State of the Superpower

Yesterday I reported on Neal Cavuto of FOX News whining about President Barak Obama not appearing on FOX News and, by the looks of the FOX News “Opinion” page, everyone in Rupert Murdoch’s world is whining.

Click for DAN GAINOR: The Left’s Daily Hate-a-Thon

Click for PETER ROFF: ABC = Always Biased Coverage?

Click for JUDGE ANDREW NAPOLITANO: A Scary White House Wish List

It appears that FOX News and the American Conservative Movement has taken the approach that they (FOX News) is politically dead center, then accuses any news outlet who disagrees with them of liberal bias.

Yet, for all their “fair & balanced” talk, the flagship programs on FOX New are The O’Reilly Factor, Hannity, and most recently, Glenn Beck. In addition, the FOX Opinion page is dominated by conservatives. Now, after eight years of “cheerleading” the Bush Administration, FOX News now finds itself on the outside looking in.

Cheese is on standby for the FOX News Whine.

If whining indicates hurt feelings, then FOX New’s Neil Cavuto is crushed. The host of “Your World With Neal Cavuto” devoted plenty of air time yesterday to complaining because President Obama won’t come on his program.

“Why do you hate us so much, Mr. President? Because we challenge you or because we won’t worship you? Or both?” said Cavuto in yesterday’s broadcast.

Click for Neal Cavuto, This Is Why Obama Hates You So Much

With a “fair and balanced“ approach like that, I can’t imagine why Mr. Obama has yet to grant Mr. Cavuto an interview.

The truth is, Mr. Cavuto’s whining, which by any standard was irritating, follows the Republican talking point that the media is “too easy” on Mr. Obama. Conservative pundit Bernie Goldberg documents this alleged liberal media bias in A Slobbering Love Affair: The True (And Pathetic) Story of the Torrid Romance Between Barack Obama and the Mainstream Media.

Below are a few links citing what some people think is right-wing bias at FOX News.

Clickk for Pew Researh Poll

Click for OUTFOXED: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism

Click for Fox News Controversies

Now we know the truth, FOX News is a beacon of truth in a sea of liberal media bias. Terrorist fist jabs all around.

Yesterday Nevada Senator John Ensign admitted to an extra-marital affair. Mr. Ensign is a prominent conservative voice in the Republican Party, and a serious potential 2012 presidential candidate.

Click for Sen. John Ensign Admits Extramarital Affair

In May, Senator Ensign spoke with a conservative group in Iowa, leading many to believe he is interested in running for president in 2012.

The real question is will FOX News devote as much time to Mr. Ensign’s extra-curricular marriage activities as it did to former New York Governor Elliot Spitzer’s?

I’m guessing not.

Today Shepard Smith of FOX News took on right-wing extremism form an unlikely group, people who watch FOX News.

Click for Shepard Smith Blasts Right-Wing Extremism

Click for Shepard Smith Uncensored: “We Are America

Mr. Smith said, “I read a lot of e-mail around here, and the e-mail to me has become more and more frightening. It’s not a new thing. it’s been happening over the past few months. It’s been happening, you know, to some degree, since the election process went along.”

Keep in mind, Mr. Smith is talking about e-mails sent to FOX News by FOX News viewers.

Think what you want about FOX News, but by any standard Shepard Smith is one of the good guys.

Taxpayers should see at least $68 billion in TARP funds returned as 10 banks prepare to repay bailout loans made by the Federal Government.

Click for US Approves 10 Banks Repaying Bailout Funds

Click for Stocks Flat After Treasury Announcement on Banks

Although the Treasury Department did not provide borrow names, banks believed ready to repay government loans are J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, American Express, Bank of New York Mellon, U.S. Bancorp, BB&T Corp., Northern Trust, State Street, and Capital One Financial Corp.

Richard Bove, a leading analyst at Rochdale Research, believes the banking industry has dealt with their problems and, have now accumulated more capital than they need

“This means that when the economy turns, banks are ready to take advantage of the recovery,” Bove said.

Finally, good news from the financial sector. Now if AIG, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac get with the program we’ll be fine.

Despite National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Senator Cornyn thinking the results could take “years” to resolve, Minnesota Republican Norm Coleman may finally be ready to concede what the majority of Minnesotans already know, that Democrat Al Franken won last November’s Senate election.

Click for Coleman & Franken Face Off On Appeal

Click for News From the Coleman/Franken Hearing

Click for Senate Stakes Rise in Coleman-Franken Showdown

Even as the Minnesota State Supreme Court listens to Coleman and Franken’s lawyers, a recent Rasmussen Poll asked: “Should Norm Coleman concede now and let Al Franken be seated in the United States Senate?” A 54% majority said Coleman should concede, while 41% believe Coleman should not. Those are not favorable numbers if Mr. Coleman hopes to run for another public office.

Still, Mr. Cornyn and Senate Republicans are eager to keep the Democratic Majority  from reaching 60 votes, so they are more than happy to see Minnesota’s election results languish in the courts. It that means Minnesota is underrepresented in Washington, then so be it.

You have to question Mr. Cornyn’s view of democracy.

On Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan filed a motion to dismiss charges against former Allegheny County Coroner Dr. Cyril Wecht.

Click for Political Motives

Click for Dept. of Justice Controversial

Dr. Wecht was indicted in January 2006 on charges that he misused his public office for private gain. On April 8, 2008, after more than 50 hours of deliberations, the trial ended in a hung jury. The Pittsburgh U.S. Attorney’s Office quickly scheduled a retrial.

Mrs. Buchanan, a Bush appointee, has been accused of pursuing the case against Dr. Wecht, a Democrat,  for political reasons.

“In my opinion, the plan, the scheme was the problem for me personally,” said the jury foreman after the 2008 trial. The foreman, as well as other members of the jury, remains anonymous because the judge asked jurors to not yet speak publicly about the case.

If Ms. Buchanan’s name sounds familiar, it is because Monica Goodling claimed Kyle Sampson,  then Chief of Staff to former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, consulted with Ms. Buchanan just before the controversial dismissal of 7 U.S. Attorneys. Ms. Buchaanan denies any involvement.

As for Mrs. Buchanan, despite the tradition of U.S. Attorneys resigning when a new administration comes in, she has no plans to leave her current post.

Today former Vice President Dick Cheney said he does not believe former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was involved in any way with the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Click for Cheney: No link between Saddam Hussein and 9/11

Click for The Trauma of 9/11 Is No Excuse

“I do not believe and have never seen any evidence to confirm that [Hussein] was involved in 9/11. We had that reporting for a while, [but] eventually it turned out not to be true,” Cheney said while speaking at The National Press Club.

Mr. Cheney named former CIA Director George Tenet as the “prime source of information” linking Iraq and al-Qaeda.

Click for More on Dick Cheney

It took years, but Mr. Cheney has finally joined the rest of the planet in acknowledging that Iraq and 9/11 were unrelated.

Now if he’d just renounce torture Mr. Cheney would be ready for the 21st Century.

Today Michelle Goldberg wrote an interesting article for The Daily Beast, a left-of-center web publication, documenting just how dangerous the pro-life movement has become.

Click for The Pro-Life Insurrection

Now for a little insight on how FOX News and the Republican echo chamber played a role in Dr. Tiller’s murder.

Click for Bill O’Reilly’s Now Successful Campaign of Hate Against Dr. George Tiller

Finally, a bit of bellicose contrition from leaders of the pro-life community. Evidently these “leaders” are more concerned about public relations than acknowledging their role in yesterday’s murder.

Click for Pro-Lifers Denounce Murder of Doctor

And you can expect more half-baked attempts by the anti-abortion movement to distance themselves from Dr. Tiller’s murder, while still wringing from it every ounce of publicity they can get.

In response to yesterday’s murder of abortion provider Dr. George Tiller, Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry issued the following statement.

“George Tiller was a mass-murderer. We grieve for him that he did not have time to properly prepare his soul to face God. I am more concerned that the Obama Administration will use Tiller’s killing to intimidate pro-lifers into surrendering our most effective rhetoric and actions. Abortion is still murder. And we still must call abortion by its proper name; murder.”

Click for Anti-Abortion Groups Brace for Backlash from Tiller Murder

Click for Catholic News Agency

Click here for Statements on George Tiller’s Murder

It comes as no surprise that Operation Rescue embraces pro-life vigilantism. Intimidation and violence are an integral part of the pro-life movement. The intolerant moral absolutism of “the end justifies any means” that defines groups like Operation Rescue is dangerous, and the murder of abortion providers like Dr. Tiller, its logical outcome.

And for those who rationalize Dr. Tiller’s murder as “saving the unborn,” you’re now part of the Christian-style Taliban.

UPDATE

Attorney General Eric Holder ordered increased security for unnamed individuals and facilities.