I've got a new Think Again column called “Poll Faults” here.
The McCain Suck-up Watch continues here.
PBS to use “noted pollster” Luntz for presidential forum, despite GOP ties and reported reprimands, here. When I did the panel with Frank Luntz in New Hampshire, he defended Fox News as an admirable journalistic enterprise. That's what PBS apparently wants. Remember, it created The Journal Editorial Report at an expense of $5 million to the taxpayer and gave it to Fox News without any need to change it whatsoever.
Quote of the Day: George W. Bush, at the Mardi Gras theme BBQ on the South Lawn with Congress. President Bush speaking to the black musicians of New Orleans jazz band Kermit Ruffins and the Barbeque Swingers:
THE PRESIDENT: Kermit Ruffins and the Barbeque Swingers, right out of New Orleans, Louisiana. (Applause.)
MR. RUFFINS: Thank you. Thanks for having us. We're glad to be here.
THE PRESIDENT: Proud you're here. Thanks for coming. You all enjoy yourself. Make sure you pick up all the trash after it's over. (Laughter.)
Name: Kal Varnsen
Hometown: Minneapolis
Eric,
You've never commented on it, but I'm curious. Are you upset that you have been relegated from MSNBC to Media Matters?
Eric replies: No, not at all. Thanks for asking.
Name: Ben V-L
Hometown: Lewisburg, PA
What Gerth doesn't get is that his opinion and that of his fellow reporters on the efficacy of Media Matters is very nearly irrelevant. The media he represents is leaking credibility like water from a rusty bucket. They may find their critics irrelevant, but in the end, who will care what Gerth thinks?
Name: Maureen Holland
Hometown: South Venice Beach FL
Eric: Just read a Mortman story on Politico.com about the Brian Lamb/Michael Savage kerfuffle. The thread is what I hope to draw your attention to. At my reading, 21 comments total. And 99% of them trashing CSPAN. They're original too, not copy cat stuff. Egad.
Name: M. George Stevenson
Hometown: Bronx, NY
Dear Doctor:
Does the Arbitron report offer any details of the “book” on Sam Seder before he was shunted off Air America's weekday morning slot to a mid-afternoon Sunday (i.e., dead) time period? I am very curious to know if the Green Bros.' substitution of a host who will invite William Donohue of the Catholic League for the always incisive Seder has really helped their bottom line at all.
My suspicion is that, apart from wedging Air America into a few of the unfunny, uni-monikered new host's old markets, not much. I have certainly returned to the WNYC fold.
For all his other good works, Mark Green is, alas, someone whom Ed Koch was credibly able to call “obnoxious,” and I fear that his stewardship of Air America may turn out to be as successful as his mayoral campaign and for some of the same reasons.
Eric replies: As Mark was my co-author on The Book on Bush, I do not comment on Mark's doings, one way or another. I will say that I was a big fan of Sam's show and remain a big fan of Sam. I was distressed to hear of his being shuttled off to Sunday and I read from “Atrios” that “Lionel” is, well, no Sam Seder. I don't know if the change has proven lucrative or not for Air America, but there it is.