News Junkie - Live Wire

FOX/CNN/MSNBC DISSECTED

Some great analysis of the current cable media landscape from CJR today. I disagree with a few points (especially the bit about MSNBC offering a rainbow of opinons) but this quote is interesting:

From personal experience covering news around the world, you almost always run into a CNN crew or stringer. You almost never run into a Fox reporter, and never one from MSNBC.

Read the whole thing at CJR’s website.

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ROY ASHBURN: “I’M GAY”

California State Senator Roy Ashburn admits to being a homosexual in an interview today on KERN. You can listen to the interview in this post and read the details here. Ashburn vows to carry on.

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BETTY WHITE TO SNL

After a massive online movement to draft her into the hosting duties at Saturday Night Live, Betty White confirms she will appear on the show.

But will she host?

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PETA TARGETS SEAWORLD

PETA sees a wounded opponent in SeaWorld after last month’s killer whale attack. Their latest mantra: “Let whales and dolphins ‘out of prison.’

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ADAM GADAHN CAPTURED

HUGE news out of Pakistan: American-born al-Qaeda leader Adam Gadahn has been arrested.

Update: It’s not him?

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NYT ON SCIENTOLOGY

‘Breaking With Scientology’ won’t hit print until tomorrow but you can read the New York Times assault on Scientology online right now.

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PHOTOS: TOYOTA HEARINGS

Executives from Toyota Motor Corp made the journey to Washington D.C. this morning to face down angry customers seething over their company’s recall follies. Take a look at these pictures from today’s event.

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THE BLOOM BOX

I can’t decide if the Bloom Box is the greatest invention ever or if I’m a bit like an old lady being conned by a slimy auto mechanic. Regardless, you have to watch this video. [Video]

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SCOTTY LAGO PHOTOS

Snowboarder Scotty Lago leaves the Olympic village in Vancouver after sexually suggestive photos of the bronze medalist and his trophy surfaced online. Lago says he’s in a ‘blackout’ and can’t talk about the event until next month. [View The Photos]

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RAY GOSLING ARRESTED

What happens when you admit to a murder on British public television? Well, you get arrested, of course. BBC presenter Ray Gosling arrested on suspicion of murder. [Details]

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TIGER WOODS PRESSER

Tiger Woods will finally reemerge from the shadows this Friday. The golf pro and reported sex addict is planning on holding a press conference at the PGA headquarters at 11AM Eastern. [Details]

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JOE BIDEN’S FOREHEAD

As I was watching President Obama’s stimulus update presser today, several readers emailed to ask ‘What’s that spot on Joe Biden’s forehead?’ Joe Biden is the first Catholic Vice President the U.S. has seen so each Ash Wednesday these questions float in like crazy. It’s Ash Wednesday, folks.

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The George Tiller Murder – Inside The Demented Mind Of Scott Roeder

There are a few subjects I distance myself from on the radio show. I’ve never been a big fan of talking about the conflict in Gaza — you don’t get anywhere and debate often turns to fisticuffs — and I like to keep my distance from the abortion debate for the same reason. Though I think emotion makes for great radio, I don’t enjoy spinning my wheels in a useless debate. Still, I…


Daniel Hauser And Mother Surface In Minnesota

We’ve been talking about this story for a few days now so I felt obliged to give you this update as it comes across the wires. Daniel Hauser, a 13-year-old boy suffering from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, has resurfaced in Minnesota with his mother. No further details were immediately provided but we can only hope his mother has come to her senses.

I’m expecting a press conference on this around 5PM Central.

More…


Sy Hersh Quits Journalism To Make Things Up Full-Time

New Yorker scribe Seymour Hersh jumped the shark in April with his ‘assassination squads‘ nonsense — a claim backed up by no evidence whatsoever. And now Hersh wants to rewrite history in Pakistan. The man who tosses out headlines that never really stand up to any real scrutiny now claims that an assassination squad (his new favorite conspiracy) set up by Dick Cheney was behind the murder of Benazir Bhutto. Once…


Drew Peterson Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ To Murder

No shocker here; Drew Peterson pleads ‘not guilty’ at a court appearance this morning. His attorney is also asking for a judge-swap in the case. Peterson is doing everything he can to lower his bail to an amount he can post but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. The real question here is… could there be a person on this planet who would be sympathetic to Drew Peterson?

I…


The Attack On Miss California Continues – Abuse Allegations

Let’s take a moment to remember something. This entire fiasco, which should have been put to bed yesterday, began after Carrie Prejean dared to answer a controversial question with the majority opinion not only in the U.S. but also in her home state of California. Since then, she has been attacked for several things. The latest attack is a dirt-digging operation centering on her parent’s divorce when she was a child. Like, I…


Wanda Sykes’ Low Blow: Rush Limbaugh Jab Draws Criticism

White House Correspondents Dinners are generally a time when the current administration pokes fun at both itself and the media. Past administrations are largely ignored at these events. But comedian Wanda Sykes (clearly a fan of Obama) had no interest in mocking the President. In fact, she kissed his ass for a solid twenty minutes before moving the target to more important victims. Sykes made an uncomfortable ‘abstinence’ joke aimed at Sarah Palin,…


Wesleyan University Killer Stephen Morgan Details Surface

“Kill Johanna. She must Die” and “I think it’s ok to kill Jews and go on a killing spree” are just two of the tidbits out of Stephen Morgan’s diary that would scare any sane person. Morgan, 29, made his first court appearance Friday for the murder of a 21-year-old Wesleyan University employee. The details just get more and more bizarre. Even Morgan’s father called him a ‘loner’ who openly detested Jews.


Amanda Knox Case – DNA Evidence Links Co-Ed To Knife?

Though some of the focus on the Amanda Knox case has faded, there’s still some interest in this murder mystery. If you’re not up to date on the details, Amanda Knox is an American student in Italy. She was apparently involved in some bizarre sex triangle that led to the death of her roommate. Her boyfriend and another mysterious character are playing dumb and Amanda seems to be relishing the attention.

Par2511592

Now,…


Drew Peterson Arrested For The Murder Of 3rd Wife

They finally got the bastard. Drew Peterson was arrested near his house on Thursday afternoon. After endless interviews where a laughing Peterson played cat-and-mouse with the press about his involvement in the disappearance of one ex-wife and the death of another, police finally gathered up enough evidence to grab a warrant and toss the ex-sergeant behind bars. No word on what prompted the arrest just yet but I’m guessing details will follow at…


Maggie Agnew – Shrinking Baby Baffles Doctors

Maggie Agnew is shrinking and doctors can’t seems to find out why. Though she is fed through a feeding tube, she continues to lose weight and muscle mass. Experts say something in Maggie’s body is causing her to burn all of the calories that she is taking in, and then some. She’s had a tough go at life so far and there’s a fundraiser in the works to help out the Agnew…


Candidate Running For Governor In Georgia Is Beyond Bizarre

Oh my. As if the Republican party (to be fair Democrats have their issues in this theater as well) didn’t have enough bizarre members — Diaper fetishist Senator Vitter, wide-set Larry Craig and the list rolls on — now Neal Horsley (remember that last name) enters the picture.

You may already know Neal. He admitted to having sex with farm animals on Hannity and Colmes a while back. Now, the Texas…


Lorena And John Bobbitt To Reunite For TV Debate

Why? I have no idea. The great debate is set to go down on a show called ‘The Insider‘. The ‘incident’ was about 16 years ago and I’m not sure how relevant these folks are but it’s almost like one of those Man Vs. Beast-type shows that I feel forced to watched. The uncomfortable atmosphere sure to arise from this conversation is bound to create something compelling.

The pair haven’t aged very well:


Air Force Photo-Op Freaks Out New York City Residents

How in the world did they not think to somehow warn residents before doing this?

A Boeing 747 from the Air Force One fleet was used for an Airforce photo-op this morning. The low-flying plane, followed closely by fighter jets, caused quite a stir in the downtown area. People ditched work and flowed out on the streets in fear of a terrorist attack. On a day when most folks are scared about…


Backroom Audio: Inside The GE Shareholder Revolt

Sure, some of the drama that unfolded during the GE shareholder’s meeting yesterday was part of a setup — but that doesn’t make the reactions insincere. Remember when that crazy lady (Glenn Beck says she was a liberal hell-bent on causing chaos and not a true supporter) at a 912 event started talking about burning books? Republicans dismissed her as a trouble maker and the Democrats pointed to some folks in…


Horse Death Mystery Solved: Pharmacy Admits Fault

A Florida pharmacy has admitted to the Associated Press that it made a mistake while preparing medication for the 21 Venezuelan horses that died before a polo match this weekend. Jennifer Beckett, speaking on behalf of Frank’s Pharmacy in Ocala, Fla., said that “the strength of an ingredient in the medication was incorrect.” What ingredient was that? She wouldn’t say. Still, whoever owns that Pharmacy better brace themselves when the bill for…