Fortunately praying doesn’t work.

Really?

The exact meaning of those words will likely be discussed in depth tomorrow.

Really? You’re going to promote this “non-story?” Really?

So tomorrow, a bunch of angry left-wingers are going to get hysterical, and claim that Coburn was praying for someone to get hurt… even though he said nothing of the sort. And this is something you want to jump out in front of. Wow.

Climategate doesn’t get a mention for weeks… but THIS is something we have to get ahead of. Just wow.

Nevertheless, what a totally idiotic thing to say. If you’re on that side of the fence. But I’m sure he and his opponent will get a lot of money for it. How depressing.

I love it when certain “people” want to claim this is a “non-story” (like putting things in quotes actually adds “emphasis” or something…).

If a Democrat said the exact same thing, those same “people” would be up in “arms.”

“”

“”

Blue, in case you haven’t noticed this site specializing in non-stories. It’s kind of their thing. It’s easier then reporting news. Of course I don’t think I’ve seen any real ‘reporting’, it’s mostly stories taken from other writers and then a quick opinion thrown in behind a half assed headline.

Sounds like Zakk has FOXnews’ M.O. down… That’s exactly (and all) they’re capable of doing!

Colby, why are you being such a coward?

You wrote: “The exact meaning of those words will likely be discussed in depth tomorrow.” What kind of chickenschtuff “reporting” is that?

What is your rationale for delaying analysis until tomorrow? You put the quote out there, dude — is there a reason why YOU can’t discuss it right now?

Is it because, perhaps, you’re waiting for the lefty blogs to tell you what to think about it? If not, what’s the matter with your mind, Colby? It allows you to quote Coburn and say his remarks have caused a stir, but won’t let you go the extra step and say what the stir actually is!

Is this what they teach in journalism school, Colby?

And Senator Whitehouse said this (ht redstate)

“They are desperate to break this president. They have ardent supporters who are nearly hysterical at the very election of President Barack Obama. The birthers, the fanatics, the people running around in right-wing militia and Aryan support groups, it is unbearable to them that President Barack Obama should exist. That is one powerful reason. It is not the only one.”

I wonder if “the exact meaning of those words will likely be discussed in depth tomorrow”????

Mediaite, making “humorous” comment, on someone’s religious Faith, shows how DEEP, an internet site, has to plumb the depths of “controversy”, to get “clicks”.

Dig yourself.

There are enough, genuinely, TRIVIAL things to bring to our attention, that you can make fun of.

This is disgusting.

Misdirection.

I love the guy who’s upset about this article somehow offending a guy’s religious beliefs, but is not at all offended by the fact that he was openly advocating the death of a fellow senator.

Doesn’t sound very Christian to me!

M says,

Excuse me? Where did he say that?!?! If you are going to lie M at least throw some facts
in to make it look like you MIGHT have a point.

Gee, why didn’t God answer Coburn’s prayer? I guess God WANTED Byrd to show up because God doesn’t think that poor people shouldn’t be allowed to see a doctor when they’re sick – unlike the pathetic phonies pretending to be Christians who infest the Republican Party.

JunkJunk says:
December 21, 2009 at 1:02 am

Well, no they wouldn’t. But really… is that the best you’ve got… the old, “if THEY did it” line?

Dumb.

Zakk says:
December 21, 2009 at 1:29 am

Ain’t that the sad truth.

m says:
December 21, 2009 at 8:29 am

M… never too proud to take the bait and run with something incredibly stupid if it means attacking someone you don’t agree with. What’s it like to have no ethical standards?

I think Coburn meant he hopes someone has car trouble or misses a flight or comes down the flu.

I highly doubt he encouraging people to ask God to smite Democratic senators.

I, however, have no such moral obstructions, because this healthcare bill is an absolute disgrace which will hurt the country.

Therefore…Dear God, I pray that you publicly strike down Dick Durbin with a lightning bolt on the floor of the Senate to make an example of him and scare his accomplices into voting down the bill. Thanks God.

Colby Hall is a total tool who would give a handjob to Dick Cheney in a parking lot for $10 and a happy meal. No standards, just craving attention at any cost.

Jack Davey says:
December 21, 2009 at 10:12 am

And where exactly did Coburn say something about Byrd?

Oh, and poor people ARE allowed to see doctors when they’re sick… that’s the law. In fact, we already have a medical system in place to give poor folks medical insurance help… it’s called Medicaid.

Looks like you’re making a lot of stuff up there, Jack. Please come back when you’ve got facts on your side.

I’m still laughing!

wah, wah, wah…

Straitshooter! C’Mon, we did not need to have that visual of Cheney. That was just a below the belt shot!

Wow! Do I know my hacks, or do I know my hacks?

Please turn your attention to my first post in this thread, posted last night, in which I address Colby Hall:

Colby, why are you being such a coward?

You wrote: “The exact meaning of those words will likely be discussed in depth tomorrow.” What kind of chickenschtuff “reporting” is that?

What is your rationale for delaying analysis until tomorrow? You put the quote out there, dude — is there a reason why YOU can’t discuss it right now?

Is it because, perhaps, you’re waiting for the lefty blogs to tell you what to think about it? If not, what’s the matter with your mind, Colby? It allows you to quote Coburn and say his remarks have caused a stir, but won’t let you go the extra step and say what the stir actually is!

Is this what they teach in journalism school, Colby?

For those who didn’t see that in the “(Update)”, don’t worry — you didn’t miss it, Colby just flushed the first version of his story down the memory hole. It really should say “(Rewrite)”!

Please, straitshooter. Leave the scatalogical and salacious ad hominems to the emotionally unstable and factually unarmed who giggle every time they write “teabagger.”

Hey Colby,

In a blatant attempt to drag you into this…what is the “objective” and promise from Mediaite site to readers? What’s the offer?

Here’s Mediaite “about us” text:

‘Mediaite is the site for news, information and smart opinions about print, online and broadcast media, offering original and immediate assessments of the latest news as it breaks.’

The complaining from those who don’t have a website or not an editor of a website should we expect more of stories Mediaite’s been publishing? OK if you do, you’re the editor, your (and Abram’s) choice. Let us know, so we know. Maybe the complaining will stop (because we know or go) BUT I just don’t think I can take much more of the same complaining (from me included).

No room to complain any longer us knowing what the offer is.

Razor… This was Colby’s reaction when the Visor-gate “story” broke, and people (like myself) said it had no business being on this site:

Colby Hall says:
December 17, 2009 at 12:23 pm

@ImNotBlue – why do we need to rationalize to anyone which stories merit inclusion on Mediaite and which don’t? We found the story to be interesting – and you aren’t wrong – it is political in nature. But, calling out odd behavior of Sarah Palin, in this instance, doesn’t reveal a political bias (IMHO.) But I gather that you are going to see as a left-wing political site regardless of our editorial.

In other words, Colby was saying, “If you don’t like it, piss off… and just because it has nothing to do with our stated goals, doesn’t mean we won’t talk about it… and just because it’s clearly another anti-Palin story, and we seem to do a lot of anti-Palin stories, and our non-media political stories all seem to be slanted in one direction… it doesn’t mean we’re biased.”

It appears Colby doesn’t like to be questioned… his/her will is final. It’s the biggest ego trip, on the smallest amount of power, I’ve ever seen. And certainly not the way to build readership.

It’s hilarious that Dick Durbin of all people should be needling Coburn to explain himself when Durbin in 2005 compared U.S. soldiers guarding Gitmo detainees to Nazis and the Khmer Rouge, and Gitmo itself to a Stalin-era Soviet gulag. He let those statements fester for a week before he “clarified” his remarks.

wow – who knew that this post would get so much play? All I said was (in the earlier version of the post) was “The exact meaning of those words will likely be discussed in depth tomorrow” — and here we are, discussing the meaning of the words. I updated the post this morning because a) dick durbin commented and b) I had to change the tense from “tomorrow” to “today.” That’s all.

@ImNotBlue – I don’t mind being questioned – in fact I encourage it. Please, question away! And you can interpret my comments, or editorial decisions in any way you want. There’s no ego trip involved, its just that I can’t very well make editorial decisions that appeal to commenters on the site. I have to make decisions that reflect our point-of-view and move on. I’ll admit that they aren’t always perfect or even correct. But they are what they are. Not sure why you need to take this so personally, with the ego trip and the smallest amount of power. That comment is a little odd to me and reveals something about you that I can’t quite put my finger on.

Again – I love that you all care so much about this stuff and are commenting. But I don’t get the vitriol.

Colby just theatened to ban me. I have received the message. Speculative journalism is not only okay, it is prized on this site. Well, that’s fine. Colby can choose to be unethical, but I can’t choose to be profane. I openly admit what I wrote was completely out of line and without any basis in fact. Let’s see if Colby can man up and do the same. I doubt it.

@ImNotBlue

I saw that post. Colby has more often than not answered my questions. Nothing that says he’s required to.
Because he does, (sometime the writers do as well) is something that is unique to Mediaite and a reason why we started coming/commenting here.

Right now there are not pages and pages of comments that become overwhelming and lost in those pages. Again, For me I feel that’s a plus with this site as for the time being, readers are “somewhat” connected to the editorial/writer staff.

I’m just making an offer to Colby to set it straight so WE all know. We can then decide to quit complaining (however you decide to do that), keep complaining knowing you are with the knowledge you were told. A website’s offer is a website’s offer, you decide to accept it or not. I’m sure Colby doesn’t like the bitching either. I wouldn’t if I were him.

Who wants to complain all the time? We can communicate with Colby to just get that out of the way (or not).

@razorsedge – not clear on what you want me to own up to.

@straitshooter – I deleted your profane comment and told you that we’ve never banned a commenter and that I didn’t want to ban you. I encourage a spirited debate. There is just no need, nor place, for crass and personal comments. Not clear on what I need to admit to writing something that was “out of line or without basis in fact.” I am happy to admit where and when I am wrong. Not trying to be coy, I honestly don’t see what so offensive that I wrote? Little help?

Not offensive Colby, just plain wrong. No facts. Just feeding the fire for the sake of watching the landscape burn.

Again – what did I write that was wrong? That people would debate the meaning of his comments today? People need to be responsible for their words – that includes me, Internet commenters and Senators Coburn and Durbin. I am responsible for my words and stand behind them. Again – please show me where I was “just plain wrong”

Zakk,

Is that all YOU’VE got? “Dumb”?! Wow. Thanks for such in-depth analysis. What would we ever do without that kind of insight?

Is it possible that Tom Coburn wanted us to pray that Senator Robert Byrd would finally kick the can? Or that God would finish off Senator Tim Johnson? Maybe they should have prayed for that during their little “prayercast”. Let’s also add a prayer for all the poor and uninsured to suffer quietly. Let not their suffering interfere with the profits of corporate middle men. Pray to keep salvation at bay for the weakest and meekest. Sounds like a Tom Coburn kind of prayer to me.

“Pray that someone can’t make the vote?” Is this the sort of thing we’re supposed to waste God’s time with now? Now THAT’S dumb.

Colby Hall says:
December 21, 2009 at 11:02 am

Colby, you’re missing the point. There have been a number of articles (more and more of recent) that have no relation to media, and are simply editorials on a political ideology or politician. They do not fit within the banner of this site, and thusly come across as very partisan.

Now, I have no problem with your writers having an opinion, or sharing that opinion openly. Tommy is one of my favorite writers around here because he believes so strongly in his opinions, but clearly states that they’re opinions, using the “Columnist” header for his pieces. Glynnis, on the other hand, seems to only write articles from a particular perspective, but attempts to pass them off as media related AND un-opinionated. Both are false. This article, while jumping out in front of a mild (at best) media story, is yet another overtly political story, with little to no media relevance.

But they are what they are. Not sure why you need to take this so personally, with the ego trip and the smallest amount of power. That comment is a little odd to me and reveals something about you that I can’t quite put my finger on.

Well, I’ll answer it for you… I feel like you’re lying to me. When I first came here, I thought this site would be a better, less insane, version of TVNewswer. And for a while, it was… sans a few people who haven’t really changed. However, in the past few weeks the site has gotten more and more blatant in its bias, and less and less true to its stated goals.

For me, that says a few things: First off, it tells me that you guys are lacking the focus that a site like this deserves. You’re beginning to think the site is about YOU and YOUR opinions, and not the media itself… and that’s a problem. Secondly, it says you’re lying to me… by telling me it’s a media site, and then going sharply left and strongly political, you’re lying… and that I take personally. Why personally? Because (lastly), it tells me that you don’t respect me and the other readers, and you think we’re either too stupid to notice, or too easily manipulated to tell the difference. Either way, I find it insulting.

Colby, I understand that you’re protective of your work… and that journalists don’t like to be questioned or criticized… but I know where I’m coming from here. I’m not some rube pretending to be a television expert… I’ve got a degree in media management, and have spent enough time in the business to talk with some experience. The way I see it… you have two choices… either declare this site to be a media & politics site with a left-ward tilt (something similar to HuffPo), or make an effort to clean up the articles that contain bias or don’t belong on a media discussion site. Just stop thinking we don’t notice what you’re up to… and I’ll take it less personally.

Not trying to trick you Colby (in case that’s a perception you got regarding your “own up to” comment.)

I think your response to @ImNotblue clears it up:

‘I can’t very well make editorial decisions that appeal to commenters on the site. I have to make decisions that reflect our point-of-view and move on. I’ll admit that they aren’t always perfect or even correct. But they are what they are. Not sure why you need to take this so personally’

Is that fair? Journalism ethics/standards will now only apply to my critiques. Those standards should govern any media organization.

I’m interpreting that Mediaite covers what they cover and how they cover. Readers should not get so caught up in that nor take it personally. If there is a journalistic fopaux, then we can complain (different from whining or bitching). maybe not always a conspiracy going on.

Btw: My IE8 cpu utilization going nuts. My only tab open is Mediaite. I’ve noticed this before. anyone else?

Perhaps it was a slip of the tongue, or he didn’t mean it the way it came out.”

The way it came out. What you actually mean is the way it was interpreted by you and others who don’t like Coburn’s politics. You state as fact that it came out one way, and you have no factual basis or that statement. It’s not like he gave out Byrd’s address or Durbin’s license plate so some right wing crazy could pick them off.

I see in your article that you made no comment to contact Senator Coburn. Isn’t that standard operating procedure. Even if he offered a no comment, you then appear to have made an effort to get the facts from the horse’s mouth. I doubt you’ve ever made such a call.

And then you write the following: “Was he hoping somebody simply missed a train or was late to the vote? Or something far worse? And if so, was it pure hyperbole or something more concrete?”

Again, you hope to shield your lack of facts with question marks, lazy and shoddy journalist practice. It would be like the New York Post writing a headline: “Is Obama Having an Affair” because some woman walked into their office off and claimed she was. By your standards, they wouldn’t even need to call the White House for comment.

Lazy. Shoddy. Irresponsible. Colby, that’s what we’ve come to expect from you.

Nonetheless, Senator Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma) is getting a lot of attention for a comment he made on the Senate floor yesterday while discussing the coming vote on Health Care reform. “What the American people ought to pray is that somebody can’t make the vote tonight. That’s what they ought to pray.” Update Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) challenged Coburn to come back to the floor to explain himself.

It seems that a healthy debate has already begun about the true meaning behind Coburn’s remarks. Was he hoping somebody simply missed a train or was late to the vote? Or something far worse? And if so, was it pure hyperbole or something more concrete?

Coburn’s co-hort Dick Durbin seemed confused by the comments and challenged Coburn to explain what he meant back on the Senate floor. Poltico reports that “Durbin said he tried to contact Coburn via the Oklahoma Republicans office and the Senate GOP cloakroom but got no response.”

Durbin did offer the following: “I don’t think it’s appropriate to invoking prayer to wish misfortune on a colleague. And I want him to clarify that,” Durbin said. “He is my friend and I have worked with him. But this statement goes too far.”

NewsBusters: Media Claim Coburn Hoped For Byrd’s Death To Block ObamaCare
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/12/21/media-claim-coburn-was-hoping-death-would-stop-obamacare

Junk, how much tin foil does it take to cover that head of yours?

You do realize there was a huge snowstorm going on, and it is possible that maybe, just maybe he was referring to someone not being able to make it in for the vote. Don’t be stupid.

Hey Mediaite, where is the article where you discuss Ed Schults commenting that MSNBC is the mouth piece for the Obama White House? Here I’ll make it easy for you, someone else already wrote the article all you have to do is copy and paste it and change the headline then drop a ‘yeah, what he said’ at the end. Here you go: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/jack-coleman/2009/12/20/ed-schultz-admits-msnbc-serves-mouthpiece-white-house

If people have a complaint about this site,, a seemingly non-ending complaint, then maybe they should view readable material elsewhere…. eh ?

Every site has an intention of what it is they want to cover, the personality of that site is intentional. TMZ may be called a ‘gossip rag’ by some whiners but they are intentionally an entertainment site for those interested in non-ending coverage of celebs.. and to my knowledge, when a real and serious story does break in the celeb world, they’ve never been proven to be inaccurate (to my knowledge).. Harvey knows what he’s doing!

And this site has taken on the personality they chose this site to be. It’s not meant to be cnn.com or the nytimes.. it has it’s own intentional personality of what they want to cover..

and if you don’t like it.. go elsewhere, and stfu!

oh and newsbusters is a right-wing site that’s been caught with false info posted, intentionally, on numerous occasions. they work hip to hip with faux.

Hey Colby, This was the offer I was making to you…what @BJL411 stated:

‘this site has taken on the personality they chose this site to be. It’s not meant to be cnn.com or the nytimes.. it has it’s own intentional personality of what they want to cover’

An opportunity to state something similiar (if you wanted to) so we can shut up and move on!

well @ImNotBlue and @straitshooter – I hate to break it to you guys but we ARE and opinion site. You may feel we skew left, and at times I am sure that we do. But we actually get more negative feedback from the left claiming that we skew right. The truth is that we have a number of conservative fans that include Michelle Malkin and Ed Morrisey from HotAir, Andrew Breitbart and John Ziegler. Could we use more conservative voice on the site? Maybe – but there are plenty of users out there who would vociferously disagree.

And if you think that the coverage of late has become more politicall in nature – well it probably has to some degree. But this is less an editorial decision and more to do with the fact that, a part from year-end lists, there is less and less media news from Thanksgiving on. Also, in an age where opinion journalism is far more commercially viable than traditional journalism, I don’t feel that political coverage is that far off the mark.

Plus, our site is not even 6 months old. I am sure that the editorial direction will continue to evolve – in some ways that I think you might like, perhaps in ways that it might not. Again, I’m thrilled that you are so passionate about the site. But no one is lying to anyone. We’re just doing the best we can. Feel free to continue to come to the site and comment. But we’re not going to change what we are doing to satisfy a very small, yet vocal group of commenters. No disrespect intended, just being honest.

Thanks.

Hey @BJL411,

Do you watch any cable news? What’s your primary cable news station you watch?

” oh and newsbusters is a right-wing site that’s been caught with false info posted, intentionally, on numerous occasions. they work hip to hip with faux.”

Err, umm, CBS News / NBC News / NY Times / Wash Post / CNN / ABC News / but your right, it’s only Fox and Newsbusters that ever prints/posts wrong information. Under your logic, shouldn’t we also not trust any of the aforementioned ‘news sources’?

@straitshooter – ah. I see your point. And yes, “the way it came out” was, in hindsight, not the best choice of words. But how can you say that I don’t agree with Coburn’s politics? From that one comment you make me out to be a liberal? You might be very surprised to learn the political tilt of many of the contributors to the site, myself included. But for to go to such length to attack the integrity of me and the site over that comment? To ignore the personal emails to you to initiate civil discourse, choosing instead to grandstand on the comments section reveals a lot about your character, in my opinion. I need to go back to editing the site so I am out of this dialogue for not. Thanks for reading and please keep commenting. Just try to remain civil please.

BAM!

Anyone know the record on most number of comments to any one Mediaite story? I’ve never seen 40 plus.

I think we can all agree that Colby made NO effort to contact Coburn’s office. If he had, he would have thrown that back in my face.

You claim you want civil discourse, but you drew an inference with no evidence that a U.S. Senator wished physical harm or death on his political opponents. What, please tell me, is civil about that?

I don’t care if you are a liberal or a conservative. There are plenty of people on both sides who are trustworthy, who take their jobs seriously. You, alas, do not qualify.

RazorsEdge:

The one (and only) climategate post on this board got near 70 comments (I think); it was the most commented article on the board to date, to my knowledge. I found it surprising that since then, mediaite has gone silent on that topic.

I’m also still waiting for mediate to post an article on Senator Whitehouse’s comments — snicker.

TfT – if you click on a “climategate” tag, you will see more than “one (and only)” post:

http://www.mediaite.com/tag/climategate/

Colby Hall wrote:

Again – what did I write that was wrong? That people would debate the meaning of his comments today? People need to be responsible for their words – that includes me, Internet commenters and Senators Coburn and Durbin. I am responsible for my words and stand behind them. Again – please show me where I was “just plain wrong”

First of all, if you really “stand behind” your words, Colby, tell me why you deleted some of them when “updating” the thread. Most bloggers — from either side of the debate — don’t do that.

Secondly: You didn’t outrightly suggest that Coburn meant that he was praying for one of his fellow Senators to suffer physical illness or death, although you came close (“Perhaps … he didn’t mean it the way it came out”) . You know good and well that any interpretation of the remarks as a death wish wasn’t supported by a verbatim quote of Coburn. So you instead dangled “The exact meaning of those words will likely be discussed in depth tomorrow” knowing that the death wish allegations would be made by looney lefties who don’t care about the facts (Hello, m! Hello, Jack Davey!). That would, in turn, give you license to report on the controversy stirred up by people making the allegation.

OK, I’m done. Now it’s your turn to post a lame defense that can be summed up in one word: “Moi?”

OK, THanks COlby.

As to RazorsEdge: The comment count on one of those climategate stories was 75.

@LNSmithee – maybe you missed my earlier explanation when I wrote:

“All I said was (in the earlier version of the post) was “The exact meaning of those words will likely be discussed in depth tomorrow” — and here we are, discussing the meaning of the words. I updated the post this morning because a) dick durbin commented and b) I had to change the tense from “tomorrow” to “today.” That’s all.

The only plausible reason somebody couldn’t make a vote of such import is if there is a personal emergency.

So once again, another fine Christian conservative man who probably attends bible studies demonstrates what a truly miserable human being he really is.

75 huh? Not thinking this one is going to beat that. Thanks TfT

I’ll give Senator Coburn the benefit of the doubt until further information is offered.

I’m sure his Christian ethics wouldn’t allow him to wish ill of another, so I expect his edification will clear up his poor choice of words.

Colby Hall,

RazorEdge has been doing his “liberal bias outrage schtick for years over at TVNewser. It is so ridiculous and over-the-top that his comments don’t merit even reading, although I realize you have to in your function as contributor.

Same2u,

Hate to say, but Lost some credibility points with me. my username is RazorSEdge, like with a possesive S. I read TVNewser sometimes, BUT I HAVE NEVER posted a comment on that site. Liberal Bias? Encourage you take some time to read some of my comments. In fact I never read the comments on tha site. I go there to get the cable news daily ratings.

There’s a RazorEdge on Newser Huh?

C’Mon you can do better than that.

BJL411 says:
December 21, 2009 at 11:55 am

and if you don’t like it.. go elsewhere, and stfu!

And this is your attitude towards FOX and Rupert Murdoch right? If you don’t like FNC, just watch something else… but don’t complain, right? So you disagree with all those other blue-blog websites which constantly trash FNC, right? You disagree with the White House’s summer strategy of attacking them, right? You think they should all just “stfu” if they don’t like it… right?

No?

Then tell me, why aren’t you a hypocrite? Because from where I’m sitting, it’s pretty obvious.

same2u says:
December 21, 2009 at 1:35 pm
The only plausible reason somebody couldn’t make a vote of such import is if there is a personal emergency.

Why is that the only “plausible” reason? Perhaps they missed a train? Perhaps they got stuck in bad weather traffic? Who knows? You’re imagining things that aren’t there.
________

Colby Hall says:
December 21, 2009 at 12:08 pm

You may feel we skew left, and at times I am sure that we do. But we actually get more negative feedback from the left claiming that we skew right.

From whom, and when?! The closest an attack of that sort comes is when someone like Steve posts an article about FNC’s ratings beating everyone else. Beyond that, I’m not sure I’ve seen that comment from a serious poster at all! So who is telling you this, and what is there evidence? In other words, are they someone you should be listening to?

The truth is that we have a number of conservative fans that include Michelle Malkin and Ed Morrisey from HotAir, Andrew Breitbart and John Ziegler.

You have four well known “fans,” and that proves what exactly? And “fans” of what specifically, what do they like? This is essentially the “I have many Black friends,” defense… which is simply a sign of desperation.

But this is less an editorial decision and more to do with the fact that, a part from year-end lists, there is less and less media news from Thanksgiving on.

So you’re breaking with format to increase eyeballs, because it’s better than putting out nothing? I dunno… that also seems pretty weak.

I read quite a few other media sites… and they’re all finding things to talk about:
Over at ICN they’re talking about: Ratigan’s apology, all kinds of year end numbers, the schedule swapping at MSNBC, Geraldo Rivera fighting with Lou Dobbs, and a bunch of other stuff.

Saying that you’re posting this stuff because the other stuff is “too hard to find” right now is bogus. It’s the same as the Weather Channel talking about Tiger Woods. Why not just post some porno videos… I’m sure that would increase traffic too! It’s against the branding, and it’s a mistake.

Plus, our site is not even 6 months old. I am sure that the editorial direction will continue to evolve – in some ways that I think you might like, perhaps in ways that it might not.

Well, that’s why I’m still here. The site has a lot of potential, and quickly replaced my link to TVNewser (which got too populated, and too angry to hang around). Hopefully Mediaite will realign itself with the principals outlined in the “About” tab… and I’ll hopefully have a hand in pushing it back that way. Otherwise, this site, like so many others will start to lose readers not looking to be politically attacked for no reason, and another site… one with more balance… will take its place.

But we’re not going to change what we are doing to satisfy a very small, yet vocal group of commenters.

It’s just a shame that you’re willing to veer so far off course… and refuse to look at the evidence. The “we know best” mentality is going to cost you in the end. You don’t have to take my word for it… but there has been enough talk around here from enough people that clearly this isn’t going away, and it’s a big deal. Ignore your readers at your own peril.

RazorEdge,

I don’t really need to know the spelling of your name because I don’t intend to read or reply to your absurd and vulgar comments on any regularity.

P.S.
There was never a TFT on TvNewser either and she admits to having posted there previously, and now is outraged that someone else dare to use a name she declined to claim here This may come as a surprise to you, but there is no requirement on the internetS to use the same nickname on each board you visit.

same2u,

that’s cool with me!

Sometimes it’s OK to tell people they’re incorrect about something they claimed.

You are correct same, I did post at TVNewser under the name “TinafromTampa” but left TVNewser because of the foul language, nastiness, personnel attacks, and of course the stalker NotsoAnonymous. NSA has subsequently registered here as “TinafromTampa” even though she is not from Tampa, she is a sorry, sick little site pest who follows people around the internet stalking them.

So what you’re saying @TfT is that people can be registered on different sites using same or similar usernames and NOT be the same person?

Hmmm…

Colby Hall wrote:

“All I said was (in the earlier version of the post) was “The exact meaning of those words will likely be discussed in depth tomorrow” — and here we are, discussing the meaning of the words. I updated the post this morning because a) dick durbin commented and b) I had to change the tense from “tomorrow” to “today.” That’s all.

Not good enough, Colby. You (ahem) displayed your posterior when you suggested that Coburn’s words were controversial “the way [they] came out,” and went on to say…nothing. What that said to me was that you were biding your time until the cavalry charged in to make a false charge you didn’t want attributed to you personally, but would nonetheless highlight and promote.

It’s reminiscent of what people like you did to George Allen in 2006. As I previously posted on Eric Zorn’s “Change of Subject” blog on the Chicago Tribune website:

Then Allen, in a campaign stop, referred to a camcorder-wielding opposition research volunteer for his opponent (Jim Webb) as “Macaca, or whatever his name is.” Immediately, leftist agitators all over the country were combing multilingual lexicons to find the worst possible meaning for “macaca.” Turns out the Webb volunteer was (East) Indian-American, and Steve Mukherjee, a D.C. Indian-American group spokesman said Allen’s remark was “hurtful.” Did Mukherjee even know what “macaca” meant? His verbatim answer: “What it means, I don’t know. But it’s going to cause him some grief.” In other words, “It doesn’t matter what it means, it’s enough for us to make hay with.”

Even after Allen apologized profusely for any offense, The Washington Post and the national media made “macaca” and its potentially racist meanings the center of its coverage of the Allen-Webb race, Then the Post said “Allen can’t get his message out because everyone’s talking about ‘macaca.’” Of course, by “everyone,” they meant themselves.

Man, what a crybaby. LNSmithee, is this even worth your time?

Blue,

The reasons you cite are reasons for being late to the start of a mult-hour filibuster. They are not reasons for missing the end of the session.

Coburn prayed to the almighty in the hopes that a Democratic senator would experience a personal emergency of any kind. What a good Christian conservative–so typical.

“Tft”, “Imnotblue” and probably straitshooter – otherwise known as the fungus of TVNewser/ICN

And this blue character sure has a LOT of time on his hands – in practically EVERY media/politics related post around here, you can count on this clown to give in his 2 cents…..which is mostly just made up of rambling that only a select few crazies give a f*** about.

For the record, I don’t think that Coburn was wishing harm on any other Senator. But I do think that his asking American’s to pray that someone doesn’t show up so that legislation won’t pass is a pretty remarkable comment.

@LNSmithee – you’ve made your decision on what my words meant, and I know what I intended to write. We can debate meaning, but at this point I think we’ve reached diminished returns. I am proud to say that my part in this exchange has remained polite and civil. Can you say the same?

PS – At this point I’m just commenting to see if we can get past the

It is… and when you truly think about it, it is a sad state of affairs our congress has
come to when prayer is our only hope to get something decent through there!

SWWT: If it matters enough to them to lie about stuff, it matters enough to me to tell the truth.

Colby Hall wrote:

For the record, I don’t think that Coburn was wishing harm on any other Senator.

Isn’t that interesting, Colby? Because you could have begun your piece by saying “for the record” that you DIDN’T believe he was wishing harm on one of his colleagues, BUT YOU DIDN’T. You kept your powder dry and waited for Dick Durbin to imply that before you updated the thread, making Durbin’s suggestion the quote was malicious the first one addressed!

You have proven my point better than I ever could have imagined. Thanks, Colby.

Like I said, I know my hacks!

Colby Hall wrote:

I am proud to say that my part in this exchange has remained polite and civil. Can you say the same?

Don’t play that game with me. I called out straitshooter before you deleted his vile comment. You guys don’t mind a bit when the “teabagger” sneers are made left and… well, left. And it doesn’t make a difference how polite, civil, sweet and kind you are when you lead people down the path of believing an honest disagreement is a death wish on opponents, it’s still more poisonous than calling such a person a partisan hack.

*Shrugs* Sometimes that comes off as fake LNSmithee. Should he have said it at the end? Maybe but he
said it now. Let’s start from there. It’s Christmas time for heavens sakes! Let’s have some civil discourse!

I’d like to point out my vile comment is still posted, just “awaiting moderation.”

Good for Smithee for taking the high road. Bad for Colby for being too blind to see the cliff he’s running toward.

same2u says:
December 21, 2009 at 3:38 pm

No… he didn’t… that’s what you BELIEVE he said. But, it’s not what he said… there’s a difference. And you can attack his religion all you want… just remember, that he and Obama share it.

personwhomakescomments says:
December 21, 2009 at 3:49 pm

Are you saying we’re all the same person? Wow… that really would be a lot of time spent! But no, we’re not. Do you have any evidence of it… or just making stuff up, and hoping it sticks?

As for me… I’m home sick today, nursing a sore throat and lost voice. So while I drink my tea, and make some more soup… you get to read what I have to say. Sorry if that brings you down.

Hey Colby

I talk about some of those “non-existent” current media stories (which Mediaite hasn’t reported on) over in the Brett Baier thread.

You might be interested:
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/bret-baier-hopes-to-be-appointment-viewing-for-political-junkies/

Hey ImNotBlue – who do you think assigned the Bret Baier story?

Colby Hall says:
December 21, 2009 at 9:43 pm

I dunno… the inner workings of Mediaite are a mystery! But if it was you… that’s great.

But what hasn’t Mediaite mentioned any of those three other stories yet?
Sen. Whitehouse accuses anti-Obamacare people of being racists and Nazis.
PBS says “News Hour” did a lousy job covering Climategate.
Ed Schultz says that the Obama Administration contacts “Morning Joe” directly when they don’t like the content.

I’m trying to help you… you said there aren’t enough media stories right now… but I found you three more! And I won’t even ask for a dime!

Blue, since it was ‘news’ to report MediaMatters ‘Lie of the Year’, why is there no story about the “The Media Research Center today announced its Best Notable Quotables of 2009: The 22nd Annual Awards for the Year’s Worst Reporting” – I understand that Newsbusters is a conservative blog, but media matters is a liberal blog, so why the slant in coverage? See! Another news story for this site, we’re all chipping in to help out. Blue your like a community organizer. If you stay on this blog and others for another 100 days, you will be ready to be President. Congrats!

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/nb-staff/2009/12/21/mrc-announces-awards-worst-media-performance-2009

Zakk says:
December 22, 2009 at 9:09 am

You just keep HOPING that I can CHANGE this place. ;)

@ Blue, all I’ve got left is HOPE and CHANGE, the rest is going towards HC.

Coburn’s comment seems confusing. Looking forward to knowing the real meaning. classifieds |ad|adjustable beds

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