Kevin Koster commented on Rand Paul Cheerleads For Social Security Cuts – With Neil Cavuto’s Approval
2012-05-09 19:56:09 -0400
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Of course Cavuto and Fox News want to cut Social Security and Medicare. That’s been a GOP wish list item ever since the programs were started. Doesn’t anyone remember the GW Bush idea of changing Social Security into private accounts in 2004? (And if they’d gotten away with that magic trick, all the retirees would have lost their benefits in the 2008 crash…)
The reality is that both programs can be stabilized for long term with very minor adjustments. This was done under the Reagan Administration with a miniscule tweak to withholding rates. It could be done again, the same way. It’s just that the GOP pundits and hardline congresspeople would rather throw the whole thing out or simply weaken it to the point that it could be removed without the big fight.
The reality is that both programs can be stabilized for long term with very minor adjustments. This was done under the Reagan Administration with a miniscule tweak to withholding rates. It could be done again, the same way. It’s just that the GOP pundits and hardline congresspeople would rather throw the whole thing out or simply weaken it to the point that it could be removed without the big fight.
Kevin Koster commented on Factor Ambushes Newspaper Editor, Goes All the Way to Governor, Over "Racially Motivated" Virginia Assault
2012-05-08 12:53:21 -0400
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O’Reilly is definitely trying to find a false equivalence between the two events. Fox has been on the hunt for a good black-on-white violence story to use as a “gotcha” answer when a liberal brings up the Martin story.
And yes, it’s obviously another Watters ambush. He trespassed onto Finley’s property with his camera crew and demanded he answer questions while he was in his car trying to leave. Of course, if Finley had just left, they would have shot that and reported that he was too scared to answer. Instead, Finley stood his ground – and it looks like they edited this conversation. Something tells me he had more to say to Watters – including the fact that Finley’s own reporters didn’t want the story publicized.
By the way, the fact that the reporters’ lives have been threatened is exactly the situation they were trying to avoid. O’Reilly fanning the embers of this situation has certainly helped focus attention on them – and showing the reporters’ faces in the story makes the problem worse. The fact that O’Reilly doesn’t understand the consequences of his shining a spotlight here is probably similar to his inability to understand that his attacks on George Tiller contributed to that man’s murder.
And yes, it’s obviously another Watters ambush. He trespassed onto Finley’s property with his camera crew and demanded he answer questions while he was in his car trying to leave. Of course, if Finley had just left, they would have shot that and reported that he was too scared to answer. Instead, Finley stood his ground – and it looks like they edited this conversation. Something tells me he had more to say to Watters – including the fact that Finley’s own reporters didn’t want the story publicized.
By the way, the fact that the reporters’ lives have been threatened is exactly the situation they were trying to avoid. O’Reilly fanning the embers of this situation has certainly helped focus attention on them – and showing the reporters’ faces in the story makes the problem worse. The fact that O’Reilly doesn’t understand the consequences of his shining a spotlight here is probably similar to his inability to understand that his attacks on George Tiller contributed to that man’s murder.
Kevin Koster commented on Romney Advisors Presented As Impartial Analysts On Fox News
2012-05-05 04:25:20 -0400
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Ellen, that was during the last freak-out Fox News had about Obama in 2010 – when Hannity was absolutely certain that the Sestak thing was going to become an issue. He never owned up to the fact that it didn’t, and it wasn’t.
Kevin Koster commented on FoxNews.Com Featured Video: Obama's Five Worst Decisions
2012-05-04 20:15:28 -0400
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The fact of the matter is that the GOP is becoming noticeably desperate. They don’t think their candidate is that strong and they don’t like the way the polls and the economy are trending. So we’re once again hearing the more hysterical attacks.
Let’s take each silly comment by Cain in order:
5. First, Cain says that Obama does nothing but “Blame Others” for his problems. Interesting that the GOP talking points try to blame everything on the Dems or on the media they don’t like (non-Fox) for the economy, etc., and yet Cain forgets to note this.
4. Second, Cain says Romney would never have signed the Affordable Care Act. Except that it was modeled on Romney’s health care law in Massachusetts and the individual mandate came from GOP suggestions that they disavowed once it was being promoted by President Obama.
3. Third, Cain holds Obama personally responsible for the expansion of the budget deficit. He of course has to ignore the overdue accounting of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and hope that the US government would just sit by and watch the economy completely tank. And had Obama done that, he would have been called another Herbert Hoover. (It’s also interesting that if the President travels, he’s harangued for the expense of it. If the First Lady travels, she’s accused of wasting taxpayer money on vacations. But if they just stayed in the White House and never travelled anywhere, they would be accused of diminishing the presidency by hiding their faces.)
2. Fourth, Cain says it’s Obama’s fault that the US Congress hasn’t been able to reconcile a budget in three years. Let’s see what the real facts are there. For two years, the GOP had just enough votes in the House and Senate to gum up the works on anything unless the Dems voted in lockstep – which they almost never do. In the meantime, the GOP voted no in lockstep on every opportunity. Then when the GOP got control over the House, they began passing every objectionable bill they could, knowing they would not pass the Senate, just to try to gain cheap political points. The Congressional Budget is an unfortunate casualty of all the politicking being done by what may be the most cynical GOP congresses of all time.
1. Finally, Cain says Obama is trying to “attack success” when he asks very wealthy Americans to pay their fair share rather than lower tax rates at a time that the GOP are simultaneously harping on the budget deficit.
And this is the best the GOP can do in making a case for their man? No wonder the desperation is starting to show…
Let’s take each silly comment by Cain in order:
5. First, Cain says that Obama does nothing but “Blame Others” for his problems. Interesting that the GOP talking points try to blame everything on the Dems or on the media they don’t like (non-Fox) for the economy, etc., and yet Cain forgets to note this.
4. Second, Cain says Romney would never have signed the Affordable Care Act. Except that it was modeled on Romney’s health care law in Massachusetts and the individual mandate came from GOP suggestions that they disavowed once it was being promoted by President Obama.
3. Third, Cain holds Obama personally responsible for the expansion of the budget deficit. He of course has to ignore the overdue accounting of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and hope that the US government would just sit by and watch the economy completely tank. And had Obama done that, he would have been called another Herbert Hoover. (It’s also interesting that if the President travels, he’s harangued for the expense of it. If the First Lady travels, she’s accused of wasting taxpayer money on vacations. But if they just stayed in the White House and never travelled anywhere, they would be accused of diminishing the presidency by hiding their faces.)
2. Fourth, Cain says it’s Obama’s fault that the US Congress hasn’t been able to reconcile a budget in three years. Let’s see what the real facts are there. For two years, the GOP had just enough votes in the House and Senate to gum up the works on anything unless the Dems voted in lockstep – which they almost never do. In the meantime, the GOP voted no in lockstep on every opportunity. Then when the GOP got control over the House, they began passing every objectionable bill they could, knowing they would not pass the Senate, just to try to gain cheap political points. The Congressional Budget is an unfortunate casualty of all the politicking being done by what may be the most cynical GOP congresses of all time.
1. Finally, Cain says Obama is trying to “attack success” when he asks very wealthy Americans to pay their fair share rather than lower tax rates at a time that the GOP are simultaneously harping on the budget deficit.
And this is the best the GOP can do in making a case for their man? No wonder the desperation is starting to show…
Kevin Koster commented on Martha MacCallum Promotes GOP Contempt Case Against AG Eric Holder
2012-05-04 19:53:33 -0400
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Issa has no credibility and no moral standing to even issue a contempt case. He’s been threatening to do it for some time, and has routinely been disregarded by pretty much everyone. There is no smoking gun here – just the usual scenario of angry GOP House members trying to make more political points during an election year.
Kevin Koster commented on Shepard Smith And Ed Rollins Pan Gingrich's Speech Ending His Presidential Campaign
2012-05-04 04:10:22 -0400
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Of all the anchors on Fox News, Shepard Smith is the one who really has tried to actually be fair in many of the situations I have seen. Yes, there’s the usual GOP spin from the network, but he has repeatedly stood up when he thought something was wrong.
I don’t agree with him on much, but I do respect that he really does stick up for the principles he believes in – the bit where he dropped the f-bomb to make the point that Americans do not torture is but one great example. And yes, the Katrina example is another.
I think you’re right, Ellen. He’s disgusted that this is the crop the GOP threw up for consideration as presidential candidates this year, and that he has to cheerlead for them on the news. I think many of the candidates have simply outraged him as he sees them as making the GOP look completely out of touch. Santorum and Gingrich’s regular moments of foot-in-mouth syndrome have been enough to set most Fox News people’s teeth on edge. (I had honestly thought both men would be welcomed as commentators on Fox News after the convention but it really feels that they may just be shunted off to the side. Putting them on Fox this year would only be a reminder of their shenanigans in the race.)
With no sarcasm intended at all, I really am concerned that Smith may be ill. That kind of weight loss is totally unhealthy. I can understand changing his diet but this feels like something more serious. It’s one thing to lose 10 or even 20 pounds. It’s another to lose what looks like 40 pounds when you weren’t heavy to start with.
I don’t agree with him on much, but I do respect that he really does stick up for the principles he believes in – the bit where he dropped the f-bomb to make the point that Americans do not torture is but one great example. And yes, the Katrina example is another.
I think you’re right, Ellen. He’s disgusted that this is the crop the GOP threw up for consideration as presidential candidates this year, and that he has to cheerlead for them on the news. I think many of the candidates have simply outraged him as he sees them as making the GOP look completely out of touch. Santorum and Gingrich’s regular moments of foot-in-mouth syndrome have been enough to set most Fox News people’s teeth on edge. (I had honestly thought both men would be welcomed as commentators on Fox News after the convention but it really feels that they may just be shunted off to the side. Putting them on Fox this year would only be a reminder of their shenanigans in the race.)
With no sarcasm intended at all, I really am concerned that Smith may be ill. That kind of weight loss is totally unhealthy. I can understand changing his diet but this feels like something more serious. It’s one thing to lose 10 or even 20 pounds. It’s another to lose what looks like 40 pounds when you weren’t heavy to start with.
Kevin Koster commented on O'Reilly Finds Another "Race-Based" Crime to Hit the Liberal Media With
2012-05-03 20:53:38 -0400
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I agree with Michael. Haven’t heard anything from O’Reilly about what Ted Nugent said, or even what Monica Crowley did last week. Somehow these things don’t tend to make it onto O’Reilly unless the person is getting in trouble with the GOP anyway (Santorum, Gingrich), if they’re such a big problem that they can’t be ignored (Limbaugh v. Fluke) or if O’Reilly is personally annoyed by them (Bachmann, Palin).
Looking at the actual case here, it’s clear that this is yet another Ramos & Compean scenario. (For those unfamiliar with R&C, that was where right wing radio and TV went nuts about 2 Boarder Patrol agents getting sent to prison for shooting “an illegal alien drug smuggler”. But when you read the actual case file, you see that they didn’t know any of that and were shooting a guy in the back as he ran away from them. Further, they made a point of covering up their crime and lied about it when they got busted. And that part didn’t get told on right wing radio or on Fox.)
In the case of this incident, it appears that the two reporters were attacked by an unfriendly mob, but that they didn’t want to have it blown up in the press. Their editor respected their wishes, particularly since it isn’t any newspaper’s business to report assaults on page 1 above the fold – particularly when it will be perceived as them covering it just to either fan racial tensions or promote their own reporters. Further, the matter is still under investigation. The editor was not “hiding under his desk”. He was busy doing his job, in spite of the attacks by the local shock jock.
Looking at the actual case here, it’s clear that this is yet another Ramos & Compean scenario. (For those unfamiliar with R&C, that was where right wing radio and TV went nuts about 2 Boarder Patrol agents getting sent to prison for shooting “an illegal alien drug smuggler”. But when you read the actual case file, you see that they didn’t know any of that and were shooting a guy in the back as he ran away from them. Further, they made a point of covering up their crime and lied about it when they got busted. And that part didn’t get told on right wing radio or on Fox.)
In the case of this incident, it appears that the two reporters were attacked by an unfriendly mob, but that they didn’t want to have it blown up in the press. Their editor respected their wishes, particularly since it isn’t any newspaper’s business to report assaults on page 1 above the fold – particularly when it will be perceived as them covering it just to either fan racial tensions or promote their own reporters. Further, the matter is still under investigation. The editor was not “hiding under his desk”. He was busy doing his job, in spite of the attacks by the local shock jock.
Kevin Koster commented on Stephen Colbert Ridicules Fox News' Accusations Obama "Spiked The Football" Over Bin Laden's Death
2012-05-02 13:08:23 -0400
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I’m glad he threw in the footage of Bush on the aircraft carrier. Interesting that the whole carrier thing is okay by Fox News, but Obama raising the killing of bin Laden as an issue is not. Of course, if a GOP president had been in office when the kill happened, they’d be jumping up and down about it. When Obama says anything about it, even to point out that Romney opposed it, he is told by Fox News that he should “be quiet.” Right.
It’s similar to Cal Thomas on Hannity trying to get on a moral high horse to be shocked, shocked that Obama would mention the Secret Service scandal during the Correspondents Dinner because “this is disrespectful to the men. These men have wives and families and it isn’t funny to them.” Guess that means he was equally shocked by GW Bush joking at a Correspondents Dinner about his search for WMDs while troops were dying in Iraq.
It’s similar to Cal Thomas on Hannity trying to get on a moral high horse to be shocked, shocked that Obama would mention the Secret Service scandal during the Correspondents Dinner because “this is disrespectful to the men. These men have wives and families and it isn’t funny to them.” Guess that means he was equally shocked by GW Bush joking at a Correspondents Dinner about his search for WMDs while troops were dying in Iraq.
Kevin Koster commented on Kirsten Powers Confronts Hannity's Misogynist Pal, Jesse Lee Peterson
2012-05-02 04:20:42 -0400
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This was probably one of the most entertaining Hannity segments ever. Part of Hannity’s panic was partly due to his realizing that he had completely lost control over what was happening. When he tried to get back to his original talking point question about Obama and bin Laden, there was definitely a flavor of “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain! I am the great and powerful Oz!”
Kevin Koster commented on Fox News Sunday Debates “Hypothetical” Damage To Obama From Supreme Court Rulings On Arizona Immigration Law And Health Care Mandate
2012-04-30 23:39:45 -0400
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It’s never a good idea to opine about what the Supreme Court MIGHT rule before they issue their results. Many times, the justices play devil’s advocate and will test the attorneys presenting their cases. Even Scalia has done this with conservative attorneys who assumed he would just rule for them without question.
We’ll all know what the Supreme Court thinks when they issue their rulings. Fox News and right wing talk radio just want to see if they can get their base fired up about defeating President Obama any way they can. Their reliance on this and character assassination across the board indicates that they don’t have a lot of confidence in their candidate. Which doesn’t bode well for them in this election. But we’ll just have to see what happens. Who knows? Maybe the SC will rule the way the right wing wants. Maybe Romney will be able to win the election. Either way, we won’t know for some time.
We’ll all know what the Supreme Court thinks when they issue their rulings. Fox News and right wing talk radio just want to see if they can get their base fired up about defeating President Obama any way they can. Their reliance on this and character assassination across the board indicates that they don’t have a lot of confidence in their candidate. Which doesn’t bode well for them in this election. But we’ll just have to see what happens. Who knows? Maybe the SC will rule the way the right wing wants. Maybe Romney will be able to win the election. Either way, we won’t know for some time.
Kevin Koster commented on Fox Nation Focuses On Kimmel, Overlooks And Edits Chris Christie Fat Joke At WHCD
2012-04-30 16:12:00 -0400
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There’s an editorial put up on the Fox News website today that alleges that President Obama is becoming “desperate” in his reelection campaign. Sounds a bit like wishful thinking and projection, doesn’t it?
Kevin Koster commented on Greg Gutfeld Decides Mitt Romney’s Dog Loved Riding On The Top Of His Car
2012-04-28 13:21:50 -0400
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This has been a particularly slimey attack route, and that’s saying something.
Let’s see if we can figure out the difference here: Obama as a ten year old boy was given various cooked meats by his stepfather and told what they were as part of his life experience. He mentions this in his 1995 book as a part of the range of things that he did in Indonesia before moving back to the US for a completely different set of life experiences. He did not go attack and kill a dog. He did not see what was done to the dog. He was presented food by his stepfather and he ate it. He doesn’t regret the experience because it’s part of a ten year old learning about the world.
Romney on the other hand was an adult and a parent of several children the day he strapped his dog’s travel cage to the roof of his car. And clearly the dog was not enjoying the ride. It’s possible, to be honest, that the dog might have been sick inside the car had he done the humane thing – that happens when you have a dog. (This is the part that part that people haven’t really asked about.) But the point of the story is that it is yet another confirmation of Romney’s remoteness and his inability to connect with people (or pets) on an everyday, human level.
Gutfield’s response to this, as was Hannity’s, is breathtaking in its sheer contempt for President Obama and in the desperation that Fox News is beginning to show about this election.
Let’s see if we can figure out the difference here: Obama as a ten year old boy was given various cooked meats by his stepfather and told what they were as part of his life experience. He mentions this in his 1995 book as a part of the range of things that he did in Indonesia before moving back to the US for a completely different set of life experiences. He did not go attack and kill a dog. He did not see what was done to the dog. He was presented food by his stepfather and he ate it. He doesn’t regret the experience because it’s part of a ten year old learning about the world.
Romney on the other hand was an adult and a parent of several children the day he strapped his dog’s travel cage to the roof of his car. And clearly the dog was not enjoying the ride. It’s possible, to be honest, that the dog might have been sick inside the car had he done the humane thing – that happens when you have a dog. (This is the part that part that people haven’t really asked about.) But the point of the story is that it is yet another confirmation of Romney’s remoteness and his inability to connect with people (or pets) on an everyday, human level.
Gutfield’s response to this, as was Hannity’s, is breathtaking in its sheer contempt for President Obama and in the desperation that Fox News is beginning to show about this election.
Kevin Koster commented on Sandra Fluke Hits Back At Monica Crowley
2012-04-27 16:01:01 -0400
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Who wants to wager that Crowley will be on Hannity tonight for a bit of rehab. Hannity will try to spin this that Crowley was asking a reasonable question blah blah blah. Crowley will insist that she had no idea she could have offended anyone. And everyone will forget to mention the whole Hillary Rosen flap, since it’s not convenient now…
Kevin Koster commented on Jesse Watters Ambushes Van Jones – And Makes Dubious Claims About What Jones Said
2012-04-26 05:15:39 -0400
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Watters’ account of what happened at the event sounded a bit fishy, particularly as there was missing footage to show what got him tossed out. He admitted that he immediately went after Van Jones with no success, and that when he was challenged as to what he was doing there, he tried throwing gotcha questions about Solyndra and Obama at the Greens until they threw him out.
But no footage was really shown of this. I’d be curious if the Greens have their own footage of Watters being obnoxious and annoying people to the point that the event organizers figured out he was there to disrupt and obstruct.
OTOH all of this was really just a childish affair. A more serious matter came before this segment, when O’Reilly interviewed Sara Carter as though she was a legitimate journalist about border issues, rather than a gossip monger about right wing talking points on the border. He never mentioned her championing the Ramos and Compean story, which has resulted in her credibility being ruined among anyone actually paying attention to the real issues happening on our borders.
But no footage was really shown of this. I’d be curious if the Greens have their own footage of Watters being obnoxious and annoying people to the point that the event organizers figured out he was there to disrupt and obstruct.
OTOH all of this was really just a childish affair. A more serious matter came before this segment, when O’Reilly interviewed Sara Carter as though she was a legitimate journalist about border issues, rather than a gossip monger about right wing talking points on the border. He never mentioned her championing the Ramos and Compean story, which has resulted in her credibility being ruined among anyone actually paying attention to the real issues happening on our borders.
Kevin Koster commented on FoxNews.Com Describes Watergate Figure Chuck Colson As A "Prison Fellowship Founder"
2012-04-22 04:49:28 -0400
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Bizarre typo in my sentence – here’s the proper read: “The strange part about it is that his then-newfound moral purity did not compel him to simply come forward about what he had been doing for Nixon under the cloak of the presidency.”
Kevin Koster commented on O'Reilly Suggests CNN, Howard Kurtz And Julie Mason Are Colluding To Re-Elect Obama
2012-04-18 15:39:08 -0400
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I’ll give O’Reilly a bit of the benefit of the doubt here. Yes, he clearly leans toward the GOP, and yes, he has done multiple interviews and opinion segments where he’s said and done inappropriate things.
However, he has also challenged GOP guests in multiple ways – including his obvious disdain for both Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann’s talking points, and his acknowledgment that the Fast & Furious witchhunt really hasn’t gained any traction.
He’s not the fire breather he used to be ten or fifteen years ago. His friendship with Jon Stewart is an indication of this. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t say ridiculous things – but he also does acknowledge some basic facts when he’s pushed. (None of this excuses his buddying up to Glenn Beck or his refusal to admit Beck’s obvious push to help the GOP and obstruct the Dems)
If anything, both Bernie Goldberg and Mike Wallace pegged him correctly – he’s about promoting himself above all else. And Fox News has given him a great perch to do so. Of course, part of that perch is using the GOP line of the day in every broadcast…
As for Julie Mason, her comments are pretty clear – she was saying that Fox can’t claim to be a “Fair and Balanced”, unbiased network when it had Glenn Beck raving on the air, and has the opinion block of O’Reilly, Hannity and Van Susteren regularly repeating GOP talking points as news stories.
However, he has also challenged GOP guests in multiple ways – including his obvious disdain for both Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann’s talking points, and his acknowledgment that the Fast & Furious witchhunt really hasn’t gained any traction.
He’s not the fire breather he used to be ten or fifteen years ago. His friendship with Jon Stewart is an indication of this. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t say ridiculous things – but he also does acknowledge some basic facts when he’s pushed. (None of this excuses his buddying up to Glenn Beck or his refusal to admit Beck’s obvious push to help the GOP and obstruct the Dems)
If anything, both Bernie Goldberg and Mike Wallace pegged him correctly – he’s about promoting himself above all else. And Fox News has given him a great perch to do so. Of course, part of that perch is using the GOP line of the day in every broadcast…
As for Julie Mason, her comments are pretty clear – she was saying that Fox can’t claim to be a “Fair and Balanced”, unbiased network when it had Glenn Beck raving on the air, and has the opinion block of O’Reilly, Hannity and Van Susteren regularly repeating GOP talking points as news stories.
Kevin Koster commented on Will Fox News Finally Distance Itself From Ted Nugent?
2012-04-18 11:27:36 -0400
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I believe that the sanest of Hannity’s skewed panel last night brought this up, but Hannity dodged it.
Here’s a question: Has Nugent ever donated to the GOP or directly to their presidential candidates? And if so, will Fox News trumpet the idea that the GOP should give the money back?
Here’s a question: Has Nugent ever donated to the GOP or directly to their presidential candidates? And if so, will Fox News trumpet the idea that the GOP should give the money back?
Kevin Koster commented on The Sad, Sad End Of The Fox Mole
2012-04-17 14:05:19 -0400
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Muto was not the only one approached to be a mole. He was the only one who agreed to do it. There are plenty of other disgruntled ex-Fox employees out there. Some of them have participated in things like Robert Greenwald’s expose, but usually under a cloak of anonymity.
Kevin Koster commented on Beckel Drops the F-Bomb On Hannity
2012-04-17 05:22:20 -0400
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I think this may be a bit more serious. This is the sort of thing that the upper level people at Fox don’t take lightly. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Beckel at least get suspended for this.
His reaction was actually defensive at first for not knowing they were live, and then he became increasingly morose. Near the end of the segment, after saying he was “going silent”, he muttered “goddamn” to cap things off.
His reaction was actually defensive at first for not knowing they were live, and then he became increasingly morose. Near the end of the segment, after saying he was “going silent”, he muttered “goddamn” to cap things off.
Kevin Koster commented on Steve Doocy Schooled By Guest On Bogus "War On Stay At Home Moms"
2012-04-13 17:47:43 -0400
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Doocy raising the canard about the Romneys’ old apartment is yet another red herring.
According to the interviews they gave in 1994 in Boston, Mitt and Ann did indeed live in a basement apartment for $62 per month while they were studying together at BYU. It wasn’t fancy, and they had to make do with less. But here’s the key: Neither of them was holding a job. The $62 and all their expenses were covered by Mitt selling stock he had been given by his father. The stock was worth the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of dollars today.
So yes, they did try to live the life of someone who doesn’t have that level of income, particularly since they wanted to show their parents that they weren’t just waiting for their inheritances. But they never really had to make the seriously tough choices most of us make on a daily basis. They could have easily lived in a more expensive place, as they chose to do when they moved into a house in Boston with a loan from Mitt’s father. They also would have had the assistance of their parents had they really needed it – they simply chose to show that they didn’t. Which is admirable, but does not make the case that they truly understand what the less well-off think about the economy.
According to the interviews they gave in 1994 in Boston, Mitt and Ann did indeed live in a basement apartment for $62 per month while they were studying together at BYU. It wasn’t fancy, and they had to make do with less. But here’s the key: Neither of them was holding a job. The $62 and all their expenses were covered by Mitt selling stock he had been given by his father. The stock was worth the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of dollars today.
So yes, they did try to live the life of someone who doesn’t have that level of income, particularly since they wanted to show their parents that they weren’t just waiting for their inheritances. But they never really had to make the seriously tough choices most of us make on a daily basis. They could have easily lived in a more expensive place, as they chose to do when they moved into a house in Boston with a loan from Mitt’s father. They also would have had the assistance of their parents had they really needed it – they simply chose to show that they didn’t. Which is admirable, but does not make the case that they truly understand what the less well-off think about the economy.