There has been a lot of Tim Tebow discussion on cable news lately, most of it hovering around the faux-political issue of his religion and how he displays it on the field. This, however, is not one of those discussions: this is Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer, arguably the smartest pundit on TV, just giddily enjoying the delightful story of how Tebow even got to where he is today– and telling everyone else to cool it with the politics and religion stuff and just watch football.

President Obama’s consistent lead over most Republican contenders has taken some on the right by surprise, given his low approval ratings and the bad economy the administration can’t seem to shake. To Charles Krauthammer, none of the credit should go to President Obama, however, but to the “embarrassing” Republican candidates and the “ridiculous” behavior of the Congressional Republican leadership.

Charles Krauthammer gets plenty of (well-earned) credit on the right for being one of the preeminent political thinkers, but many overlook that, when he wants to, he has better comedic timing than probably anyone in his field. His deadpan was in rare form tonight as he discussed the case of Newt Gingrich comparing his logistical incompetence to Pearl Harbor, when he suggested that it was an offense to the grandiosity of Newt Gingrich to compare a failure in his campaign to a historical event that didn’t even involve Newt Gingrich.

Herman Cain‘s uncomfortable Libya gaffe is certainly not doing much to elevate Charles Krauthammer‘s confidence in him. Krauthammer, who had already told host Bret Baier previously that he had a feeling Cain was “winging it,” repeated his suspicions tonight, adding that he didn’t understand “what there was that required almost a minute of thought gathering” in the question that stumped him.

After a heated debate with Jon Stewart, it appeared Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace fell out of the frying pan and into the fire by asking Rep. Michele Bachmann if she is a “flake.” Host Bret Baier announced today Wallace apologized privately and the Congresswoman accepted, though the debate over whether such a question was appropriate continues. To that, Charles Krauthammer had a simple answer: yes, and Rep. Ron Paul deserves to hear it.

For the first time in what feels like time immemorial, someone had a worse day than Rep. Anthony Weiner. Newt Gingrich may still be officially running for President, but after today’s mass exodus of staffers, it’s hard to believe his campaign will last for much longer. So said Charles Krauthammer on Special Report today, who noted the lack of “seriousness” in the campaign ultimately led to its demise.

Rep. Anthony Weiner‘s admission to having lied about sending lewd photos has been received in some circles as a cause for celebration, but conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer isn’t taking a victory lap, even though he can’t see the Congressman’s career surviving today’s press conference. An exercise in restraint for Republicans, he warned, would be the only way to ensure that Democrats clean up their ranks among themselves.

Vice President Joe Biden‘s praise for the President’s decision to raid Osama bin Laden‘s home– a decision he described as “the boldest undertaking any president has taken in any event in modern history”– has on the Democratic side blanketed many issues beyond homeland security. On tonight’s Special Report, the (mostly conservative) panel took objection to the idea that this one issue would translate to a mandate in domestic policy, arguing Americans are not that “stupid.”

Some may suggest that Donald Trump has managed to keep the news cycle in a stranglehold for the past month or so based solely on “trainwreck” shock value, but these are the moments that defy that thesis: after Fox News commentator Charles Krauthammer complained of Trump’s destructive, “vulgar” tendencies and compared him to Al Sharpton, Trump took the time to make his case as a serious candidate to Krauthammer in a personal phone call.

Donald Trump‘s monopolization of the news cycle is starting to peeve a number of high-profile conservatives, his run going from entertaining to concerning in about a week’s time. On Friday, he was called a joke by Karl Rove, and today it was Charles Krauthammer‘s turn at bat. Calling him a “provocateur and clown, unserious,” Krauthammer predicted Trump would indeed be running in 2012, and in the process would devastate the Republican Party.

President Barack Obama would had planned on accepting an award from the recognizing “his deep commitment to an open and transparent government—of, by, and for the people” in conjunction with something called “Sunshine Week.” While the award ceremony has since been canceled, the recognition of transparency for this White House has predictably become a political football, kicked back and forth by partisan pundits of every political stripe. Case in point? Charles Krauthammer, who compared this award to another controversial laurel received by Obama: his Nobel Peace Prize.

More than two years of President Obama being in power, a good number of Americans have no idea what his religious background is– a plurality admitting they have no idea, while an alarming number suggesting he is Muslim. This despite the President discussing his religion publicly and make clear that he is a Christian. Even this latter action, however, seems to be irking some conservatives, like Charles Krauthammer, who considered his recent trips to church “ostentatious” and “somewhat distasteful.”

Earlier President Obama spoke on the transition of power in Egypt, and Fox News commentator Charles Krauthammer happened to be on the air to provide immediate analysis. Apparently tired of seeing Obama on television, Krauthammer wondered what Obama’s speech actually accomplished and if nothing, then why even give it?

Cable news ratings, January 7, 2011: •On the same day news surfaces that CNN execs may be looking to shuffle hosts on the poorly performing (and soon to be key lead in to Piers Morgan Tonight) Parker Spitzer, the Eliot Spitzer and Kathleen Parker hosted show wasn’t the weak spot on CNN’s primetime schedule. Parker [...]

Columnist and Fox News contributor Charles Krauthammer is often the conservative contrarian and sometimes referred to as “a brilliant man”, therefore Republicans are often very interested to hear his advice. While many Republicans in the House of Representatives are eager to return to Congress in January so they can start with their plans to defund Obamacare, Krauthammer urges they put the brakes on such plans.

The Connecticut Senate Race has suddenly gotten close – and FNC’s Bret Baier will soon be moderating a debate between the two sides.

This was part of a profile of the Special Report anchor by Baltimore Sun TV critic David Zurawik that describes Baier’s strong ratings and more.

It’s been a tough week for Congressman Charlie Rangel, who is facing a series of major ethical violations that are making for some embarrassing media coverage. But there is at least one major TV pundit willing to stand by Rep. Rangel’s side: Fox News contributor and Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol.

Texas Congressman Joe Barton‘s apology to BP– and apology for his apology to BP– somehow managed to be the most egregious statement in an event that featured five hours of BP CEO Tony Hayward speaking. And after being scolded by mostly everyone in both the media and his home turf of politics, Fox News analyst Charles Krauthammer gave him an award for his achievement: the Most Politically Stupid Statement of the Year award.

Fox News’ Bret Baier was doing overtime with his regular Special Report panel last night/early this morning to analyze the incoming election returns, first among those the news that Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln squeaked out a win in a close run-off election with Lt. Governor Bill Halter. While there wasn’t much optimism for Lincoln’s chances in November, there was one thing the panel seemed to agree on: Bill Clinton’s still got it.

While Speaker Nancy Pelosi talks “Deem and Pass,” President Barack Obama is going a different route – he’s talking to Fox News.

In an “extended, exclusive” interview tomorrow he will sit down with Special Report anchor Bret Baier to make his health care reform pitch to the FNC audience. What a long, strange trip it’s been.

A lot has been written here and elsewhere about Fox News’ opinion hosts and the networks overall dominance in the ratings during 2009. But the enormous success is seen beyond the Beck’s, O’Reilly’s and Hannity’s too – as FNC’s news programming is seeing record ratings as well.

We talked to Special Report anchor Bret Baier about his first year at the helm of FNC’s 6pmET newscast, plans for 2010 and his lead-in, Glenn Beck.

Look what ABC News White House corresopndent Jake Tapper started.

Yesterday’s round-robin pool interviews of new executive pay czar Kenneth Feinberg saw the White House trying to ostracize Fox News again – and their partners in the pool taking a stand, again.

Fox News has found a good reason to keep talking about Fox news – they’ve got an escalating feud with the White House. And no amount of awkwardness is going to stop them from covering themselves.

It started with a news report by James Rosen this afternoon, continued with Neil Cavuto and was followed by Glenn Beck. Here’s a look at the self-coverage: