Tag Archives: FOX News

O’REILLY: as between Obama v. Romney, it will be FOX News’ Bill O’Reilly’s call

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Lead

Bill O’Reilly could be the factor who in his own right may become the pivotal political commentator and major influence for the eventual outcome of Election 2012.

MJB’s Take

If Election 2012 seems to be full of surprises, it’s because Mitt Romney just does not have the juice he needs, and the momentum he should have by now, to win.

As presidential timber, Mitt would appear to have it all.

Wealth, looks, education, business success, political success and two earned Harvard degrees to die for: Law and Business Administration. One would think he would have blown past his challengers in the GOP primaries, and then with the aid, comfort and support of Old School Harvard Alumni, be positioned to crush Barack Obama in the General Election.

But, for whatever reasons, Mitt seems to be lagging.

That must be a great disappointment to old school, Blue Blood Harvard alumni money which for the most part is still the real capital base of America. When the rubber meets the road, that money has more affinity for Mitt, a ’75 Harvard graduate, than it does for Barack, a ’91 Harvard graduate.

That 16 year Harvard graduation gap easily can be translated into the hundreds of millions of dollars of political money pouring into the coffers of SUPER PACS, those unrestricted funds for the aggregation and unlimited influence of corporate money, massed the old fashioned way, by folks like Old School Harvard Alumni Blue Bloods. SUPER PACS generally should favor Mitt, not Barack.

Now enter Bill O’Reilly.

The O’Reilly Factor, FOX NEWS, is one of MJB’s must watch talk shows. Almost without a peer and competition, it has emerged as one of the most influential talk TV shows in mainstream political media. It’s host, Bill O’Reilly is one of the best political talk hosts in media. And, he is one of the best educated media personalities in the business: B. A. in History-Marist College; M. S. in Broadcast Journalism-Boston College; and, MPA in Public Administration, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard.

There lies the key-Bill is a Harvard alumnus. He has the mystical and magical Harvard connection.

So if Election 2012 boils down to Barack, Harvard alumnus, in the Left’s Corner v. Mitt, Harvard Alumnus, in the Right’s Corner, the super referee will be Bill, Harvard alumnus, straight up the middle.

Bill O’Reilly’s say will be the say so with respect to the outcome of Election 2012.

That’s our opinion; what’s yours?

MEDIA: has MSNBC lost its edge in its nighttime political coverage; will it have significant influence in election 2012?

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Has MSNBC lost its edge in its nighttime political coverage?

In view of recent poll results, will MSNBC have significant influence in Election 2012?

Media (Quote)

It’s certainly obvious in Iowa that candidates are investing a lot more time in television interviews than they are on the campaign trail. It’s a safe bet: a recent New York Times/CBS News poll of likely Iowa Republican caucus participants showed that 37 percent said they get most of their information from Fox News, that’s compared with 27 percent who cited broadcast news and a mere 2 percent who said they relied on MSNBC.

Source:  Allessandra Stanley, “The Republican Primary Campaign in Iowa Is Right at Home on Fox News,” THE NEW YORK TIMES

MJB’s Take

It’s hard to imagine that the suits at MSNBC are taking the poll results well. The implications of  MSNBC having diminished influence in Election 2012 could be staggering.

Obviously, the only game in town for mainstream media coverage now on the Presidential political calendar is the ongoing GOP primary election season. Because of its conservative tilt, FOX News would be expected to have a slightly higher viewership and ratings advantage when it comes to general media coverage of national politics and the GOP.

But, one would think that because the choice of the Republican nominee for President is a matter of real public concern and interest,  a larger percentage of people would be watching the commentaries on MSNBC if for no other reason than to hear and consider opposing viewpoints about the GOP candidates, and their positions on national issues.

The numbers for the reception of broadcast news seem to be good. However, broadcast news is not as pointed, engaging, opinionated, informative and influential as cable news.

MSNBC has an all-star line-up of nighttime talk TV talent hosting the programs from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. including Al Sharpton, Chris Matthews, Ed Schultz, Lawrence O’Donnell and Rachel Maddow. They are supported by diverse groups of commentators and contributors. The hosts and many of the commentators and contributors have been aggressive in criticizing the GOP candidates and their positions on issues. Those contrary viewpoints, of course,  add measurably to the body of information viewers and voters should be considering from now until general election day 2012.

The poll numbers for MSNBC were unusually weak. The fact that they were so lacking should be ringing bells and whistles loudly in the executive suites of MSNBC.

If MSNBC expects to boost viewership and have a significant measure of influence in the outcomes of the national elections, then major changes in its nighttime cable programming are warranted.

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MEDIA: FOX News has become mainstream media central for the GOP in politics

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Rachel Maddow, host of MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show, does a show on how FOX News has become virtually The GOP/Murdoch Primary for Republican aspirants to the Presidency.

See VIDEO: 12-02 Fox News: The GOP/Murdoch Primary, in the Sidebar under MJB News VIDEOS.

Is FOX News now mainstream media central for the GOP in the nation’s politics?

Also Read:  Gaius Publius, “Maddow on “Winning the Murdoch Primary,’” AMERICABLOG.COM

GINGRICH: Newt Gingrich: the GOP candidate of the moment; can Newt break away from the pack and take the GOP nomination?

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Lead In

The GOP Presidential candidate of the week, of course, by virtue of the scope and volume of political media coverage without doubt is Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives.

Newt surged in the polls this week. That raises the question whether is he is now positioned to break away from the pack, and to take the GOP nomination for President?

Newt’s surge came about just in time to capture and dominate the media coverage this weekend on the Sunday Talk TV Shows. The hosts were interviewed by POLITICO on VIDEO this week to talk about and share their views about Newt and likely success of his candidacy.  That VIDEO is uploaded under MJB News VIDEOS, Sidebar, Title: “11-18: NEWT Rises-Sunday TV hosts talk about it.”

His surge also is in time for the CNN GOP Debate scheduled next week on 11-22-11, one day before the anniversary of the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The Debate will focus on national security and the economy.

And, in the segment of the Journal Editorial Report TV show entitled: “Is Newt the Real Deal?” a panel of journalists from the Wall Street Journal have a lively roundtable discussion about Newt and his candidacy. The show is a featured program of FOX News. The VIDEO of that panel discussion is uploaded under  MJB News VIDEOS, Sidebar, Title: “Newt’s Poll Numbers Surge.”

The media coverage in the coming news cycle for next week is likely to be intense, something that Newt is well aware of and is likely to play into.

MJB’s collaborative partner, X9TV, uploaded in the first module on its site a FOX News VIDEO featuring a 6 minute clip of a FOX News Watch panel  talking about media bias and coverage with respect the Newt’s campaign. See VIDEO: at  X9TV.COM   Also click:  tab for X9TV on the Menu Bar of this Blog.

Media Quote

Newt Gingrich calls it giving advice. Most people would call it cashing in on his prominent name.

The former House speaker has raked in millions of dollars since leaving office more than a decade ago. Now as a rising GOP presidential candidate he’s facing renewed scrutiny of the intricate network of consulting firms, advocacy organizations and other businesses that, taken together, some have called Newt Inc.

“I do no lobbying of any kind. I never have. A very important point I want to make. I have never done lobbying of any kind,” Gingrich told Fox News Channel this week, defending himself over questions about his time since he left the speaker’s office under a political cloud in January 1999.

Source + Read:  HUFFINGTON POST

MJB’s Take

Newt Gingrich is now taking his turn being in the limelight as the putative front-runner for the GOP Presidential nomination. And, it seems that unlike the other contenders, including Mitt Romney, he’s ready for it, but more importantly, he relishes it.

Newt knows that his government affairs work as a “strategist” will be controversial.

The difference between a lobbyist and a strategist for most voters is a distinction without significance. As far as the court of public opinion is concerned, Newt is no more and no less than a high paid lobbyist who became rich by exploiting the honor and prestige of high office, Speaker of the House, to line his pocket with millions of dollars, irrespective of the history lessons and other consultations on politics and policy he has provided to clients.

Controversy fuels media coverage. And, it is that coverage which draws interest, which Newt is getting in spades, and attracts viewers, political money and votes. Newt loves it.

So he’s getting all the ego stoking attention he wants. If his calculations and projections are correct, in the end he will be the only GOP Presidential candidate having an image of a take charge leader who can assume the reigns of leadership as President on day one.

Newt has packaged himself as a “true conservative.” That’s music to the ears of the multi-billionaire conservatives who are prepared to unleash a torrent of political money, in the billions of dollars, to fund and fuel his campaign for President.

As for now, it’s clear that Newt may be the only true conservative who has the potential of breaking away from Romney and the other contenders, and then dominate and lead the field until the Republican National Convention to take the nomination for President.

That’s our take on it.

Leave a comment, and let us know what you think.

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CAIN: Mrs. Gloria Cain will speak on the record; FOX debut scheduled; the lid is about to blow again in the media

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The Lead

Well folks, I thought things had quieted down a bit for Herman Cain, his campaign and The Fourth Estate, mainstream political media

Now that his lovely wife, Gloria Etchison Cain, will do a FOX News interview, in a segment to air Monday, it is likely that the sparks will start flying again at Cain in the media. This event certainly will be a pivotal moment for Cain’s political campaign and his aspirations for The White House. It could either make him. or break him. There will be no wiggle room for Cain after Monday.

For The New York Times, in her article entitled: “Herman Cain’s Wife Plans to Sit Down for a Television Interview,” Susan Saulny writes (quotes):

“Introducing … Gloria Etchison Cain”

Mrs. Gloria E. Cain

Mrs. Gloria E. Cain

At long last, the political spouse who has kept the lowest profile of the campaign season is preparing to make a network debut. Mrs. Cain, who has been married to the former restaurant executive Herman Cain for 43 years, is expected to sit down this weekend with Greta Van Susteren of Fox News, for a segment that could air on Monday, according to a source familiar with the planning.

Mrs. Cain has, to date, not appeared on the campaign trail with her husband, and is said to prefer her home life in Atlanta, far away from the national spotlight. But since allegations of sexual harassment began to engulf the Cain campaign almost two weeks ago, it had been rumored that Mrs. Cain would eventually come to her husband’s defense on television.

Source of Quotes + Image: THE NEW YORK TIMES

MJB’s Take 

“At long last,” this is some of ”the news that’s fit to print” about a significant event in the coverage on the road to the White House and related to the process for the GOP Presidential nomination. The NYT article is well done.

Whatever mainstream media planned for the weekend political coverage will be sliced and diced. The “A Team” of media talent probably will be front and center do talk about this development.

Unquestionably, this is Cains’ weekend, for both Mr. and Mrs.; and, all hands will be on deck by every one in media in covering it.

I plan to be glued to the TV, radio and laptop screen so that I can pick up every bit and piece of coverage I can find because this is Cain’s moment. The reports, stories, commentaries, opinions and attack pieces will be flying out the door as fast as the stuff can be can be generated, published, clicked and aired. The videos and images of her interview are certain to go viral.

Mrs. Cain’s interview; all the staging which takes place in the media before her interview airs; the broadcast of the interview itself; and, all the coverage which follows will roll out in grand fashion. It will either make Cain, or break him-he’ll be heading either to The White House, or to his home in Atlanta.

This is every bit the real deal in high political drama! Stay tuned!

That’s all I can say for now.

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End Notes

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Veterans Day (11-11-11), the Carrier Classic basketball game, and of course some related political spin

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I will begin with a Veterans Day message; then move to the historic Carrier Classic basketball game, and give our takes on what purports to be some political spin about it.

To America’s Veterans

HAPPY VETERANS DAY!

I sincerely express my praise and thanks to our men and women in uniform and our veterans. I honor you for your sacrifices and your service. My grandfather fought in WW I, my father fought in WW II and my son fought in Iraq.

Carrier Classic

In the first ever college basketball game played at sea on the deck of Navy aircraft carrier U.S.S. Carl Vinson, the North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Michigan State Spartans by a 67 to 55 victory in the season opener.

Carrier Classic Basketball Game (11-11-11)

Carrier Classic Basketball Game (11-11-11)

Image Credit: Harry Howe/Getty Images

Image Source: SBNation.com: Read: LINK TO STORY + IMAGE

For Aol Sporting News, Mike DeCourcy reported (quote):

Michigan State tried to stage a ground war aboard an aircraft carrier, with predictable results.

The first-ever Carrier Classic, attended by vital American celebrities such as President Obama and Brooklyn Decker, was more hospitable to jets than tanks. Go figure

No. 1-ranked North Carolina closed the first half with a game-changing surge that made a powerful statement about the menace of its offense and put the Tar Heels well on course to a 67-55 season-opening victory before an audience of 8,011 aboard the USS Carl Vinson that was heavily populated with military personnel.

“It’s a hell of a memory for all of us,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said.

 Source of Quote:  Aol SPORTING NEWS

There was good pre-game coverage of the game by Kimberly Schwandt, “Obama to Watch College Basketball Game on Carrier that Buried Osama bin Laden,” FOX NEWS

Politics: None-really!

The Fox News pre-game coverage article is straight news. But, the 400+ comments on it are smoking with all manner of points to put political spins on the event

MJB’s Take

Forget the politics, and forget the spin.

The concept for the game came from Michigan State. It was designed to showcase the colleges, the game and the teams, and to honor America’s veterans. The White House did not intiate the idea, nor did President Barack Obama’s campaign.

The event was a spectacular event for the colleges and their teams. It was enjoyed by the military personnel and the thousands of guests on the deck of the carrier.

No doubt it boosted the morale of the sailors and sailorson the deck, and those who viewed the game. And, no doubt it was an exciting experience for the players, their parents, relatives and friends, the coaches and the college administrators and viewers in general. They will have fond memories of the historic game for the rest of their lives.

Every event which involves politicians is not necessarily a political event.

I cannot perceive of any spin which convinces me that this event was political, or that there was any tangible political benefit which inured to the President because of it.

Of course, you are free to disagree!

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