News Junkie - Live Wire

ROBERT FEDER’S GIMMICK

It’s a subject I’ve left mostly alone, not because I’ve been told not to address it but because I’m hesitant to give airtime or blog space to a man who still calls Web traffic ‘hits‘ and has an unhealthy obsession with WGN Radio. Tonight, on the podcast, I’ll dive into the mud on this one. Stay tuned.

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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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Welcome To The Party – Arlen Specter Stripped Of Seniority

On Meet the Press this week Arlen Specter seemed convinced he had forged a deal to keep his seniority as he switched back to the Democratic party. Let’s go to the transcript…

MR. GREGORY: You won’t retain your seniority, as you move over, on, on key committees?

SEN. SPECTER: Well, that is, that is, that is true. But…

MR. GREGORY: That’s not an inducement, Senator?

SEN. SPECTER: Well, no, that’s an entitlement. I’ve


Democrats Raising Their ‘Ugly Heads’

CBS News White House beat reporter Chip Reid lets loose:

Before we go all ‘Chip-Reidi-is-a-Republican-so-much-for-the-Liberal-Media’ let’s remember that Reid once served as an adviser and general council for Joe Biden’s presidential campaign. But still, he’s going to hear about this from the boss.


Dems Behind Rush Limbaugh Push

Today’s Must-Read column over at Politico connects the dots…:

limbaugh

Top Democrats believe they have struck political gold by depicting Rush Limbaugh as the new face of the Republican Party, a full-scale effort first hatched by some of the most familiar names in politics and now being guided in part from inside the White House.

The strategy took shape after Democratic strategists Stanley Greenberg and James Carville included Limbaugh’s name in an


House Passes Stimulus 246-183

The bill is headed back to the Senate… without a single Republican vote:

housebill

WASHINGTON (AP) – Handing the new administration a big win, the House Friday passed President Barack Obama’s $787 billion plan to resuscitate the economy.

The bill was passed 246-183 with no Republican help. It now goes to the Senate where a vote was possible late Friday to meet a deadline of passing the plan before a recess begins


Democrats Can’t Get TWO Votes?

Harry Reid claims the bill will start moving tonight between 5 and 7 o’clock but it’s unclear what Senate Democrats are pushing for here. If you watched President Obama’s speech to the Democrat retreat last night, you noticed a shocking change in demeanor. Bipartisanship is fading away as a goal for this bill. Still, Senate Dems don’t want to own a bill that the voting public sees as faulty and full of…


Gregg To Commerce = Super Majority

If President Obama goes for Gregg, Democrats will hit that magic 60 in the Senate:

“The Obama administration has been floating the idea of naming Republican Sen. Judd Gregg, N.H., to be Commerce Secretary, several Senate sources said Thursday.”


The Epic Fall Of Al Franken

Franken’s campaign is beginning to sound like Baghdad Bob as Coalition forces marched into Baghdad. We all know what’s coming, but that won’t stop the rabid denials and victorious claims.

The attorney voiced optimism about Franken’s chances.

I have no doubt in my mind that Al Franken got more votes in this election than Norm Coleman,” he said. “I don’t know what that margin’s going to be. But the direction is all


Harry Reid Mocks D.C. Tourists

“My staff tells me not to say this, but I’m going to say it anyway. In the summer because of the heat and high humidity, you could literally smell the tourists coming into the Capitol. It may be descriptive but it’s true.”

What a jackass. He can’t keep his foot out of his mouth even for a second.


Video: How Obama Got Elected

This video looks at how media coverage of the 2008 election impacted what Obama voters knew (or thought they knew) about the campaign.

John Zeigler interviews Obama devotees… and they don’t seem to know much.


Uncensored Chris Dodd Interview

Tom Scott conducted the interview. WELI killed it. Now you can hear it.

Scott, one of Connecticut’s leading conservative voices of the past three decades, was the last local on-air voice at WELI-AM, once a fully-staffed Greater New Haven news station turned into a right-wing talk radio syndication outlet by owner Clear Channel Communications.

Scott hosted a weekday 5 to 7 p.m. drive-time talk show until Oct. 29. That was the day


Audio: Tim Mahoney Fires Mistress


[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

West Palm Beach Congressman Tim Mahoney (D-FL), whose predecessor resigned in the wake of a sex scandal, agreed to a $121,000 payment to a former mistress who worked on his staff and was threatening to sue him, according to current and former members of his staff who have been briefed on the settlement, which involved Mahoney and his campaign committee.

The affair between Congressman Tim


Will The Bailout Plan Pass?

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US lawmakers on Monday debated a 700-billion-dollar bailout plan for struggling Wall Street banks as US President George W. Bush appealed to Congress to quickly approve the deal to free up frozen credit markets.

“I fully understand that this will be a difficult vote,” Bush said at the White House before the House of Representatives began debate on the proposal amid stiff opposition from some members of his Republican


Flashback: The Democrats In 2004

Democrats in their own words Covering up the Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Scam that caused our Economic Crisis.

At a 2004 hearing see Democrat after Democrat covering up and attacking the regulations to protect Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (their Cash Cows) that are now destroying our economy because the Democrats let them cheat.

This video is among the most-watched on You Tube this weekend and it’s damning piece of evidence…


Republicans Recycle Democrats’ Flags

This morning, Republicans tell me that a worker at Invesco Field in Denver saved thousands of unused flags from the Democratic National Convention that were headed for the garbage. Guerrilla campaigning. They will use these flags at their own event today in Colorado Springs with John McCain and Sarah Palin.

Before McCain speaks today, veterans will haul these garbage bags filled with flags out onto the stage — with dramatic effect, no