Maddow watch: As always, verdict first!

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2016

Her latest gubernatorial target:
Last Tuesday night, May 24, cable star Rachel Maddow closed her program by snarking at the dumbness of Governor Susana Martinez.

The next night, May 25, she opened her show with an attack on Candidate Trump. What had the candidate done this time?

The previous evening, Candidate Trump had mocked the dumbness of Governor Martinez! Maddow proceeded to savage Trump for doing the same thing she'd done! See yesterday's report.

This type of nonsense is par for the course on the current Maddow Show. Maddow has transformed her "cable news" program into one of the dumbest, and least disciplined, in the entire field.

Tribal porridge is served each night; the loss of brain cells is large. As in last night's amazing first twenty minutes, the waste of time on pointless trivia is routinely enormous.

Maddow flipped on Governor Martinez from the end of one night's show to the start of the next! We have no idea how other liberals can watch this show without wondering about the cable star's very strange nightly performance.

That said, Maddow's strangest work last week involved a second governor. We refer to Terry McAuliffe, a long-time Clinton associate, the Democratic governor of Virginia.

Why was McAuliffe in the news? Right at the start of her show, Maddow teased the topic. In this ridiculous statement, you see the instinct to "hang em high" which typifies Maddow's performance:
MADDOW (6/23/16): We also learned this afternoon that the FBI is apparently investigating Virginia's Democratic governor, Terry McAuliffe, which means Virginia is now officially turning into Illinois, with one of its governors appealing his conviction to the Supreme Court while at the same time, his successor in office comes under federal investigation.
Virginia has turned into Illinois? No, we aren't making that up.

Maddow didn't even seem to be sure that McAuliffe was being investigated. But just like that, the fact that he was "apparently" being investigated meant that he should be linked to the state's previous governor. It also triggered that snarky link to Illinois.

Was McAuliffe really under investigation? If so, for what? Given McAuliffe's ties to the Clintons, and given our recent political history, a sensible person might want to be careful about a leaked report of this type in an election year.

Alas! The leaked report of a ginned-up probe has been a regular feature of campaign seasons in the Clinton / Gore / Clinton years. That said, Maddow has never met an accusation she didn't treat as a conviction, except in the case of Candidate Clinton, whose current, actual FBI probe she has failed to examine at all.

Has anyone on cable news ever rushed-to-convict in the way Maddow does? Later in her cable show, she devoted a segment to this murky new topic—the first of two such segments last week.

Monday evening's segment was bad. Wednesday evening's segment was worse, as we'll see tomorrow.

In Monday evening's segment, Maddow offered a silly, short introduction to the general topic. This let her play videotape of herself, her number-one favorite pastime.

She then reported what little she knew about the apparent probe; she didn't know much at all. Needless to say, the seriousness of the topic, and her general ignorance, didn't keep her from snarking:
MADDOW: ...NBC News has now confirmed that the FBI is looking into whether or not Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe accepted illegal contributions during his 2013 campaign for governor. Specifically, the FBI looking, for the past several months, into whether his gubernatorial campaign accepted contributions that were illegal.

The FBI is reportedly particularly interested in contributions from a Chinese businessman,
who once held political office in China, but who now has permanent resident status in the United States. A lawyer for the McAuliffe campaign tells NBC tonight, quote, "Neither the governor, nor his former campaign, has knowledge of this matter." The lawyer continued, quote, "The governor will certainly cooperate with the government if he is contacted about it."

If. If!


The lawyer implying that the governor himself hasn't even been told about this FBI investigation yet. But it's in the press now, thanks to somebody leaking that information.

This new FBI investigation is happening in the same state where Terry McAuliffe's predecessor, Republican Governor Bob McDonnell, is currently appealing a two-year prison sentence for public corruption.

Public affairs, indeed.

When Bob McDonnell got indicted, everybody in Virginia professed to be shocked, shocked that this could happen in that genteel state,
which prides itself on its good governance, that never thought it even needed ethics laws. Bob McDonnell was the first Virginia governor indicted in that state's very, very, very long history. Now his successor is under FBI investigation as well.

We will let you know more when we learn more.
But joining us now and Matt Zapotosky, who covers the Justice Department for the Washington Post national security team.
To watch this whole segment, click here.

Several parts of that report should have suggested caution. The history of leaked probes of Clinton associates would be one such element. Recent errors by the Washington Post and the New York Times would perhaps be another.

Normal decency keeps journalists from implying guilt on such a flimsy basis as this—on the basis of a vague report which some unknown person has leaked. That said, Maddow rarely executes normal decency when the slightest suggestion of wrongdoing lets her engage in her favorite types of conduct: playing videotape of herself and staging instant convictions.

Rather plainly, McAuliffe's lawyer said the governor was unaware of any such probe. Rather than react with caution, Maddow misstated what the lawyer had said as she authored a hint of disbelief.

She then got out a can of snark concerning the state of Virginia. Borrowing from Casablanca, she snarked about Governor McDonnell's conviction, which the Supreme Court is reconsidering, then linked McAuliffe to McDonnell in standard careless fashion.

Maddow then interviewed Zapotosky, a youngish reporter for the Post (Ohio U., class of 2008.) Zapotosky implied McAuliffe's guilt in a remarkably careless way.

Needless to say, his carelessness went unchallenged. Tomorrow, we'll start with his remarks.

Last Monday night, we thought this was a careless report of a familiar type. Maddow is a remarkably undisciplined hangin' judge. Except in the case of Candidate Clinton, she typically rushes to convict, no matter how little she knows about an investigation or charge. (In this instance, there was no report of a charge.)

In this instance, she knew almost nothing, but the snark had already begun. When she threw to Zapotosky, the rush to convict got worse.

That said, Monday's report was a breath of fresh air compared to Wednesday's sequel. Maddow is running a very poor show. Her basic judgment is very poor, and she no longer seems to be under any sort of editorial direction.

On the bright side, she's pulling in numbers and making huge bucks. That said, her TV show is a mess.

Casablanca suggests one possible answer. Can't somebody sing the Marseillaise to drown this clown show out?

Tomorrow: Zapotosky convicts, just as it ever was

25 comments:

  1. I watched Clinton's speech on CSPAN. It was clear, well-delivered and devastating to Trump. Then I heard the Republicans call in about Benghazi and email. They used both the Republican and Democrat lines. And Bernie's folks called in with their criticisms. So I switched to MSNBC where Hugh Hewitt was comparing Trump to Reagan. That got interrupted by 10 minutes on Ryan's endorsement of Trump. Then some woman said she and "others in the office" noticed how similar he speech was to Mitt Romney's, as if she had cribbed it. So I had to turn off the TV.


    This is what coverage of a major foreign policy speech is like when you're HRC.

    FYI, the conservatives are now saying her server was actually hacked, which is not true. Hewitt said it and some random caller did, so it appears to be a talking point.

    So, how does Clinton balance the Republican callers when Bernie people are clogging the call in lines and sending tweets as "Democrats"? They are hurting her efforts to defeat Trump.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @4:33

      Lazar aka "Gucifer" said he first compromised Clinton confidant Sidney Blumenthal's AOL account, in March 2013, and used that as a stepping stone to the Clinton server. He said he accessed Clinton’s server “like twice,” though he described the contents as “not interest[ing]” to him at the time.

      “I was not paying attention. For me, it was not like the Hillary Clinton server, it was like an email server she and others were using with political voting stuff," Guccifer said."

      "While Lazar's claims cannot be independently verified, three computer security specialists, including two former senior intelligence officials, said the process described is plausible and the Clinton server, now in FBI custody, may have an electronic record that would confirm or disprove Guccifer’s claims."

      “Because of the proximity to Sidney Blumenthal and the activity involving Hillary’s emails, [the timing] seems to be something beyond curious,” said Ron Hosko, former assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division from 2012-2014."

      Clinton spinmeister Brian Fallon tried to explain why HRC's IT Brian Pagliano had to shut down HRC's private Chappaqua server multiple times in an attempt to stop the hacking. What did Brian do when the hacking occurred while Brian was counting sheep?

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lVbn0cGc40

      Delete
  2. Maddow was for Obama in 2008. She may be for Clinton now, but it is hard to see that she's been much of a friend to her. I think she doesn't want to alienate the Bernie part of her audience. A Clinton advocate would point out the things Somerby did about leaked investigation and attacks on her associates.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Positive remarks about Hillary's speech today:

    " She's had some bad weeks. This wasn't one of the."

    "No one will be complaining to Robby Mook."

    Nothing more positive than that -- an immediate shift to what Trump should do to counter her criticism.

    ReplyDelete
  4. NBC 60 Minutes: President Obama Didn't Know About Hillary Clinton's Private Email Server. Now why would HRC go out of her way to keep her boss in the dark about the Chappaqua server if as she claims a private server was allowed by State Department guidelines?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PpSTlnUEWQ

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neither did Valery Putin, comrade.

      Delete
  5. Question: If Maddow's show is so dumb why does it keep winning awards? Answer: It's not dumb. Bob is just a bitter, old, southern, conservative white guy who can't stand that an intelligent, gay, liberal woman has a primetime show and he doesn't.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not much of a defense. "Winning awards."

      Delete
  6. My life became devastated when my husband sent me packing, after 8 years that we have been together. I was lost and helpless after trying so many ways to make my husband take me back. One day at work, i was absent minded not knowing that my boss was calling me, so he sat and asked me what its was all about i told him and he smiled and said that it was not a problem. I never understand what he meant by it wasn't a problem getting my husband back, he said he used a spell to get his wife back when she left him for another man and now they are together till date and at first i was shocked hearing such thing from my boss. He gave me an email address of the great spell caster who helped him get his wife back, i never believed this would work but i had no choice that to get in contact with the spell caster which i did, and he requested for my information and that of my husband to enable him cast the spell and i sent him the details, but after two days, my mom called me that my husband came pleading that he wants me back, i never believed it because it was just like a dream and i had to rush down to my mothers place and to my greatest surprise, my husband was kneeling before me pleading for forgiveness that he wants me and the kid back home, then i gave Happy a call regarding sudden change of my husband and he made it clear to me that my husband will love me till the end of the world, that he will never leave my sight. Now me and my husband is back together again and has started doing pleasant things he hasn't done before, he makes me happy and do what he is suppose to do as a man without nagging. Please if you need help of any kind, kindly contact Happy for help and you can reach him via email: happylovespell2@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. HOW TO RESTORE YOUR BROKEN MARRIAGE
    Life is all about good and bad experience...i was hurting REAL bad when my husband left me but now i can't really believe that i am with my Ex-Husband again and With this little short time and just want to use it in thanking the great man that brought joy back to my life within 48 hours by bringing back my lover. Yes it was true that i had some difficulties with my lover but today i am back here to tell the world that Dr.goodluck brought my lover back to me. I have always heard of love spell but i never had an idea of how effective it can be. Well my time is up just contact Dr.goodluck at his email goodluck05spellcaster@gmail.com and you can also whatapp him or call with his mobile +2349059610309. To enable you have a taste of his great work.

    ReplyDelete
  8. My name is Rita Carlos, am from Ohio USA. I want the world to know a great man that is well known as Dr Ogundele,he has the perfect solution to relationship issues and marriage problems, even money solution. The main reason why i went to Dr Ogundele was for solution on how i can get my husband back because in recent times i have read some testimonies on the Internet which some people has written about Dr Ogundele and i was so pleased and i decided to seek for assistance from him on his email [ogundeletempleofsolution@gmail.com] which he did a perfect job by casting a spell on my husband which made him to come back to me and beg for forgiveness. I will not stop publishing his name on the net because of the good work he is doing. I will drop his contact for the usefulness of those that needs his help.His Email: ogundeletempleofsolution@gmail.com You can contact him today and get your problem solved.Call +27618920352

    ReplyDelete
  9. TESTIMONY
    My name is Hidago Daniel. I made a promise to tell others the wonderful works of he who brought my ex girlfriend back to me. He is doctor KEN who is a spell doctor and was able to bring back my ex. My ex left me the very day she met her friend in my place, of which, unknowingly to her, I had nothing to do with her. She grew furious at the very sight of her friend and I was confused if she was initially mad with her. Days into weeks and weeks into months, my ex girlfriend did not speak a word to me as she went away. What was I to do? That was how i contacted doctor KEN on the internet who after some procedures and progress, brought back my ex. Words are not enough to express my feelings and what doctor KEN has done for me. He really lifted a heavy load off my chest. To all those out there, please, don't think your situation is too primitive or too hard and complicated for anyone to understand. Contact doctor KEN and find joy once again, contact him on drkenlovespell@gmail.com also talk to him on +1[903] 847 0267

    ReplyDelete
  10. Mở bán Waterpoint Nam Long Bến Lức, Long An với giá chỉ tử 2.3 tỷ/căn
    Đất nền Waterpoint Nam Long Mở bán, Nhận giữ chỗ Theo số thự tự ưu tiên, Có hoàn lại
    | Giá bán Biệt thự Waterpoint Nam Long chỉ từ 3.6 tỷ/căn. Nhận Booking
    | Giá bán Nhà phố Waterpoint Nam Long có sổ đỏ giá từ 2.3 tỷ/căn. Nhận Booking
    | Nhận giữ chỗ Shophouse Waterpoint Nam Long – Nhận Booking Nhà phố thương mại: 168 triệu/căn
    | Công bố Giá bán Waterpoint Nam Long chính thức. Nhận Booking

    ReplyDelete
  11. Máy giặt hấp sấy LG Styler S5MB - hàng mới nhất năm 2019. Với những ưu điểm sau: Công nghệ giặt hơi nước, không sử dụng hóa chất, hoạt động cực êm, không phát tiếng ồn. Màn hình LCD, nút bấm cảm ứng thông minh. Mặt trước gương pha lê cao cấp Khối lượng quần áo: 8.2 kg Công suất: 1700w Bảng điều khiển: Màn hình LCD, phím bấm cảm ứng Kích thước: 60 × 196 × 59.6 cm Trọng lượng : 105kg Bảo hành tận nhà 12 tháng. Miễn phí giao hàng trên toàn quốc.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Công nghệ giặt hơi nước trên máy giặt hấp sấy có gì hấp dẫn?

    Giá bán máy giặt hấp sấy lg styler s5bb là bao nhiêu

    Thông số kỹ thuật của máy giặt hấp sấy lg styler s3rer

    Thông số kỹ thuật của Máy giặt hấp sấy lg styler s3rf

    Thông số kỹ thuật của Máy giặt hấp sấy lg styler s5mb

    Thông số kỹ thuật của Máy giặt hấp sấy LG Styler S3WF

    Giá bán giấy thơm cho máy giặt là bao nhiêu?

    ReplyDelete
  13. Giá bán máy gấp quần áo Foldimate là bao nhiêu? Mua máy gấp quần áo chính hãng ở đâu?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Máy giặt hấp sấy LG Styler S5GFO chính hãng giá tốt
    Máy giặt hấp sấy LG Styler S5BFO hàng nội địa
    Máy giặt hấp sấy LG Styler S5MPC công nghệ 2021

    ReplyDelete
  15. Dự án mới triển khaiCompound the Aqua Waterpoint thu hút đông đảo khách hàng 2022

    ReplyDelete