Across The Media Universe: 'Increasingly Contentious' Edition

By: Hillary Profita
Topics: Across The Media Universe

(AP)

Ratings Up For Bush: Well, President Bush's numbers are up somewhere. The AP reports that viewership for the speech was up by 9 percent since last year. Who else saw a bump? "American Idol," whose numbers were up by 8 percent. The Bush speech – running on nine different networks – drew more viewers (about 45.5 million) than "Idol," which, on a single network, clocked in at about 32.6 million. As for Fox's airing of the Bush speech, 8.4 million people tuned in. But NBC won the day with 9.3 million viewers according to Nielsen research.

Rumble In The Situation Room: Another big public appearance from the Bush administration is eating up headlines: Vice President Dick Cheney's appearance on CNN's "The Situation Room." The interview was "turned increasingly contentious as it wore on," writes the Post in a front pager. (Wonkette's description: "In Which Dick Cheney Nearly Kills Wolf Blitzer With His Bare Hands.") Either way, check out the interview. Here's a media related snippet:

Wolf Blitzer: His number two, Ayman al Zawahiri is –

Vice President Dick Cheney: Zawahiri is much, much more visible. Yes.

Blitzer: I mean, he's on television almost as much as I am.

Cheney: Well, I don't know if anybody is on as much as you are, Wolf …

Libby Gets Blogified: Finally, for those of you who just can't get enough of the media-politics-CIA fiesta of intrigue that is the Scooter Libby trial – you're in luck. Broadcasting and Cable reports that the AP will syndicate a feed of blog coverage of the trial to more than 600 Web sites. "This is the first time the AP has syndicated a blog feed as part of its news service," writes B&C. A dozen bloggers are "taking turns" covering the trial, using two credentials that the Media Bloggers Association received from the US District Court.

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by centralcal-2009 January 28, 2007 2:55 PM EST: seanyg2 and Mattcat25: you guys are just jealous that Clinton had to rant, rave, and bulge his eyes and pop his veins when being questioned by Wallace; whereas, Cheney accomplished far more with a look and a terse phrase to Wolfie!

The bloggers on the Libby trial are once again, providing better, more accurate reporting than legacy media. Some of the big media boys/gals are proving to be quite embarassing in their presentation of "facts" (or could that be the old bias trick called framing the story?). The more the information flows, the worse the media looks. Of course, the media is up to its hips in involvement in this story (especially NBC).; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 January 25, 2007 9:04 PM EST: In light of (and, many other things) the Scooter Libby Lying Trial, Mr. Cheney will find himself "tired", and "dehydrated" needing to spend more time with his family (lesbian daughter and smut author wife). Cheney will resign due to health reasons, and Bush will appoint a new fresh face Conservative to the Vice President Post. Then, Bush will be able to step down himself launching his predecessor into the next Presidential Campaign in 2008.; Reply to this comment


by one_american January 25, 2007 5:09 PM EST: seanyg2:

Waiting for the impeachment party?

Hold your breath. That'll help. Try it.; Reply to this comment


by seanyg2 January 25, 2007 4:40 PM EST: Hmmm... is Cheney AS self- assured as the president .. or MORE?...

I'm still mystified how he & Bush are still in office.. I can undertand the post- alscoholic need to create stress in your living environment (as created by Bush, on the world stage: IE: Iraq...), but I've never understood Cheney's arrogance.. maybe too long around Rumsfeld.. thinks he knows everthing..
Hey.. did ANY of these guys ever really work for a living?... or do they just 'serve'... ?

I'M still waiting for the impeachment party!!

Sean G, Minneapolis; Reply to this comment