Fox No News

The news anchors get name placeholders for their desks for the State Of the U.ion. Shepard Smith notice his just said "Fox". Smith has a suspicion the Obama administration did this on purpose. You think?

Joel Award: John McCain

It is time to give out the Joel Award. The award goes any celebrity, pundit, blogger or politician that purposely contradicts himself or herself.

Sen. John McCain is a classic flip-flopper. Steve Benen made a list on McCain waffling on the issues. The latest flip flop is McCain's change of heart on the exchange of prisoners with the Taliban. February 18, McCain told Anderson Cooper that he would support the exchange of American soldiers in exchange for Taliban fighters, depending on the details. McCain even stressed he may even support the release of "hard-core" Taliban fighters.

Well, at that time the proposal was that they would release -- Taliban, some of them really hard-core, particularly five really hard-core Taliban leaders, as a confidence- building measure. Now this idea is for an exchange of prisoners for our American fighting man. I would be inclined to support such a thing depending on a lot of the details.

McCain changed his tune after the Pentagon negotiated the release of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. Conservatives started bashing President Barack Obama for the prisoner exchange. McCain immediately ran for cover. McCain said this on CNN on June 3.

MCCAIN: Well, we were never told there would be an exchange here of Sergeant Bergdahl for five Taliban. We told they were considering, and we steadfastly, both Republican and Democrats, rejected the notion that they were going to release some of these Taliban in exchange for, "confidence building measures" so that negotiations could continue. What we were briefed on was an entirely different scenario from the one that took place. Look, I'm not one who believes that Congress should bind the hands of the president particularly as commander-in-chief. That's not my problem. My problem is, what we did in exchange, which could put the lives of American servicemen and women in grave danger in the future, unless you believe that this conflict is over and that the Taliban and Al Qaeda have stop wanting to destroy America and repeat of 9/11, then, fine. But they've not, and they're not, and they are growing, despite what the administration says.

Back in February McCain was "inclined to support" the release of "hard-core" Taliban fighters. That was before Fox News went on a rampage over the prisoner swap for Sgt. Bergdahl. You can see the Fox News attacks here and here. Shepard Smith was one voice of reason.

When Fox News roars John McCain trembles.

Quote of the Day

"You can continue killing your own people, you just can't kill them with chemical gas."

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, making her case for a bombing campaign against the Assad regime in Syria. Her comment took  Shepard Smith of Fox News by surprise.

Sadly, this actually sums up the position of the Obama administrator.

Fox News Makes Case For Stimulus

Shepard Smith and Juan Williams make interesting points about how the stimulus has helped save America from a depression. Williams agrees with Smith that the White House political team has been unable to promote their own economic policies. The first reason for that is the economy is still bad. The second factor is Team Obama is more concerned with attacking their base then defending themselves against right-wing attacks. It is sad when Fox News can makes a batter case for Obama's economic policies than Robert Gibbs and Tim Geithner.

Fair and Balanced B.S. Edition

Shepard Smith apologized to Fox News viewers for not providing an interview with Goveror John Corzine. The Fox News reporters interviewed Republican opponent Chris Christie. Smith asked the reporter when would she interview Corzine. Her delayed reaction was priceless.

Hat tip to GottaLaff.

Crist Featured in 'Outrage'

Charlie Crist is featured in the documentary Outrage. The film is making it's premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. The filmmaker Kirby Dick names (rumored) closeted gay politicians. And yes, Charlie Crist is featured. Other politicians named are David Dreier, Ken Mehlman, Larry Craig, Jim McCrery, Ed Schrock, Ed Koch and Fox News anchor Shepard Smith.

I blogged extensively about the Mark Foley scandal. I was outraged on how the St. Petersburg Times blew the story. It was no secret Foley was going after male teenagers. The media feels extremely uncomfortable covering gay politicians. There certainly are valid arguments for privacy. Ignoring Foley's potentially illegal behavior crosses the line.

Alex Koppelman reviews the film and offers his insights as to why homosexuality makes the media nervous.

Shepard Smith Condemns Torture

Shepard Smith powerfully expresses his outrage against torture.

"We are America, we don't torture! And the moment that is not the case, I want off the train! This government is of, by, and for the people -- that means it's mine. That means -- I'm not saying what is torture, and what is not torture, but I'm saying, whatever it is, you don't do it for me! I want off the train when the government starts -- I want off, next stop, now!"

Smith eloquently explains how waterboarding goes against American values.

"They better not do it," he said. "If we are going to be Ronald Reagan's Shining City on the Hill, we don't get to torture. We don't do it." Fade to black.

National Review contributor Cliff May unsurprising defends the Bush administration. This is the same May whom accused the Left of "Romancing the Jihad." You can count on the National Review to accuse the Left of treason on a weekly basis.

Shepard Smith on the O'Reilly Factor

I'm liking Fox News anchor Shepard Smith more and more. Smith was on The O'Reilly Factor and talked about his interview with Joe the Plumber.

O’REILLY: Now you grilled “Joe the Plumber” a couple of weeks ago over his Israel comments. You know, when you said what do you know about Israel? And why would Israel be punished if Barack Obama…

SMITH: Actually, what he said was a vote for Barack Obama is a vote for the death of Israel. Actually, someone in the crowd said it, he said I agree with you not once but twice. I didn’t think it was important, so much, what Joe the Plumber said, about the death to Israel or Barack Obama’s connection thereto, I thought what was important was that he was on a GOP bus, on a GOP-funded tour, called the “Joe the Plumber Tour” and when he said something like that, as a apparently spokesperson of the GOP at the time--John McCain said he was going to take him to Washington—I felt that it was important for our audience to know from where that information comes. Why he came to that decision, and his answer was, “Well, your listeners, as he put it, go out and figure out why it was…

O’REILLY: He didn’t know; he couldn’t articulate it…

SMITH: He didn’t know why he did, and the truth is Barack Obama had made the statement repeatedly and demonstrated repeatedly that Israel would always be a friend to America. And I think some of this disinformation, some of the lies that show up on the internet are dangerous and those of us who hold truth dear , it’s our job to set the record straight and that’s what I wanted to do…

O'Reilly is his usual bizarre self. Nicole Belle notes O'Reilly wants to assault Barney Frank. This isn't funny.

I can,you know, yell at Barney Frank, you know slap—if he was here I’d probably slap him. I wouldn’t really, but I wanted it to, because he hurt so many people.

O'Reilly is a man that got rich from yelling at people on television. He actually thinks he is an action hero. Glenn Reynolds and Michelle Malkin would go ballistic (and rightly so) if Keith Olbermann made this same comment towards a Republican Congressman.

Related: Joe the Plumber Now Joe the Fearmonger

Why Ralph Nader Is An Asshole

Why Ralph Nader Is An Asshole

Only a huge gaping asshole would imply that Barack Obama an Uncle Tom.

To put it very simply, he is our first African American President; or he will be. And we wish him well. But his choice, basically, is whether he is going to be Uncle Sam for the people of this country, or Uncle Tom for the giant corporations.

Nader has decided to be the cracky racist uncle. Only a self-destructive politician, a racist or huge gaping asshole would speak this way of Barack Obama on the day of the election. Anyone who still thinks that Nader has the judgement or temperment to be president should watch the video.

Shepard Smith: I just wonder in hindsight, if you wished you used a phrase other than Uncle Tom?

Ralph Nader: Not at all.

Shepard Smith is the most rationale anchor on Fox News. He asked Nader if he regretted his statement. Nader stood firmly behind his use of a racist term. A huge gaping asshole.

Joe the Plumber Now Joe the Fearmonger

Shepard Smith questioned Joe “the Plumber” Wurzelbacher on why he believes a Barack Obama presidency will be the death of Israel.

SMITH: Joe, do you know Barack Obama’s positions on Israel?

WURZELBACHER: Listen, I know you wanna really get some answers on this one, I’m just not gonna help you out here, Shepherd. Let people go out and find, that’s what I’ve been telling people. […] Listen, you don’t want my opinion on foreign policy. I know just enough probably to be dangerous.

SMITH: Yeah, well that’s what I was kinda wondering.

Wurzelbacher campaigns for John McCain and accuses Obama of doing harm to Israel. Yet, he is above answering for his fearmongering. It is cowardly and there is no question that the McCain campaign endorses Wurzelbacher's statements. The campaign issued a press release supporting Wurzelbacher's statement.

While he’s clearly his own man, so far Joe has offered some penetrating and clear analysis that cuts to the core of many of the concerns that people have with Barack Obama’s statements and policies. … [T]here is good reason to question the judgement that Obama would bring to the Oval Office.

Wurzelbacher lamely stuck to the script about Obama talking to foreign enemies. The McCain campaign did an equally bad job prepping Wurzelbacher, as they did Palin. Here is Obama's position on Israel.

Ensure a Strong U.S.-Israel Partnership: Barack Obama and Joe Biden strongly support the U.S.-Israel relationship, believe that our first and incontrovertible commitment in the Middle East must be to the security of Israel, America's strongest ally in the Middle East. They support this closeness, stating that that the United States would never distance itself from Israel.

Support Israel's Right to Self Defense: During the July 2006 Lebanon war, Barack Obama stood up strongly for Israel's right to defend itself from Hezbollah raids and rocket attacks, cosponsoring a Senate resolution against Iran and Syria's involvement in the war, and insisting that Israel should not be pressured into a ceasefire that did not deal with the threat of Hezbollah missiles. He and Joe Biden believe strongly in Israel's right to protect its citizens.

Support Foreign Assistance to Israel: Barack Obama and Joe Biden have consistently supported foreign assistance to Israel. They defend and support the annual foreign aid package that involves both military and economic assistance to Israel and have advocated increased foreign aid budgets to ensure that these funding priorities are met. They have called for continuing U.S. cooperation with Israel in the development of missile defense systems.

The uncertified plumber accused Obama of being a Marxist.

"I'm honestly scared for America," Wurzelbacher said.

He later said Obama would end the democracy that the U.S. military had defended during wars.

"I love America. I hope it remains a democracy, not a socialist society. ... If you look at spreading the wealth, that's honestly right out of Karl Marx's mouth," Wurzelbacher said.

"No one can debate that. That's not my opinion. That's fact."

Joe won't answer questions when his statements are debatable. That is why "no one can debate that."

Ipdate: Joe the Plumber gets a manager. There is a possible country music album in the future.

“I think Joe is the voice of middle America,” Mr. Tippin said. “He’s not some made-up deal. He sees things from a common man’s point of view and is trying to do something good for this country, and that impresses me.”

Mr. Della Croce said he was even thinking of having Mr. Wurzelbacher record some music, perhaps a song or two of Mr. Tippin’s. “Joe is a hard-core country music fan, and he can carry a tune,” he said. “We’re not calling him anything, though, until we get him into a studio.”

I'm looking forward to the results.