• Between this and Debbie Medina, Glenn Beck is really starting to prove his worth as a part of the political conversation. Sure, he still has wacky moments, but his wacky moments are starting to get outweighed by astute observations such as this one, where he essentially admits that it was a waste to bring on former Rep. Eric Massa, who seemed just a wee bit uncomfortable with the appearance. In other news, the Washington Post actually wrote an article on whether lawmakers conduct political business while naked. The answer: Not really, though the showers are reportedly communal, so the Rahm incident could have happened. source

• I tickled him until he couldn’t breathe, and then four guys jumped on top of me. It was my 50th birthday. … You can take anything out of context.
• Former N.Y. Rep. Eric Massa • Speaking on Glenn Beck’s Fox Ne … ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah … phew … ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah … oh my god he really said that… ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah … LOL. source

• I think this whole story is ridiculous. I think the latest excuse is silly and ridiculous. We’re focused not on crazy allegations but instead on making this system work for the American people rather than insurance companies.
• White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs • Regarding the bowl of crazy Rep. Eric Massa alleged as he resigned yesterday. Other Democrats are denying the seeing-Rahm-naked allegations, too. Massa, by the way, will be on Glenn Beck today to defend himself. Get yo popcorn ready! source

• Hello, my name is the Republican Party, and I have a problem! I’m addicted to spending and big government.
• Glenn Beck • Speaking at CPAC last night as if the Republican Party was at an AA meeting. The Fox News and radio host noted that both parties had big problems with spending during his speech – Democrats tax and spend, while Republicans just spend. Beck said that as a result, people were losing faith that things would improve. Beck’s comparison holds weight – between this and the Debbie Medina thing, he’s actually starting to sound smart! How did this happen? Is there hope for Glenn Beck yet? source

• 103 number of sponsors Glenn Beck has lost as a result of the continuing boycott
• five number of days the U.K. broadcast of his show ran without any ads source

• I think some very good questions have been raised in that regard. There are some very good arguments, and I think the American people have not seen all of the evidence there, so I have not taken a position on that.
• Texas Republican gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina • Answering a point-blank question from Glenn Beck: “Do you believe the government was in any way involved in the bringing down of the World Trade Centers on 9/11?” This is a Tea Party candidate. Who was doing well in the polls until now. Saying something stupid. To. Glenn. Beck. Ahahahahahahahaha … ahahahaha … and we thought Harold Ford, Jr. had the market on saying stupid stuff all locked up. We don’t say this often, but good job Glenn Beck! source

• Is Roger Ailes more powerful than Rupert Murdoch? We know that’s a controversial statement, but hear us out. The Fox News chief not only made more money than Murdoch himself last year (and put up the kind of numbers that made him deserve the paycheck), but the level of influence the guy wields arguably has a wider reach in politics. It’s something that’s directly affected elections and regularly pushes the news cycle forward. And it makes some members of the Murdoch family (who aren’t Rupert) uncomfortable.

A media icon with massive influence

• Regardless of whether you like what he is doing, Roger Ailes is one of the most creative talents of his generation. He has built a media empire that is capable of driving the conversation, and, at times, the political process.
• CNN political analyst David Gergen • Regarding the influence of Roger Ailes, who runs Fox News and has since 1996. Ailes got his start with the Nixon campaign and often brings that sort of political experience to the channel, controlling the conversation with pinpoint focus. source

Three events that defined Roger Ailes’ career

• Don’t sell TV short Back in 1967, Ailes, then a producer on “The Mike Douglas Show,” bluntly told Richard Nixon that television wasn’t a gimmick and he needed to focus on it. His hardnosed response led to a role in the administration, the role of which was played up in the book “The Selling of the President 1968.” source
• Willie Horton, superstar Ailes is largely responsible for turning convicted murderer Willie Horton into a household name during the 1988 presidential election. Horton was released from prison in Massachusetts on Michael Dukakis’ dime, and Horton’s face dominated TV during the era. It also helped to ensure a George H. W. Bush victory. source
• America’s Talking Before the consultant started Fox News, Ailes conceived the talk-show-focused MSNBC precursor America’s Talking, which had a cult following (and led to the success of Chris Matthews) but ultimately faltered. In 2009, Fox started using the “America’s Talking” tagline. How ironic. It’s almost like a dart in NBC’s eye. source

Fox News rules the ratings

• eight the number of consecutive years the network has led the cable news ratings roost
• 16% increase in 2009’s ratings Fox News had over 2008; crazy part – it wasn’t even an election year
• 96% increase in Glenn Beck’s ratings after moving to Fox News from Headline News in 2009 source

How much money does Roger Ailes make Fox News?

• $700 million the amount Fox News makes in profit for News Corp. yearly – more than all the other major TV news outlets combined
• $23
  million the amount Fox News head Roger Ailes made last year – which is more than Rupert Murdoch, his boss made last year source

• Too much influence? Some of Rupert Murdoch’s own family members have questioned just how much influence the guy has in the News Corp. corporate food chain. “I am by no means alone within the family or the company in being ashamed and sickened by Roger Ailes’s horrendous and sustained disregard of the journalistic standards that News Corporation, its founder and every other global media business aspires to,” said Matthew Freud, who’s married to Murdoch’s daughter Elisabeth. source

Could he run for president? It’s possible

• Friends have suggested he run in 2012. Ailes has influence and knowledge so strong that he could realistically have a shot if he took his political knowledge to the polls. “I have known Roger Ailes for 29 years,” says well-known Republican pollster Frank Luntz. “No one knows how to win better than Roger.” Ailes denies such claims, but the option’s always open just in case. source

• Are the “Good Old Days” gone? In response to Fox News talking heads going on about how we’ve lost our innocence, “The Daily Show’s” John Oliver tried looking for said innocence, and wasn’t able to find it. Decade by decade, he found that it was just as bad. Freaking hilarious. Depressing. And awesome. All at once, guys.

• The Odd Couple Here’s that Alan Greenspan video we mentioned earlier. Our boy Al says a lot of smart stuff here, but the part that weirds us out is the fact that his sparring partner is crazy financial guy Jim Cramer. Great match, guys.

• 
  The Moderate Couple On “Face the Nation,” Joe Lieberman and Ben Nelson were standing their ground for a health care option which gets rid of all the stuff that makes the health care bill desirable. These two guys are holding the bill back, liberal types.
• 
  
  The Vapid CoupleBarbara Walters’ “10 Most Fascinating People” must’ve hit the bottom of the barrel this year, because Glenn Beck was on the list. Here’s the interview, and we must warn you: Glenn Beck still sounds like an idiot when he’s talking to Barbara Walters.