Floating The Understudy

I noticed early on that Palin was already being used as a "comparison metric" for the incoming Tea Bagger class of Congressional Representatives, and now it seems like Fox"News" is pushing the American Right prerequisite of "you must be pretty" in order to be taken seriously.



Yeah, and I'm guessing that most people on Fox think that Micheal Bay films are great simply because there are lots of "special effects".

Here's an early prediction - Noem will be offered a show on Fox"News" before the next Congressional elections, or maybe as a result of.

Spilling Over With Conspiracy

It's not just Rush that's in on this ridiculous idea.



Yeah, Dana. You're not trying to introduce anything, just push a conservative meme that isn't very thought out.

And take a look at how quickly Kilmeade leaps to BP's defense by stating that "they just lease the rig". Considering that BP likely has profits in mind over worker/environmental safety, one would think that they would be pushing this theory more. The opposite is true, as BP execs are taking full responsibility for this.

But back to this notion that some environmental group sabotaged the rig. Not only would that be extremely difficult to do, but the very notion that a group who's sole purpose is to protect the environment would cause one of the worst ecological disasters in recent history really points out that conservatives have a serious cognitive dissonance problem they need to deal with.

What's Fair Isn't

A little class warfare to start you morning?



Who precisely is Kilmeade talking about? The poor? The elderly? Does he even know what he's talking about or is he just reading from the script handed out in the pre-show meeting? Do you honestly care?

The broader point that is likely to be made throughout the day, as Fox & Friends is generally a trial-balloon for the talking-points that are to be used during the following programs. So for anyone to claim that it's a valid argument that certain people aren't paying their fair share doesn't seem to understand who is asking the question and why.

You always hear conservatives talk about a "fair tax" that would somehow miraculously level the playing field in America. I'm no economist, but that simply sounds like an idea that would make the upper-earners in America have to pay in less than they should while the lower income brackets will get the shaft. Not much of a level field but more of a hill with most of us at the bottom.

A Rationale For Violating Godwin's Law

In which Brian Kilmeade makes his case for eugenics.



You know why that sounds like something that the Nazi's would do? It's because it's what they were trying to do.

Judith Miller Knows Jailtime b/w Classic AC/DC Track

Judith Miller, a central figure in the Valerie Plame affair, and whom had a film made about her story, claims that the US knows how to house terrorists outside Guantanamo.

Her response was a reply to the dicussion on Fox And Friends about FBI Director Robert Mueller's statements to Congress:

...Mueller was asked what concerns the FBI has about the release of Guantanamo detainees.

"The concerns we have about individuals who may support terrorism being in the United States run from concerns about providing financing, radicalizing others," Mueller said, as well as "the potential for individuals undertaking attacks in the United States."

"All of those are relevant concerns," Mueller said.

More from Raw Story and Think Progress.

The "radicalization" arguement seems to be a bit far reaching. What of gang members that recruit other gang members during their time in jail?

And now, a little musical interlude that seems to fit the reactionary Right's "fears" of terrorists being housed in Supermax prisons.

The Soft Tyranny Of Revisionist History

I was watching the multual-masturbation interview between Sean Hannity and Mark Levin last night while I was working on some writing. I felt like I needed to take a shower after it was over.

Didn't realize that he was on Fox And Friends earlier in the day. This afforded Levin the opportunity to have Brian Kilmeade and Steve Doocy give his undercarriage a nice licking.

Media Matters has put this video up today.




It's amazing how well Fox"News" has stayed "on message" with their FDR talking-points.

I've never seen such a coordinated effort by an entire media conglomerate to completely besmirch one of the greatest Presidents of our time.

The underlying theme within not only this video, but all discussions of this nature had by the GOP, Fox personalities, conservative bloggers and pundits, is their struggle to find out why their tilted ideology isn't working.

"Who are we?" is the constant question that they are all asking.

It's not so much a struggle to find their own identity, but a struggle to find a way to provide supplication to themselves. Their massive loses - across the country on multiple political levels, not just in the Presidential election - has turned the entire party on it's ear.

They simply don't know how to act when they are not in the catbird seat.

And, as such, their current position has exposed them to such a degree, that their very words and actions are often-times counter-productive - just look at what Micheal Steele has done to the party.

Levin is a classic example of a political movement that has no convictions to stand on. He has to "reinvent" who he is in order to distance himself from his failed theories and all the hackery that he espoused as "truth".

Part of that is blaming the ills of the country on those that did any and everything within their power to help that same country that Levin, and those like him, has systematically destroyed.

A Friend Of Fox?

Have you ever noticed that whenever any of the "talent" - god, I can't believe i'm actually using that word to describe these people - leave Fox"News", they are never seen again on another network?

Seriously, what executive would consider hiring such people? What self-respecting network would associate themselves with someone like O'Reilly, Hannity, Cavuto, et al? They are a ratings boom for Fox, that's why they get paid the big-bucks. Not because they are correct, but because they draw in a crowd. Everyone loves a good car-wreck.

When it comes time to re-negotiate your contract, this puts Fox at a HUGE advantage over you. Any shread of journalistic ethics, credibility, and honesty you have is sold out - including your soul - when you sign with Rupert Murdock.



So, it is with little suprise that Brian Kilmeade - you know, the guy on Fox & Friends who takes himself far too seriously - tried to play tough with his contract re-negotiation and it didn't end well.

Fox News has been making many deals lately, as Thursday's New York Times notes: Bill O'Reilly was just signed for over $10 million a year, Sean Hannity recently signed a multi-year contract renewal, Shep Smith re-upped for $8 million/year last year, and the network just lured Headline News' Glenn Beck.

But amidst this dealmaking, Huffington Post hears that one Fox News personality was left in the dust: "Fox & Friends" co-host Brian Kilmeade, whose recent contract negotiations didn't go quite as smoothly as the others.

According to sources, Kilmeade attempted to play hardball in his latest contract renewal negotiations and overplayed his hand with a series of ridiculous demands. We're told Fox News executives called his bluff and shut down negotiations with his agent, CAA's Alan Berger (who also represents Katie Couric and Erin Burnett). Within hours, Kilmeade and Berger returned with their tails between their legs and their hat in their hands, and Kilmeade signed on to another contract with only a nominal raise.

I'm certain that Kilmede could get a job elsewhere, but nothing on par with what he's doing now. Lunatic-fringe hacks don't last long outside Fox - or inside if their ratings aren't up to par. Anyone remember how long Rush Limbaugh lasted on ESPN?

Nuff said.