Posted on 08/31/2004 4:40:16 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
As your intrepid reporter on liberal bias at the morning news shows, a thought was running through my mind as I watched last night's speeches by McCain and Giuliania: "these are so good, there is no way the morning shows can spin these as anything but a major blow to John Kerry."
Apparently the morning shows agreed, because to varying degrees they adopted the strategy that the best coverage was limited coverage, or in the absolutely mind-blowing case of CBS' Early Show, NO COVERAGE AT ALL!
OK, in fairness, there was some brief mention of the convention during the Early Show's news recap at the very top of the hour.
But when it came to the extended segments during the first half-hour, first up was a rehash of the Kobe Bryant case. Surely, I thought, the convention must be next. But no, it was an update on surgery on conjoined twins. "No, this can't be happening," I thought. "They must be building toward a big conclusion to the half-hour with a major convention segment."
Uh, no. The final segment was devoted to informing us that it was rainy in Richmond yesterday.
Over at the Today Show, rather than extended coverage of the convention, we were treated to the second installment of a near week-old interview that Matt Lauer had done with Pres. Bush. OK, not as bad as CBS' Richmond weather report, but the big news of yesterday was what happened in the convention, and we saw very little of it. Rather than any extended excerpts from the McCain/Giuliani speeches (and don't forget that NBC did not broadcast the convention last night), we were treated to another soporific interview between Katie and Tim Russert.
Finally, at GMA, Diane Sawyer conducted a live interview with First Lady Laura Bush. I must say that Laura looked absolutely beautiful and conducted herself with her characteristic charm and class. That was put to the test when Diane Sawyer crudely asked her "so, are you going to attack John Kerry tonight?" "Of course not," replied Laura, maintaining her good-natured composure as someone might when a visitor's dog soils the living room carpet.
Both Today and GMA focused of course on W's inelegant phrase yesterday regarding our ability to win the war on terrorism. Nice try, but that would only stick if people thought for a second that W wasn't tough on terrorism or that Kerry was tougher. Don't make me laugh.
I thought a clear highlight of last night's speeches was Giuliani's parody of Edwards' 'two Americas' theme, when Rudy suggested that perhaps Kerry needs two Americas: one to take one position, the other to take exactly the opposite position on the same issue. But of course none of the networks let Americans see that this morning.
All in all, an infuriating performance by the MSM. But let's take it as a compliment and a good sign: they know how devastating the McCain/Rudy one-two punch was last night, and didn't dare let the American people see too much of it this morning.
Not nearly as helpful as FR, for savy consumers. But they do cover stories that the old-media spikes. So, in the balance, yes, they are VERY useful.
P.S. I share your general opinion. FNC is not a "great" source, or entertainment.
Can you give any more details as to what Matthews said?
You may be right but I am sticking with them anyway. I think in the long run they have to side with us or lose major market share, advertising considerations aside.
bump
They all want to be like Motown Matt, dark shades and all, but in reality they are all just one paycheck away from being the fools that they really are.
You mean, the ALPHABET CHANNELS are BIASED LIBERALS who do not OBJECTIVELY REPORT news? Are you saying they CREATE their VERSION of "news" and reality? That they screen out from reporting on events and speeches that do not support their AGENDA?
But the alphabet channel TALKING HEADS claim they are PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS, not "ENTERTAINERS," like Rush Limbaugh.
OKlahoma Sen. James Inhofe on Fox right now. He is an absolutely riot! Just totally winging it and having fun. Commenting on Daschle's TV in which he embraces W, Inhofe dismissively says "he's toast!"
Then he says, beating Barbara Boxer isn't just a victory, it's a contribution to humanity.
Must be nice to be a Republican in a state where the last poll shows W ahead 56/35!
I didn't turn on the TV until around 10PM so I'm not sure if they had the convention on earlier, but they did play those two speeches and I'd prefer they not interpret what was shown.
So all in all, I'm not complaining about their morning fluff.
And this is just the first night of the convention. Wait until Arnold, Laura, Zell, Dick and W are done with them!
What amazed me last night was Andrea Mitchell made a very sarcastic remark about Kerry vacationing on Nantucket. She was not thrilled with the picture of him windsurfing, saying it is a rich man's sport and wouldn't play well with Average Joes. Boo-Hoo!
There's peace in Somalia right? They're still killing each other.
There's peace in Yugoslavia and they're still killing each other.
There's peace in Kosovo and they're still killing each other.
Clinton also brought peace to Haiti and Aristede continued to murder his fellow citizens in cold blood day in and day out.
We can never eliminate cold blooded killers from our midst.
The President was right.
My guess would be a 5-7% bump for GW, but the truth is we may never know since the pollsters will be spinning like the head in the exorcist.
Andrea's a lib, but she's a tough, smart cookie.
However, Brokaw threw a fit that he wasn't chosen to be a debate moderator and sent around a scathing email protesting. He claimed he would have been a better choice. He didn't say better than whom......LOLOL
He's retiring so he feels this is his last chance to push his agenda.
I tend to agree, and of course hope you're right. If I remember my election history correctly, the candidate who is ahead on Labor Day almost always wins.
this is really nothing new ... my brother was NYPD, covering the "peaceful" Democrat convention in NYC in 1980. On the last day the Chi Coms had a little protest. My brother ended up with an axe in his back and was forced into early retirement as a result of the injury to his nerves. We didnt' have alternative media then and there was not ONE WORD about it, anywhere. The chanting and drum beating on Sunday were mighty eiree in this house.
So do I. I'm so tired of the liberal snots' attack questions to pubbies who calmly answer in monotone replies.
I'd love to see a Conservative who would snap back, and give them a taste of their own medicine.
It would be instructive to contrast this with how they covered the DNC last month.
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