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12/15/05
Fox Likes Its Black-Sheep Image
We're not ashamed to say that we look forward every year to the normally funny or sarcastic Fox News Channel Christmas card. And this year Fox didn't disappoint on both. Unlike the White House "holiday card," Fox prominently features a Christmas theme: Santa and his sleigh. Who's pulling it? Sheep, the first a black one of course, with Rudolph's red nose. Inside are lyrics to the tune of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer that poke fun at the competitors who used to sneer at Fox, now the cable leader. "All of the other networks used to laugh and call Fox names / Oh how the media darlings thought they'd win the ratings game." Also in our mailbag, and from the other end of the political spectrum, liberal press watchdog Media Matters dropped an odd note in the Whispers E-mail account. First, it blasted the "mainstream media" for letting conservatives in, and then it asked for donations. Some chutzpah, eh? But while a plea to reporters for cash is normally a clear signal of financial trouble, fans of Media Matters say the group is expanding, filling up new digs, and set to pounce on right-wing pressies as the 2006 elections near.
See the Fox card here
See the Media Matters e-mail here
12/14/05
Rosa Parks or Tom Harkin?
Legislation passed by the House this week to name two Centers for Disease Control and Prevention buildings in Atlanta after Rosa Parks and Mother Teresa was more than just a way to memorialize the two famous women. Hill aides today said it was also meant to slam down a similar Senate bill to name the CDC buildings after two senators: Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and Tom Harkin of Iowa. "We wanted to jam 'em," said one aide. The parallel legislation opens up a rift between the House and Senate on building naming rights, with House leaders eager to highlight historical figures as they enter the 2006 election period with an eye on wooing voter groups. As a result of the House passage, the Senate put a hold on the legislation.
12/7/05
Thank you, Howard Dean
The controversial comments about the war in Iraq from Howard Dean, and the effort by many Democrats to distance themselves from the party chairman, are another break for the Republicans, according to White House and GOP officials. "It is really uncanny the Democrats' ability to turn victory into defeat," a White House and House GOP leadership adviser said. "Politically speaking, Dean's comments are going to help jog awake more Americans and remind them of which party wants to protect them–and which one is just plain sissified and weak." Republican officials said that they are eager this week to draw attention to those who don't agree with Dean's negative assessment. Officials also plan to highlight Democrats, such as Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who believe that the tide is changing in Iraq.
Check out Howard Dean's first podcast.
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