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I wrote a piece the other day about how the ability of right-wing loudmouths like Rush Limbaugh and Matt Drudge to say the most abjectly horrible, unutterable stuff on behalf of the GOP was made possible by a group of facilitators willing to use their credibility to legitimize them as part of the process. Without them, these arguments would never enter the mainstream, and people like Rush and Drudge would be written off as extremist clowns.
So now Matt Lauer is doing the honors. According to Media Matters:
NBC Today co-host Matt Lauer suggested that when Rush Limbaugh "said perhaps Michael J. Fox was exaggerating or faking these effects of Parkinson's disease" in a recent campaign ad, Limbaugh was "just say[ing] what a lot of people were privately thinking."
Matt Drudge and Rush Limbaugh made the unspeakably vile assertion that the underage pages were at fault for luring poor Mark Foley into temptation. Most people are disgusted by that, but soon the fawning Mark Halperin and John Harris write, and completely without irony, that "Matt Drudge rules our world." Which may just be the horrible truth.
Drudge and Rush would not have the status and the credibility they do were not people like Halperin, Harris, Howie Kurtz, Brian Williams and Matt Lauer willing to go in there and reclaim them for saying the most base things imaginable to keep the Republicans in power. In doing so they are as guilty as if they uttered the very same things themselves.
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Jane!
Kobe!
Christy!
Parallel play!
If only there were some way to visit Parkinson’s upon Messrs. Drudge, Limpballs, Lauer, et al. so that they could report back to us, the real, the undeniable truth.
I await their karma with considerable interest.
FITZ!
Rootz!
Get the vote out–call and volunteer T O D A Y
In other words, ‘other people’ being an often used straw man, what he himself (Lauer) is thinking.
Agreeing with Limberger…what a ‘ditto’ tool.
Not surprising that Lauer is parroting Limbaugh, he’s always struck me as an aging fratboy type who would hear what he wanted to hear from LImbaugh.
CatStaff, I would never wish Parkinson’s on another human being for any reason.
My uncle has an advanced case now, and when I was young I watched my music teacher freeze and die by inches.
I hope we can fight people without thinking of them as subhuman. [Maybe Cheney…no, not even him.]
precisely. Depraved and unredeemable.
CatStaff @ 5
Well, there is a way. Ask one of the “Frozen Addicts”.
Ed Gillespi R-Idiot drowning on MSNBC trying to scare everyone with Webb’s novels. oddly, Tucker calls him on it. Interestingly, Ed sits in front of a window with a massive rainstorm lashing against it. Symbolism?
Well, now we know the answer to the question “where in the world is Matt Lauer?” He’s halfway up his own backside. Perhaps he can be encouraged to complete his journey and disappear altogether.
egregious @ 9
I agree with you, but I also understand what Catstaff is saying, especially after watching the big fat junkie pig actually physically mock MJ Fox.
I’m not the first one to say it, but if Limbaugh did have Parkinson’s, he’d be the loudest advocate for stem cell research in the country.
It doesn’t matter how awful they are, as long as we don’t turn into them during our fight against what they stand for. And no way will we give up fighting. Think of all the Americans before us who fought long, tough battles and succeeded.
Keep your eyes on the prize — hold on.
Jane Hamsher:
F*cken A! (uttered in Fred Wardian tones)
kristinejoy @ 11
Snowflake babies.
Cold-hearted bastards.
It’s a theme.
great post, Jane. I refuse to watch that freakin show so I missed Matt’s effed up comment.
but I have to admit, I’m not following the “redemption” title of this post. Maybe I’m too fried on this Friday afternoon…
I’m sure Matt et al would appreciate seeing their good deeds made better known among their “peers.” Spotlight anyone?
This is exactly analogous to the delight demonstrated by the media when Drudge or another internet site posts rumors about Clinton or other Democratic politicians. Cokie Roberts is particularly fond of saying that the media is forced to cover the story because it is “out there.” On the other had it is almost impossible to push stories about conservatives into the MSM. These efforts require hard copy (e.g. video or documents) before the MSM will consider the issue.
It would be great if, in a show of solidarity with Michael J. Fox, every actor in Hollywood refused to go on the Today show, until Lauer apologized for this hideous remark.
Do you know what makes it worse?
Michael J. Fox is a HUGE reason why NBC crawled out of the ratings sewer back in the 80s. You’d think there’d be some fucking gratitude for Michael J. Fox on NBC’s part, doncha? The network had been rock bottom for at least 6 years when Family Ties got matched with Cheers as a one-two sitcom knockout. The grownups loved Cheers, but the teenaged girls ADORED Michael J. Fox. It was the teenaged girls who got the tube set to NBC. The parents stuck with it after FT for Cheers. A brilliant setup.
BarbaraB @ 13
a spew moment!
Oh Friday—what’s the news dump gonna be?
Matt cheats on his wife while he traveling the world doing “Where’s Matt”. I am sure I am just say[ing] what a lot of people are privately thinking…you know what I mean?
While not wishing Parkinson’s upon one of these
unthinkinguncaring commentators (they certainly aren’t reporters), I’d like to hope that at least one person each one of them knows does have Parkinson’s or any one of the other degenerative diseases that stem cell therapy might help, or that genuine scientific reseach will find better treatments for.Of course, then they’d be in favor of it, but only if
someone elseinsurance pays for it.I have a friend with Parkinson’s. A young friend. It is a devastating thing. His life is completely and royally fucked.
But he trudges on, taking so many pills every day that it’s hard to believe he has time for anything else. He works when he can, and keeps on keeping on.
Shame on these people who want to talk about things they have no knowledge of, who insult Michael J. Fox with the same casual air they’d use to order a drink or discuss last night’s episode of “Desperate Housewives.”
They’re morally and ethically bankrupt, and they deserve to wonder why no one gives a damn when terrible things befall them in the future.
And the thing is, you know terrible things will happen in their lives. That’s the way life goes. So when those things happen, and life gets miserable for them for a day or a year or more, I hope they hear Nelson Muntz in their head and try to figure out why.
LJ/Aquaria @ 21
This is a wonderful idea. Let’s see what we can do to make it happen.
I await their karma with considerable interest.
If only there was a way to hurry it along.
Maybe a great idea, but it will never happen.
OK, OK, OK, Ed*ard, via Egregious’ ActBlue page…
$20 to Benson (plus tip).
Who will match me?
Less than a month ago lauer stood beside the Preznut and shaked in his little GE boots. W. freaked matt into believing that only he can protect him for the terrahrists and now a shakin’ off-his-meds Michael J. Fox. What a fcuking pussy matt lauer is.
TRex @ 28
Karma moseys.
bonzarella @ 27
But anyone who boycotts NBC will then be banned from all outlets in the NBC “family.” Another insidious side effect of media consolidation. With so few separate entities, everybody has to stay in line with the corporate story or risk losing their livelihood.
Oh, yeah, let freedom reign!
bonzarella @ 27
And not just refuse to go on the Today show but ANY NBC show including Leno. A clever name for the boycott would help - what say you amazing FDL punsters?
It will never happen, for the reason Linda stated above. Their livelihoods depend on shows being bought by NBC, the publicity outlets, etc. etc.
The repercussions would be horrible for many a career.
This it’s “what a lot of people were thinking” is the same excuse used when Howard Stern wondered why the Columbine killers hadn’t raped the girls first.
“Why, heck, it’s what a lot of people were thinking, but didn’t want to say.”
It’s transference, plain and simple. Nothing real.
newspaperbrat @ 34
NB See ya later.
Must Boycott TV
NBC/Universal Condemnation
I just “voted” some more with $25 each to WEED in VA, Kissel and Sharpe in NC, and Wulsin in OH. That is my small way of telling Limbaugh and all the other limpdicks to go to Hell! I have been watching a younger brother slowly overtaken with MS. Pissed off doesn’t even describe how I feel about Bush and his value voters.
NB See ya later.
Must Boycott TV
NBC/Universal Condemnation
From Josh Marshall:
This really is pretty unbelievable: NBC won’t run ads for the Dixie Chicks documentary because, in the words of the NBC’s commercial clearance department, “they are disparaging to President Bush.”
Networks usually at least go to the length of coming up with a phony ‘we don’t run ads with a political message’ excuse. But I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one say something like this. I would have thought that with the president’s popularity so low some of the network’s usual supineness and cowardice would be a little less evident.
I’m still watching Olbermann. Fuck ‘em.
arianna, alec, are you out there? Must Boycott TV is waiting.
The Lauer than low No Show.
Primordial Ooze. I matched you and put in $20 to Benson. Now how about someone else matching that plus throwing in 3 hours of phoning or canvassing or anything else for our candidates?
My grandmother had Parkinson’s and it was heartbreaking to see this once strong, independant woman reduced to a trembling mass as the disease progressed. I’ve never been too impressed by anyone on the Today show, especially since Lauer stood toe to toe with Shrub and bought into the lies that only republicans can protect you and your family from the “terrists”. What a complete tool! And for him to say people were wondering if Michael was faking it is one of the more despicable attempts by the goper’s to attack the messenger because they can’t attack the message.
uh, don’t forget that k.o. is on msnbc.. the gods giveth, and the gods taketh away….
…and this is Matt’s brain on limbaugh.
OT and EPU’ed:
Joe Lieberman Petty Cash Hive Mind Project is under way. I’ve contributed my data on other Senator’s petty cash expenditures to them. Help them out if you can.
I wanna say one quick optimistic thing about the ford/corker race. I voted yesterday at Belle Meade City Hall, smack dab in the midst of the wealthiest neighborhood in TN (Gore’s neighborhood in fact). Three cars with Ford stickers–and no one else’s–were in that lot with my car (also be-stickered). That seemed like a good omen to me. I dunno… I’m tryin’ to be hopeful…
Oh and here’s a great update on the sorry saga of Limp bough:
Rush Limbaugh Parkinson’s Free and Lovin’ It
My stepfather died of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)and the toll it took on my mom took years off of her life. It’s not as well known as other diseases but it is heartbreaking. I can’t tell you how angry I am with this whole stem cell deal and these idiots!
jayt @ 39
Absolutely - Olbermann could prove a great ally for he books guests too.
Rule 11 of Alinsky’s Rules for radicals:
Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, polarize it. Don’t try to attack abstract corporations or bureuaucracies. Identify a responsible individual. Ignore attempts to shift or spread the blame.
Our job is to bait Lauer into reacting. “The enemy properly goaded and guided in his reaction will be your major strength.”
egregious @ 9
I wish I was as nice as you. I am working on it, but………….. Stopped watching the morning shows and most other MSM so-called news long ago. What a waste of time. Mind-numbing. Lauer looks good without a shirt on, but that is about it. Once he opens his mouth, well…. I have to wonder whether the Couric interview with MJ Fox was an attempt at attonment for all the rightwingbats like Limballs she has had on her news show since joining CBS. Has to do something to pull her ratings out of the toilet.
Voted today and it felt incredibly good.
Halperin and Harris are clueless. Matt Drudge is nothing more than a dweeb that doesn’t get laid enough.
Looks like Lauer’s just smug that the L-Dopa isn’t working any better than the Rogaine.
newspaperbrat @ 50
Email them here: Today@NBC.com
Snail mail:
NBC News
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, N.Y. 10112
To encourage KO to bite the hand that feeds him: countdown@msnbc.com
OfT from HuffPo via MyDD Terry Nelson: John McCain’s aid fired from Walmart for producing racist TV ad
AZ Matt @ 38
2 TV stations to show Foxx-Sharpe debate
http://www.journalnow.com/serv.....&path=!localnews&s=1037645509099
Finally! ; )
I was telling someone the other day that I was one of those kids with a soft-hearted medical Mom who tended to “adopt” her patients (don’t ask how many times we took someone on vacation with us!), and made her kids volunteer at hospitals and nursing homes. So I spent a lot of my youth with sick and disabled people.
The Parkinson’s/MS/ALS/MD/parapalegic patients were some of the toughest to handle, not because they were so difficult, but because they were always so embarrassed and frustrated. Parkinson’s patients on their meds would constantly apologize for knocking something over or accidentally bumping you or falling off their chair. I can remember a lot of them crying from the frustration of it all.
As i told this person the other day, I think of all those lovely people, their frustration and embarrassment and tears, and to have someone like Rush Limbaugh mocking them and Matt Lauer saying the things he did…
There aren’t enough bad things that can happen to people like that.
Hey gang:
I jusdt got home and checked email, and got an email from Al Gore via the DCCC-They will 3 for 1 match any donation made today. I was planning on throwing $20 at Act Blue, but should I give instead to the evil Rahm if it can turn into $60?
Y’all are making me cry with your compassion and understanding of devastating disease. I am sorry for all of our experiences with beloved and special people.
May the horrid and demonic ones over there realize their cruelty and soon.
OfT: More Musgrave idiocy.
http://americablog.blogspot.co.....iavos.html
I spotlighted Jane’s post to Matt and his NBC colleagues, asking for an on-air TODAY show apology. I’m finding the phrase “my dad died of Parkinson’s disease” empowering and emboldening today. Thanks, Jane, for giving me a way to honor my father’s memory in this way.
Cozumel @56, thanks for the debate info. I will see if they stream it.
Obama’s email supporting Ned went out to 250 people in Connecticut.
250. 250?
WTF?
Lame, lame, lame.
rk @ 20
Which oddly enough, doesn’t seem to apply to George Allen’s divorce records, even though Josh Marshall says it’s all anyone who’s anyone in the Beltway is talking about.
Listen to Diane Benson addressing the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention live here:
http://www.publicbroadcasting......ndex.shtml
TeddySanFran @
60
Good for you, Teddy. This is just outrageous.
Jim @ 63
David Shuster just brought up the divorce records on Hardball! This is a first that I have heard on the CM…
We’ve seen WEEKS of attack ads, dirty tricks,millions and millions spent on the teevee industry- and we’re about where we were when the whole thing started.
The senate is a toss up and dems are gonna win 20-30 house seats.
If goopers are going to change the momentum- they need to do something much bigger and more effective that we’ve seen so far- so far it’s all having zero effect.
(By the way- here’s a positive thought, maybe americans are becoming immune to stupid political ads.)
Meanwhile that bitch Lynne Cheney is lying again and Leslie gives her a pass on it.
Even as I hit submit, I figured KO would bring up the divorce, and I bet he’ll show the Dixie Chicks commercial too. Here’s hopin’ he lays a smack on Lauer.
Primordial Ooze @
30
That ET sure is a persistent feller, ain’t he? Glad to see you got your match. My daily dose went to Goldmark as promised last night.
$190 is all that’s needed to put us over $6,000 raised for Diane Benson at Egregious’ Act Blue page.
Who’s got the next $20?
whoops, that was Shuster on Hardball, not KO– sorry Jim.
More to come surely with KO.
Ed*ard Teller @ 64
I thought you were at rehearsal.
rwcole @ 4:03 pm (#67)
We can only hope. I tend to tune out all commercials, and the average political ad sounds pretty much like all the others these days. There’s almost no information content in most, and what little there is seems to be primarily aimed at mischaracterizing or sliming the candidate’s opponent.
The Dixie Chicks were on Matthews’ show (MSNBC) last night advertising their documentary. They told Chris some corporation (Cox?) told its “independent” stations not to play the Chicks’ music. Matthews pressed them on this a time or two. I wonder if he knew what was coming from the “bringers of good things to life.”
What’s up with Felix Macaca’s divorce records? Link?
Here’s the latest way the cable news networks are “covering” the election- showing the stupid ads and having talking heads “evaluate” them.
Here’s how the cable news networks are NOT covering the election: allowing political analysts to share the fact that dems are poised to take over twenty to forty seats. Why? Cause the goopers biggest problem right now is the threat of a runaway election- where more and more voters decide to get on the train that’s gathering momentum. Thus we ignore the truth.
RBG @
70
RBG,
I just read your comment to the dozen and a half volunteers at DBHQ in Anchorage and they’re shouting “OK & Alright, RBG!! Woooo!”
Sorry I couldn’t link up to Diane’s speech earlier, because the floor fight to allow her to speak wasn’t aired. Of course she was great.
Thanks, pups! As we say up here, “MUSH you Huskies!” or is it HUSH, you Muskies!”?
TRex @
28
I was always loathe to get involved in someone else’s karma…but I found a solution. I prayed that God would give the person what they needed…and then I asked if I could watch.
Balrog @ 75
They are sealed and his former wife denied he ever used the n-word when that blew up. Either it’s part of the agreement not to speak or she does not want to admit to knowing or realizing that she was married to low-life racist scum.
She was a peach and a beauty and really far too good for him, btw.
Ed*ard Teller @ 77
Mush, Malamutt! Klondike Kat
Is the little tagalese girl comming to her senses ? What the heck is going on here, I don’t even know which Fox is running.
Balrog @ 75
http://politicalwire.com/archi.....ginia.html
here ya go
Thanks Jim and Angie.
More on the Macaca split,from TPM
(October 27, 2006 — 02:55 PM EDT)
The Allen campaign refuses to return our calls asking whether Sen. Allen will release his sealed divorce records. We’re not the only news outlet asking, just the only one telling you how the Allen campaign is responding. Heck, one major national daily had a reporter out in LA for at least week trying to nail down the story. It’s what every Washington insider is talking about: what’s inside those sealed records down in Albemarle County. Now that the Allen campaign is about to go on the airwaves about sex scenes in Jim Webb’s books, maybe you should know about this too.
EPU’d:
Pachacutec @ 127
well said…that brings ayes to my tiers
Almost without exception, every statement the right-wing makes is the precise opposite of the truth, including their assertions regarding liberal bias in the MSM.
Balrog @ 62
Notice that the article is another totally biased piece of garbage with a Miga byline. Watch that Miga guy, he is real snake.
Best way to shake out the divorce records is to get someone to say that they’ve seen em and describe a bunch of things that are much worse than what’s really in em.
A clue might be in Ryan Lizza’s recent piece on Mark Warner that cites a story that had been “making the rounds” about a 2008 presidential contender who “once spit on his wife.” That rumor was also about Allen.
http://politicalwire.com/archi.....ginia.html
rwcole @ 88
Anyone slimy enough to do that already wants Macaca to win.
Wait, maybe Joe Lieb… Never mind.
Doesn’t the great interview he did with Brittany Spears cut any ice with this crowd?
well, we already have plenty of evidence that G Felix Macaca is a mean-spirited bully–I’m guessing the divorce records don’t make his wife look bad
It’ll take something stronger than allegations of spitting on his ex to shake Allen fists loose of the records.
raybear @ 91
well, being a fair-minded kind of guy, I’ll admit that Matt Lauer is every bit the journamalist that Tucker Carlson is–though I think a lot of Tucker’s stuff is harder on Republicans
Cozumel @ 89
Anyone have a TNR subscription? In contrast to Salon, the only way you can view TNR articles is by subscription.
I’m just curious if there’s anything more than what’s in the Political Wire quote.
Jim @ 92
I’ll bet you a million that you are right.
Anne Rubel was a very, very nice lady.
Someone’s gotta know the details of the divorce- and some of em have got to be friends with the ex. She probably took a bunch of money to keep her mouth shut- but not her friends!
Come on reporters- get out there and collect the dirt- that’s your job!
Odds are strongly in favor of physical violence I’d wager.
I’m feeling some acute sadness ‘n’ rage tonight, fellow fdl’ers. Just watched katie couric’s interview with michael j. fox. How again did we come to live in a country with someone who can have serious airplay doubting the credibilty of an ill person? I’m just baffled by this stem-cell stuff, friends. Especially given the fact that the arguments against fucking SCIENCE and RESEARCH for prolonging LIFE come from supposed pro-lifers. help me understand. just a lot of sadness here tonight.
“Halperin, Harris, Howie Kurtz, Brian Williams and Matt Lauer…” and others like them. I don’t care what makes them ‘tick’. I simply don’t watch or listen to them. For guys like these, and Rove, Cheney, Bush, Laura, Babs Bush and a host of others, I believe in almost nothing of which they profess to. But one thing I really do agree with them on, at least they say that they believe in it, is that there will come a Judgment Day.
Why is this in bold?
Wrt the Senate, the Idaho Governor’s race is now rated as a toss-up at My DD.
Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) has been outed on the tubez, so it’s “out there,” Cokie Roberts, if you’re reading.
bonzarella @
27
They are no better than the Taliban, fundamentalists are fundamentalists IMHO.
bonzarella @
99
OT, big props to Tweety and Olbermann for blasting Bob Corker’s ads against Harold Ford. As European-Americans, they have leverage against Corker that non-whites don’t. Tweety and Olbermann reinforced that we are all Americans first.
Wrote today show yesterday about this.
Allen’s sister book is also revealing !
bonzarella @ 4:32 pm (#99)
I think it’s ignorant, superstitious people trying to deal with change, but that may be an oversimplification. We’ve had to re-evaluate what it means to be human and ethical with a great many advances, particularly in medicine. People felt the same way about test-tube babies, blood transfusions, antibiotics, and some feel that way about medicine in general.
The problem is that these particular ignoramuses have votes, and seem inclined to use them. Since there are quite a few of them, there are politicians willing to pander to them.
RBG @ 70
Well, I just gave $175, so it’s pretty damn close…
A Surprise Gift From A Complete Stranger!
The screenshots arrived this morning…
http://teocawki.blogspot.com
kristinejoy @ 32
The Wheel of Karma grinds slowly, but it grinds exceedingly fine.
Maybe Today’s Meredith will weigh in on the stem-cell debate. Her husband might be helped with that research.
I’d say that the gloves are off in Tennessee and Virginia- anything goes- all candidates have an opposition research file- that they’ve held back- waiting to see if they should use it. At this point- everyone’s gonna empty the file. The candidates themselves won’t make the charges- they’ll come from other uarters- but they’re comin- and he dirties and nastiest of all will come on election eve when there’s no time to combat them.
Welcome to american politics.
ASurvivorInUtah @ 48
An excerpt:
He’s still lying about that one, I see. I have it on good authority that, according to the official paperwork, it was actually the cyst that got the deferment for being on Rush Limbaugh’s ass.
EvilDrPuma @ 113