One correction, PBS has little, to nothing to do with selecting the moderator, Ifill was selected by the Commission on Presidential Debates.

Journalism has been dead for some time. Did you miss the funeral?

At this point, it's my intent to never read a newspaper or news magazine again in my life. Ditto for all TV news, except possibly in the event of a major catastrophy or emergency of some kind.

I've noticed that even in some of the highly technical publications I read, discussions of volts and megahertz will be randomly interrupted by some totally unrelated liberal rant, as if the author just couldn't hold it in any longer. Simply amazing.

I now find myself being annoyed by Fox New's "fair and balanced" mantra. Where is there even one outlet that is not totally in the tank for the extreme left wing? That is, where is the counterbalance? Simply put, there isn't one and that makes me quite angry.

thanks for the opening to use this, finally, Cassy - this is from the local reporter that was doing daily dispatches from both conventions this year:

"During the singing of the national anthem, the Republican delegates sing with the performer on stage; at the Democratic convention, delegates barely stopped talking long enough to look up to acknowledge someone was singing. During the invocation, most of the delegates' heads were bowed and the entire convention hall was completely silent; the Democratic convention was rarely ever quiet."

This is a bit off topic, but still worth mentioning: "Another interesting feature of the GOP convention - the many handmade signs, mixed with standard signs, that are sprinkled throughout the convention center. At the Democratic convention, runners passed out uniform signs to audience members and were militant about when they were held up and down - the choreography meant to maximize impact. I actually saw a runner yell at a 7-year-old girl to put down her sign during Obama's speech."

Gary - Do I take you to mean that you see Fox News as being far left?

Governor Palin should ask Gwen how she expects her book to do.

Journalism is far from dead. What's finally dead is the false paradigm of objective journalism.

We're finally heading back to the way it used to be; openly partisan news sources. But instead of newspapers and pamphlets it will be cable news and weblogs.

TPeasy - "We're finally heading back to the way it used to be; openly partisan news sources. But instead of newspapers and pamphlets it will be cable news and weblogs."

And just when was that time?

Why is PBS still getting funding from taxpayers?

It's a fine example of the problem with government. Once an entity outlives its original purpose how do you go about getting rid of it or privatizing it?

Kinda reminds me of the 3% federal excise tax on phone bills that was used for paying for the Spanish American War.

The phrase "conflict of interest" comes immediately to mind. She should be yanked post haste based on that alone.

Marc,Try the 18th and 19th century.

http://moa.cit.cornell.edu/moa/index.html

I hope Sarah Palin kicks butt during the debate and Gwen appreciates her front row seat at such an occasion.

We're finally heading back to the way it used to be

Back to the way it used to be? In an alternative universe, perhaps. The false dichotomy will never be dead. It's called simple denial.

I thought that was pretty comical that Gwen Ifill would do the "moderating" when I read a little bit about her. Who could be less biased in this debate than one of Obama's Happy Pills? Clinton is right again, this is a fairy tale.

I would love to see how many viewers CNN has lost. That is a poll I would love to see!!

The phrase "conflict of interest" comes immediately to mind. She should be yanked post haste based on that alone.

A reasonable argument. However, it's pretty lame of McCain to wait until 24 hours before the debate to object. Her book was announced weeks before he agreed on the moderator.

I concur with the room; the author of a book with Sen. Obama's name in the title was a terrible choice as debate moderator, although purely strategically, you conservatives might actually thank your lucky stars. If - as I'm expecting - Sen. Biden whips his very intelligent but very green opponent, you probably have an out to minimize the damage. Were I Sen. McCain, I'd passively let it go and, if Gov. Palin gets blown off the stage, start an Ifill-related ad campaign post-debate. Just a thought.

Note that I'm drawing a distinction here between intelligent and ignorant. I believe Gov. Palin to be both.

you probably have an out to minimize the damage. Were I Sen. McCain, I'd passively let it go and, if Gov. Palin gets blown off the stage, start an Ifill-related ad campaign post-debate. Just a thought.

Actually, that would explain why they waited until the day before the debate to object. It's early enough to get the message out there, but likely too late for them to get a new moderator.

Did McCain object to having Ifill moderate? That's not what I'm seeing. Did I miss something while I was out today?

"Gary - Do I take you to mean that you see Fox News as being far left?"

No, obviously not. But on balance I do see them tilting slightly to the left. O'Reilly really wants to be a major channel anchor, so panders a good bit. And then there is Juan Williams and Colmes, certainly left of center. And other less well know Fox faces.

My point, which I obviously failed to make, is that where is the right of center media outlet to balance CBS, NBC, ABC, PBS, CNN, the NYT, the LA Times, the Washington Post, etc., etc.? There isn't one. Not one major conservative newspape, not one conservative broadcast outlet. None.

When Fox started, they were slightly to the right of center, but that's gone now. I suspect it was all a ploy anyway.

For me, it doesn't matter. I can't stand O'Reilly, Colmes and Williams, so I almost never watch.

TPeasy - "Marc,Try the 18th and 19th century."

Sorry guy, auditions for the Comedy Channel are closed.

Recall the reactions of contemporary papers to Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, by Lincoln's two "hometown" papers:

Chicago Tribune: "The dedicatory remarks by President Lincoln will live among the annals of man."

Chicago Times: "The cheeks of every American must tingle with shame as he reads the silly, flat, and dishwatery utterances."

Guess which one was the Republican paper and which one was the Democratic one.

Who have you been watching Brian, NBC?

"However, it's pretty lame of McCain to wait until 24 hours before the debate to object. "

McCain has said he has no objection. Try watching someone who isn't in the bag for Obama, you might even learn a few things.. . or not. . .

Call me crazy, but when I clicked the Ifill video, it returned a message and a blank screen: "We're sorry. This video is no longer available."

Cassy, did you notice the YouTube user account that posted it? Did they decide that the effect intended when posted (Day 3 of RNC Convention)was perhaps not that which it is having now?

Or is it just more friends of Obama at Google?

Silly conspiracy theorists who dream this stuff up are so nutty... Perhaps I should join ELF or go park my arse in a tree and tell it I am here to save it.

From Ace of Spades - How Ifil & Biden will get Palin:

So Joe Biden is doing this for every single easily-anticipated subject matter of question. Health care gets asked about, generally. Joe Biden drops his earlier-rehearsed bit of legardemain about TERPSA's third-party copayment provisions.

Now, when the question goes to Palin, Ifill will specficially re-ask the question to incorporate Joe Biden's mention of TERPSA's thrid-party copayment provisions.

He will get a general question, which he will deliberately shape to be more specific, as to a specific he has planned and boned up for. Ifill will then demand Palin answer the nit that Biden interjected, just for this purpose.

So why can't Palin do this to Biden? She can try. But Ifill will not insist Biden answer intelligently about her specific-data-gotchas. He will be allowed to answer in general principles and only stick to his own talking points.

Has Palin gotten the knack of moving away from such gotchas? She's probably practiced it a bit. However, Ifill is going to demand she answer Biden's goofball TERPSA question, and not the more general question originally posed.

http://ace.mu.nu/archives/274659.php

Did McCain object to having Ifill moderate? That's not what I'm seeing.

You're right, I don't see that he's objecting. I was thrown off by the right-wing echo chamber objecting for him.

They couldn't have waited the sixty or so seconds until it was over so that they could show some respect to our National Anthem? I don't know. Like I said, maybe that's just me.

Then again, if obambi isn't elected, the whole country is racist.

Hey everybody, see how easy it is to throw off Brian?

Keep up the good work!

[sarcaster off]

Why don't we just let Oprah moderate it...I'm sure she can be just as fair and balanced at Ifill.

This is just ridiculous! It was just revealed TODAY that Ifill didn't even tell PBS or the McCain camp that she was writing the book. What if one of us applied for a job and purposely didn't tell our hopeful employer that we were actually working for one of their competitors? To find out that she didn't reveal this information show a little light into the lack of integrity that she has. She needs to be replaced...period!

"I was thrown off by the right-wing echo chamber objecting for him."

Sure, Brian. It wasn't your fault.

Gwen's book came out July 27, 2008. First week of August, John McCain agreed that she would be fine as the moderator for the VP debate.

Of course, this was before he picked Sara Plain. I suppose if I were in McCain's shoes, I wouldn't want Ms. Plain to be questioned on anything that will reveal the dimwit she is.

I watched this part on CNN, to see how they reacted, and I must admit that I was stunned: Wolf Blitzer actually asked the panel to be quiet and stand when the National Anthem came on. Of course the panelists were somewhat taken aback...

I agree with the lefty loons. This is a very good political play by McCain. Should Biden do well, it will be perceived that he was shown favoritism. Should Palin stumble, Ifil was being unfair. This is truly a great move. We have our cake and eat it too. Ifil has been marginalized and Biden is the one in the uncomfortable chair. Love it. ww