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Briefing Book! Fox News Unveils New Post-Election Promo

LibertySugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:30:55 -0800

Get the latest news satire and funny videos at 236.com.

Networks: What would MSNBC's look like? Fox News debuts first post-election promo. — 23/6
Abstinence: Practicing what they preach? Chicago abstinence teachers save first kiss for the alter. — Jezebel
Schools: Patriotism or brainwashing? Most US voters want kids to say the pledge of allegiance every day. — Donklephant
Tech: Would you upload video suggestion of how to improve your city? SF Mayor Gavin Newsom gets a YouTube page, and asks for videos but disables comments and ratings. — SFist

Sarah Palin Hits the Postelection Interview Circuit

LibertySugar — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:46:29 -0800

TV journalists have been striking the Sarah Palin iron while it's hot. Last night FOX News aired Palin's first postelection interview, after Greta van Susteren traveled to Alaska to debrief with Palin. And this morning, Sarah's chat with Matt Lauer aired on the Today show.

Speaking with Greta, Palin indicated that she would leave the decision to run for president in 2012 up to God. She said:

Faith is a very big part of my life. And putting my life in my creator's hands — this is what I always do. I'm like, OK, God, if there is an open door for me somewhere, this is what I always pray, I'm like, don't let me miss the open door. . . . And if there is an open door in (20)12 or four years later, and if it is something that is going to be good for my family, for my state, for my nation, an opportunity for me, then I'll plow through that door.

And regardless of her propositions for 2012, Palin believes the 2008 campaign trail wrapped up without any bitter loose ends. She told Matt Lauer this morning that: “I have nothing but honor and admiration and love for him and for his family. And I think that that is mutual. In fact, I talked to him just today, again — and [we’re] touching base nearly every day."

Now that the election is one week behind us, do you think we can put Sarah Palin behind, or has her time in the spotlight just begun?

Source

Todd Palin: Sarah Was "Destined For Higher Positions"

CitizenSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:23:48 -0700

Todd Palin: Sarah Was "Destined For Higher Positions" Todd Palin, in his first major TV interview since his wife became John McCain’s running mate, said Tuesday that Sarah Palin’s nomination was not a “huge surprise” to him, as he believed she was “destined for higher positions.” Palin, known affectionately as Alaska’s “First Dude,” spoke with Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren about snowmobile racing, hockey, fishing, moose hunting, and working on the Alaska oil fields. Part two of the interview airs tonight.

Fox News Won't Air Anti-Obama Ad, Time For a Real Debate?

LibertySugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:30:06 -0700

Fox News says it won't air an ad connecting Barack Obama to a 1960s radical William Ayers. The ad was produced by American Issues Project which happens to have a board member who was paid as a McCain consultant until July 2007. Thanks to its nonprofit status, AIP can spend an unlimited amount of money. Election experts worry that the ad is illegal because it advocates a candidate, which cannot be done with nonprofit funds. Fox News did accidentally air a portion of the ad, but even a nominal rejection signals that ads like these are starting to raise eyebrows.

Ayers is a college professor and former member of the Weather Underground, a radical organization that wanted to end the Vietnam War through acts of domestic terrorism. He served with Obama on a board until 2002, and also held a campaign event for Obama when he first decided to enter politics in the 1990s. The American Issues Project ad hits Obama hard saying:

Obama's political career was launched in Ayers's home. And the two served together on a left-wing board. Why would Barack Obama be friends with someone who bombed the Capitol and is proud of it? Do you know enough to elect Barack Obama?

Obama hasn't backed away from the Ayers issue. To find out what he says about Ayers, and to see the ad itself,

Fox News Ratings Soar On Politically-Themed Programming

CitizenSugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:24:59 -0700

Fox News Ratings Soar on Politically-Themed Programming Political-themed programming this week has worked wonders for the already high ratings of the Fox News Channel. Special Character & Conduct profiles of the two presidential candidates scored high in the cable news ratings taking the place of the vacationing Bill O'Reilly. On Monday, the Barack Obama documentary hosted by Bill Hemmer averaged 2.3 million viewers, Nielsen Media Research said.

87% of Fox Viewers for McCain: News Watchers Discriminate?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:00:03 -0700

Though media may or may not be biased (depending on your perception of it) viewers it seems might be. In a recent Rasmussen poll, the cable network of choice was a big indicator of how a viewer plans to vote in November.

The network that was most closely tied to a candidate? Fox News, with 87 percent of viewers saying they're likely to vote for John McCain. (The results are similar to 2004 when 88 percent favored Bush.) Though Fox has an anecdotally popular niche among conservatives, they're not the only ones with pals; other networks lined up as well. Over at CNN, 65 percent said they'll vote for Obama compared to 26 percent for McCain, and at MSNBC it's 63 percent to 30 percent for McCain, with the major networks showing similar results.

The results do bring up an interesting question about coverage — to see what it is,

Bill O'Reilly Takes On Scott McClellan Over Talking Points Claim

CitizenSugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:53:17 -0700

Bill O'Reilly Takes On Scott McClellan Over Talking Points Claim Bill O'Reilly took on Scott McClellan on Monday night's O'Reilly Factor over claims made last week on Hardball that McClellan and the Bush White House would funnel talking points to the Fox News host (and his colleague, Sean Hannity). After calling McClellan a "liar" and an "idiot" on his radio show Monday, O'Reilly promised to have some fun with the former White House Press Secretary on his TV show that night.

Rapper Nas Gives Petition to "Propaganda Machine" Fox News

CitizenSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:55:15 -0700

Rapper Nas joined with the Color of Change and MoveOn to deliver a petition to the offices of Fox News yesterday. Just after his controversial album hit number one, Nas took the podium protesting the racist attacks he sees coming from Fox against Black Americans and Barack Obama.

Delivering over 600,000 signatures to the network, Nas delivered a prepared speech saying, "We already knew that Fox is not a news network; they are a propaganda machine . . . Fox poisons this country every time they air racist propaganda and try to call it news. This should outrage every American that Fox uses hateful language to talk about the person that may be the first black president."

Fox declined receipt of the signatures, but issued a statement: "Fox News believes in all protesters exercising their right to free speech, including Nas, who has an album to promote."

That album now called Untitled had an original, much more controversial title. Does this affect his statement against Fox?

To see clips of the Fox language Nas finds offensive — served up on last night's Colbert Report (where the petition was delivered after Fox refused to accept it) — plus Nas's interview with Stephen,

Jesse Jackson Also Used the OTHER N Word! Hypocritical?

CitizenSugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:30:47 -0700

Thought last week's Jackson nuts heard round the world was a slip of the tongue? According to Michelle Malkin, the camera kept rolling — and recorded right over Jackson using the far more inflammatory N word. He said:

Barack . . . he’s talking down to black people . . . telling n*****s how to behave.

OK, I've heard rap, I get that the term is used colloquially. . . but the Rev. Jackson is the same man who condemned the usage of the word for all when he said this following Seinfeld's Michael Richard's n-word meltdown:

Its roots are rooted in hatred and pain and degradation. And whether it’s hatred toward African-Americans or whether it’s self-hatred, a concession toward it is still wrong.

Who are we to believe? The Jesse Jackson who drops the N bomb, or the one who despises it? Though the Fox event may be rooted in campaign rhetoric, the bigger, and more important, question is illustrated in Jackson's second quote: where he asserts that the word be retired from all usage. Should anyone use it — or is its power too great and negative connotations too deep to ever utter in modern society? Is a some-can, some-can't approach so hypocritical that it negates any cries of protest when instances like the Richard's explosion occur?

Source

Fox News's Chris Wallace Unleashes Hell on Rove Questioners

CitizenSugar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:01:38 -0700

Fox News's Chris Wallace may have misunderstood the point of doing PR when he snapped in front of a crowd of reporters at the Television Critics Association in LA moments ago. Our intrepid Buzz was front and center for the giant meltdown and besides sending texts saying "Rove's wearing a green tie! It's too long!" then she says things rapidly got even uglier. Joined on a panel by Howard Wolfson, John Moody, and Karl Rove, here's how the spin hit the fan:

Let's begin at the end, when the explosion happened. The Fox folks were ready to wrap up, and Wallace said basically, "no. I have something else to say."

Wallace then launched into a stern tirade that he thought there was a huge bias in the questions being asked of Karl Rove — especially regarding the controversy about him not testifying in front of Congress. He raged on why that would have any impact on his ability to work for Fox News, which is an independent news organization. Wallace then asked that he'd be curious to know if a conservative Congress had subpoenaed James Carville, if the reporters would be sitting there asking CNN whether it undermined their credibility to have him as a commentator. The general response from the reporters assembled was says Buzz, "uh, YEAH we would." Wallace fired back essentially, "oh, you would? Well, I'd be very curious to see that." The out-of-context blowup was according to Buzz, about a Richter 8 on the tension scale.

To see more questions and answers, including those leading up to the rant and the response to the NY Times photo-doctoring story,

Bill O'Reilly Takes On New York Times, Cries Foul

CitizenSugar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:10:37 -0700

Bill O'Reilly Takes On New York Times, Cries Foul On Monday's The O'Reilly Factor, Bill O'Reilly took on the New York Times and defended Fox & Friends for their Photoshopping of Times reporter Jacques Steinberg. O'Reilly claims the Times caricatured him in a 2007 book review and called this "the most hypocritical situation we have ever seen." "Let me get this straight, New York Times-people" O'Reilly said. "We can't mock you, but you can mock us? Am I getting this? If the Times editor Bill Keller would wise up, perhaps their business might improve."

Fox News Gives NY Times Reporters Yellow Teeth, Big Nose

LibertySugar — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:00:02 -0700

When I came across these photos, I couldn't believe my eyes. Yesterday on Fox and Friends, Fox News aired photos of New York Times reporters, calling them "attack dogs." In the photos, reporters Jacques Steinbert and Steven Reddicliffe became the victims of yellow teeth, a receding hairline, and exaggerated features.

The Fox hosts were upset with Steinberg's recent article "Fox News Finds Its Rivals Closing In" which declared that CNN and MSNCB have added viewers at "far more dramatic rate" than Fox, so far this election. When asked if the NY Times would respond to the image doctoring, the paper's Culture Editor Sam Sifton said no thanks: "It is fighting with a pig, everyone gets dirty and the pig likes it."

Fox News has found some pretty creative ways to outrage me lately. What should be done to address this visual dishonesty? To see the video,

Will the Obama Is a Terrorist Narrative Catch On?

LibertySugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:15:48 -0700

The Obama-is-an-undercover-terrorist rumor seems outlandish to reasonable people; but, it doesn't seem like it's going away. Fox News is doing what it can to make sure its viewers are at best misinformed, and at worst fearful of the Democratic nominee.

Get Flash to see this player.

Last week on American's Pulse, Fox News host E.D. Hill referred to the celebratory fist bump, exchanged between Barack and Michelle Obama, as a "terrorist fist jab." See the video above — you can't make this stuff up. I find it hard to explain such a characterization as anything more than simply trying to say the words "Obama" and "terrorist" in the same sentence.

Implying Obama is a secret plant for Islamic terrorists has been going on for a while. The rumor even graced the front page of a respectable paper like the Washington Post. Obama has just set up an Internet war room to confront the viral forms of the rumor spreading on the web.

Do you think these outrageous Obama conspiracies will fall on deaf ears? Will Obama's extreme opponents succeed in convincing a significant number of voters that he's a terrorist, or at least succeed in planting enough subconscious suspicion that many will choose McCain?

Source and Source

Front Page: IAEA Concerned About Iran, Zimbabwe Toll, Fox Commentator Apologizes

CitizenSugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 06:55:05 -0700

IAEA Concerned About Iran: The International Atomic Energy Agency issued an honest and specific report yesterday saying that Iran’s suspected research into the development of nuclear weapons remained “a matter of serious concern” and that Iran continued to owe the agency “substantial explanations.” The report pegged Iran with a willful lack of cooperation, especially answering whether nuclear capabilities are intended more for military use than for energy generation. According to Western intelligence agencies, Iranians have ventured into explosives, uranium processing, and a missile warhead design — nuclear weapons activities. One official said of Iran's actions, “There are certain parts of their nuclear program where the military seems to have played a role. We want to understand why.”

Zimbabwe Toll: Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said today of the violence resulting from the contested election held in March, "Over 50 Zimbabweans have been killed in the past six weeks. More than 25,000 people have been displaced. I've been saddened that Zimbabweans are willing to shed the blood of other Zimbabweans over political differences." The runoff election between Tsvangirai and incumbent Robert Mugabe is to be held June 27.
Fox Commentator Apologizes: Over the weekend, Fox analyst, Liz Trotta, said while discussing Hillary Clinton's RFK remark “now we have what some are reading as a suggestion that somebody knock off Osama, um, Obama — well, both, if we could.” The Fox News anchor interviewing her was startled saying, “Talk about how you really feel,” as Trotta laughed. Yesterday Trotta went back on Fox News Channel to apologize. She said, “I am so sorry about what happened yesterday in that lame attempt at humor. I sincerely regret it and apologize to anybody I’ve offended. It’s a very colorful political season, and many of us are making mistakes and saying things that we wish that we hadn’t said.”

To see the video of the incident,

Howard Dean on Fox News Sunday: Your Coverage Is "Shockingly Biased"

CitizenSugar — Sun, 04 May 2008 10:55:12 -0700

Howard Dean on Fox News Sunday: Your Coverage Is "Shockingly Biased": During an appearance on Fox News Sunday this morning, Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean said that Fox's news coverage has at times been "shockingly biased, and I think that's wrong and I just say so right up front." Dean also said he agreed with the netroots campaign to boycott the Democratic debates on the network.

Sanctuary Cities: Hillary Won't Crack Down — Should We?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:30:59 -0700

Hillary Clinton dropped in on Bill O'Reilly yesterday and talk turned to immigration and sanctuary cities. O'Reilly asked her if she would crack down on sanctuary cities — she said "no," arguing that illegal aliens should not be discouraged from reporting crimes. Though she's not in favor of "forcing them into the shadows," Clinton had this to say "I'm 100 percent in favor of tightening our borders, of enforcing the laws against employers, of going after the kind of abuses that we see in the job market." Adding that illegals who commit crimes "should be deported, no questions asked."

She also came out against immigration raids saying the American people don't want police going door to door at businesses and homes, looking for illegal aliens. Is this true?

The topic of sanctuary cities was famously visited in a Republican debate when Giuliani accused Romney of running a sanctuary mansion. But what are these so-called sanctuaries, and are they so terrible? To find out,

Hillary Clinton Going on O'Reilly Factor: Good Idea?

LibertySugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:15:46 -0700

Hillary Clinton is set to appear on the Fox News' O'Reilly Factor tonight! Democrats and progressives in general typically view the show's conservative host, Bill O'Reilly, as a sworn enemy, or at least unworthy of recognition. But, it looks like tonight, there is another Bill in Hillary's life. I suspect that the interview will be pretty civil, and O'Reilly's "gotcha" questions will probably give Hillary a chance to deride her absent opponent Barack Obama. O'Reilly may have an incentive to see Hillary win the nomination, as many conservatives have an anti-Hillary script readily available for the general election. Last Sunday, Barack made his debut on Fox News, where he rejected Hillary's calls for another debate.What do you make of the Hill-Bill showdown? Does Hillary deserve some credit for treading into hostile territory? Source and Source

Hillary Clinton Going on O'Reilly Factor: Good Idea?

Yes! Hillary is proving she will cross the aisle. Hey Bill's audience are Americans too.

Yes! I want a candidate who is willing to do anything to beat the Right's attack machine.

Maybe. But, this hurts the Democrats — she will throw Obama under the bus.

No. I doubt this will please the party leaders and superdelegates.

No way! Dems should go on Fox News, but that nut O'Reilly should not be encouraged.

Other. I'll tell you in the comments.

Fox News: Love It, Hate It, or Tolerate It?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 08:00:57 -0700

This could be the definitive documentary about that great wedge issue that is Fox News. I'm not casting aspersions at the "Fair and Balanced," but you know it's true: people either love it or hate it. Last night The Daily Show ran an amusing and pointed profile of the foxy network. It's a two-parter, but it's Friday! Take a break and check it out.

OK, I admit I have been known to make a critical remark or two about Fox News around here, but it's a complicated relationship. I don't hate the notion that a network should be able to provide a specific lens by which to view the news, but I do find some of their techniques a little ham-fisted. Be conservative, that's great — just don't be cheesy about it? But then loud noises, aggressive flag/explosion graphics and Alan Colmes scare me a little, so I tend to stay away. Not because I don't agree with them, just that it's not my preferred method of news delivery.

How about you? Are you a Fox News watcher, or a member of the Outfoxed nation? Do you love it? Hate it? Don't see what the big deal is? If you're a watcher, do you think that it tells objective news, or do you like it specifically because it's news that makes an argument?

To see the second part of the clip,

Can Fox News Survive the End of the Bush Administration?

LibertySugar — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 13:01:43 -0700

I've always wondered how Stephen Colbert and Keith Olbermann will transition on Jan. 20, 2009 — the day George W. Bush will officially retire to his Texas ranch. But there is someone else I forgot: Fox News. What will the highest-rated cable news channel do without its raison d'être? Time recently discussed the channel's affair with the Bush Administration:

Fox News is not simply a mouthpiece for the Bush White House: it rose with Bush after 2000 and 9/11, was played on TVs in his White House and reflected the same surety and flag-lapel-pin confidence in its tone and star-spangled look. It was not just a hit; it was the network of the moment.

So, how will Fox News handle the next president? Will it eagerly channel outrage at a Democratic president? Will it embrace a President McCain?Source

Can Fox News Survive the End of the Bush Administration?

Yay! Conservative hosts and viewers need refuge from the liberal media.

Nay. Fox News and George W. Bush are both lame ducks!

Texas Republicans Vote for Clinton — Good Strategy?

LibertySugar — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:30:49 -0800

Not sure if you caught The Notion link in Link Time about Rush Limbaugh's master plan to help Republicans win. The conservative radio personality urged Texas Republicans to vote for Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary. On Tuesday night, Rush told Fox News: They're in the midst of tearing themselves apart right now. It is fascinating to watch, and it's all going to stop if Hillary loses.

I've heard accounts from Texas poll workers, who say Republicans in fact voted for Clinton. One Texan Republican, turned Hillary "supporter," wanted her vote to count, but was angered by the big "Democrat" stamp placed on her ballot. You can't have your spoiler and eat it, too! The Dems have tried this trick before. DailyKos.com urged Michigan Dems to vote for Mitt Romney. What do you think about Rush's strategy? Are the Republicans benefiting from a drawn-out Democratic primary?Source

Texas Republicans Vote for Clinton — Good Strategy?

Rush is right. Let the Dems bring up subjects like race, religion, and national security.

Rush is wrong. The Dems are benefitting from the vetting and media coverage.

If it helps your party win, and doesn't break any rules, why not?

Rush, Smush. Hillary's win shows her strengths. Watch out GOP!

Other. I'll tell you in the comments.

Oh, Fox News! Making a DHS Report a Real Stomach-Turner?

CitizenSugar — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 10:00:06 -0800

Right. In some places it's still a little before breakfast, and well, Fox News just made sure I don't want any. A recent Department of Homeland Security report aiming to educate about the recent spate of female suicide bombers included this:

"Female suicide bombers may carry explosives devices in a backpack, briefcase, or purse, or hidden in an article of clothing . . . They have also carried explosives in prosthetic devices that mimic the look of a pregnant woman."

And now for the picture. Did Fox News trip over the line and sensationalize this story? They were, technically, reporting the news . . . Am I just being too sensitive?Source

Oh, Fox News! Making a DHS Report a Real Stomach-Turner?

Oh. Oh, no. The story is shocking enough — the photo is over the line gross and uncalled for.

What's the big deal? That's just the photo the DHS included in the report. Get over it.

Ha. I don't have an opinion right or wrong, but those darn scamps at Fox have done it again.

Other. I'll tell you in the comments.