Open Thread

For general discussion and debate. Possible talking point: Gotcha Politics.By now, you've likely read about or seen Barack Obama's Muslim faux pas on Sunday's "This Week." As I watched it in real time, I didn't think much about it, but began receiving e-mail and private messages from members and readers. Two of the editors conferred, and agreed that in the full context of the discussion Obama and…
NB Staff
 

Hell's Snowballs on Steroids: Mika Knocks 'Liberal Elite' Palin Critic

Thanks to Sarah Palin, the culture war has become a civil war—on the left. Mika Brzezinski bravely opened a new front in the conflict during today's "Morning Joe," repeatedly going after two female MSMers for suggesting Palin is taking the working-mom thing too far.  And, mirabile dictu, Mika even admitted to sensing MSM unfairness to Republicans."This is an argument Joe and I have about fairness…
Mark Finkelstein
 

HuffPo Blogger: 'Is Obama Now Going to Let Himself Get Moosed by a Par

P.J. Gladnick
 

AP: Bush-Bashing MTV Host Offers a 'Welcome Change' of 'Candor

Tim Graham
 

ABC's Charlie Gibson to Interview Palin: Will He Go Easy, Like on Obam

Tim Graham
 

NYT's Warner: Supposed to Celebrate Not-too-smart Palin Could Talk at

Talk about throwing Palin under the pram . . . If any pundit should celebrate Sarah Palin, you might think it would be Judith Warner. The author of "Motherhood in the Age of Anxiety" is the Times' resident expert on the challenges women face in balancing career and family.  But think again.  Politics trumps female solidarity.  Warner's column on Palin is perhaps the most vitriolic and…
Mark Finkelstein
 

NYT/LAT Disrespecting Mrs. Palin's Marriage

What's in a name? Well, if you'll excuse my Shakespeare, what's in a name is a certain level of respect. And in the pursuit of straight news a person's name should be presented without sarcastic manipulation as well as with proper titles affixed. For instance, Hillary Clinton is properly either Mrs. Clinton or Senator Clinton. On the other hand, calling Hillary "Her Thighness" is not appropriate…
Warner Todd Huston
 

MTV VMA Host Bashes Palin Family While Endorsing Obama

The MTV Video Music Awards show was as predictable as watching Keith Olbermann or Chris Matthews do their broadcast. Other than celebrating its 25th anniversary and giving Britney Spears a possible opportunity for a comeback, the program was chock full of insults towards conservatives by the show’s emcee, U.K. comedian Russell Brand.  As a former MTV staffer, I was surprised by the selection of…
Kerry Picket
 

Stephanopoulos: 'Subtle Racial Code' in Ridicule of 'Community Organiz

ABC's George Stephanopoulos, who when interviewing John McCain six weeks ago scolded him for a criticism of Barack Obama (“I can't believe you believe that”), on Sunday's This Week prodded Obama to agree with those of his supporters who “heard subtle racial code” in the ridiculing, at the Republican convention, of his “community organizer” work. Stephanopoulos, who did challenge Obama to name…
Brent Baker
 

Did MSNBC Throw Matthews Out With The Bathtub Boy's Water

In case you missed it, MSNBC has decided to replace its election coverage co-anchors Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann with David Gregory.Having followed Matthews career since his days with the San Francisco Examiner, and watched his ascendence at CNBC and MSNBC resulting from the success of "Hardball," I wonder why he got the boot along with Olbermann.After all, regardless of Matthews' clear…
Noel Sheppard
 

Crude MTV Award Host Mocks Palin, Purity

Wear a condom or become Republican.
Kristen Fyfe
 

Stop the Presses! Palin's Church Holds to Bible's Teaching on Homosexu

Once again, AP gets a religion story wrong because of theological ignorance.
Ken Shepherd
 

NYT: 'Journalists Wrinkled Their Nose in Disgust' at Piper's Touching

When NewsBusters posted the screencap shown here as its Weekend Captionfest on Friday, the result was an outpouring of affectionate reader responses. Typical was this one, from "iveseenitall":The ladies in my house instantly fell for this kid.  "Oh" and "Oooh" and "Ah". The giggles, the pointing at the t.v. Love all around that night. The MSM lives in a different house.  Check out this candid…
Mark Finkelstein
 

Matthews and Olbermann Removed as Election Coverage Anchors

In today's "Better Late Than Never" moment, MSNBC has just announced that Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann will no longer act as anchors of the network's election coverage.Let me be the first to say that it's about time.As reported by Brian Stelter at the New York Times moments ago (emphasis added, h/t's to all that forwarded this to us):
Noel Sheppard