Acerbic McCain Disses Doocy (Peter)

Steve sanguine: Ainsley anguished. This Wednesday morn, Fox & Friends fans eagerly awaited co-anchor Steve Doocy‘s reaction to his son, FNC correspondent Peter Doocy, being dissed by a perturbed, irascible, supercilious Senator John McCain after being queried as to whether his relationship with President Trump was frayed to the point that he was not to support anything that the President came to him and asked for.

Introducing the segment regarding the heated exchange between his son and the fiery Senator, Steve said, “John McCain is the man who torpedoed the Affordable Care Act fix in the Senate. So, that’s a good question regarding the relationship with the President. And, a young correspondent I happen to know asked the Senator about it and I don’t think he liked the question.”*

Immediately thereafter, in the vid that ran, Peter asked, “Has your relationship with the President frayed to the point that you are not going to support anything that he comes to you and asks for?”

Menacingly, McCain acerbically retorted, “Why would you say something that stupid? Why would you ask something that dumb? Huh?…You mean that I’m going somehow to behave in a way that I’m going to block everything because of a personal disagreement. That’s a dumb question!” Then, he turned and walked away in a huff.

After the clip, Steve declared, “Is it a fair question? Clearly, John McCain has not been a reliable “yes” vote for the Trump train. And, so going forward what’s he going do? As the President said, he would like to have John McCain’s vote but he doesn’t.”

Interjecting, co-host Brian Kilmeade stated, “McCain had a speech after getting a Freedom Award where he was very negative about the President.” Explaining, he mentioned McCain’s allusion to the President’s policies as “half-baked nationalism.”  But, defending McCain, he said, “But, he seemed to, at least, give a vote for the moving forward on the budget resolution, to discuss the budget: That will be later this week.”

In answer, co-anchor Ainsley Earhardt responded, “Well, they’ve been going back and forward, Senator McCain and the President.” Pointing to Steve, Ainsley exclaimed, “And, for him to talk to your son who I feel like is my family, I didn’t like that! But, I understand, I know he’s going through a lot so God bless him: But, I didn’t like that exchange! Looking intently at Steve, a sympathetic Ainsley asked, “How did you feel as his dad?”

Deflecting, Steve answered, “It’s, it’s a good question. And, you know what, it’s the sound bite we ran.”

As Solomon once said, “A soft answer turneth away wrath.” Well played, Steve–and Peter.

*Fox & Friends – 10/18/17 (@ 7:08 ET).

 

 

 

Sarah Palin: Dick “Never Misfires”

Greta: “He’s not afraid to say things about the women.” Former Vice President Dick Cheney got “b*tch slapped” tonight on On the Record for his dis of the former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as a “mistake” re her selection by 2008 Republican nominee John McCain as his running mate–by both Palin and host Greta Van Susteren. As if the blow-back from his daughter Liz were not enough for the “best VP ever.”

During her interview of Palin, Van Susteren gave the GOP base fave a chance to hit back hard at the Bush establishment’s Darth Vader. She asked, “Dick Cheney…said some words that he didn’t think that you were a particularly good choice 2008….Your response to Dick Cheney?”*

Grimacing and arching her eyebrows, Palin inhaled deeply and caustically said, “Well, seeings how Dick there.” Appearing to feign to catch herself in reverence for her ailing elder, Palin sarcastically continued, “Excuse me, Vice President Cheney never misfires, then evidently he’s quite convinced that what he had evidently read about me by the lame stream media…what I believe is a false narrative…and that’s a shame so he characterized me as being a mistake.”

Sympathetically, Van Susteren acerbically added, “I might note that Vice President Cheney took a little bit of a slap at Condaleeza Rice in his book, saying she got all teared up….He’s not afraid to say things about the women.”

And, these women are not afraid to say things back about “the man.”

*On the Record with Greta Van Susteren – 07/31/12 (@10:07 a.m. ET)

Update: Vid via Realclearpolitics.com.

Huck: McCain, Thompson “Not Smart Enough”?

FNC host Mike Huckabee: “Being called a liar by both John McCain and Fred Thompson…not good.” In his appearance on America Live this afternoon, anchor Megyn Kelly offered the former Arkansas governor and 2008 GOP Presidential candidate the chance to respond to the denials by both his former rivals John McCain and Fred Thompson to his claim that McCain had asked Thompson to stay in the race to help split the conservative vote to boost McCain’s chances.* Before doing so, Huckabee declared, “Being called a liar by both John McCain and Fred Thompson…is not good but, heck, I’ve been called worse by a lot of people, Megyn.”

Then, Huckabee explained, “I heard that news from my campaign chairman Ed Rollins who heard it from three different sources inside the [McCain] camp.” Deftly, he continued, “I thought it was a compliment in that it was a brilliant political move if they did it.” Then, with a sly smile, he snarked, “Now…if they weren’t smart enough to do it, then I apologize for giving them the benefit of being that smart.”

Ouch. Reagan’s 11th Commandment: Forgotten?

America Live – 01/13/12 (@ 1:19 p.m. ET)

[Author’s aside: For video of Thompson’s denial today on Fox & Friends, link here.]

Piqued Fred Thompson: Huckabee Untruthful

“There’s not one shred of truth….just a rewriting of history.” A visibly miffed former Senator Fred Thompson (TN-R) appeared on Fox & Friends today to rebut his former 2008 GOP Presidential rival and FNC anchor Mike Huckabee‘s allegations yesterday.* Before he gave his side, F&FW producers ran a clip of Huckabee indicating that a feckless Thompson had stayed in the ’08 GOP Prez race at his “good friend” McCain’s urging so that Thompson would split the vote with Huckabee to deny him a South Carolina victory; that “many people in the McCain camp had confirmed” that fact; and that “it was very painful at the time.” When F&F co-anchor Steve Doocy asked Thompson for his response, he laughingly sniped, “What Mike just said is, is fine except for one thing: there’s not one shred of truth to it.”

Pressing Thompson, co-host Alisyn Camerota inquired, “So, Senator McCain never asked you to stay in the race?” Emphatically, Thompson answered, “Correct! Senator McCain and I never had a conversation about staying in the race, staying out of the race.” He continued, “If I’d wanted to hurt Huckabee, I would have stayed in…as we went down to Tennessee…or would have endorsed John before then.” More definitively, he declared, “We didn’t [even] have a conversation with the intermediaries….There was nothing said about that.”

Clearly still miffed, Thompson elaborated, “Mike, Mike’s been around long enough to know not to…inhale all of that stuff too deeply. And, when he says [that] several McCain people have come to him and verified it, I, I must say–you know, I have nothing at all against Mike Huckabee–I doubt that. I doubt that.”

Then, calling Huckabee “out on the carpet” before his clearly uncomfortable FNC colleagues (F&F co-hosts Aly, Steve, and Eric Bolling), Thompson concluded, “And, if they did…he should name the names. Now, it’s just a rewriting of history that’s unnecessary.”

Coming to Huckabee’s defense, Steve stammered, “Well, it, it, apparently, it’s his perception on what happened.” Chiming in, less than convincingly, a smiling Aly asserted, “Well, we appreciate you clarifying all of that.”

Perhaps, Aly. But, Governor Huckabee probably doesn’t.

Fox & Friends – 01/13/12 (@ 7:52 a.m. ET)

Update: For columnist Tommy Christopher‘s subsequent take and the vid clip in Mediaite, link here.

Gretchen, Snooki, & the Senator

Carlson: “Man, I Got to Get You Some Glasses, Senator!” Less than two months ago, Fox & Friends co-anchor Gretchen Carlson respectfully interviewed Jersey Shore‘s Snooki, a/k/a Nicole Polizzi, on the curvy couch: specifically, she asked her about Senator John McCain’s unsolicited supportive Tweet against the tanning bed tax. Today, however, the former Miss America had a snarkier take on Snooki as to the 2008 GOP Presidential candidate’s latest flirtation with the pop culture queen.

During a first-hour headline news segment, Gretchen reported that Senator McCain had offered his opinion on Snooki’s recent (July 30) disorderly arrest.* Subsequently, F&F producers aired an audio clip from the Tim and Willy Show KLME in which McCain said, “Is Snooki too good looking to go to jail?…I’m kind of leaning towards Snooki being too good looking.” Immediately thereafter, Gretchen snarked, “Man, I got to get you some glasses, Senator!” When she did, her co-host Steve Doocy smiled and arched his eyes brows in surprise while her off-camera co-anchor Brian Kilmeade exclaimed, “Wow! Ow!” In response, she simply snorted in amusement and finished reading the Snooki story.

After that gratuitous slight, will Snooki return to Fox & Fiends’ curvy couch any time soon? On the weekday with Gretchen, probably not. However, on the weekend with Alisyn Camerota, another proud Jersey Shore Girl, it may well be a different matter altogether. N.B. Less than a month ago, Aly dubbed herself, “Snooki Camerota.”

*Fox & Friends – 08/12/10 (@6:37 a.m. ET)

Update: Mediaite.com’s Jocelyn Rousely weighs in on the strange “menage a trois” sans Gretchen.

Kiran Misses Mark

And Klein’s CNN “opinion-free, middle-of-the-road alternative”? Palin (and Tea Partiers) escapes unscathed. Today American Morning co-host Kiran Chetry seemed loaded for bear, or another moose predator, Sarah Palin. In a political segment (with Republican stalwart Mary Matalin and Democratic strategist Lanny Davis) entitled “Sarah Palin on the Stump,” Kiran a la Carol Costello seemed to be salivating for some piping hot minced Palin meat for breakfast. However, the big trophy game seemed a mite much for her to take down.

Before the discussion, Kiran commented, “Love her or hate her, it’s hard to ignore Sarah Palin. The former Alaska governor VOP [sic] vice presidential candidate is certainly a political lightning rod and she struck again over the weekend when she introduced Senator John McCain at a campaign event.”* Kiran continued, “After a year of sort of sniping between Senator John McCain’s camp and Sarah Palin’s camp, they’re back together….What’s going on, Mary?”

Countering Kiran’s clear implication, James Carville’s better half replied, “Well, the Senator and Governor Palin were never at odds. Campaigns…tend to get tense at the end there and that one did….But, the Senator has always been loyal to her and vice versa.”

Turning to Davis, Kiran persisted, “Well, Lanny,…John McCain was asked several months back to name some GOP…hopefuls that could run for President and he didn’t mention Sarah Palin, his former GOP running mate.” Then noting Palin’s popularity with “these crowds” and citing various polls that indicated that a majority of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents did not want her to run for President, Kiran asked, “What to make of that division there, Lanny?”

Unswayed by Kiran’s spin, Davis responded, “[N]ice to be on with Mary, and we usually agree which is a disappointment to your audience that loves partisanship. I agree with Mary…that John McCain has always taken a gracious high road and so has Sarah Palin….[D]espite the sniping among the staffs, it did not happen between the two of them.”

Then, the Clinton diehard added, “I give Sarah Palin a lot of credit. First of all, she’s always impressed me as a political performer and also a political talent, and I think any Democrat that underestimates her is making a mistake. Secondly, I give her credit for standing up to this Tea Party movement that is opposing John McCain, and… [her] going there tells me…that she’s willing to stand up to what she might consider her base: And, that is a good definition of political courage.”

Seemingly surprised by Davis’ positive evaluation of Palin, Kiran remarked, “Yeah, it’s a little bit confusing, though, because a lot of the things that she said are the exact things that the Tea Party wants to happen: I mean from less government, lower government. In fact, let’s listen to what she said. This is at a rally in Senator Harry Reid’s hometown of Searchlight, Nevada, on Saturday.”

[On the tape, Palin proclaims, “We’re not inciting violence. Don’t get sucked into the lame stream media’s lies about conservative America’s standing up for freedom as inciting violence. Violence isn’t the answer. It’s a bunch of bunk what the media is trying to feed you. Don’t let them divert attention from the debate.”]

After the footage aired, Kiran continued, “So, she [Palin] seemed to brush off the media and brush off the violence and sort of point the finger at the media. She also…said it was ‘ginned up’ and she referred to the media as the ‘lame stream media.’ Mary, does that work, blaming the media, instead of talking more seriously about some of these quite credible threats that have happened in the wake of health care reform passing?”

Matalin retorted, “Well, I don’t know that they’re necessarily credible. All of that was videotaped, and they’ve yet to appear to be any credible appearances filmed. But, that’s not the issue here. The Tea Party activists, we should be careful not to paint them with a broad brush: They’re not monolithic: They are largely pulled together by their constitutionalism….They want less government or government closer to the people that’s more accountable. And, the main stream press was slow to come to cover them.”

Then, underscoring her disagreement with Kiran’s claim of “quite credible threats,” Matalin asserted, “But, these notions of violence and threats that that has happened, I don’t think is credible. And, secondly, that it never happens to Republicans or conservatives or by the hands of liberal activists is nonsense.”

Appearing to seek some support, Kiran queried, “Lanny, do you take the same thoughts as Mary when it comes to whether or not this is a bigger deal what we’ve been talking about?”

Offering little solace, Davis declared, “I’m sorry to disappoint your audience that wants some fireworks here. But, I do agree with Mary….[T]he Tea Party movement does represent conservative thinking but there are extremists in both sides that both parties need to repudiate, including Sarah Palin. There was evidence of some nasty behavior and she should repudiate that the same way Democrats should among the haters on the left of which there are many.”

Apparently disappointed, a slightly smiling Kiran concluded, “Alright, Mary Matalin and Lanny Davis, great to get your take this morning. Appreciate it.” As Mary and Lanny bid each other adieu, Kiran’s co-host John Roberts sympathetically chuckled in the background before he took the reins again. In response, Kiran’s seemingly forced smiled briefly broadened.

Clearly, Kiran missed her mark this morning. No kill: ergo, no meal. Hunting hint: Reload and shoot straight.

*American Morning – 03/29/10 (@8:11 a.m. ET)

Meghan McCain: Miss McBeef?

Is Meghan McCain confused? Did she think that Ann Coulter dissed her vis-a-vis Laura Ingraham? Just a mere six days after Ingraham unloaded on the Daily Beast blogger and her dad, Meghan wrote “My Beef with Ann Coulter.”*

The very day after Meghan complained that her Dad’s failed candidacy had ruined her social life,** Ingraham, in an interview with Fox & Friends, declared, “I think maybe she [Meghan] should just stop writing insipid blogs and just focus on something positive. These people who are constantly whining about things that don’t matter: Go out and volunteer. I’m sure that you’ll find some nice people to date.”*** Last night FNC’s king of cable Bill O’Reilly remarked that he did not know what had started the one-sided feud with Ann Coulter. Today Fox & Friends co-hosts, Alisyn Camerota, Steve Doocy, and Brian Kilmeade elicited no further elucidation in their interview with the flaxen-tressed daughter of John McCain.

Not only does the timing of Meghan’s attacks on Coulter seems to indicate that she has the wrong woman in her sights but also the personal nature appears to reflect that to boot. Meghan decried Coulter as “offensive, radical, insulting” and one who “could be the poster woman for the most extreme side of the Republican Party.”* Not to mention, on F&F today she carped that Coulter had not answered her twenty-question quiz.

Meghan, did you mistake Coulter for Ingraham? Or are you aping Ron Reagan?

*http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-03-09/my-beef-with-ann-coulter/2/
**http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-03-02/looking-for-mr-far-right/
***https://jakeho.wordpress.com/2009/03/03/meghan-mccain-mocked/

Meghan McCain Mocked

On Fox & Friends today, conservative talk show host Laura Ingraham unloaded on Daily Beast bloggette Meghan McCain and her dad John McCain. When co-host Brian Kilmeade asked about Meghan’s post on how her dad’s campaign had ruined her dating life, Laura sarcastically said, “I woke up sweating [because] I was so upset by Meghan: I wouldn’t know who she was if she bumped into me in the street.”

Turning serious, Laura continued, “I do know this: John McCain’s anemic campaign has done more than ruin a lot of people’s personal lives: It’s done a lot to help wreck the economy by paving the way for Barack Obama. She should criticize her father for suspending his campaign and signing on for that absurd TARP….That was a disaster.” Addressing Megan directly, she added, “Our economic lives are in a shamble, Megan: We don’t really care about your dating life.”

With big smiles and loud laughter, co-hosts Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade visibly enjoyed Laura’s vitriolic response while a less appreciative Gretchen, crossing her arms, clearly did not. In defense of Megan, Gretchen replied, “Whoo-hoo! No, no, no. But Laura, I know that you are upset about his campaign but actually she’s fair and balanced in her blog.”

Giving Gretchen no quarter, Laura deadpanned, “Oh, okay. I think maybe she should just stop writing insipid blogs and just focus on something positive. These people who are constantly whining about things that don’t matter: Go out and volunteer. I’m sure that you’ll find some nice people to date. We don’t really care about this.”

A silent Gretchen turned to Steve who segued to a new topic. Then she smiling turned to Brian for his thoughts: he merely grinned. Bemused, Gretch simply guffawed.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-03-02/looking-for-mr-far-right/

Obama Changes History

In an historic moment, Barack Obama was elected last night by a 52% to 46% margin to be America’s forty-fourth president. Armed with seemingly limitless cash, JFK’s charisma and eloquence, and an unparalleled campaign juggernaut, the country’s first black president-elect shellacked  John McCain, Vietnam war hero, political maverick, and Bob Dole pol. In their post-election speeches, both Obama and McCain were gracious and held out olive branches to each other: It remains to be seen whether their gestures were genuine and, if so, whether their respective supporters will follow suit. For our country’s sake, let’s hope so.

Election Day! Vote!

Ladies and gents, Election Day is finally here! After the endless commercials, media coverage, and politicking, it’s your turn to be finally heard. Whether you are for Libertarian Bob Barr, Republican John McCain, Independent Ralph Nader, Democrat Barack Obama, or another presidential candidate, get out there and pull the proverbial lever. Let’s keep our nation’s democracy strong and vibrant!

Please feel free to post your vote and your opinion. Even though your posts will not be pre-moderated, please do not be racist, sexist, or uncivil. I know that the vast majority, if not all, of Carpe Diem readers will pen appropriately. Thanks.

P.S. You may have noticed that this blog has been testing a non pre-moderated approach. With your help, it can work.

Obama “Salutes” McCain

At a Jacksonville, FL, rally of supporters on election eve, Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama “saluted” his Republican opponent John McCain for his hard-fought campaign. As Obama spoke of McCain, he rubbed the left side of his face with his right hand’s forefinger and then his middle finger in a possible road rage gesture.* One is transported in time to Raleigh, N.C., where Obama gave a similar gesticulation when touching the right side of his face as he criticized his primary foe Hillary Clinton to a receptive audience.

Perhaps, Obama should stick to the old basketball “rattling of the keys” as a way of saying goodbye to his political opponents.

Links:

http://drudgereport.com/

*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBMdWxcFXQg

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/04/obamaflipsoffcl.html

Megyn 2 O’Reilly: Who Cares?

On the O’Reilly Factor last night, a strong, sexy, and assertive Megyn Kelly dismissed Bill O’Reilly’s palaver the same way that she does other East Coast political panjandrums. In the “In the Crosshairs” segment concerning Megyn’s confrontational interview with Barack Obama spokesman Bill Burton (after he accused FNC, Drudge, and McCain of an alliance), an impertinent O’Reilly asked, “Are you rooting for McCain?” Megyn responded, “Who cares who I’m rooting for? It’s irrelevant.” Megyn then asserted that she had received flack from both sides for her tough interrogations of their respective spokesmen.

If one has watched Megyn interview both Bill Burton and Tucker Bounds (McCain spokesman) on America’s Newsroom, one would be hard pressed to view her as anything other than an equal opportunity abuser.

Doocy Knocks NBC Anew

Less than an hour after Bill O’Reilly called NBC News “the Pro Obama Network” on the O’Reilly Factor (third showing), (Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy took aim at the Peacock Network again this morning. After calling MSNBC MSDNC two days ago, Steve designated its parent NBC the National Barack Channel. During a segment on SNL (Thursday), F&F co-host Brian Kilmeade complained that SNL took no shots at Barack Obama or Joe Biden while SNL special guest Will Ferrell and Tina Fey took on the John McCain and Sarah Palin; Gretchen Carlson declared, “News Alert: Saturday Night Live is not fair”: and Steve rejoined, “Do you think it could possibly be the fact that it does originate on NBC, the National Barack Channel?”

Hit or miss? You make the call.

Doocy Dubs MSNBC “MSDNC”

“We Don’t Need Another Hero”

The lyrics of Tina Turner, leggy queen of Southern soul, seem to echo in the minds of McCain’s Republican faithful now. Once again another GOP American war hero is playing second fiddle to his more youthful, charming, and charismatic Dem counterpart. Like World War II veteran Bob Dole, Bill Clinton’s 1996 presidential opponent, John McCain seems to have left his fighting spirit on the battlefield: perhaps, soon he’ll be happy making copious appearances on the talk show circuit and singing the praises of Viagra, too!

O’Reilly 2 Black Prof: “Boy”

At the conclusion of Bill O’Reilly’s Race Factor segment with black Temple University prof Marc LaMont Hill on racial language, O’Reilly referred to Hill as “boy.” O’Reilly had had a congenial discussion about racial “code” language citing the presidential debate (McCain’s “that one” allusion to Obama), Palin’s mentioning of Joe Six-Pack, etc. O’Reilly discounted most of Hill protestations that such words had racial connotations. Ironically, at the end of the segment at 8:28 ET, O’Reilly said, “I’m glad I didn’t have you in school, boy: I would have gotten [sic] a “D.”

Hill seemed to take no offense, and O’Reilly acted as if he had given none. They both laughed and seemed to part on collegial terms. An odd moment.

Kiran’s AM Nausea

American Morning co-host Kiran Chetry had an apparent bout of nausea today. During a young voter presidential debate perspective segment with Obama backer Alexandra Acker and McCain supporter Jason Mattera, Kiran held her stomach and gulped as if trying to keep her vittles in check. Morning sickness? It would seem a bit early after the April birth of her son Christopher Chetry. Perhaps, she was reacting to the pundits’ logorrhea. Or was she recalling yesterday’s brown pantsuit meant for Kyra Phillips that she had mistakenly put on? Regardless, she recovered nicely and continued in fine form.

Megyn Flustered

Spirited Megyn Kelly, America’s Newsroom co-host, got flustered a bit today in her segment with Joe Farah, WorldNetDaily.com editor and friend of Obama Nation author Jerome Corsi. (Corsi had been detained by the Kenyan government because he allegedly did not have a work permit.) The feisty, foxy esquire prefaced her interview with statements that Corsi was in Kenya to promote his “unflattering” book, had been deported, and had made “disproven” claims that Obama was raised a Muslim.

Farah responded, “Let me correct a few errors there”: He stated that Corsi had not been deported and that Obama had indeed been raised a Muslim. Defensively, Megyn responded, “Understood but there’s no dispute that today Barack Obama is not a Muslim.” Farah replied that Corsi said that Obama is a Christian today. Megyn answered, “Got it. Okay. I’m not trying to smear Jerome Corsi.”

Then Megyn asserted that the AP had good sources and that it had said that Corsi had been deported and that she did not know the truth. Then she claimed anew that Corsi had gone over to promote his book: Farah scoffed, “Nobody goes to Kenya to promote a book: Jerome Corsi went down to continue his investigative work into Obama’s connections with Prime Minister Odinga.” After Farah elaborated further, Megyn heatedly replied, “Listen, don’t get defensive: I’m just trying to get to the bottom of why your guy has been detained in Kenya.”

Megyn relishes a combative approach to her interviews. E.g., later in AN, she put Obama spokesman Bill Burton (as to Bill Ayers) and McCain spokeswoman Nancy Pfotenhauer (as to the Keating Five) through their paces in rigorous aerobic workouts. (The generally conservative Megyn does not seem to be in the tank for either candidate.) However, today she seemed to take more from Farah than she dished out.

Cf. https://jakeho.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/gretch-sandbagged/ for a similar dust-up between Gretchen Carlson and Lanny Davis.

Clayton: Ayers “So-Called Terrorist”

At 7:06 ET Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Clayton Morris called Bill Ayers a “so-called terrorist” as he introduced a segment entitled “Radical Ties.” The segment focused on Sarah Palin’s accusing Barack Obama of “pal[ling] around with terrorists who targeted their own country” yesterday after a front page article in the New York that indicated that Barack Obama had “played down his contacts” with Ayers. (Bill Ayers is the unrepentant founder of the radical Weathermen group that claimed responsibility “for bombing the Capitol, the Pentagon, the State Department Building and banks, courthouses and police stations” according to the New York Times.)

Clayton: fair and unbalanced?

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/a/william_c_ayers/index.html

Debate Team

Gretch was unfortunately right: The regular Fox & Friends co-hosts, Gretchen herself, Steve Doocy, and Brian Kilmeade, have replaced the F&F Weekend co-anchors of Alisyn Camerota, Dave Briggs, and Clayton Morris today for a special four-hour presidential debate edition. Since there appeared to be essentially nothing new from John McCain or Barack Obama nor any major gaffes by them last night, these four hours of F&FW may go on forever. Not even any Aly eye candy to help pass the time!

Oh, well! If you must, turn on the channel, grab your cup of coffee and the morning paper (or surf the Net), and listen to the program in the background as you greet the day. On second thought: As to the morning java, make a mimosa or two instead.

Megyn’s Aerobics Class

Megyn Kelly, America’s Newsroom co-host and former aerobics instructor, put Barack Obama spokesman Bill Burton through a heart-pounding exercise program today. Previously, the physically fit blonde had put John McCain’s spokesman Tucker Bounds through an equally rigorous regimen the same day that Bill Hemmer Hammered Obamaton.* In today’s show, an NRA ad aired that alleged that Obama supported a handgun ban: Burton seemed to evade the issue initially but realized that Megyn would have none of it.

Even though Burton denied that Obama favored the banning of handguns, Megyn pointed to a questionaire with a question answered in the affirmative and an amended one with the same answer and Obama’s personal annotations on it. Megyn gave him no quarter throughout the interview but let Burton know that it was not personal at its end: she said, “Bill Burton, thanks so much for coming on: always fun sparring with you, Buddy.”

Megyn’s Aerobics: Good for your mind, too.

*Cf. https://jakeho.wordpress.com/2008/09/15/hemmer-hammers-obamaton