Monday, August 17, 2009

Potty Talk Creeps into Cable News

The talk on the cable talk shows has been getting a little raunchy in recent weeks. And I’m not talking about the occasional guest’s slip of the tongue. Increasingly it appears as though vague sexual references are being written into some programs as shtick.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Gibbs Not Getting Back to Major Garrett on Mystery White House Spam

Has anyone else ever noticed that the only two people who ask Gibbs tough questions are Major Garrett and Jake Tapper?

Why Michael Vick and Miley Cyrus are Newsworthy

I’ve been critical of cable news obsessions with stories like Natalee Holloway, Michael Jackson, etc. But there is something to be said for human interest stories and celebrity scandals that serve as proxies for larger moral debates. In that regard, the Vick/Eagles deal and Miley Cyrus’ pole-dancing are useful as pop culture flash points that raise thornier ethical dilemmas.

Is Plane Crash Footage the Equivalent of Snuff Films?

News channels are replaying new and graphic footage of a small plane hitting a helicopter over the Hudson River. Nine people died in the crash and the moment of impact was the moment that those souls were doomed. It got me thinking that these TV outlets would be more circumspect in airing other deaths caught on tape, including criminal violence. Is it OK to play this over and over again?

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Hillary Clinton Overseas: Jeb Bush Stole 2000 Election for Brother

I actually felt her “I’m the Secretary of State” anger was justified, but this is not okay:

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Good Grief

Remember that adorable little girl who asked President Obama to reassure her that those people saying “mean things” about his health care proposal aren’t telling the truth?

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

“Send Them Home With a Bullet in the Head”

Check out this video from outside President Obama’s NH visit. And listen for these words: “Send [illegal immigrants] home with a bullet in the head the second time” .... “Read what Jefferson said about the Tree of Liberty - it’s coming baby.” [Jefferson said “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”]

Car Chases Trump All Other News

In the hierarchy of cable news, car chases seem to trump pretty much everything, except perhaps celebrity deaths. Today, we’ve gone from an intense health care debate to roadblock coverage of a SoCal (where else?) car chase.

Obama in Portsmouth, NH Today

In a blog post on MSNBC’s First Read, Chuck Todd over-reports a fairly standard mass e-mail from a conservative group as “one invitation NBC News has gotten their hands on from a group rallying against the president,” when he is in Portsmouth, NH today.

Monday, August 10, 2009

CNN Panelists Give Obama Significantly Higher Marks than Public

The majority of CNN panelists awarded the Obama administration significantly higher marks than the general public on its “CNN National Report Card: Second 100 Days,” according to my analysis. The analysis might serve to challenge CNN’s marketing posture that they are a middle of the road, independent cable news outlet.