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

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

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

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

Open Thread

NB Staff

'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

Jon Meacham, Newsweek Editor to Religious Right: Bring It On

Tim Graham

McClatchy CEO Gary Pruitt Performs a 'Baghdad Bob

Remember Baghdad Bob? He was the Iraqi press spokesmen who caused much amusement in the West because of his unrealistically upbeat pronouncements when Iraq was invaded by the United States and its allies in 2003. Among Baghdad Bob's funnier announcements was his declaration that no Americans were in Baghdad at the same moment when American troops were patrolling the streets of that city just a…
P.J. Gladnick

Early Show's Misleading Graphic: 'Household Income Drops

This could go down as the most egregiously misleading graphic in morning show history.  Have a look at the screengrab. Reporting on census data being released today, the Early Show on CBS displayed a graphic, under the headline "Economic Crisis," reporting that in the first part of this decade--the early Bush years:Household income dropped 79%The poverty rate increased 70%Unemployment was up 71%…
Mark Finkelstein

David Gregory, 'Custodian' of NBC's Biases

Tim Graham

WaPo Wants Federal Gas Taxes Raised to... Stop Terrorism

The Washington Post is directing a December 8 plea to the incoming Obama administration. The Post wants to raise the federal gas tax so high that it will stop people from driving. The Post thinks this will serve our national security purposes and add more money to rebuild our nation's roads. Apparently, the Washington Post has the foolishly mistaken notion that federal gas tax receipts actually…
Warner Todd Huston

CNN Makes Case Shinseki Did Not Push for More Troops in Iraq

On Monday’s The Situation Room, CNN correspondent Jamie McIntyre conveyed a dissenting view of whether retired General Eric Shinseki, Barack Obama’s choice for Veterans Affairs Secretary, can accurately be described as having advised the Bush administration to send more troops to occupy Iraq. McIntyre: "But Shinseki has his critics, too, who say, in fact, he never stood up to Rumsfeld, never…
Brad Wilmouth

AP Reports Day Without A Gay Only One Way

In 'call in gay' story, AP ignores traditional marriage supporters; features event creators and lefty teachers eager to introduce gay issues to students.
Erin Brown

In Self-Congratulatory Excess Over MTP, NBC Frets Obama's 'Expectation

Brent Baker