tried to overcome the dubious distinction of being, per the National Journal, the most liberal senator.  His attempts to deny the obvious led to a memorable exchange with NYT's Elisabeth Bumiller [transcript after jump] in which he famously fended off the liberal label as a "laughable characterization."But four years later, having lost the…
Mark Finkelstein
December 2nd, 2008 6:57 PM

CNN’s Campbell Brown Lectures Obama For Brushing Off Media’s Quest

On Monday’s “No Bias, No Bull” program, CNN’s Campbell Brown lashed out at President-Elect Barack Obama for his flippant response to a reporter’s question: “Mr. President-Elect, reporters, we hope, are going to ask you a lot of annoying questions over the next four years. Get used to it. That is the job of the media, to hold you accountable. But this isn’t just about the media. It’s about the…
Matthew Balan
December 2nd, 2008 5:11 PM

Bozell Column: Barbara Walters Falters

On the night before Thanksgiving, just an hour after Rosie O’Donnell had publicly belly-flopped with a horrible attempt at an old-time variety show on NBC, Barbara Walters made a fool of herself interviewing Barack and Michelle Obama. The toughest questions dealt with whether there was enough "change" in his cabinet picks, and whether he was "waffling" on tax hikes for the rich – questions his (…
Brent Bozell
December 2nd, 2008 4:59 PM

Dear USA Today: Companies Are Not 'Big Brother

Economic competition 'discovers' what consumers like better than media or politicians.
Donald J. Boudreaux, Ph.D.
December 2nd, 2008 3:41 PM

Michigan Mayor: No Auto Bailout Will Mean Depression

Just give us the money and nobody gets hurt. That was the warning from the mayor of Lansing, Mich., on CBS's "The Early Show" Dec. 2. "You know this is a sure prescription to go from recession to depression if you allow this auto industry, our manufacturing prowess, to fall by the wayside," Virg Bernero warned: This industry is too important, not just to Lansing, Mich., but to the whole…
Paul Detrick
December 2nd, 2008 3:01 PM

Cramer: Depression Comparisons are ‘Scare Tactics

Do as I say, not as I do.That appears to be Jim Cramer's philosophy. The CNBC "Mad Monday" host told NBC "Today" show viewers Dec. 2 that comparisons between the current economy and the Great Depression were inappropriate. "[T]hat's got to be taken off the table," Cramer told "Today" host Meredith Vieira. "There have been enough things done by this government to absolutely preclude that. I,…
Nathan Burchfiel
December 2nd, 2008 2:45 PM

Chris Wallace Whacks Liberal at Frost/Nixon Chat for Comparing Bush to

Tim Graham
December 2nd, 2008 2:15 PM

Michigan Mayor Says No Auto Bailout Will Mean Depression

Virg Bernero says letting Big Three 'fall by the wayside' will 'hurt national security.'
Paul Detrick
December 2nd, 2008 1:55 PM

Ron Howard: 'Nixon Crimes Pale by Comparison' With Bush-Cheney

Director Ron Howard appeared for a C-SPAN Washington Journal interview Monday morning on Capitol Hill with British screenwriter Peter Morgan to discuss their new film Frost/Nixon, based on Morgan’s play on the 1977 interviews between British TV star David Frost and the Republican president who resigned. The jarring moment came near the end, when C-SPAN host Steve Scully asked "For a generation…
Tim Graham
December 2nd, 2008 1:49 PM

CBS’s Schieffer Talks Obama With Fawning Left-Wing Authors

On Sunday’s CBS Face the Nation, host Bob Schieffer discussed the challenges President-elect Barack Obama will face with liberal authors: "Today we ask the authors of four of the year's most important books to assess the problems the new administration will face." Schieffer asked the Washington Post’s Bob Woodward, author of ‘The War Within: A Secret White House History,’ about Obama picking…
Kyle Drennen
December 2nd, 2008 1:33 PM

Trace Adkins to Outspoken Celebrities: Don't 'Puke up Your Liberal Stu

Country music and "American Carol" star Trace Adkins appeared on the December 1 edition of "The O’Reilly Factor" to decry liberal pop stars preaching from the stage. Channeling Laura Ingraham, Adkins said of fellow entertainers "I just want to hear your tunes. I don’t want to hear you puke up your liberal stuff at me." Host Bill O’Reilly jokingly observed "that sounds like a song." Adkins…
Justin McCarthy
December 2nd, 2008 1:29 PM

Hitchens and Walsh Battle Over Secretary of State Clinton

Vanity Fair's Christopher Hitchens and Salon's Joan Walsh squared off Monday evening on MSNBC's "Hardball," and things deliciously got personal.The topic on host Chris Matthews' mind was president-elect Barack Obama's choice for Secretary of State.Hitchens was none too pleased with the nomination of Hillary Clinton for this position, while Walsh defended Obama's decision with all her soul.With…
Noel Sheppard
December 2nd, 2008 1:24 PM

Dear NY Times: Initiative, Not Government, Creates Prosperity

When the state takes over meeting the needs of individuals people become less resourceful.
Donald J. Boudreaux, Ph.D.
December 2nd, 2008 11:37 AM

Open Thread

For general discussion and debate. Talking points' on you.
NB Staff
December 2nd, 2008 10:59 AM