Romney Leads Obama in ABC News/WaPo Poll

Knowing how notoriously skewed toward Democrats, this news must have the White House in panic this morning.

An announcement bump for Mitt Romney and a bus-tour boost for Sarah Palin put the pair atop the field for the Republican presidential nomination. But while their primary standings are similar, their broader prospects for election look vastly different.

Romney appears formidable: In a general-election trial heat in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll he runs evenly with Barack Obama among all Americans, and numerically outpoints him, 49-46 percent, among registered voters -- not a statistically significant lead, given sampling error, but a clear reflection of Obama's vulnerability to a well-positioned challenger.

Romney, though, is the only Republican to run that well; Obama leads all other potential opponents tested in this poll -- Palin, Newt Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty, Michele Bachmann and Jon Huntsman. Palin fares worst, trailing Obama by 17 points among all adults, 15 points among registered voters.

Results here, and they're not good across the board for the failed Obama presidency.

One thing to keep in mind which should tell you how bleak Obama's prospects are is this poll was just random adults, not registered or likely voters.

In the link at the Washington Post we discover the breakdown: Democrats 31%, Republicans 25%, independent 39% and have no clue 4%. Buried deep in there is a question about the Tea Party, and they actually increased in favorability, which is now at 46-44%

Diane Sawyer Launches Softballs at 'Beleaguered' Obama

It's just too much to take any more from these people. It's funny, but I don't recall any TV news babbleheads fretting with consternation over George W. Bush being "beleaguered" and wringing their hands in sympathy. But for sheer over-the-top drivel, can you top this one?

What about the famous quote from another beleaguered President, Abraham Lincoln, who said he had been driven many times to his knees because his own wisdom and that around him “was insufficient for the day”?

Why of course, the first thing we think of when looking at the poor, beleaguered Obama is Abraham Lincoln, one of the towering figures of American history. Do you suppose during the Civil War Lincoln would have found time to go on ESPN to fill out brackets and then traipse around New York for fundraisers while sending troops into harm's way?

Naturally, Sawyer manages to work in some basketball, just to take off the edge from this beleaguered president.

DIANE SAWYER: Just a final question. How much do you think Kentucky will win by?

PRESIDENT OBAMA: (LAUGHS) Diane, I --

DIANE SAWYER: I mean, at this point, we're really just looking at --

PRESIDENT OBAMA: I mean I will make this point. You know, a lot of folks focused on the fact that I filled out my bracket. Obviously, I hadn't been spending that much time studying it since I don't have anybody in the Final Four. (LAUGHS) Congratulations to Kentucky.

Nauseating. Oh, so he didn't spend much time on his picks, huh? I recall reading how he "agonized" over them, and in fact a spokesman last year was quoted thusly:

Obama coolly made his picks on ESPN as if he might have just thought them up--as if college basketball really is second nature to him--but don't be fooled: the president agonized over his bracket beforehand, according to White House spokesman Tommy Vietor.

So now that he gets blown out of his bracket, he's claiming he didn't spend any time on them.

Sure.

Full transcript of this sickening twinkie-munch session here.

Women Flocking To Democrats At Last Minute ... Really?

Let's get one thing straight from the beginning. Anybody who claims to be an expert on the actions, motivations, or inner workings of the female of the species is either seriously deluded or a fool.

Anyway, in yet another attempt to blunt all of the bad news about the upcoming bloodbath coming for the Democrats in November, a little known group with an even larger group of mostly unknown people has come out with the assertion that women voters are at the last minute returning to the Democrat party and giving them hope.

ABC’s Michael Falcone reports:

Women are beginning to “make up their minds” about the candidates they will cast their ballots for on Election Day, and that may be a good thing for Democrats, an expert on women’s voting trends said on Friday.

ABC described the group this way.

Gardner’s nonpartisan organization is dedicated to engaging unmarried women in the political process.

The group in question is called Women's Voices, Women's Vote.

Clue number one, the web site has a dot org designation. That is always a clear sign that this is probably a liberal or progressive organization. Lo and behold, what happens when I dig through and find the bios of the people that make up this group?

Page S. Gardner, Founder and President, WVWV
Ms. Gardner also has managed some of the most hotly debated national public policy issue campaigns, including those related to reproductive rights, civil rights, national budget priorities, technology and trade. Ms. Gardner has been credited with designing and implementing some of the most creative and successful issue and legislative campaigns, as well as staging come from behind candidate victories in key battleground races.

Ruth Ferguson, Chief Finance Officer, WVWV
She began her career in politics as a policy analyst for the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. She was appointed to serve as the first staff director for the first-in-the-nation Caucus of Women Legislators in the Massachusetts State House.

Chris Desser, Fellow, Tomales Bay Institute
Chris has practiced environmental law has served on the boards of many companies, foundations and progressive non-profits including WDN, The Rockwood Leadership Program, Patagonia, Mother Jones Magazine, and the Rainforest Action Network.

Michael Lux, President, American Family Voices
Michael Lux is the co-founder and CEO of Progressive Strategies, L.L.C., a political consulting firm focused on strategic consulting for non-profits, PACs, and progressive donors. Since starting the company, Mr. Lux has launched a number of important new projects, including American Family Voices, an issue advocacy group working on pocketbook issues for American families, and the Progressive Donor Network, which works to coordinate a network of individual donors, issue advocacy groups, and top flight political consultants and strategists.

Mr. Lux has a diverse background in the consulting, labor and consumer advocacy world. Lux serves on the boards of several important organizations, including the Arca Foundation, the Proteus Fund, 21st Century Democrats, Progressive Majority, the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, and the Clinton-Gore alumni association.

Mimi Mager, Partner, Heidepriem & Mager
She served as a member of the Clinton-Gore transition team, Special Assistant/Deputy to the Director of VISTA, Executive Director of the Friends of VISTA, Executive Director of the Women's Campaign Fund, Senior Advisor in the Michael Dukakis, Mondale-Ferraro, and Fred Harris presidential campaigns, and Legislative Assistant to Senator Jim Abourezk (D-SD). Mager serves on the Board of Directors of the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, Bright Beginnings Inc., and Friends of VISTA.

Willliam McNary, President of USAction
William McNary has been called one of the most electrifying and inspirational speakers of our time. McNary serves as the President of USAction, the nation's largest coalition of progressive grassroots organizations working together to win social, racial, economic and environmental justice.

You would think they would also update their website.

McNary currently serves on the Climate Change Advisory Group for Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. He was the Vice Chair of Consumer Affairs for Governor Blagojevich's transition team.

John Podesta, President and CEO, Center for American Progress
John Podesta is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for American Progress. Mr. Podesta served as Chief of Staff to President William J. Clinton from October 1998 until January 2001

So the supposedly non-partisan organization has nothing but liberal progressives deeply involved in Democrat politics and the head of the organization likes to tout the fact that she has helped many an underdog candidate win an election. Seems to me she is hoping for some of that magic now.

Maybe somebody ought to check out their non-profit status, but I am sure Mr. Podesta has already taken care of that.

And ABC, before running stories that are planted by far left organizations, try to hold on to whatever "journalistic integrity" you have and at least do a cursory check on them. Or did you and decided to run with the propaganda anyway?

The last piece of irony for you. The head of this organization which looks out for unmarried women and cares so deeply for them is married with children.

She lives in Marblehead, Massachusetts with her husband, Peter Wright, and their son, James.

ABC's Long List Only Has One Name

Gee ABC found a case from 14 years ago with a Republican who "misstated" his military service, while overlooking current Senator Tom Harkin, who also falsely claimed service in Vietnam. Oh that's right, he is Democrat, like John "Christmas in Cambodia" Kerry, so no harm, no foul, I guess.

Great piece of journalism there, ABC. You say there is a long list of politicians who have faced a similar situation like the latest scandal revolving around Democrat candidate Richard Blumenthal and then the only case you can cite is a Republican from 14 years ago. You might want to check on a bunch of the current crop of so-called veterans who put on a little dog and pony show in Washington a while back euphemistically called Winter Soldiers II. They played before a packed house of Democrats in the basement of the congressional building, and just like their predecessor the original Winter Soldiers, had a whole list of wannabees, never had been people trot out their horror stories from Afghanistan and Iraq.

No, when it comes to creative editing on biographies related to military service the Democrats excel, and those that can't inflate their street cred that way go out of their way to discredit those who do serve. See: Murtha, Jack; Durbin, Richard.

While you are it, ABC, why don't you go check out the ads the Democrats are running against Ilario Pantano and Allen West, two Iraq war veterans who are threatening to take seats away from the Democrats.

ABC Already Carrying Water for Peter Orszag?

Good grief. On Friday it was announced that Peter Orszag's fiancee would be assuming a role as the co-host of Good Morning America on the weekends, but come on, guys. This is what showed up in my news reader this morning.

So Apple is evil, CEO's get insane perks, the recession is bad for your sex life, how to vacation on the cheap, and turn those little used skills in to cash.

It is almost like they are pushing a narrative or something. I fully expected the weekend edition to take on a more sunshine and lollipops attitude in regards to the economic news along with pushing whatever bailout, takeover or to continue the attack against any private sector enemy deemed so by this administration. I also figured the hiring of Brianna to host on the weekends would be used to blunt some of the bad news that always come out from this administration on Fridays around 4 PM EST every week, but guys, can we give it a break during the week?

Ever notice these stories never seem to shed any light on the obscene perks and salaries of union leaders or indeed their own executives?

ABC's Checkbook Journalism

It's not as if this woman is some hot property that you have to pay her for access. I could see maybe flying someone in for an interview or putting them in a hotel, but $200,000 for access to an alleged baby-killer?

New evidence was released Thursday in the Casey Anthony murder case, including the amount of money she received from a television network, as well as conversations she had with other inmates.

Anthony's defense team told Judge Stan Strickland that she no longer has funds to pay for the trial. Her attorney testified ABC News paid Casey Anthony $200,000, but that those funds are now gone.

Strickland is deciding whether to approve the declaration of Anthony being indigent, which would make the state pay for her defense.

A transcript of conversations Anthony had with a fellow inmate was also released, stating that "an Orange County Corrections officer may have facilitated the communication once the friendship had begun."

Casey Anthony remains jailed on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Caylee, who was last seen in June of 2008.

Fox apparently is claiming this is breaking news although it originally was divulged back in 2008.

Ironically enough ABC recently announced staff cuts.

ABC News announced earlier this month it was laying off nearly a third of its newsroom to save costs. A spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Medevac In Afghanistan

Here is an ABC report on the work that the US Army medevac units do to help save lives in Afghanistan. Most of the footage, while they were careful to avoid saying it, took place during the assault on COP Keating, the outpost that the Taliban decided to attack and try to overrun. At the end we had suffered 8 dead, but they had beaten back somewhere between 200 - 300 of the enemy. For those not familiar with the battle that took place there take a few minutes to read this report.

When the assault was over the men stationed there were literally left with only the clothes on their backs. The base had caught fire and everything they owned that was in the barracks or in some sort of shelter was burned. The American Legion along with Target department stores and several other organizations launched a campaign to help get these guys some of their stuff back.

Remember these people that fly these medevac missions whenever your local lefty wants to start spouting his liberal talking points about dumb, ignorant, refugees from the street, to describe the men and women who serve.

Or the next time you hear yet another one of those stories about somebody objecting to the display of an American flag.

ABC's Unwitting Self-Parody: 'Proof: The American Worker is Getting Nickle and Dimed'

The ABC News Blog laments the plight of the common man here in Obamaland and concludes we're all getting the shaft.

Proof: The American Worker is Getting Nickle and Dimed

There is a study out today from UCLA that looks at how employers are cutting corners when it comes to paying their low income employees.

68% of the workers surveyed were cheated out of pay during the previous week.

The researchers found that the average worker was nickle and dimed out of $51 dollars a week. Employers weren't always paying their workers for all the overtime they worked. And some employees were talking their staff out of putting in for workers compensation after injuries.

Wait until ABC figures out their employees no longer know how to spell nickel.

ABC: Free Airtime For ObamaCare, No Time for Stossel

Last week ABC News ran an all-day infomercial for ObamaCare and the ratings tanked for the primetime special.

Last Friday 20/20's John Stossel was slated to present a five-minute piece on Canada's abysmal government-run healthcare system and what do you know, it was yanked in favor of nonstop Michael Jackson coverage.

So much for presenting both sides of an issue.

Needless to say, Stossel isn't happy about it.

JOHN Stossel is telling his own network "Give me a break!" after it pulled his health-case insurance segment off the air to give more time to the death of Michael Jackson.

"I am sick of the Michael Jackson coverage," the "20/20" co-host wrote on his blog page at abc.com. "I hate it that ABC didn't run my piece."

He was apparently upset after the network decided to hold his piece on Canada's health-care system -- set to air last Friday night, the day after Jackson died -- in favor of a memorial to the King of Pop.

"Free markets sometimes encourage pandering to the masses," Stossel wrote on his blog. But "I still say, bless the market. The good outweighs the bad."

Using the network's own Web site to complain about its news decisions is pretty unusual.

According to senior vice president of ABC News, Jeffrey Schneider, the piece in question was a five-minute segment that contained some new reporting, but was mainly a compilation of clips from previous specials.

So it contains some clips? Big deal. The ObamaCare telethon contained a nonstop series of staged events and a filibuster from Obama himself.

Where is the new reporting in that propaganda?

Other than Jake Tapper, Stossel is one of the few credible sources appearing on ABC News. Conveniently removing his segment two days after the Obamathon seems very weak, especially considering it was five minutes during an avalanche of Jackson coverage.

Credit to Stossel for speaking up about yet another black eye for ABC.

Here are some thoughts from Stossel on the Canadian system. No wonder ABC censored him.

ObamaCare Infomercial Crushed in Ratings

Looks like the bloom is off the rose. The most overexposed president in history apparently is losing his drawing power. It's pretty much buried in this item. No doubt if this informercial sham on ABC won the hour it would be headline news.

The "Got Talent" lead-in helped NBC's new drama "The Philanthropist," 4.8/8, get off to a decent start at 10, winning the hour in viewers and adults 18-49 despite a slightly higher household number for "CSI: NY," 4.9/8, on CBS. An ABC News special with President Obama drew a 3.1/6.

Update: Hot Air links. Thanks!

By the way, it should be noted for clarification the Fox affiliates air news at 10 pm, so they aren't listed in the ratings. Bottom line: Obama got smoked by both NBC and CBS.

I hope ABC is happy they sold their credibility for lousy ratings.

Update: More here.

President Obama's town hall meeting on health care delivered a sickly rating Wednesday evening.

The one-hour ABC News special "Primetime: Questions for the President: Prescription for America" (4.7 million viewers, 1.1 preliminary adults 18-49 rating) had the fewest viewers in the 10 p.m. hour. The special tied some 8 p.m. comedy repeats as the lowest-rated program on a major broadcast network.

The only comedy it probably beat was Keith Olbermann.

ABC News Joins the Obama Administration

Wow, nothing like independence from the government.

Upon hearing this news, NBC immediately announced plans to move into Obama's bedroom.

On the night of June 24, the media and government become one, when ABC turns its programming over to President Obama and White House officials to push government run health care -- a move that has ignited an ethical firestorm!

Highlights on the agenda:

ABCNEWS anchor Charlie Gibson will deliver WORLD NEWS from the Blue Room of the White House.

The network plans a primetime special -- 'Prescription for America' -- originating from the East Room, exclude opposing voices on the debate.

Needless to say, I'll never watch these clowns again. RNC chief of staff Ken McKay expressed his displeasure.

As the national debate on health care reform intensifies, I am deeply concerned and disappointed with ABC's astonishing decision to exclude opposing voices on this critical issue on June 24, 2009. Next Wednesday, ABC News will air a primetime health care reform “town hall” at the White House with President Barack Obama. In addition, according to an ABC News report, GOOD MORNING AMERICA, WORLD NEWS, NIGHTLINE and ABC’s web news “will all feature special programming on the president’s health care agenda.” This does not include the promotion, over the next 9 days, the president’s health care agenda will receive on ABC News programming.

Today, the Republican National Committee requested an opportunity to add our Party's views to those of the President's to ensure that all sides of the health care reform debate are presented. Our request was rejected. I believe that the President should have the ability to speak directly to the America people. However, I find it outrageous that ABC would prohibit our Party's opposing thoughts and ideas from this national debate, which affects millions of ABC viewers.

In the absence of opposition, I am concerned this event will become a glorified infomercial to promote the Democrat agenda. If that is the case, this primetime infomercial should be paid for out of the DNC coffers. President Obama does not hold a monopoly on health care reform ideas or on free airtime. The President has stated time and time again that he wants a bipartisan debate. Therefore, the Republican Party should be included in this primetime event, or the DNC should pay for your airtime.

NYPD Suspects Gay Sex Slay in ABC Newsman's Murder

Police believe the murdered George Weber was killed by someone he may have met online.

Radio newsman George Weber was stabbed to death in a grisly "crime of passion" by a man he likely knew and let into his Brooklyn apartment, sources said yesterday.

Weber's half-naked body was found Sunday morning in his bloody Carroll Gardens apartment. The broadcaster was stabbed multiple times in the neck, back and upper torso.

Cops are investigating the murder as a gay slaying, police sources said.

Investigators said gay-porn pictures were scattered around his ransacked home, but it was unclear if anything was missing.

There was no evidence of forced entry and investigators believe Weber may have known his attacker.

Cops are trying to identify several men who posed in various pictures with the victim, according to investigators. The photos were found in Weber's home.

More from the Daily News.

WABC newsman George Weber was slain in a struggle so violent that his killer's blood splattered across the reporter's Brooklyn home, police sources said Monday.

Weber's lifeless body, his ankles bound with duct tape, was discovered in the bedroom of his Carroll Gardens apartment Sunday.

The radio reporter had been savagely attacked, with multiple cuts to his neck, torso, arms and hands, police said.

Blood was found throughout the ransacked apartment, but investigators think some of it belonged to the killer, believed to be a date Weber picked up Friday night, sources said.

One neighbor heard a scuffle, followed by several loud thumps Friday night, then silence. Witnesses have told cops they saw a man talking on a cell phone outside Weber's home Friday night.

Investigators suspect that Weber arranged to meet his companion over the Internet and were searching his e-mail and Web browser history, sources said.

Reached for comment, the Scituate Sodomizer called everyone homophobes.

ABC Snags Palin Interview

Maybe now this will put a temporary halt to the Sarah Palin won't do interviews idiocy sweeping the left.

Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin plans to sit down later this week for her first television interview since John McCain chose her as his running mate more than a week ago.

The first-term Alaska governor has given speeches, alongside McCain and at the Republican National Convention, since McCain introduced her as his surprise vice presidential pick on Aug. 29.

McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said Sunday that Palin would be made available "when we think it's time and when she feels comfortable doing it."

Later, a McCain-Palin adviser said Sunday that an interview was offered several days ago to Charles Gibson of ABC News. The adviser spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement had not been made.

The adviser said the interview was expected to take place later this week in Alaska. Palin is expected to return to her state at midweek after more joint appearances with McCain.

An ABC News spokeswoman said the network had no comment.

It's a nice get for ABC considering the enormous public fascination with Palin and you can be sure it'll generate blockbuster ratings. Gibson by no means is in the tank for the GOP, but he's a fair guy and I doubt Palin will get sandbagged with some of the absurd allegations being made against her of late. Gibson would lose credibility if he runs with any of the specious Internet-related slander against Palin.

I would also suggest rolling her out with an interview every few days with respectable journalists (which, of course, rules out NBC), and it would be wise for any competitor to Oprah Winfrey to book Palin.

It's Getting Stupid Now: ABC Digs Into Astrology Bag For Political Forecast

Maybe chalk it up to a slow news Friday. Or maybe laziness. Stupidity and incompetence could also be factors.

Dear God, help us, though, if this nitwit is right about the first stab at aligning the stars.

ABC News' Nitya Venkataraman Reports: Predicting political destinies isn't just for the Sunday morning set this election season. Earlier this summer, astrologer Susan Miller offered her thoughts to ABC News on the '08 landscape and predicted the fall of a political leader during the first week of August, Hillary Clinton's Senate departure and New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg on a November ticket.

It seemed appropriate -- the week before back-to-back political conventions with no vice presidential announcements as of yet -- to revisit Miller's predictions for 2008's political all stars.

She felt that Bloomberg's chances of being on a November ticket were good.

"I think Bloomberg might be chosen as a running mate for one of them," she said, his independent status making him a possible choice for either the Republican or Democratic candidate. Her reasoning for a Bloomberg Rising cites the Aug. 16 lunar eclipse as opposite Bloomberg's Feb. 14 birthday.

When an eclipse falls on or opposite your birthday, Miller says "your number is coming up for big change".

It's pretty much downhill from there.

Crazy Uncle Excluded From Debate, Meltdown Ensues

The Paul nuts aren't happy and see conspiracies around every corner.

Jesse Benton, Paul's spokesman, said it was a "big mistake" not to include Paul, especially given Paul's recent success in fundraising. He said the campaign has been trying to reach Fox News to get an explanation for the decision, but its calls had not been returned.

"There very well might be some bias," Benton said. "Ron brings up some topics that aren't very popular with Fox News, as in fiscal responsibility and withdrawing from the war in Iraq ... that does leave us scratching our heads a little bit about whether it was deliberate. Based on metrics, I don't see how you can possibly exclude Dr. Paul."

Some livid Paul supporters are distributing e-mails calling for a boycott of Fox advertisers.

A Fox representative did not immediately return calls for comment about the complaints.

Paul has been invited to a GOP forum that Fox News is sponsoring in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on January 10, Benton said.

The Paulians even have sample letters for the illiterates to send out.

Here's a portion of one. Remember now, they're peaceful and non-violent!

The supporters of Ron Paul are peaceful, non-violent, and law abiding. They desire to live peacefully with their fellow man and respect the rights of others. However, when they see injustice occurring (such as a corporation or network attempting to control the outcome of an election) they will peacefully use their first amendment right to speak up boldly and loudly. I urge you to please allow Ron Paul to participate in this upcoming forum of Republican candidates. There is zero reason to exclude him and every reason to include him! He has a growing campaign, supporters across the nation, and has a huge chest of funds to support his campaign! However, if you do not include him in this upcoming forum you can expect the supporters of Ron Paul to continue speaking up peacefully, boldly, and loudly about your unfair decision. This message will only be one of tens of thousands of additional messages from concerned citizens across the nation.

We know what your network is up to by excluding Ron Paul. Until you include him in this forum we will use our first amendment rights to proclaim far and wide (in a peaceful, non-violent, and completely law abiding manner)...

"WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!"

Waaah!

Funny, but I don't see Duncan Hunter supporters acting like children over him being excluded.

ABC at Qualcomm: Can Someone Start Rioting Please?

The lamestream media is desperately trying to create chaos out of a terrible situation in Southern California and the evacuees at Qualcomm Stadium lamentably aren't doing their part. The template has been set: We must create another Katrina.

This pathetic headline sums up the national media's futility to create panic and despair.

How Long Will the Good Vibes Last at Qualcomm Stadium?

Half a million Southern Californians have evacuated their homes in the face of vicious wildfires, and thousands of them have found refuge at San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium.

But unlike the grim conditions faced by Hurricane Katrina evacuees at the Superdome in New Orleans, the evacuees in San Diego are whiling away the hours California style — with yoga, acupuncture, massages and even gourmet buffet tables.

They go on to tell some nice stories of human kindness, but that just won't do, apparently.

We need despair, damnit! Thank goodness local media in California isn't playing the game and is helping keep people informed with the facts, rather than creating chaos.

But I guess people behaving and keeping cool doesn't sell, And just who do these people think they are evacuating when told to do so and refusing to play the victim?

Meanwhile, CNN President Jon Klein, who sneered that a blogger who helped take down Dan Rather was "sitting in his living room in his pajamas writing," has decided to use the wildfires to help promote CNN propaganda.

I'm wondering whether Matt Drudge was in his jammies when he received this:

CNN MEMO: USE FIRES TO 'PUSH' 'PLANET IN PERIL' SERIES; DON'T 'IRRESPONSIBLY' TIE TO GLOBAL WARMING
Thu Oct 18 2007 14:11:42 ET

According to notes from CNN's Monday news meeting network president Jon Klein tells employees to use the California fire tragedy to "push" their "Planet in Peril" special, but warns reporters not to "irresponsibly link" the fires to "Global Warming."

NewsBusters exposes further media perfidy here and here, as the intellectual pygmies from MSNBC and CBS laughably try and connect the wildfires to global warming and Iraq.

Thankfully, Governor Schwarzenegger isn't playing along.

SHIPMAN: So, you think the comparison to Katrina that everybody's making in the back of their mind these days is a good one in terms of state and federal.

SCHWARZENEGGER: All you have to do is just look around here and see how happy people are. No one is screaming. No one is complaining about anything.

SHIPMAN: Well, you're saying everybody's working together, but you have heard there have been some complaints from officials. For example, in Orange County who say, 'If we'd only had more resources earlier, more planes, more firefighting resources, we might have been able to head off the fires ravaging Orange County right now.'

SCHWARZENEGGER: Anyone that is complaining about the planes just wants to complain because it's a bunch of nonsense. The fact is that we have all the planes in the world here. We have 90 aircraft here and they can't fly because of the wind situation.

SHIPMAN: At one point, he even employed a heavy weight grip to make his case. The point he was making, you have to be ready to fly --

[Schwarzenegger grips Shipman's arm and starts vigorously shaking it.]

SCHWARZENEGGER: Trust me when I tell you, you're looking for a mistake and you won't find it because it's all good news, as much as you maybe hate it, but it's good news. Trust me, okay?

Sky Is Blue, Weekend Edition

God love the folks at Rasmussen. They apparently have enough disposable income to do a poll on a subject settled eons ago.

For what it's worth, they got the precise results you'd expect.

Americans See Liberal Media Bias on TV News

By a 39% to 20% margin, American adults believe that the three major broadcast networks deliver news with a bias in favor of liberals. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 25% believe that ABC, CBS, and NBC deliver the news without any bias.

Similar results are found for CNN and National Public Radio (NPR). By a margin of 33% to 16%, Americans say that CNN has a liberal bias. The nation’s adults say the same about NPR by a 27% to 14% margin.

There is one major exception to the belief that media outlets have a liberal bias—Fox News. Thirty-one percent (31%) of Americans say it has a bias that favors conservatives while 15% say it has a liberal bias.

Of course, the left sees opposite results. So far gone, they actually think there's a conservative bias to the news. Meaning, of course, they're beyond hope.

But we already knew that.

Not surprisingly, there are huge partisan and ideological differences in the data. For example, among self-identified liberals, all of the media outlets are believed to have some net bias in favor of conservatives. However, 50% of liberals say that NPR is unbiased. Forty-three percent (43%) say the same about CNN. As for the major television networks, 49% of liberals believe they have a conservative bias. Just 10% of liberals see a liberal bias at ABC, CBS, and NBC.

Conservatives throughout the nation see things entirely differently. Sixty-two percent (62%) see a liberal bias at the major broadcast networks and 55% say the same about CNN. Forty-five percent (45%) of conservatives see Fox as unbiased and the rest are evenly divided. Eighteen percent (18%) of conservatives see Fox News as having a liberal bias while 21% say the opposite.

Via Hot Air.

Read the rest...

Secret War Inside Iran

Shhh! Just between you and me, I've got a big scoop. Turns out the U.S. is conducting secret raids inside Iran. But it's a secret, so don't tell anyone, OK?

Oh wait, some idiot already did.

A Pakistani tribal militant group responsible for a series of deadly guerrilla raids inside Iran has been secretly encouraged and advised by American officials since 2005, U.S. and Pakistani intelligence sources tell ABC News.

The group, called Jundullah, is made up of members of the Baluchi tribe and operates out of the Baluchistan province in Pakistan, just across the border from Iran.

It has taken responsibility for the deaths and kidnappings of more than a dozen Iranian soldiers and officials.

I'd quote more, but it's a secret.

Now look. Someone else has found out.

WTF! Can't anyone keep a secret?

Oh well, at least the story of the raids to be conducted between 4 a.m. and 4 p.m. on April 6 is still a secret.