Why Fox News Channel SUCKS!!

[karlhenning]

$400 vs. $150,000?  $150,000 spent by a publicly funded campaign?  That would be 375 $400 haircuts.  And in any case, where is the "re-invention" here?   This is pretty lame.

There is a difference in scale which I agree is of some significance;  but Edward's coiff was a gaffe of just the same kind, IMO.  He can look good without shucking out that much for a mere haircut.

[springrite]

Personally, I prefer apathy when it comes to politics. 

[Bulldog]

If you keep your eyes glued to one news channel you deserved to be misled.  There is bias everywhere, and it is unavoidable.  To become truly unbiased, you have to listen to and understand both sides of the argument, and for that reason FOX and MSNBC serve a purpose.  But I wouldn't go around quoting either station as reliable.

Right on target.  Fox is a good antidote after Olbermann and Maddow.

[Bulldog]

The basic problem I have with Maddow is that she sees no value in conservatism; in that sense, she is a divisive personality.  But I have to say that she's a much more pleasant commentator than Olbermann.

[karlhenning]

The basic problem I have with Maddow is that she sees no value in conservatism; in that sense, she is a divisive personality.  But I have to say that she's a much more pleasant commentator than Olbermann.

Don't know Maddow.  I've probably watched two Olbermann bits over the past five years.  I feel no attraction to his show.

[Bulldog]

Don't know Maddow.  I've probably watched two Olbermann bits over the past five years.  I feel no attraction to his show.

Give Maddow a listen.  She's a very intelligent person.

[Daverz]

There is a difference in scale which I agree is of some significance;  but Edward's coiff was a gaffe of just the same kind, IMO.  He can look good without shucking out that much for a mere haircut.

The claim was that this was an example of a fabrication on Maddow's part.

And it's not just a difference in scale.  Palin was sold as a down-to-earth hockey mom fighting against those coastal elites.  But it turns out she's just a Niemann Marxist.

Let's remember that the significance of the $400 haircut is that it fed into two right-wing narratives:

1. Edwards is a faggot.
2. Edwards can't sincerely care about poor people, he's rich!

[Kullervo]

1. Edwards is a faggot.

Yes, that was low even for Coulter (someone I wouldn't hesitate in referring to in the same terms as McCain does his wife).

[karlhenning]

The claim was that this was an example of a fabrication on Maddow's part.

And it's not just a difference in scale.  Palin was sold as a down-to-earth hockey mom fighting against those coastal elites.  But it turns out she's just a Niemann Marxist.

Well, and speaking as one who would have preferred Edwards to Kerry as the presidential candidate four years ago, one could see a comparable argument:  that Edwards campaigned as one championing the poor, and emphasizing the modesty of his origins;  and that spending $400 on a haircut sends a peculiarly mized signal.

Let's remember that the significance of the $400 haircut is that it fed into two right-wing narratives:

1. Edwards is a faggot.
2. Edwards can't sincerely care about poor people, he's rich!

I don't think that demonstrates that there is "no story" in Edwards's case;  but reinforces my point that, no matter what the truth of the matter might be, Fox is a partisan propaganda bubble.  I don't think either that it was as important a story as they were noising, nor that the story meant at all what they tried to make it mean.  But one could quite reasonably consider it a strategic misstep on Edwards's part.  (Again, I did not find it a 'fatal' misstep.)

[adamdavid80]

The claim was that this was an example of a fabrication on Maddow's part.

And it's not just a difference in scale.  Palin was sold as a down-to-earth hockey mom fighting against those coastal elites.  But it turns out she's just a Niemann Marxist.

Let's remember that the significance of the $400 haircut is that it fed into two right-wing narratives:

1. Edwards is a faggot.
2. Edwards can't sincerely care about poor people, he's rich!

Not a fabrication, but in terms of how the story was handled.  Maddow's approach to it was, "The right are talking about THIS when there's a war in Iraq and these important issues on the table???"  But when the other side does it - and the issue is REALLY that the money came out of not the individual's pocket, but from campaign donations and funds - it's worthy of reporting AND critique.

The two other things came about later, one via Ann Coulter, so we all know what that's worth.

Me, I'd be concerned if the guy understands how to budget funds and even public perception dilemmas if he's spending that on a friggin' haircut.

And considering he got busted for infidelity, that just bolsters this point...

[Daverz]

The basic problem I have with Maddow is that she sees no value in conservatism; in that sense, she is a divisive personality.  But I have to say that she's a much more pleasant commentator than Olbermann.

I can't speak for Maddow, but for myself it depends on what you mean by "conservatism".  If you mean the Movement Conservatism that had its roots in the 1964 defeat of Goldwater*, that has no value, it's completely intellectually bankrupt.

* Whether Goldwater himself had some good ideas is another thing entirely, but I can't think of any of his good ideas that are popular with Movement Conservatives.