Remember the Days . . .

. . . when you had to think really hard to come up with concrete examples of media bias? Everyone knew it was there - you could tell from the slant of the stories, the emphasis on certain facts and not others. But when it came right down to it, the smoking gun proved elusive.

That changed over recent years, especially with the 2008 election thanks in part to the chananigans of MSNBC, who eventually replaced two of its pro-Obama commentators because the "reporting" got so bad. It was like listening to a bunch of frat boys from an Ivy League chapter of "Young Democrats." The AP couldn't say it any better: "Olbermann began to have difficulty keeping his opinions in check, or simply stopped trying."

MSNBC is at it again. Just as Gov. Jindal was walking towards the podium to give the Republican response to Pres. Obama's speech, someone from MSNBC muttered on-air the words "Oh, God."
You can hear the resulting laughter from others in the studio. Apparently, the thought of disagreeing with President Obama provokes a measure of disdain and mirth from that particular network. (Or maybe it was a prayer to President Obama asking forgiveness for having to present an alternative viewpoint.)

Comedian on Conan O'Brien - "Everything's Amazing, Nobody's Happy"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoGYx35ypus

Funny stuff.

. . . When the Doves Cry

The group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) has been a harsh critic of the Bush administration for just about anything and everything. Well, after the Bush White House failed to install electronic record-keeping for e-mail when switching to a new system, it turned out that millions of messages could not be found. Naturally, CREW assumed a vast-right wing conspiracy afoot and launched a lawsuit, accusing the Bush administration of trying to hide something.

The Bush-led Justice Department thereafter attempted to get the lawsuit dismissed, but when Obama was elected President, hope was renewed for CREW. After all, with left-leaning progressives in control, surely things would be different . . . wouldn't they?

Not on this issue. Turns out that the Justice Department is also trying to get the lawsuit dismissed. Ouch.

But unlike their scathing criticisms of the Bush administration, CREW was much more subdued this go around, merely fretting in mild terms that the Obama administration should do more to "adequately preserve records belonging to the American people." Just a disagreement between gentleman, in other words. How very civil of them.

And for the record, I'm sure many Americans are just chomping at the bit at the thought of being able to wade through hundreds of thousands of mispelled emails from lower level employees asking each other what time the staff meeting is or whether they should go to McDonalds or Burger King for lunch.

We Never Talk Anymore!!

America is a nation of cowards on race. So says Mr. Eric Holder, recently appointed by President Obama to lead our nation's chief law enforcement agency. Attorney General Holder said that we "need to confront our racial past" and "understand our racial present . . . we simply do not talk enough with each other about things racial."

Urging greater interpersonal dialogue is something I might expect from Dr. Phil . . . but the Attorney General of the United States?? Kind of weird. What's next, the head of the Treasury Department calling us a nation of jerks because husbands don't communicate enough with their wives?

If Mr. Cizik had his way . . . ?

Mr. Cizik, formerly of the National Association of Evangelicals, believes that Christians should be more receptive to the idea of giving out contraceptives to avoid unwanted pregnancies, i.e. we should give teenagers birth control. I wonder how many Christian parents will take him up on that? I can only imagine the conversation . . .

(Dad is sitting on the couch watching TV. His daughter comes down the stairs looking all dressed up): So, I hear you’re going out on a date tonight?

Daughter (smiling): Yep. Going out with Brad.

Dad (eyebrow raised): Brad again, huh? This is the fifth time you've gone out with him by my count. Must be serious . . .

Daughter (looking a bit embarrassed): Stop, dad. He's nice, I guess . . .

(Dad gets up and reaches into his wallet): Well, I’ve been meaning to give you this and now is as good a time as any. Here you go.

Daughter (drawing back): Dad! What are you, crazy? That's a condom!

Dad: I just want my princess to be safe.

Daughter (mouth agape) Why in the . . . what is mom going to say?

Dad: We talked about it. She’s totally rad with it.

Daughter: Dad, no one says “rad” anymore and, more importantly, you and mom said it’s wrong to have sex outside of marriage.

Dad: Oh, we say lots of things, honey. And don’t be naïve - everybody your age is doing it.

Daughter: I’m not! And what about the Bible? The Bible says . . .

Dad (holding up a hand): Hey, I’m all for the Bible. I’ve learned so much about how the government should care for poor people, that we should protect the environment from global warming, practice tolerance. And your ideals, however dated, are really great. But when you do have sex, at least you’ll be protecting yourself against [he shudders] an unwanted pregnancy. God certainly doesn't want that. So just hang on to this for me, will you?

Daughter: (confused)

(He reaches back into his wallet): Look, even -I- carry a condom when I go on business trips.

Daughter (lip quivering): Why in the world would you do that?!

Dad: Well, your mom and I talked and we decided if temptation came calling, that it would be better for me to protect myself against the risk of HIV. It's just common sense. And we all know that having an affair is pretty much inevitable for married couples these days. Even your mom carries a condom around in her pocketbook.

Daughter (staring blankly):

Dad: Well, I’m glad we had this little talk. I think I hear Brad driving up. Now you two go have fun!!

Saying what you mean, Meaning what you say

This is late coming, but in case you didn’t know, Richard Cizik, Vice President for Governmental Affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) is no longer affiliated with the NAE. The NAE is anchored in 60 denominations with about 45,000 churches, representing millions of Evangelicals and Mr. Cizik is a long-time lobbyist and media spokesman on a variety of Evangelical issues. He was selected by TIME magazine in 2007 as one of America’s top 100 thinkers. That being the case, I’m not sure what Mr. Cizik was thinking in December 2008 during his interview on PBS.

On gay marriage: “I’m shifting, I have to admit. In other words I would willingly say I believe in civil unions. I don’t officially support redefining marriage from its traditional definition, I don’t think.”

On having the government supply contraceptives to reduce unwanted pregnancies: "I think finding those who are in trouble, in crisis, helping them through this and if need be, even supplying what government presently doesn't do, namely contraception, is an answer to reducing unintended pregnancies.”

The interviewer was notably surprised by this response: "Wait, wait. I think I heard you say government supplying contraception. That's got to be controversial." "Among some it may be," Mr. Cizik replied, "but I don't think so. We are not, as I have said previously, we are not Catholics who oppose contraception per se."

That was Cizik in December 2008. Very (very) shortly thereafter, he “apologized.” His brand new post-PBS stand on gay marriage and civil unions? "I categorically oppose 'gay marriage' and see now that my thoughts about 'civil unions' were misunderstood and misplaced. I am now and always have been committed to work to pass laws that protect and foster family life, and to work against government attempts to interfere with the integrity of the family, including same-sex 'marriage' and civil unions."

Talk about an about-face. That’s almost like invasion of the body-snatchers. I mean, did he suffer from some momentary bout of peer pressure while appearing on PBS and say what he thought might sound hip and retro to the interviewer, only to realize when he got back to the office that it really wasn't too cool with the vast majority of Evangelicals?

Of course not, but I think I would have more respect for him if he just stuck to his guns, even though I disagree with his positions. Or former positions.

Great Moments in Animation

Superman vs. Captain Marvel in "The Clash."

Justice League Unlimited, Season One, Episode 20.