As Reality as it Gets

I didn't see it live but Fox News was covering a car chase in Arizona and decided to go to a 5-second delay in case something bad happened. Well...something bad happened. The dude getting chased, exited the car, stumbled around and then put a bullet in his temple. It was all shown live while Shep Smith supposedly was trying to get them to cut away but the delay didn't seem to have been long enough.

Ace wrote about this and gives a good summation of how I feel but I want to extend it a bit.

American is a nation that loves exciting things in a big way. People watch Jersey Shore not because we like Snooki but because they want to see a drunken Snooki mix it up with some other fat chick who invades our shore towns from NYC or Long Island and possibly slighted her by being an even drunker, fatter more obnoxious piece of shit.

We all pay to see movies where people get killed because it entertains us. Death on the screen is a drug to us summed up quite nicely on the Tool song Vicarious.

Don't look at me like I am a monster, Frown out your one face, But with the other, Stare like a junkie, Into the TV, Stare like a zombie, While the mother, Holds her child, Watches him die, Hands to the sky crying, Why, oh why? 'cause I need to watch things die, From a distance

We thrive on violence and will pay to see it. Other news channels will tsk tsk and say what horrible people Fox News employs. They'll get all high and mighty and preachy but they will also know that while they are decrying it, they will be ruing the fact they didn't cover it. "If it bleeds it leads" has always been the mantra and always will be.

 Here's the video and note that you don't see blood but you know exactly what happened. A life was snuffed out by the person who lived it. Why? We don't know and may never. I feel sorry for the guy that he felt his only recourse was to put a slug in his brain and I feel for anyone he left behind but this is news and this is a current events blog.

Now removed by You Tube.

Here's the video for Vicarious and Maynard expresses exactly what we are all like but won;t ever admit among nice company.

Everybody Lighten the Hell Up

So I'm listening to The Five on the way home. I like the show, it's funny and they selected different personalities that mix well for the most part. Plus, Kimbery Guilfoyle, Dana Perrino and Andrea Tantaros are all hot so that's a bonus.

Anyway, today Bob Beckel breaks out his inner idiot and say something akin to Romney went to Israel for a fundraiser with "diamond merchants". Right-wing Twitterati are up in arms and want Beckel's head on a platter.

Listen y'all, lighten up. The premise of the show is humor and light-heartedness. Is what Beckel said offensive? To some it probably is. But we on the right have to roll with the punches and not act so damn offended at everything. Liberals have no sense of humor, we do. Beckel is a blowhard, I get that and the guy says outrageous shit on a regular basis but that's just his shtick. He a rude, old, alcoholic, jock who is the liberal punching bag on the show.

I'm a "South Park Republican", which means I find everything funny. that show has something to offend everyone, every second. That's why it remains the best show on TV. Unlike Family Guy, which has a liberal slant, South Park eviscerates everyone equally. You know how liberals comedians just can't bring themselves to bust on Obama? I find that offensive. Just as I would find it offensive if someone didn't bust on Michael Moore, Dick Cheney or Colin Powell.

Yea, Beckel is a moron and his responses are generally not thought out and inane to boot but let's stop all the talk of firing him and other such nonsense. Sometimes we all sound like pussy liberals who see racism, misogyny and gay-bashing in everything. PC-ism is bullshit in my opinion and we all need to learn to laugh at ourselves, each other and everything else because life is too damn short to freak out over every word muttered that makes you uncomfortable. If you wanna be that way, become a Democrat.

Friday Morning News & Notes

It's a good day when the Yankees choke as they did last night. They had the chance to wrap it up after a nice come-back and gave up three to lose it. Sweet.

Anyway, here's what's new in the world:

-New Jersey pays Goldman-Sachs a million a month for non-existent bonds. Is anyone happier than Goldman-Sachs that Obama got elected and Corzine rules NJ?

-The Virginia gubernatorial election is widely seen as a referendum on Obama and a harbinger of what we'll see during next years mid-terms. The Dem is tanking after heavy support from The One and the administration is adding him to the long list of those thrown under the bus that includes his mother, grandmother, Rev. Wright, Father Pfleger....

-So much for that whole transparency thing Obama promised. It's gone the same way as closing Gitmo, ending the war in Iraq, supporting the troops in Afghanistan, Don't Ask Don't Tell...

-The Obama administration's obsession over Fox News just isn't healthy. He's like that girl that gets dumped and starts stalking the dude who dumped her confronting his new girlfriend and threatening her. Except he's a stalker with the entire government behind him. Roger Ailes may find a rabbit boiling on the stove soon.

-The Chicago Way is the way of Obamanation. Be on the lookout for a baseball bat.

Wednesday Afternoon News & Notes

The Phillies can hopefully put the Dodgers away tonight after breaking their hearts on Monday. Manny seems to have washed his hands of this series, as well as his arms, hair, back...

Here's what's news:

-Brit Hume smacks the hell out of the Obama Administration's war against Fox News:



-It's official: The umpiring in the MLB playoffs has been horrid.

-Countrywide fallout: Dems terrified about their shady deals with the loan company becoming public.

-Senator Reid get played again. You're an idiot, Harry, it's a wonder that you still know how to breathe. My apologies to Bob Dylan.

-Another war Obama can't keep from losing.

-Shocker! We won't be getting that TARP money back. Who could've seen that coming?

-Update: Media Matters idiot sets out to smear Hot Air writer and beclowns self by typing the following headline:

I'm don't think "quarantine" means what right-wing blogger Allah Pundit thinks it does

Evidently Eric Boehlert is a fine example of what our public schools have to offer. Even his own commenters are busting on him.

Unintended Consequences

The Obama administration has come out in their usual heavy-handed fashion against Fox News. Let's forget the simple fact that a free and open media is one of the pillars of our great nation and challenging those in power was their sole duty; it's unseemly that a sitting president with a 9.8% unemployment rate and soldiers dying daily in a war he supports aims his power at a privately-owned news company.

News Corp. owner Rupert Murdoch says that the attacks from the White House have increased viewers dramatically:

News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch said on Friday that White House criticism of commentators on his Fox News television channel had served to "tremendously" increase their ratings.

"There were some strong remarks coming out of the White House about one or two of the commentators on Fox News," Murdoch told the annual meeting of News Corp. shareholders here.

"And all I can tell you is that it's tremendously increased their ratings," he said.

Murdoch's remarks came after White House Communications Director Anita Dunn told The New York Times earlier this week that Fox News was "undertaking a war against Barack Obama and the White House."

I still find it humorous that the administration wheeled out a Maoist to lead the charge against Fox as a whole and Hannity and Glenn Beck in particular. The Obamatons are amateurs on all fronts.

Here's the story from Fox News:

Shep Smith's Lost His F-ing Mind

What up with Shep?



Don't worry, CNN or MSNBC will hire you dude.

Be Honest; Glenn Beck Creeps You Out Too

Back about five years ago, the local talk radion station replaced Imus with Glenn Beck. I gave it a shot for a week or so and went to sports talk radio then Laura Ingraham and never listened to the guy again.

I'm not sure what it is about the dude, he just isn't funny, espouses views that I find extreme, drivels on about insignificant topics and is a horrid example of what I think of as a Conservative. I don't want people like him representing what I think is a new and emerging wing of the conservative movement where we take a hard line on terror, militant Islam, illegal immigration and big government. We tend to take a more centrist line on issues that are more cultural like gay marriage, abortion and the "war on drugs".

He attacked ER-linker and one of those I reference and link to to often--Charles Johnson of LGF. Video at Charles' site if you want to see it. Beck disparages Johnson in the same smug manner that turned me off and continues to keep me from tuning in to his FoxNews show.

Granted, I've been a bit turned off by Charles of late due to his battles against Creationist's, I view it along the same lines I view the abortion debate; people are fixed in their mindset and no amount of bickering or "facts" will change their view. But Charles has been vigilant in exposing hate--whether it be white supremacism, Islamo-fascism or anti-Semitism. Beck on the other hand is one who will do anything to gain another fifteen minutes of fame...we are about three years past the time he should have been relegated to the dustbin of inane radio hosts right alongside Garofalo, Cuomo and Donahue. Why Fox gave him a show is beyond me and the fact that he draws ratings is disturbing. I'm guessing the rest of the lineup helps that considerably.

Anyway, for a national talk show host to go after a blogger who has gone decidedly centrist is beneath contempt and to be honest, is disconcerting. We are facing real issues like piracy inspired by al-Qaeda, a wretched economy and two wars. The fact that Glenn Beck felt it of importance to attack Charles Johnson shows me that he's not only one who is just not serious about pressing issues but is highly vindictive and a classic narcissist as well.

Fox News is a Behemoth

Rupert Murdoch has had a tough year as have all media companies but this ought to give him a reason to smile. Plus he can really give the finger in Olbermann's general direction:

Fox News was the ratings leader during prime time and total day during February 2009 — its 86th month on top. FNC averaged more Total Viewers than CNN and MSNBC combined in prime time and total day.

FNC had nine out of the top 10 programs in cable news last month in Total Viewers. The O'Reilly Factor was #1 for the 99th consecutive month, and was up 33% in Total Viewers compared to February 2008. The other top programs included Hannity (up 38%), Glenn Beck (the 5pmET hour was up 100%), The FOX Report with Shepard Smith (up 30%) and On the Record with Greta Van Susteren (up 24%).

On the Record also reclaimed the lead in the 25-54 demographic, up 4% year to year. At 7pmET, FOX Report was up 28% in the demo, The O'Reilly Factor was up 44% and "Hannity" up 34%.

There's no way else to spin in but to say that Fox is dominating. we hear that Rachel Maddow is making a move or the Olberwoman is rampaging but these numbers are so overwhelmingly in favor of Fox News that anything they say will sound ridiculous.

They beat CNN and MSNBC even when you combine their viewers.

Hey, maybe using the Nutroots sites for storylines will help them out.

This will only encourage the Unfairness Doctrine supporters to push for it to include cable news as well.

Israel/Gaza Update

The battle continues:

The IAF struck at a network of tunnels in Raffah.

Cynthia McKinney continues to be on the wrong side while increasing her terrorist street cred and simultaneously piling up her anti-Semitic credentials.

It's always funny to hear a major part of the worst presidential adminsitration in history--the Carter years--insult someone elses intelligence about Israeli history.

Obama takes heat on his non-stance with regard to the actions of Hamas and the Israeli retaliation.

Via Hot Air, Greg Jarrett dismisses a Palestinian hack on Fox:



Update: The IDF started a You Tube channel with vids showing the real situation. Google evidently took issue with at least some of the videos. Here's the latest where they took out a military building:

Arson Attack at Palin Church Very Suspicious

The church Gov. Sarah Palin attends was attacked last week. The perpetrators used some type of accelerant and set fires at the exits while people--including children--were inside.

The media has barely even covered the story but it's clearly looking like whomever was responsible meant to harm or kill those inside. As one of AP's commenters notes: if it had been Rev. Wright's church, it would be a nationwide story for weeks. Instead, it's a conservative church in little Wasilla attended by the moose stew-eating, elk shooting, hillbilly governor. Note the point Palin makes about the insert in the churches handout about a gay groups meeting in Anchorage.



Update: Speaking of Palin, Joe Scarborough eviscerates the media on the double standard displayed vis a vis Obama and Palin. Video below, Ace has the pertinent narrative.

Sean Hannity's Nightly Punching Bag to Leave H & C

The highly irritating and quite vile Alan Colmes is leaving Hannity and Colmes at the end of the year.

Allah is pushing for Kirsten Powers and I tend to agree that she'd be a good selection. She's a hell of a lot better looking then Colmes, that's for damn sure.

Evening Election Update

Some food for thought:

Not only is the Dow up nearly 300 points, but Pfizer and Merck are up strongly. Both stocks are supposed to suffer from Obamacare. Is the market rallying on the certainty of an Obama win or on hopes of a McCain upset? Me: I just don't see how the certainty of higher taxes, more regulation and more unionization helps stocks. Plus, stocks tend do poorly under unified government.

More from James here.

Fox called Vermont for Obama, Kentucky for McCain and all the others too close to call.

Megyn Kelly is excellent with election results.

"You Attack, I'll Defend" Megyn Kelly Schools Obama Lightweight

Sweet! Megyn Kelly puts the wood to Obama spokesman Bill Burton:



If this is the best Obama has, I fear what'll happen when these assclowns have to face down Ahmadinejad, Putin and Chavez. No wonder the rest of the world wants Obama, they want a little puppy dog they can kick around who'll make the Clinton regime of appeasement seem like the Bush War on Terror.

Plus, how inept does this dude look getting verbally slapped by a damn good-looking woman on the leading cable news channel?

Hat tip: Allahpundit.

O'Reilly Pummels Barney Frank

It's about damn time. Barney Frank was the number one Representative out there in 2003 saying that Fannie and Freddie were just fine, nothing to see there. O'Reilly took him to task and Frank was a stumbling, lying fool by the end:


Update: Shocka! Barney Frank's boyfriend was a heavy at Fannie and it looks like the Congressman has some explaining to do about some funny business.

Obama Admits Surge Worked

After getting pummeled by Sarah Palin about not using the word "victory" once when talking about Iraq, Obama was forced on the defensive and said this:

As recently as July, the Democratic presidential candidate declined to rate the surge a success, but said it had helped reduce violence in the country. On Thursday, Obama acknowledged the 2007 increase in U.S. troops has benefited the Iraqi people.

“I think that the surge has succeeded in ways that nobody anticipated,” Obama said while refusing to retract his initial opposition to the surge. “I’ve already said it’s succeeded beyond our wildest dreams.”

What will piss the lefties off more, the fact he said it or the fact he said it to O'Reilly on Fox News? I'm guessing some of the former and a hell of a lot of the latter.

It has been gospel to this point--from Harry Reid to Nancy Pelosi--that the Surge has been a dismal failure. They've clung to the though of defeat even though they seemed like the bumbling "Comical Ali" who claimed the Americans were losing in Iraq as we were surrounding Baghdad.

Obama was forced into saying essentially that we won and that's unacceptable for liberals. Of course he goes on to talk about "political reconciliation" not being what it should be, etc. even though Arab politics tend to never be based on any type of universal agreement between coalitions.

McCain was a leading advocate of the Surge and it could have cost him everything politically if it had failed. Thank the Good Lord it didn't and now McCain deserves the accolades that come with backing a strategy that seemed certain to fail when first discussed and implemented. Obama, on the other hand, was against the Surge from the beginning and was wrong. It was the most-important foreign policy issue taken up by the Senate in the last three years and he failed.

At least he admits that our military can do something right--a monumental shift in the Democratic party.

Palin is paying huge dividends already.

Alan Colmes Heads Into the Sewer

Alan Colmes--the dumber half of Hannity and Colmes--goes where no one could even have anticipated. Note this URL:

http://www.alan.com/2008/08/30/did-palin-take-proper-pre-natal-care/

The link goes to a page that no longer exists but the URL tells us all we need to know.

Down Syndrome has nothing to do with pre-natal care as it is an extra chromosome that causes it. Colmes knows this--or should--but apparently chose to go down that nasty road.

Colmes needs to keep up his liberal bonafides since he's the main lib on Fox News so he must have decided to go where even the idiots at DU wouldn't venture. It shows alot about Colmes character that he deleted it and doesn't have the balls to stand by a post he wrote.

It also shows that for a person to presumably go to the "did Palin cause her son to be born with Down Syndrome" card. They must be really scared of her.

Hat tip: Hot Air.

Update: Nothing cached at Google.

Update: Here's a screen capture.

Update: Thanks to Charles for the Lizardlanche. Thanks to commenters for a cached version.

Update: Here's a cached version with comments.

Update: Linked also by Tammy Bruce. Thanks Miss Bruce.

News, Notes & the Absurd

Lost in all the screaming about the ultra liberal New Yorker mag cover featuring Barack and Michelle Obama with a burning flag in the fireplace is the actual contents of the article, which may have been the point. Charles notes that he was squarely in the "we brought 9/11 on ourselves" camp. As an aside, the fact that it's liberals screaming about the cover drawn by a liberal shows once again they have zero sense of humor or irony.

Hollywood is still the land of fruits and nuts.

The SEC is stepping in to make sure that rumors don't worsen an already bad situation. Good luck with that.

Speaking of idiotic ideas with regard to the fragile economic state, Sen. Charles Shumer (D-NY) single-handedly caused chaos at a California bank simply to placate the inane left-wing zealots. Way to go Chuckie, you'd be the most idiotic Senator in your state if it weren't for the junior Senator.

CNN's Klein is Delusional

CNN has admitted not reporting stories critical of Saddam Hussein for fear they would lose access, falsely reported the "Tailwind" story and along the way have basically fallen on their face countless times.

But don't worry says President Jonathan Klein, the news network is "the last man standing in terms of covering the news. We love that.”

Uh, Mr. Klein, have you by chance looked at the ratings? You're close to being caught by the lowly MSNBC with their stable of hacks such as Olbermann and Chris Matthews who shouldn't even be on TV let alone have a show on every weeknight.

This is the most priceless part of his interview with Campbell Brown:

Throughout the afternoon, Mr. Klein spoke of TV viewers not in terms of the usual demographic distinctions, but rather in terms of four distinct archetypes, which, he said, a recent internal CNN study had analyzed at length. He told the staffers that they should not worry about attracting “couch potatoes” who turn on the TV and stick with whatever happens to be on, and “thrill-seekers,” who tune in looking for the ultimate car chase or building demolition. Instead, he encouraged the newsroom to do a better job of attracting “inquiring minds” (viewers looking to ruminate in depth on current events) and “social connectors” (people looking for stories to yap about with their buddies).

“The one thing [the latter two types of viewers] have in common is a desire to hear a wide range of opinions,” said Mr. Klein.

Oh yeah, CNN has a wide range of opinions. They range from completely liberal to moderate liberal (but CNN Headline News does employ Glenn Beck as their token rightie). But hey, to those in the Atlanta offices, that is a wide range.

Note he doesn't even mention Fox News, which has soundly kicked CNN's ass for years. Just ignore that 300 pound gorilla Mr. Klein, he'll go away.