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07 Dec 2011 11:22

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World: The View from Syria: Bashar al-Assad denies crackdown to Barbara Walters

  • This is a frustrating interview, friends. In it, Bashar al-Assad essentially denies the obvious — that there’s a bloody crackdown happening against anti-government protesters, led by the Syrian government. Example: Walters references a series of pictures showing pictures of violence — including against children. “People went from house to house,” she said. “Children were arrested. I saw those pictures.” Assad’s response: “To be frank with you, Barbara, I don’t believe you.” Like we said, supremely frustrating. Assad says that “terrorists” are behind the months-long violent crackdown, rather than Syrian troops. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

27 Oct 2011 19:40

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Biz, U.S.: Barbara Walters interviews Bernie Madoff from jail

  • For our interview, I was permitted only to bring in pen and pad. I was also allowed to bring in $20 in quarters since there were vending machines near our meeting room, which prisoners and guests are permitted to use during the visit. As it turns out, Madoff didn’t want anything, but I did mention it during the meeting in case we were hungry.
  • Barbara Walters • Delivering a first-hand account of her jailhouse interview with convicted Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff. The interview, which airs on ABC during ‘World News’ and ‘Nightline,’ comes several days after a short segment was released from an upcoming episode of ’60 Minutes’ in which Madoff’s wife Ruth admitted the pair had attempted suicide. source
Posted by Matthew Keys • 0 Comments • Permalink

23 Oct 2011 21:06

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Politics: George Will nails supremely unflattering description of Mitt Romney

  • It has a lot to do with Romney. He is rising as more and more Republicans come to the conclusion that the Republican Party has found its Michael Dukakis, a technocratic Massachusetts governor running on competence, not ideology.
  • George Will • Discussing the rise of Herman Cain on ABC’s “This Week,” and in the process dropping a welt-producing comment about Mitt Romney — a comparison to Michael Dukakis, perhaps the weakest presidential candidate in the past 25 years. Expect this line to crop up again during the campaign, because it’s not a flattering comparison, especially coming from the guy who doesn’t like blue jeans. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

17 Oct 2011 23:06

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Culture: Casual Monday: ABC anchor comes out on-air like it’s no big deal

  • Big kudos to ABC World News Now host Dan Kloeffler.  Not only did he come out while broadcasting on-air — itself an incredibly courageous thing to do — but he did it in a casual, nonchalant way. No big, dramatic announcement; Kloeffer just off-handedly dropped it during a story about actor Zachary Quinto. “He’s thirty-four, I’m thirty-five,” Kloeffler said about Quinto, who also just came out. “I’m thinking, I can lose my distraction about dating actors for that one.” Kloeffler didn’t present it as a game-changing fact of outsized importance, but just a part of who he is. This is the kind of thing that helps encourage — however slightly — mainstream acceptance of different sexualities, even. source
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

07 Jul 2011 13:48

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U.S.: Elizabeth Smart is joining ABC News — as a contributor

  • She’s going to comment on missing persons cases to give people the perspective from the family. This is pretty good, because this is a unique perspective that she can do well — and it’s one that is often overlooked. What’s better is that she’s willing to do this, despite what happened to her in the past. But one has to wonder if this gives into the tabloidy nature some of these stories fall into. That said, it will certainly be interesting to see what she has to say, and hopefully adding her voice to those kinds of stories will help people see the bigger picture. source
Posted by Justin Jones • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Nov 2010 10:53

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Politics: TSA Chief John Pistole sounding meeker in each new TV appearance

  • There should never be a situation where that happens. The security officers are there to protect the traveling public. There are specific standard operating protocols which they are to follow.
  • TSA Chief John Pistole • In response to a situation that an ABC News employee went through in an airport yesterday, around the time that Pistole was embarrassing himself on CNN. Here’s what she said: “The woman who checked me reached her hands inside my underwear and felt her way around. It was basically worse than going to the gynecologist. It was embarrassing. It was demeaning. It was inappropriate.” So yeah, try to defend that, TSA Chief. You can’t. You’re in the middle of a PR nightmare. Enjoy. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Nov 2010 20:17

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Politics: Andrew Breitbart learns about professional embarrassment

  • Instead of clarifying your role, you posted a blog on Sunday evening in which you continued to claim a bigger role in our coverage.  As we are still unable to agree on your role, we feel it best for you not to participate.
  • ABC News Digital Executive Producer Andrew Morse • Telling Andrew Breitbart that he’s no longer wanted for election night coverage. He blew it because he kept claiming he was playing a much larger part than he actually was. So now they just ditched him. It’s about time he fell flat on his face, y’know.  source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

25 Jul 2010 22:22

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Politics: Max Headroom: Alvin Greene has an official(ly supported) theme song


  • We miss Jake Tapper Jake Tapper’s last week headlining ABC News’ “This Week” was a bittersweet affair, and this interview with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie shows why Tapper was a natural at this. Christiane Amanpour, you have a lot to live up to.

  • Alvin Greene’s Rap While this video certainly makes it seem like Alvin Greene created it (and has an extreme LeBron James fetish) he didn’t. Doesn’t matter. His long-shot campaign needs whatever PR it can get right now, so why the heck not?

  • Howard Dean relevantBack in 2004, before that whole scream thing ruined his chances at the presidency, he was actually worth watching. Now, he’s on “Fox News Sunday” … calling Fox News racist for their Shirley Sherrod coverage. Welcome back, Howie!
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

08 May 2010 18:24

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Offbeat: Google News run by computer with juvenile sense of humor

  • “Jack Meoff” ≠ Jake Tapper. The other day, the poor ABC News political reporter got mis-bylined by the computer-driven service, instead calling Tapper by his real name. The article was about some topic we don’t care about, but the second we realized it got turned into a childish prank, we immediately showed interest. Good show, Google News, getting regular people like us interested in the news. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

27 Sep 2009 20:52

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Politics: Max Headroom: Right-wing conspiracies and radical revolutionaries

  • Clinton’s conspiracy Bill Clinton thinks Obama’s facing a right-wing conspiracy, he claimed on “Meet the Press.” He says it’s not as big as it was when he was president, but it’s more vicious.

  • Fawning over a pimpJames O’Keefe is in disbelief that his ACORN-trashing videos had such a massive impact. He describes himself as a “radical revolutionary” on Fox News.

  • Robert Gates is safeWhen George W. Bush was still president, the defense secretary had a “countdown clock” on his desk. It’s gone now. He’s there as long as he wants to be.

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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