News Hounds

As The Murdoch Turns: The Week’s Newest News Corp. News

NEW NEWS HACKING NEWS: As News Hounds has been reporting, the Murdoch Empire is still in deep doo doo as revelations in the phone hacking scandal continue to roil both sides of the ocean. Now comes word that News Corp. investors are demanding the removal/firing/dismissal/sacking/ouster/elimination/giving the boot to Chief Operating Officer James Murdoch, son of Rupert and third in line at the beleaguered media conglomeration. According to The Guardian a shareholders’ group has delivered a letter to the Board of Directors which reads, in part, “We question James Murdoch's suitability as a senior executive and potential successor to Rupert Murdoch. As a senior executive at News International it is unclear why he did not initiate in-depth inquiries at an earlier stage and why former colleagues now directly and publicly contradict his stated position that he was unaware that hacking extended beyond [Clive] Goodman [the News of the World's former royal editor].” And, it won’t get any better for the board or shareholders: Parliament plans to recall James and Rupert Murdoch for further questioning, but this time plans to place them both under oath.

Chris Christie And His Republican Audience Cheer Reagan Firing 11,000 Air Traffic Controllers

As part of the slobbering coverage of Chris Christie’s speech at the Reagan Library last night (9/27/11), the Hannity show played most of the actual speech. Not surprisingly, Christie began by paying homage to Saint Ronald Reagan. But what was a surprise was the moment in Reagan’s career that Christie chose as his favorite: Reagan’s firing of 11,000 air traffic controllers. This, in the midst of a difficult economy with high unemployment. Later, Hannity’s guest noted the optimism and love for America in Christie’s speech. Yeah, nothing says patriotic optimism like cheering on the firing of 11,000 Americans!

Fox News Host: Do What Reagan Did And Just Fire The Protesting Wisconsin Employees

By Brian

Bulls and Bears led off the show yesterday (2/19/11) with a discussion about the Wisconsin protests. Host Brenda Buttner said of the teachers, "Eric, do what Reagan did and just fire ‘em!" So much for “We report, you decide.”

Sarah Palin Again Likens Herself To Ronald Reagan

Fox News interrupted its rerun of The O’Reilly Factor last night to air Sarah Palin’s entire speech commemorating Ronald Reagan’s 100th birthday. It’s hard for me to believe Reagan would have any regard for the arrogant, sneering ignoramus that is Palin. But her followers and the Young America’s Foundation (think Jason Mattera), which hosted the event, seem to think otherwise. Still, I believe even Palin lovers would have found her fumbling, awkward delivery less than inspiring. She spoke as though she were reading the speech for the first time and having trouble reading her notes. But one point she did get across, in between her dire whinings - I mean warnings, was her contention that she’s an heir to Reagan’s brand of conservatism.

Cavuto Likens JFK To Ronald Reagan

By Brian

On Thursday (1/20/11), Neil Cavuto’s “Common Sense” comments played up John F. Kennedy’s tax cuts as the forerunner of Reaganomics. But Cavuto left out a few important details.