Kevin Koster commented on How Far Will The Sexual Harassment Scandal At Fox News Spread?
2016-07-24 20:52:40 -0400
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It would be the ultimate irony to see these guys all knocked off their perch. To have seen them make their fortunes by instigating smear campaigns and alleging coverups, and to then see them undone by those same issues in their own office.
Kevin Koster commented on Sean Hannity Loses It Trying To Hit Back At Jon Stewart And Erik Wemple
2016-07-23 21:36:31 -0400
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I think what we’re seeing is Hannity really starting to lose it, based on a series of disappointments he’s enduring right now.
1. The GOP Convention was a bust by all accounts. There were no major celebrity faces or political stars to even provide good TV for independent voters.
2. The plagiarism debacle ruined any attempt that Trump made to generate good momentum early in the week.
3. The Ted Cruz misfire ruined the rest of the week and sent Trump into a tailspin. (I’m actually in agreement with some of the right wing when it comes to Cruz’s grandstanding – if he didn’t want to get on this train, he should have just stayed away, like the Bushes and Kasich did. Cruz’s appearance was clearly intended to set up his 2020 run. I think he should be more concerned about whether he gets primaried in 2018.)
4. Trump himself blew his big speech, winding up spending over an hour literally shouting at the audience. And then Trump added injury to insult by going totally off the rails yesterday in a press conference that will be known for Trump’s assertion that the National Enquirer is somehow to be considered a reliable source of news.
5. Trump picked Mike Pence rather than Newt Gingrich, someone that Hannity was openly campaigning for with all he had. Given that Kasich was offered essentially the presidency to be VP, Hannity has to know that this is what would happen with any VP Trump picks. (Trump evidently has no intention of doing the boring job of actually governing – he’d rather do all the public appearances and let the VP handle the policy back in the office.) Had Gingrich been the pick, this would essentially make Gingrich the President, with Hannity constantly in his ear. What’s not to like about that for Hannity? Except that now it won’t happen and Hannity has to get himself enthusiastic about a candidate he was hoping would go away, ie Pence.
6. Roger Ailes being thrown out of Fox News has to be a huge blow to Hannity. Ailes plucked Hannity from obscurity 20 years ago. Were it not for Ailes, Hannity would still be an unknown angry right wing radio shouter like so many others across the AM dial. Ailes made Hannity a celebrity on the right. (Hannity’s continuing desperation to maintain that status can be heard in his joint radio ads with Limbaugh…) Losing Ailes means that Hannity is losing his biggest supporter in that building – and his biggest protector.
Add all that up and you have a fairly unhappy guy trying to put on a happy face for the viewers. Add in one pointed Jon Stewart monologue and you have a full on meltdown.
1. The GOP Convention was a bust by all accounts. There were no major celebrity faces or political stars to even provide good TV for independent voters.
2. The plagiarism debacle ruined any attempt that Trump made to generate good momentum early in the week.
3. The Ted Cruz misfire ruined the rest of the week and sent Trump into a tailspin. (I’m actually in agreement with some of the right wing when it comes to Cruz’s grandstanding – if he didn’t want to get on this train, he should have just stayed away, like the Bushes and Kasich did. Cruz’s appearance was clearly intended to set up his 2020 run. I think he should be more concerned about whether he gets primaried in 2018.)
4. Trump himself blew his big speech, winding up spending over an hour literally shouting at the audience. And then Trump added injury to insult by going totally off the rails yesterday in a press conference that will be known for Trump’s assertion that the National Enquirer is somehow to be considered a reliable source of news.
5. Trump picked Mike Pence rather than Newt Gingrich, someone that Hannity was openly campaigning for with all he had. Given that Kasich was offered essentially the presidency to be VP, Hannity has to know that this is what would happen with any VP Trump picks. (Trump evidently has no intention of doing the boring job of actually governing – he’d rather do all the public appearances and let the VP handle the policy back in the office.) Had Gingrich been the pick, this would essentially make Gingrich the President, with Hannity constantly in his ear. What’s not to like about that for Hannity? Except that now it won’t happen and Hannity has to get himself enthusiastic about a candidate he was hoping would go away, ie Pence.
6. Roger Ailes being thrown out of Fox News has to be a huge blow to Hannity. Ailes plucked Hannity from obscurity 20 years ago. Were it not for Ailes, Hannity would still be an unknown angry right wing radio shouter like so many others across the AM dial. Ailes made Hannity a celebrity on the right. (Hannity’s continuing desperation to maintain that status can be heard in his joint radio ads with Limbaugh…) Losing Ailes means that Hannity is losing his biggest supporter in that building – and his biggest protector.
Add all that up and you have a fairly unhappy guy trying to put on a happy face for the viewers. Add in one pointed Jon Stewart monologue and you have a full on meltdown.
Kevin Koster commented on You Must Watch Jon Stewart Destroy Sean Hannity Over His Support For Donald Trump
2016-07-22 16:04:08 -0400
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Hannity had a complete meltdown over this on his radio show today. He had no answer to Stewart’s comments. All he could do was repeat his lies about the Obama presidency and shout profanity. Interesting to hear him become that unhinged.
I believe Hannity and the right wing are becoming increasingly restive after seeing what a mess the GOP convention became. Not to mention their unease at what is happening at Fox News now. If Hannity had not conducted himself in such a despicable manner over the past 20 years, I might even feel pity for him.
I believe Hannity and the right wing are becoming increasingly restive after seeing what a mess the GOP convention became. Not to mention their unease at what is happening at Fox News now. If Hannity had not conducted himself in such a despicable manner over the past 20 years, I might even feel pity for him.
Kevin Koster commented on Fox’s Meghan McCain Thinks RNC Convention Too Soft On Hillary Clinton
2016-07-21 20:12:00 -0400
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Last night, Bill O’Reilly asked his guests whether there was “too much hate” for Clinton on display. The enthusiastic answer was “Of course not!” and O’Reilly happily agreed.
Kevin Koster commented on Watch Montel Williams Rip Into ‘Coward’ Bill O’Reilly For Lying and Abusing His Wife
2016-07-21 01:18:37 -0400
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I need to correct that. Montel did not actually serve as a SEAL – he played one on JAG. He did enlist as a Marine and then transferred to the Navy and became an officer. Served for 12 years and was honorably discharged, including submarine duty. But I was incorrect to say he had been a SEAL.
Kevin Koster commented on Dennis Kucinich Praises Melania Trump’s ‘Very Moving’ Plagiarized Speech… On Fox
2016-07-20 14:07:55 -0400
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Not only will Kucinich and other supposedly liberal voices (like Pat Caddell and Doug Schoen) be tasked with attacking Hillary Clinton and the Dems, but other Fox News hosts are already salivating about how they intend to attack. Just yesterday, Sean Hannity was openly relishing his opportunity to attack and smear the Dems next week.
I do have to say about this speech that I wasn’t that impressed by it, regardless of the plagiarism. I realize this was a huge challenge for Melania Trump and that it had to be seriously intimidating for anyone to get up and speak publicly for a large audience. I also realize that English is not her first language and she therefore had a double challenge in making this speech. I applaud her courage in getting up to do so, and her wish to support her family. But the actual delivery of the speech to me was essentially an act of reading from the teleprompters, which made it very difficult for me to watch.
I do have to say about this speech that I wasn’t that impressed by it, regardless of the plagiarism. I realize this was a huge challenge for Melania Trump and that it had to be seriously intimidating for anyone to get up and speak publicly for a large audience. I also realize that English is not her first language and she therefore had a double challenge in making this speech. I applaud her courage in getting up to do so, and her wish to support her family. But the actual delivery of the speech to me was essentially an act of reading from the teleprompters, which made it very difficult for me to watch.
Kevin Koster commented on Fox News Didn’t Want To Talk Much About Melania Trump’s Plagiarized Speech
2016-07-19 11:46:41 -0400
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I agree with Bemused that Manafort’s desperation play this morning was spectacular. You have to admire the gall of this man. By his reasoning, the only reason anyone noticed the plagiarism here is “Because Hillary”. We knew this would be a pre-school campaign, but is this all they have for an answer? “I know you are, but what am I?”
I also note for Eyes that Trump is actually saying he intends to model his speech after Nixon’s 1968 speech. For all those who think Trump would “not be as bad as you think”, let’s revisit the goodness of the Nixon presidency, shall we? Is there ANYONE who thinks that would be a good idea?
I also note for Eyes that Trump is actually saying he intends to model his speech after Nixon’s 1968 speech. For all those who think Trump would “not be as bad as you think”, let’s revisit the goodness of the Nixon presidency, shall we? Is there ANYONE who thinks that would be a good idea?
Kevin Koster commented on Report: Roger Ailes Will Soon Be Removed From Fox News
2016-07-18 21:24:38 -0400
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If they’re really dumping him, they’ll wait until at least after this convention, and possibly until after both conventions. They won’t want to upstage their coverage of either party’s week in the sun.
Assuming Sherman is correct (and I believe he is), it will be interesting to see how the channel maintains its consistent talking points. My thinking is that they’ve effectively internalized Ailes’ thinking. But it would be something to see Fox News go rudderless.
Assuming Sherman is correct (and I believe he is), it will be interesting to see how the channel maintains its consistent talking points. My thinking is that they’ve effectively internalized Ailes’ thinking. But it would be something to see Fox News go rudderless.
Kevin Koster commented on Brit Hume Launches A Series Of Racial Attacks On Obama Over Black Lives Matter
2016-07-13 14:03:44 -0400
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I don’t believe it’s an accident that we’re hearing this from Hume at the same time that Bill O’Reilly is making shameful comments about President Obama being supposedly too cozy with Muslim countries. It’s not an accident that this is at the same time that Sean Hannity is now regularly shouting with open anger on his show about how much he hates this president.
It’s clear that Hume is simply following the same debunked talking points as everyone else, only trying to give them an avuncular “elder statesman” spin. The problem with that approach here is that Hume doesn’t have the experience or gravitas of an elder statesman, since most of his career has been spent repeating Fox News talking points and lines of the day.
I believe there is a two-pronged reason for the constant venom coming from Fox News at President Obama these days. The first is their very real panic now over the trainwreck of having Donald Trump as the GOP candidate – something that has already tanked their convention and has the potential to cause significant losses for them in November. In what I can only describe as impotent rage, they are flailing away and stomping on the floor – in a manner that resembles a child throwing a huge tantrum.
The second prong has to do with the hatred they’ve had for this president since he became a realistic candidate for the office. From the moment that President Obama was elected, Fox News happily followed the Rush Limbaugh/Newt Gingrich/Karl Rove line of “I hope he FAILS!” Since that didn’t happen, and since President Obama had the temerity to be re-elected in spite of all their attacks over the first 4 years, now they’re attempting to trash him as he completes his second term. This time, it’s more about writing a false first chapter in the history books about the Obama presidency. The intent is to plant an impression in right wing viewers that the last eight years, as O’Reilly angrily put it, saw absolutely no progress or accomplishments of any kind, or as Hannity would tell you, saw only disaster and apocalypse for the country and the world. The fact that these statements are nonsensical does not matter to Roger Ailes. He just wants to put them on the record and hope that this manufacturing and repetition of “facts on the ground” will let the right wing establish this as the history of our times.
It’s something they’ve already had some success with regarding Hillary Clinton. For 25 years, she’s been smeared by the right wing, sometimes on a daily basis. She’s been accused of nearly every crime we can conceive, and when she’s dismissed or disproved those smears, she’s been accused of lying about it. Is it any wonder that the right wing now crows about how they can point to polls showing that “most people distrust her”? (They never mention that most of the people responding yes to that question are in the right wing/GOP group that hated her from the beginning.) The real success for Fox News here has been with more gullible voters, and sadly with many Sanders supporters who don’t realize they’re repeating right wing propaganda from the 90s. To Fox News, this is a huge win, and one they’d like to repeat with the legacy of President Obama.
It’s clear that Hume is simply following the same debunked talking points as everyone else, only trying to give them an avuncular “elder statesman” spin. The problem with that approach here is that Hume doesn’t have the experience or gravitas of an elder statesman, since most of his career has been spent repeating Fox News talking points and lines of the day.
I believe there is a two-pronged reason for the constant venom coming from Fox News at President Obama these days. The first is their very real panic now over the trainwreck of having Donald Trump as the GOP candidate – something that has already tanked their convention and has the potential to cause significant losses for them in November. In what I can only describe as impotent rage, they are flailing away and stomping on the floor – in a manner that resembles a child throwing a huge tantrum.
The second prong has to do with the hatred they’ve had for this president since he became a realistic candidate for the office. From the moment that President Obama was elected, Fox News happily followed the Rush Limbaugh/Newt Gingrich/Karl Rove line of “I hope he FAILS!” Since that didn’t happen, and since President Obama had the temerity to be re-elected in spite of all their attacks over the first 4 years, now they’re attempting to trash him as he completes his second term. This time, it’s more about writing a false first chapter in the history books about the Obama presidency. The intent is to plant an impression in right wing viewers that the last eight years, as O’Reilly angrily put it, saw absolutely no progress or accomplishments of any kind, or as Hannity would tell you, saw only disaster and apocalypse for the country and the world. The fact that these statements are nonsensical does not matter to Roger Ailes. He just wants to put them on the record and hope that this manufacturing and repetition of “facts on the ground” will let the right wing establish this as the history of our times.
It’s something they’ve already had some success with regarding Hillary Clinton. For 25 years, she’s been smeared by the right wing, sometimes on a daily basis. She’s been accused of nearly every crime we can conceive, and when she’s dismissed or disproved those smears, she’s been accused of lying about it. Is it any wonder that the right wing now crows about how they can point to polls showing that “most people distrust her”? (They never mention that most of the people responding yes to that question are in the right wing/GOP group that hated her from the beginning.) The real success for Fox News here has been with more gullible voters, and sadly with many Sanders supporters who don’t realize they’re repeating right wing propaganda from the 90s. To Fox News, this is a huge win, and one they’d like to repeat with the legacy of President Obama.
Kevin Koster commented on Rudy Giuliani Demands Black Lives Matter ‘Get Rid Of The Slogan!’
2016-07-11 10:38:35 -0400
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I had a similar debate with a right winger on Saturday night, with similar results. He spouted a series of Fox News talking points about Black Lives Matter as well as trying to pillory President Obama in the same breath. When I pointed out that he was stating unfounded and disproven opinions, he demanded that I immediately provide evidence to show that. I told him he could use his smartphone very easily to pull up the actual record but he refused to do so. He then insisted that of what he’d just regurgitated: “Those are FACTS!” I responded that what he’d stated were opinions and not factual ones. I pointed out that the Dallas killer was not a member of Black Lives Matter and had explicitly stated that. But it was no use. He wasn’t going to listen and he wasn’t interested in anything outside of his own bubble.
I’m frankly shocked at the consistency of the massive double standard that has been applied, going back through most of my lifetime. The same right wingers who angrily supported Ronald Reagan during his frequently challenged presidency (a record number of his people were indicted and convicted during his administration) were the ones who most regularly attacked Bill Clinton. Suddenly in the 90s, they woke up to the notion of corruption in government. But when George W. Bush got into office, they switched sides again, first to angrily declare his victory during the brief moment where the country considered having a recount and then to angrily demand everyone support him because of 9/11. I remember being told that I better support Bush’s 2003 invasion of Iraq because if I didn’t, I was supposedly “supporting the terrorists”. I remember being told that the very real ethical problems that plagued the Bush presidency were just “liberal bull@$@!”. And when Barack Obama became President, suddenly the pendulum swung back the other way again. In addition to constant attempts to smear his administration with allegations of criminality and corruption, there is a sadly regular streak of racism in play. And we’ve sadly become used to racist aspersions being thrown at this President, as well as to anyone the right wing wishes to attack.
I’m frankly shocked at the consistency of the massive double standard that has been applied, going back through most of my lifetime. The same right wingers who angrily supported Ronald Reagan during his frequently challenged presidency (a record number of his people were indicted and convicted during his administration) were the ones who most regularly attacked Bill Clinton. Suddenly in the 90s, they woke up to the notion of corruption in government. But when George W. Bush got into office, they switched sides again, first to angrily declare his victory during the brief moment where the country considered having a recount and then to angrily demand everyone support him because of 9/11. I remember being told that I better support Bush’s 2003 invasion of Iraq because if I didn’t, I was supposedly “supporting the terrorists”. I remember being told that the very real ethical problems that plagued the Bush presidency were just “liberal bull@$@!”. And when Barack Obama became President, suddenly the pendulum swung back the other way again. In addition to constant attempts to smear his administration with allegations of criminality and corruption, there is a sadly regular streak of racism in play. And we’ve sadly become used to racist aspersions being thrown at this President, as well as to anyone the right wing wishes to attack.
Kevin Koster commented on Fox’s Monica Crowley Blames ‘Illegals’ For Clinton’s Election Advantage
2016-07-03 13:00:03 -0400
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The most interesting part of this segment was the very real anger being displayed by Hannity when Schoen had the temerity to point out that Clinton is ahead. Schoen noted that Trump’s negatives are firmly higher than Clinton’s, and Hannity tried to cut him off with a flat denial. Schoen kept going, sensing Hannity wasn’t happy with this line, and added a qualifier “Sean, you have to realize this election is teed up for Hillary. Monica is right, it’s very very close.” (Nate Silver actually has it at nearly 80 percent likelihood of Clinton winning…) Schoen continued, “But the Secretary of State is ahead in every swing state.” Hannity’s response was to say “BARELY” and glare openly at Schoen. A bit of nonsensical discussion about Trump’s VP options followed, with Hannity advocating for Trump to select Newt Gingrich.
Schoen stayed quiet for this, but at the end, he came back in for one more try:
SCHOEN: “All you’re saying is that Hillary will be the next President.”
HANNITY: “No, I’m NOT saying that.”
SCHOEN: “Absolutely.”
HANNITY: “I believe Donald Trump is gonna win this election.”
SCHOEN: “I understand.”
HANNITY: “And I hope I’m right, because you know what? Four more years of Obama is something the country doesn’t need. (does a “washing hands” gesture) Good luck. We can’t afford it.”
It seems pretty clear to me that Hannity did not want to hear anything close to the true numbers for Clinton and Trump at this time. Schoen realized a little bit late that he was stepping out of line for what Hannity wanted him to say.
Schoen stayed quiet for this, but at the end, he came back in for one more try:
SCHOEN: “All you’re saying is that Hillary will be the next President.”
HANNITY: “No, I’m NOT saying that.”
SCHOEN: “Absolutely.”
HANNITY: “I believe Donald Trump is gonna win this election.”
SCHOEN: “I understand.”
HANNITY: “And I hope I’m right, because you know what? Four more years of Obama is something the country doesn’t need. (does a “washing hands” gesture) Good luck. We can’t afford it.”
It seems pretty clear to me that Hannity did not want to hear anything close to the true numbers for Clinton and Trump at this time. Schoen realized a little bit late that he was stepping out of line for what Hannity wanted him to say.
Kevin Koster commented on Sean Hannity’s Hilarious ‘Proof’ Of Hillary Clinton’s Anger
2016-06-28 11:56:20 -0400
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Byrne’s assertions have been completely debunked by Jan Gilhooly, the president of the Association of Former Agents of the United States Secret Service. (Gilhooly was with the Secret Service for 29 years) Gilhooly makes clear that Byrne would definitely not have been able to personally witness the scenarios he describes, as he didn’t have the clearance to be posted where he says he was. It’s far more likely he is repeating hearsay and gossip. Gilhooly is fairly specific in condemning Byrne’s actions here on two counts. On the one count, Gilhooly points out that Byrne is violating an honorable trust the Secret Service has with their clients by repeating gossip and innuendo like this. On the other count, Gilhooly is directly and carefully showing that Byrne is simply lying in most of his accounts.
But with Clinton already leading in the polling, Hannity is obviously too angry and too desperate to notice the problem with his source here. Just as he was too desperate to notice the issues with Ed Klein’s accounts, or with the other self-promoters, like the guy who regularly gets trotted out with the Benghazi stories.
What all these “writers” have in common is that they are willing to peddle half-truths and outright lies to a specific political audience, in the hope that they can make some money from the book sales and appearance fees. And if they’re lucky, someone will consider them an “expert” on one of these areas. Kind of like what happened with Katie Pavlich, who trafficked in complete untruths about Fast & Furious to get herself a cushy position at Fox News. To my mind, it is beyond unbelievable that people like this can be taken seriously anywhere. The fact that Fox News promotes them is another indication of an intrinsic problem with the network.
But with Clinton already leading in the polling, Hannity is obviously too angry and too desperate to notice the problem with his source here. Just as he was too desperate to notice the issues with Ed Klein’s accounts, or with the other self-promoters, like the guy who regularly gets trotted out with the Benghazi stories.
What all these “writers” have in common is that they are willing to peddle half-truths and outright lies to a specific political audience, in the hope that they can make some money from the book sales and appearance fees. And if they’re lucky, someone will consider them an “expert” on one of these areas. Kind of like what happened with Katie Pavlich, who trafficked in complete untruths about Fast & Furious to get herself a cushy position at Fox News. To my mind, it is beyond unbelievable that people like this can be taken seriously anywhere. The fact that Fox News promotes them is another indication of an intrinsic problem with the network.
Kevin Koster commented on Fox Paints Brexit Vote As A Rejection Of President Obama
2016-06-24 03:29:06 -0400
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The coverage tonight was clearly intended to push this vote as a big plus for Donald Trump. Over and over again, the anchors and commentators were careful to note this vote as yet another sign that the voters were tired of the establishment. That this was some kind of repeat of 1979 and 1980.
That may well turn out to be true. Ellen is correct to have major concerns here. Dan Rather said about the same last week.
But I note that we’re not the same as the U.K. – we have a much larger and much more diverse electorate. Which has been exactly the problem that Donald Trump faces. I honestly don’t see Trump getting a landslide vote in his favor – not when he has yet to articulate anything coherent in terms of policy or careful thought. Not when he continues to issue ad hominem attacks and when he relies on right wing smear jobs as his fact papers. Not when he’s worked hard to alienate every voting group in this country other than angry white men.
It is true that Donald Trump could win this election. If his people show up and everyone else stays home. So if we have a lesson from the UK, I’d say that it would be: Don’t stay home on Election Day. And I note that the British vote had a high participation rate, where our rates tend to be lower. I urge anyone that cares about what happens this fall to actually take the time and vote.
That may well turn out to be true. Ellen is correct to have major concerns here. Dan Rather said about the same last week.
But I note that we’re not the same as the U.K. – we have a much larger and much more diverse electorate. Which has been exactly the problem that Donald Trump faces. I honestly don’t see Trump getting a landslide vote in his favor – not when he has yet to articulate anything coherent in terms of policy or careful thought. Not when he continues to issue ad hominem attacks and when he relies on right wing smear jobs as his fact papers. Not when he’s worked hard to alienate every voting group in this country other than angry white men.
It is true that Donald Trump could win this election. If his people show up and everyone else stays home. So if we have a lesson from the UK, I’d say that it would be: Don’t stay home on Election Day. And I note that the British vote had a high participation rate, where our rates tend to be lower. I urge anyone that cares about what happens this fall to actually take the time and vote.
Kevin Koster commented on Watch Bill O’Reilly Promote Himself For A Position On The U.S. Supreme Court
2016-06-22 03:24:47 -0400
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I find it frankly offensive that O’Reilly can even joke about the Supreme Court after the behavior the GOP has indulged in this year. The reality is that we have an 8 member court due to no other reason than the right wing’s uncontrollable hatred for the current President. We’re talking about GOP Senators who refuse to even hold a hearing for or meet with a nominee, out of sheer spite.
It is that reason above many others that makes it vital for Donald Trump to be soundly renounced by the electorate this fall. The right wing cannot be allowed to get away with this game.
It is that reason above many others that makes it vital for Donald Trump to be soundly renounced by the electorate this fall. The right wing cannot be allowed to get away with this game.
Kevin Koster commented on Watch Hillary Clinton On Fox’s Special Report
2016-06-11 21:30:04 -0400
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Does anyone know what a “basement intellect” is? I’m starting to wonder if I speak the same language as this person.
Kevin Koster commented on O’Reilly Defends Trump: ‘This 'Racism' Business Is Totally Out Of Control’
2016-06-08 13:38:13 -0400
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There’s an easy way to stop “this racism business” and get it under control. It’s simple. Trump should stop saying racist things and apologize. Problem solved.
I also note that all this talk about whether the law firm donated to the Clintons is irrelevant – since Trump himself has donated to the Clintons!!!! Should Trump recuse himself from the race for that reason?
I also note that all this talk about whether the law firm donated to the Clintons is irrelevant – since Trump himself has donated to the Clintons!!!! Should Trump recuse himself from the race for that reason?
Kevin Koster commented on California, et al. Primary - Open Thread
2016-06-08 13:34:41 -0400
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Sanders has flip-flopped about the superdelegates the farther the primary campaign has gone. First he was totally against them, saying they were preset for Clinton and against him. Then when he realized he couldn’t get the pledged delegates he needed, he began making noises about how he was going to get a lot of superdelegates to switch to him – and if he didn’t’, it would mean that everything was rigged against him. In other words, heads I win, tails you lose. He can’t have it both ways.
Regardless of superdelegates, Clinton handily won the nomination, culminating with what happened last night. She has more than a majority of the pledged delegates and has essentially won just with them. When the same situation happened with Obama and Clinton in 2008, Clinton graciously stepped aside and congratulated Obama.
In the current situation, I expect that after tomorrows’ discussions in DC (which were begged for by Sanders after he realized how badly yesterday was going for him), we will see Sanders commit to supporting the Dem nominee, which is now confirmed as Clinton. He will be thrown a few bones by the Dems in terms of the platform and who’s on the various committees, and he’ll get a prime time speaking position at the convention. There will be no contested convention – instead, Sanders will make an impassioned appeal to his supporters to not abandon the work they’ve been doing over the past year. He will remind them that a Trump presidency would mean that all that work was in vain. He will also remind them that voting for Trump would undermine everything they’ve done. In the end, most of his supporters will support Clinton, if only to make sure that Trump is soundly defeated and sent packing.
Ellen is correct that Fox News (and right wing radio)‘s coverage of the California primary was predicated on the assumption that Bernie Sanders was about to win a major upset and embarrass/humiliate Clinton on the moment she was confirming she’d landed the nomination. The right wing hope was that Sanders would come from behind in California and win either by a few points or many points – which would have furthered the right wing spin that Clinton hadn’t really earned the nomination. (The spin starting today is now playing that Clinton only gets votes because of sympathy for her over her husband, so that even if she wins the Presidency, it should have an asterisk next to it like the 1999 Spurs NBA Title.)
I’ll be very curious to see what happens after the conventions, but I expect, as I’ve stated throughout, that this will be the nastiest, most vicious presidential campaign we’ve ever seen. Trump has already indicated he is willing to get as far into the mud as he can, if he thinks it can somehow win him this office. I really don’t know what to expect out of a debate, other than to think that Trump will continue his practice of attempted bullying and insults, rather than any discussion of facts or policy.
Regardless of superdelegates, Clinton handily won the nomination, culminating with what happened last night. She has more than a majority of the pledged delegates and has essentially won just with them. When the same situation happened with Obama and Clinton in 2008, Clinton graciously stepped aside and congratulated Obama.
In the current situation, I expect that after tomorrows’ discussions in DC (which were begged for by Sanders after he realized how badly yesterday was going for him), we will see Sanders commit to supporting the Dem nominee, which is now confirmed as Clinton. He will be thrown a few bones by the Dems in terms of the platform and who’s on the various committees, and he’ll get a prime time speaking position at the convention. There will be no contested convention – instead, Sanders will make an impassioned appeal to his supporters to not abandon the work they’ve been doing over the past year. He will remind them that a Trump presidency would mean that all that work was in vain. He will also remind them that voting for Trump would undermine everything they’ve done. In the end, most of his supporters will support Clinton, if only to make sure that Trump is soundly defeated and sent packing.
Ellen is correct that Fox News (and right wing radio)‘s coverage of the California primary was predicated on the assumption that Bernie Sanders was about to win a major upset and embarrass/humiliate Clinton on the moment she was confirming she’d landed the nomination. The right wing hope was that Sanders would come from behind in California and win either by a few points or many points – which would have furthered the right wing spin that Clinton hadn’t really earned the nomination. (The spin starting today is now playing that Clinton only gets votes because of sympathy for her over her husband, so that even if she wins the Presidency, it should have an asterisk next to it like the 1999 Spurs NBA Title.)
I’ll be very curious to see what happens after the conventions, but I expect, as I’ve stated throughout, that this will be the nastiest, most vicious presidential campaign we’ve ever seen. Trump has already indicated he is willing to get as far into the mud as he can, if he thinks it can somehow win him this office. I really don’t know what to expect out of a debate, other than to think that Trump will continue his practice of attempted bullying and insults, rather than any discussion of facts or policy.
Kevin Koster commented on Megyn Kelly’s Interview Flop Has Reportedly Damaged Her Brand
2016-05-21 16:03:45 -0400
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To be clear, Megyn Kelly is no Barbara Walters. Walters was a groundbreaking network news person who was able to parlay her career into a steady gig of major interviews. In her heyday, her popularity was significantly greater than anything Kelly has achieved.
Alyson Camerota and Major Garrett are not really in similar situations to Kelly – unless Kelly is looking to take a major demotion and work as a co-host or a lower level correspondent for another network.
Camerota worked initially in real news, including some work on Ted Koppel’s documentaries in the 90s. She joined Fox News close to its start as a co-host of various news-ish shows and continued as such throughout her time at the network. She never had an AM or prime time show of her own and never really branded herself as a hardline conservative. It appears she was a bit less conservative than her colleagues at Fox News, based on her work as a co-host at CNN since then. She is one of the very rare exceptions in that she has been able to get real work after Fox News, but she also appears to be a fairly open-minded person who fits in wherever she works.
Major Garrett is a different story. He was never even a co-host at Fox News – he was always a political correspondent, known for extremely hard right wing views. His various books about the greatness of the GOP should be a quick indicator of that one, as should his early association with the Washington Times. I’m amazed that CBS agreed to hire him as a correspondent, given his track record. The foolhardiness of that choice became obvious last summer when he embarrassed himself at a presser with President Obama and was publicly scolded for it. If anything, Garrett is a good object lesson in why Fox News personalities are not suitable to be hired in real journalism ventures. But again, he was never a solo host of anything on any of these networks.
Megyn Kelly is her own story – as discussed by Joe Muto, she’s actually an extremely smart person who may not in fact be as conservative as she acts on camera. But she made a specific choice to join Fox News in 2003 and has spent virtually her entire media career there. This was frankly a smart choice for her financially – Fox News did extremely well during the W Bush years and she was looking to become a media star, not a journalist. Her problem now is that she’s identified with Fox News as a major face of the network. She’s repeatedly said and done things on the air that have been hostile to non-conservatives – which has worked out great for her at Fox News but make her unsuitable to, say, anchor the CBS Evening News. The viewers couldn’t ever take her seriously. And this interview show has demonstrated that she doesn’t have the chops for that. It’s a specific skill set that Barbara Walters really honed – Kelly has never developed that, and didn’t realize she needed it.
It’s interesting that we can find a few odd cases here and there of people who worked at Fox News going to work at other networks. Yes, there have been politicians and consultants who have jumped around the various networks – Gingrich, Dobbs, Dick Morris, etc. But when it comes down to the on-air personalities and even many of the behind-the-scenes people, it’s not often you find Fox News people getting big opportunities at real news organizations. And that’s because they have a bad political odor to them – they were knowingly working for a nasty propaganda operation under the thumb of Roger Ailes. It’s very very hard to unring that bell.
Alyson Camerota and Major Garrett are not really in similar situations to Kelly – unless Kelly is looking to take a major demotion and work as a co-host or a lower level correspondent for another network.
Camerota worked initially in real news, including some work on Ted Koppel’s documentaries in the 90s. She joined Fox News close to its start as a co-host of various news-ish shows and continued as such throughout her time at the network. She never had an AM or prime time show of her own and never really branded herself as a hardline conservative. It appears she was a bit less conservative than her colleagues at Fox News, based on her work as a co-host at CNN since then. She is one of the very rare exceptions in that she has been able to get real work after Fox News, but she also appears to be a fairly open-minded person who fits in wherever she works.
Major Garrett is a different story. He was never even a co-host at Fox News – he was always a political correspondent, known for extremely hard right wing views. His various books about the greatness of the GOP should be a quick indicator of that one, as should his early association with the Washington Times. I’m amazed that CBS agreed to hire him as a correspondent, given his track record. The foolhardiness of that choice became obvious last summer when he embarrassed himself at a presser with President Obama and was publicly scolded for it. If anything, Garrett is a good object lesson in why Fox News personalities are not suitable to be hired in real journalism ventures. But again, he was never a solo host of anything on any of these networks.
Megyn Kelly is her own story – as discussed by Joe Muto, she’s actually an extremely smart person who may not in fact be as conservative as she acts on camera. But she made a specific choice to join Fox News in 2003 and has spent virtually her entire media career there. This was frankly a smart choice for her financially – Fox News did extremely well during the W Bush years and she was looking to become a media star, not a journalist. Her problem now is that she’s identified with Fox News as a major face of the network. She’s repeatedly said and done things on the air that have been hostile to non-conservatives – which has worked out great for her at Fox News but make her unsuitable to, say, anchor the CBS Evening News. The viewers couldn’t ever take her seriously. And this interview show has demonstrated that she doesn’t have the chops for that. It’s a specific skill set that Barbara Walters really honed – Kelly has never developed that, and didn’t realize she needed it.
It’s interesting that we can find a few odd cases here and there of people who worked at Fox News going to work at other networks. Yes, there have been politicians and consultants who have jumped around the various networks – Gingrich, Dobbs, Dick Morris, etc. But when it comes down to the on-air personalities and even many of the behind-the-scenes people, it’s not often you find Fox News people getting big opportunities at real news organizations. And that’s because they have a bad political odor to them – they were knowingly working for a nasty propaganda operation under the thumb of Roger Ailes. It’s very very hard to unring that bell.