News Hounds: Current Issues and Events

Current Issues and Events

November 20, 2009

Greg Jarrett Talks “Eric Holder’s Hidden Agenda” – Julie Banderas Talks Traffic

Attorney General Eric Holder’s decision to allow the trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, alleged mastermind of 9-11, in a NY Federal Court, is a contentious one. There are strong opinions on either side of the issue. But if one were watching the Saturday Fox News (and it’s not officially “opinion,” right?) one would have heard information relating to, with the exception of one “fair and balanced” discussion, just one side only. Last Saturday afternoon (November 14th) I had the TV on in the background as I was putting the finishing touches on the Julia Child Beef Bourguignon (and I must say that it turned out quite well). There was a substantial amount of KSM coverage from Gregg Jarrett and Julie Banderas who couldn’t hide their “agita” over the situation. In the time slot from roughly 4:30 to almost 6PM, the supposed “fair and balanced” news was – not so much.

Reported by Priscilla at 12:01 PM

Palin to O’Reilly: Coulda Answered “Bush Doctrine” Question With “More Context,” Katie Couric’s “What Do You Read” Question was “Gotcha” and “Annoying”

On last night’s (11/19/09) O’Reilly Factor, it was the moment we’ve all been waiting for, folks – Sarah Palin was on The Factor to tell us all about how the “gotcha,” “lamestream” media engaged in tactics and asked trip-'em-up questions (you know, like, “What do you read?”) that were “annoying” or asked her questions that “she probably could have answered” with the proper Cliff notes, uh, “a bit more context.” To hear her tell it, she would have done brilliantly if it weren't for the "badgering" questions. There was one person, however, that she absolutely, totally, (almost) completely absolved of responsibility for her dismal failure in the election and her downright moronic responses in the interviews: Sarah Palin. Stay tuned, folks . . . there's a Part II to come! With video.

Reported by Julie at 1:14 AM

November 18, 2009

Palin to O’Reilly: “I Believe That I Am” Capable of Being President of the United States . . . Reiman, Analyze the Body Language on THAT

On last night’s O’Reilly Factor/Body Language segment (11/18/09), Tonya Reiman had some interesting observations about O’Reilly’s interviews with (conservative) Sarah Palin, (MSM) Sally Quinn, and (conseeeeeeeeervative – and male) Lou Dobbs. It’s a shocker, all right: O’Reilly was most respectful to Dobbs, careful not to offend Palin, and, of course, had the most aggressive stance toward the delegate of mainstream media, Quinn. I like Tonya Reiman, I really do. She does a little too much pandering, in my view – I agree with what News Hounds’ Deborah wrote back in 2007 about Reiman’s gig on O’Reilly: “She's [Reiman] managed to amuse him or feed his insatiable ego without saying anything too damaging to the subjects or her lucrative weekly gig.” But someday, when Reiman’s not beholden to Fox News, I’d really like to know the truth about what she sees in O’Reilly’s body language. With video.

Reported by Julie at 11:05 PM

November 17, 2009

Lou Dobbs on O’Reilly: “100% I’m Gonna Remain in the Public Arena” . . . as a “Semi-Regular” on the Factor, For Starters

O’Reilly to Lou Dobbs: “I’d like you to come back on a semi-regular basis – would you be willing to do that?”

Lou Dobbs: “Be my honor.”

And so Lou Dobbs launches his new post-CNN career – on the only network, most likely, that would have him, the one and only home of the rightwing fringe hosts, Fox News. On Monday (11/16/09) on The O’Reilly Factor, Dobbs threw spin into the “No Spin” zone . . . CNN is moving in a new direction, blah blah blah. CNN never gave him negative feedback, except, “. . . [CNN/US President] Jon Klein and I talked about the issue of opinion itself and advocacy journalism, he wanted to take the network in a different direction . . . .” Blah blah blah. The birther thing? His only offense was “to ask the question, and my question to you is, what kind of country is it when someone in the media asks a question and that becomes a controversy?” Blah blah blah.

But hey, we haven’t seen the last of Dobbs: “. . . I can guarantee you 100% I’m gonna remain in the public arena . . . What is immutable here is I’m going to remain in the public arena.”

One more thing – Dobbs doesn’t think Barack Obama is the devil. Oh, yeah – and Dobbs might also run for the New Jersey Senate. With video.

Reported by Julie at 11:26 PM

Anti-Defamation League Says Glenn Beck ContributingTo Climate of Extremism

The ADL, whose mission is to "to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all," has issued a special report which discusses how Glenn Beck, who is described as "fearmonger in chief," is an example of how "the mainstream media has also played a role in promoting anti-government anger and pandering to people who believe that the Obama administration is illegitimate or even fascistic." He is cited as "the most important mainstream media figure who has repeatedly helped to stoke the fires of anti-government anger." They add that "Beck and his guests have made a habit of demonizing President Obama and promoting conspiracy theories about his administration." This is followed by several example of Beck's comparison of the Obama administration to Nazi Germany. Sadly, given the nature of Beck's demographics, I don't think his fans really care what the ADL thinks which is ironic given their belief that Obama is Hitler!