Disqus - Latest Comments for VoicesCarry

Re: The Scoreboard: Wednesday, Oct. 8 - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

No Brain Grime — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:21:04 -0000

Horse-race wise, yeah, MSNBC's highest rated shows still aren't Fox busters. But heck, around 3 million total viewers for Olbermann and Maddow each (between the live airs are repeats)? I remember when a great night for Countdown was one tenth of that. If MSNBC hadn't gone with these two, they'd still be firmly ensconced in Headline News territory.

Re: The Scoreboard: Tuesday, Sept. 23 - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

No Brain Grime — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:36:00 -0000

I remember when a night Countdown topped 200k in the demo was a big deal. (And it shared the lineup with Tucker Carlson rather than Rachel Maddow.) Now its demos are higher than its total audience in days of yore.

Horserace-wise, MSNBC's new lineup obviously doesn't seem poised to seriously challenge FOX for supremacy. But the numbers are still solid, they're up, and I'm sure everyone (broadcaster, advertising clients and liberal news junkies) is pretty happy.

Re: McCain Calls For Debate Delay - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

No Brain Grime — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:00:40 -0000

Thing is, I know people who are looking to the debates to help inform their voting decision. And, in fact, up to 100 million people are expected to tune in.

As well, word on the Hill is that the Senate has already drafted a proposed bailout bill that is being circulated. The hearings are over, and likely everyone wants to put the bill to a vote on Friday if at all possible. There's not really much either candidate could do at this point. (Heck, Reid even said "thanks, but no thanks" to having McCain and Obama come back.)

Strategically, though, I think calling for a postponement of the debates is a smart move on McCain's part. Foreign relations/national security are his "home turf," and a good performance on the subject might net him little if everyone is focused on economic conditions. If he could debate foreign policy with the bailout matter behind him, he'd be better off. Hence, the Obama camp's call to keep the debate on.

Re: McCain Calls For Debate Delay - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

No Brain Grime — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:36:53 -0000

I agree with you about the importance of the automobile industry, but don't follow you with pinning easy loans on Congress (unless you're referring to the provisions of the Community Investment Act, but that's been in effect for decades; it's not something that came about recently enough to point to w/r/t the housing bubble). It was actually the Fed, which is in charge of setting rates, that kept them (and, hence, loans and mortgages) cheap. Helpful to a degree when wages are stagnant, as they have been, but the Fed overplayed its hand. If there's anything that I can see that one could fault Congress for, it's repealing the type of financial industry oversight laws that would have helped prevent banks from becoming so massively overexposed in their lending portfolios. (And I should know; my current banking job is being eliminated due to the mortgage industry crisis.)

Re: McCain Calls For Debate Delay - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

No Brain Grime — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:34:23 -0000

Missed Senate votes by member, 110th Congress:

McCain: 412 missed (64.1%)

Obama: 295 missed (45.9%)

http://projects.washingtonp...

Last votes cast:

McCain: 4/8/08

Obama: 7/9/08

http://projects.washingtonp...

Re: Novak Hospitalized For Brain Tumor - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

No Brain Grime — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:15:01 -0000

franklobo said:

That said, when you say things like "conservatives are more likely to physically injure people with progressive beliefs" that's just wrong.

Just to be clear, because I can't tell from your post: You understand that the full quote is, "I understand that to state that conservatives are more likely to physically injure people with progressive beliefs because of this one incident is the height of chauvinism," i.e., I'm stating that such a comment would be wholly unsupported, right?

Oh, and do tell me about having one's tires slashed. My own car, which is chock full of lefty bumper stickers (as you might have imagined) did have two of its tires slashed. No, I don't blame the NRA; but someone singled out my car for vandalism for some reason, and it wasn't because they were members of ALF.

Again, your assertion that lefties are more likely to post mean things on the internets or damage property in the name of poltical ideology is without support. People are idiotic, mean-spirited, and just plain sick across the entire political spectrum. Unless you can support your lopsided assertion with fact, you cannot expect your word on the matter to be taken as credible.

Re: Novak Hospitalized For Brain Tumor - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

No Brain Grime — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:04:35 -0000

From an AP article on the matter:

Dr. Lynne Taylor, a neuro-oncologist at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, said residents at the hospital are taught to check for brain tumors in patients who report having a recent car accident in which they didn't realize they struck something.

"People get spatial and visual neglect of a certain part of their bodies and they don't realize they've done what they've done," said Taylor, a fellow with the American Academy of Neurology.

Re: Novak Hospitalized For Brain Tumor - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

No Brain Grime — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:05:01 -0000

Meanwhile, as some are tut-tutting about mean things some people are posting on blogs, we have this from Knoxville:

The man who attacked Sunday congregants at a Knoxville church was motivated by anger over joblessness and politics, according to Knoxville Police Chief Sterling Owen, IV.

[...]

Owen indicated Adkisson likely targeted the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church for its progressive views. The church is well-known in the community as a welcoming congregation for gay Knoxvillians and their families. The church also has a long history of working on behalf of civil rights, aid for the needy, peace initiatives, and other social justice issues.

But I'm not going to try to make lefty hay over this matter, because I understand that to state that conservatives are more likely to physically injure people with progressive beliefs because of this one incident is the height of chauvinism. Both sides of the political divide have kooky fringe extremists that will state and do reprehensible things in the name of their beliefs.

Back on topic: I can only imagine how terrifying a brain tumor diagnosis would be. Here's hoping that in this instance it's treatable.

--The Former VoicesCarry

Re: "This Information Should Blow Away This Silly Assumption That More Coverage is Always Better Coverage" - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

No Brain Grime — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 01:26:33 -0000

The LATimes article sites, as an example, a reporter claiming Obama "has problems" with white male and suburban female reporters as a negative comment, but I'm with you; I'd like to see more of what sort of comments they base their findings on.

The CMPA's website offers subscriptions for their bi-monthly issuance of their reports, which may have more detailed info, for 50 clams; I guess those of us with other financial priorities will have to make do with their press-release distillations.

Re: "This Information Should Blow Away This Silly Assumption That More Coverage is Always Better Coverage" - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

No Brain Grime — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 01:18:25 -0000

True, that, Chris, but it's interesting to note this from the article:

That was a reversal of the trend during the primaries, when the same researchers found that 64% of statements about Obama -- new to the political spotlight -- were positive, but just 43% of statements about McCain were positive.

Somehow they figured, even with the Rev. Wright froo-froo, Obama netted positive coverage. They break it down like this:

ABC, NBC, CBS evening news

Pre-Super Tuesday, 12/16 to 2/5
Obama: 88% positive
Clinton: 53% positive

Post-Super Tuesday, 2/6 to 3/22
Obama: 62% positive
Clinton: 48% positive

Rev. Wright Controversy Period, 3/13 to 3/22
Obama: 62% positive
Clinton: 40% positive

(Link: http://www.cmpa.com/Studies...

Weird; findings north of 50% positive for Obama during the controversy is not what I would have expected.

Note, though, that this excludes cable coverage. Make of that what you will. = )

Cheers,
He Who Was Formerly Known As VoicesCarry

Re: Obama Makes "Victory" Speech - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

No Brain Grime — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:22:08 -0000

The trip is funded by the campaign, and that appears to have been the key in the decision to cancel the visit. But the speech he gave was on trans-Atlantic alliances; it contained no election year promises or contrasts between him and McCain as would an actual campaign speech. In short, the electioneering of a campaign speech was not presented before a foreign audience, which is as it should be.

Again, I hope they change their minds on the visit, but right now they are erring on the side of caution when it comes to on whose dime they are visiting a U.S. military installation.

Re: Obama Makes "Victory" Speech - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

No Brain Grime — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:49:13 -0000

Tina, you've been fed right-wing lies and smears. Per ABC News:

Obama senior adviser Robert Gibbs told us in a statement, "During his trip as part of the CODEL to Afghanistan and Iraq, Senator Obama visited the combat support hospital in the Green Zone in Baghdad and had a number of other visits with the troops. For the second part of his trip, the senator wanted to visit the men and women at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center to express his gratitude for their service and sacrifice. The senator decided out of respect for these servicemen and women that it would be inappropriate to make a stop to visit troops at a U.S. military facility as part of a trip funded by the campaign."

Considering the warm reception he received in his earlier visits, I'm sure this decision was not made lightly. (And, in fact, I hope the campaign reverses this decision, but if not, it should not be seen as a cavalier shunning.)

Re: Obama Makes "Victory" Speech - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

No Brain Grime — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:37:47 -0000

Well, to be fair, there's a difference between happening to use his middle name, and posting umpty times, "HUSSEIN Obama this, HUSSEIN Obama that, HUSSEIN Obama is a Muslim terrorist!!!" The latter does somewhat smack of xenophobia, implying rather explicitly that if it's foreign sounding, it's pure, unadulterated evil.

Re: Obama Makes "Victory" Speech - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

No Brain Grime — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:31:45 -0000

Thank you both for the reminder. My mind is having a hard time accepting that number.

Re: Obama Makes "Victory" Speech - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

No Brain Grime — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:11:49 -0000

No, the Goo Goo Dolls are rock stars. They do not give policy speeches, and Obama did not sing for the crowd. In this instance, Obama is seen as the best America as a whole can aspire to be, and that is what has so many other nations inspired. If he were not running for president, they wouldn't have turned out, not even a dozen.

Re: Obama Makes "Victory" Speech - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

No Brain Grime — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:06:22 -0000

We haven't been attacked since '01 -- on American soil. But some 3,000 Americans have been killed in Iraq (and many, many more seriously wounded), fighting a war that can have made no progress in capturing bin Laden and his associates, as they are somewhere else entirely. To me, that does not look good, all tolled.

Re: Obama Makes "Victory" Speech - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

No Brain Grime — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:58:46 -0000

That is in the eye of the beholder. By and large, Americans are used to being admired by free societies, and to no small few of us, a return to this status, although no an overriding reason to vote for one candidate or another, is something to be proud of.

Two hundred thousand non-Americans cheering America. A sea of American flags being waved on foreign soil. An outpouring of foreign goodwill toward the US not seen in years, and it took no terrorist attack on our country to inspire it. Well, it improves my day! = )

Re: Obama Makes "Victory" Speech - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

No Brain Grime — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:50:48 -0000

From the link:

"Hamas does not differentiate between the two presidential candidates, Obama and McCain, because their policies regarding the Arab-Israel conflict are the same and are hostile to us, therefore we do have no preference and are not wishing for either of them to win," Zuhri said.

Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

Re: Obama Makes "Victory" Speech - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

No Brain Grime — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:42:16 -0000

DId you read the link? Obama pissed 'em off.

Re: Obama Makes "Victory" Speech - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

No Brain Grime — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:25:46 -0000

Those who hijacked the planes on 9/11 were indeed Saudis. But surely you're aware that al Qaeda masterminded and financed 9/11, and thus must be captured and their operations vanquished, no?

Oh, and Hamas doesn't get to vote in our election. = )

Re: Obama Makes "Victory" Speech - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

No Brain Grime — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:20:37 -0000

There's no way to focus on home issues and shore up our foreign allegiances? I think America is capable of walking and chewing gum at the same time. = )

Re: Obama Makes "Victory" Speech - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

No Brain Grime — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:07:54 -0000

"Wonder who the radical Muslims are cheering for in this election?"

Well, since Obama wants us to focus our military on the Afghan/Pakistani border, where bin Laden and al Qaeda, the perpetrators behind 9/11, are located, I suspect they're no more rooting for him than they would any other American politician.

Re: Obama Makes "Victory" Speech - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

No Brain Grime — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:59:36 -0000

Yeah, I'm confused -- there are Americans who want the USA to be the world's pariah? There are Americans whose hearts dont swell with pride when we see citizens around the world cheering us and waving US flags and seeing us as a global beacon of light? Me, I kinda dig having an international standing of "greatest nation on Earth."

Re: Olbermann Questions CBS Over Unaired McCain "Gaffe" - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

No Brain Grime — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:11:28 -0000

Seriously, I'm not aware that KO's proclaimed to answer to none. His tales about Countdown's early, decidedly anti-Bush lurch always include him looking to the suits for signs that he'd need to reign it back in. And, really, intranetwork, on-air fratricide is usually gonna be a big offense, no matter where you work.

Radar? Not much for the scandal rags. But I'm already on record as stating that I don't doubt KO's ego requires the doorframes to be greased in order to pass through. And I know from experience that big egos are usually some sort of compensation for some sort of shortcoming (real or imagined), and create complicated characters to deal with. Welcome to the fabulous world of televised media!!

Re: The Scoreboard: Tuesday, July 22 - mediabistro.com: TVNewser

No Brain Grime — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:14:55 -0000

"KO is NEVER going to catch up to or take over this time slot. His show spews hate and lies."

A) Please to be documenting the lies. = )

B) Didn't O'Reilly just complain that the Netroots Nation event from the weekend rivaled the Nazis and the KKK? Simply 'cause a bunch of bloggin' lefties got together with some of our elected officials? Tell me that statement isn't hateful and untruthful.