Michael Moore Won’t Return to Madison Square Garden

Moore Won't Return to Madison Square Garden (Editor and Publisher)

Following all the commotion last night, Michael Moore will not be returning to Madison Square Garden for the Republican National Convention, E&P has learned. According to editors at USA Today, which is publishing his daily column this week, Moore told them that he was choosing not to return again. However, they said he would continue to write his daily column and they stressed that in no way did they second-guess their decision to have him write the commentary.

Last month, Ann Coulter, who had been hired by USA Today to write a column at the Democratic National Convention, quit after the editors requested many changes in her first submission. [Interesting spin. -ed.]

After entering the Garden Monday night with USA Today credentials, Moore was criticized by Sen. John McCain in his speech, setting off prolonged boos and taunts in the arena. "We had hoped we would be able to put Moore in place where he could actually listen to speeches and not disrupt anything," Ken Paulson, USA Today editor, told E&P today. "The idea was not to put him in the line of sight while giving him the opportunity to observe. Now Moore doesn't plan to return to the convention. I think he saw the down side of his attending. We will have the four days of his column and I hope people will take time to read what he wrote.

It's probably best for all concerned that Moore not be part of the story he's supposedly "covering." Still, the reaction to his presence was hardly unpredictable.

Chipper Jones Names Son After Shea Stadium

Shea hey kid: Chipper names son after stadium (ESPN.com)

Despite all the boos, Chipper Jones will always love Shea. So fond of Shea Stadium where the fans heckle him, the Atlanta star named his new son after the New York Mets' ballpark Monday -- Shea Logan Jones. "I love playing there," Jones said. "Check the numbers." Jones has hit 17 home runs at Shea, his highest total at a visiting park, and his first major league homer came there on May 9, 1995. He is a lifetime at .314 hitter at Shea.

Jones was with his wife, Sharon, for the birth of their second child Monday. He made it back to Turner Field by the fifth inning, and struck out as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning of a 7-6 win over San Francisco. The couple had planned to name the child Shea whether it was a boy or girl, Jones said. Shea Logan measured 21 inches and weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces. He joins Larry Wayne III, who's 4. Chipper also has another son, Matthew, who's 6, from a previous relationship.

Jones is not the only big leaguer to salute Shea in a special way. Cincinnati shortstop Barry Larkin, who also enjoys playing in New York, named his daughter Brielle D'Shea.

I'm just glad he didn't have his best outings at one of the stadia named after a corporation. "Qualcomm Jones" just doesn't have a very good ring to it. Plus, having to re-name the kid every couple of years would be confusing.

Conservative Media Bias

Kevin Drum has found a case of it. On MSNBC, no less!

Twelve Nepalese Beheaded or Shot

Militants: 12 Nepalese 'killed' (CNN)

An Islamic Web site has posted gruesome still images and videos of what it says is the killing of 12 Nepalese hostages by a militant group in Iraq. Footage posted on Tuesday showed one beheading and 11 others apparently shot from an assault rifle at the back of the head. The video shows a masked man in desert camouflage apparently slitting the throat of a blindfolded man lying on the ground, The Associated Press reported. The blindfolded man moans and a shrill wheeze is heard, then the masked man displays the head to the camera before resting it on the decapitated body.

CNN is working to confirm the authenticity of the images. The still images appear to have been taken from the video. The Nepalese Foreign Ministry in Kathmandu said it had no official confirmation of what appears to have taken place.

"We have carried out the sentence of God against 12 Nepalese who came from their country to fight the Muslims and to serve the Jews and the Christians ... believing in Buddha as their God," said a statement on the site by Jaish Ansar al-Sunna. The claims came as another Islamic group held two French journalists hostage, threatening to kill them unless the government of France revokes a law banning Muslim children from wearing headscarves in public schools. The Web site statement vowed to keep fighting the Americans in Iraq. "America today has used all its force, as well as the help of others, to fight Islam under the so-called war on terror, which is nothing but a vicious crusade against Muslims," the statement said. At the end of the four-minute video, a man reads another statement off-camera, vowing to fight the Iraqi government. "We will work on exterminating them until the last fighter," he said.

(Hat tip: Jeff Quinton)

Lovely. I guess killing people one at a time is losing its shock value.

2004 Republican National Convention: Night One

Steven Taylor has compiled a mini-Toast-O-Meter on the First Night of the Republican National Convention.

Major Media Meltdown?

Glenn Reynolds' latest TCS column, "A Media Meltdown?" provides a roundup of the latest evidence that, not only is much of the mainstream media obviously biased, but that their collective incompetence and reputation for half truths is a major factor in the rise of the blogosphere and other alternative media outlets.

[W]hile the media's willingness to side with Kerry has been striking, it's also like the proverbial thirteenth chime of the clock -- not only wrong itself, but calling into question everything that came before. The loss of credibility that has come with that, coupled with the press's poor performance on all sorts of topics (don't these people know how to use Google? don't they realize that we do?) will be a long-lasting blow.

The media barons should be worried. The real problem is that to succeed in a business, you have to be better than your competitors at giving people what they want or need. The mainstream media needs to ask itself whether it's capable of doing that -- and, if not, how it needs to change.

Indeed.

Can Schwarzenegger Hand Bush California?

As implausible as it seems, Bob Novak argues that "Schwarzenegger may hold key to president's re-election."

With polls showing any Democrat easily winning the state against Bush in 2004, many Republican leaders around the country are skeptical about pouring millions of dollars into the bottomless pit that is the nation's most populous state. Bush strategist Karl Rove was criticized in 2000 for spending funds in California that could have better been utilized elsewhere -- to no avail because Al Gore easily carried the state. Gerald Parsky, the Los Angeles investment banker who is the president's personal political agent in California, arrived in New York on Sunday determined to show the Bush high command that his state is not out of reach. The most recent public survey, the Field Poll completed Aug. 4, showed an 11-percentage-point lead by Kerry in California. That is no bigger a Democratic margin than was then shown in Pennsylvania, which is considered a battleground state.

While it's certainly true that, as recently as 1988, Republicans won California every election cycle, it's almost inconceivable that a social conservative could carry it now. Pennsylvania is considered in play because Republicans, including conservatives like Rick Santorum, have a history of winning there.

Parsky's plea is to send the president out West to travel the state with the immensely popular Schwarzenegger, breathing life into what had seemed the corpse of the California Republican Party. The governor's approval rating, according to the most recent Field Poll, was a stratospheric 65 percent.

Less than two years ago, the 57-year-old, Austrian-born former body builder seemed unlikely to even be a delegate at the New York convention. His victory in last year's unprecedented recall election was a personal rather than a party triumph, but Bush, Jones and other Republicans could take advantage of that windfall.

Kerry would be described to Californians as a national version of former Democratic Gov. Gray Davis -- who was ousted by Schwarzenegger -- a high-tax, high-spending Democrat.

It might make sense for Bush to barnstorm the state with Schwarzenegger if the campaign believes it will help candidates down the ticket. And campaigning with the popular figure may help with swing voters elsewhere, since the footage would be shown on television everywhere. But the only way I see Bush carrying California is if the bottom falls out of the Kerry campaign and we have a 1988-style blowout.

Michael Moore’s America

Michael Moore's first convention report for USA Today is entitled "The GOP doesn't reflect America."

Welcome, Republicans. You're proud Americans who love your country. In your own way, you want to make this country a better place. Whatever our differences, you should be commended for that.

But what's all this talk about New York being enemy territory? Nothing could be further from the truth. We New Yorkers love Republicans. We have a Republican mayor and governor, a death penalty and two nuclear plants within 30 miles of the city. New York is home to Fox News Channel. The top right-wing talk shows emanate from here — Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly among them. The Wall Street Journal is based here, which means your favorite street is here. Not to mention more Fortune 500 executives than anywhere else. You may think you're surrounded by a bunch of latte-drinking effete liberals, but the truth is, you're right where you belong, smack in the seat of corporate America and conservative media.

Moore is a clever propagandist but this is rather silly. Yes, New York is the business and media capital of the country. No, Republicans aren't in the majority. More importantly, if one looks at the famous red-blue maps of the last several elections, it's rather obvious where the GOP's electoral strength is. Does Moore really think it's the corporate fatcat vote that's carrying the day in Nebraska and Alabama?

Let me also say I admire your resolve. You're true believers. Even though only a third of the country defines itself as "Republican," you control the White House, Congress, Supreme Court and most state governments.

You're in charge because you never back down. Your people are up before dawn figuring out which minority group shouldn't be allowed to marry today.

Yes, that explains it. Roughly a third of Americans identify with each of the major parties with a third classifying themselves as "independent" or with one of the minor parties. But the vast majority who vote lean strongly to one party or the other and, in recent years, more have leaned Republican than Democrat. If more of the 435 congressional districts, more of the state houses, and more of the thousands of state legislative districts are going Republican than Democrat, one might guess that former represents the values of Americans better than the latter, no?

Moore has a different explanation: People are morons.

I've often found that if I go down the list of "liberal" issues with people who say they're Republican, they are quite liberal and not in sync with the Republicans who run the country. Most don't want America to be the world's police officer and prefer peace to war. They applaud civil rights, believe all Americans should have health insurance and think assault weapons should be banned. Though they may personally oppose abortion, they usually don't think the government has the right to tell a women what to do with her body.

There's a name for these Republicans: RINOs or Republican In Name Only. They possess a liberal, open mind and don't believe in creating a worse life for anyone else.

So why do they use the same label as those who back a status quo of women earning 75 cents to every dollar a man earns, 45 million people without health coverage and a president who has two more countries left on his axis-of-evil-regime-change list?

I asked my friend on the street. He said what I hear from all RINOs: "I don't want the government taking my hard-earned money and taxing me to death. That's what the Democrats do."

Money. That's what it comes down to for the RINOs. They do work hard and have been squeezed even harder to make ends meet. They blame Democrats for wanting to take their money. Never mind that it's Republican tax cuts for the rich and billions spent on the Iraq war that have created the largest deficits in history and will put all of us in hock for years to come.

Sure, most Americans want it all: free everything for everybody, peace, no traffic, no pollution, and so forth. But most people are smart enough to realize that there are trade-offs and that some of the things they want can't be had without sacrificing things that are more dear. Peace is preferable to war but war is preferable to capitulation to the enemy. Pollution is bad but not as bad as unemployment. Sure, women should make as much as men for the same production. But most Americans aren't going to mandate that women stop having babies or choosing jobs that are socially valuable but economically unrewarding. Nor will they mandate that employers pay all people the same just because.

Of course, if Michael Moore wants to donate all the money he earns beyond the median income to the downtrodden, he's perfectly welcome to do so. We know how much Democrats hate money.

Rudy Giuliani Convention Speech

A superb performance. I'm not sure how much it will help President Bush given that it wasn't carried by the networks but the speech was well written and incredibly well delivered. Giuliani is a natural political speaker and worked the crowd well while sounding the right notes.

The 9/11 references pushed the envelope of going too far in politicizing a national tragedy without quite stepping over the line. Certainly, any president would likely have stepped up and done a good job of comforting the nation and establishing a sense of unity. I'm less sure that a President Gore would have had the same instinct in terms of an aggressive foreign policy stance, for good or ill. Still, it is perfectly reasonable for Bush backers to point to his dynamic leadership during that period.

See the AP transcript of the speech (advance version).

Other reactions:

• Jeff Jarvis thinks Rudi will be running for office again soon.
• Bryan S. disagrees with me on the delivery, thinking Giuliani stepped on his applause lines.

Update (8/31 0709): Transcript: Remarks by Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani (actual speech)

John McCain Convention Speech

McCain's delivery was awful. He seemed out of synch the whole time and his applause lines were pretty muddy. There must have been an applause sign in the hall, as the delegates seemed to wildly cheer in unison at various points, although many times for no apparent reason. He seemingly had no idea that he would be periodically interrupted by applause and seemed flustered and annoyed by it.

Michael Moore seemed to enjoy the applause line aimed at him, even if it was poorly delivered.

Courtesy Drudge Report

It's been a while since I last heard McCain do one of these things. I can't recall if he's always this bad.

Update: See GOP 2004: Michael Moore Draws McCain Barb, Taunts from Crowd (Editor and Publisher)

Other reactions:

• Steven Taylor agreed with my overall assessment but thinks McCain got better and that there were several good sound bytes for tomorrow's coverage.
• Bryan S. is quite pleased with the Michael Moore slam.
• Karol Sheinin (guesting at Dean's World), too.

Transcript: Remarks by Sen. McCain to the Republican National Convention (WaPo)

Gay Republican Outed, Resigns

U.S. Rep. Ed Schrock Announces Retirement (AP)

Republican U.S. Rep. Edward L. Schrock abruptly announced Monday that he will not seek a third term, citing unspecified allegations that have "called into question" his ability to serve. Schrock said in a five-paragraph statement that he has "come to the realization that these allegations will not allow my campaign to focus on the real issues facing our nation." The release said he would not comment further on his decision, nor did he comment specifically on the allegations.

Schrock's decision leaves the Republicans scrambling to field another candidate to oppose Democrat David B. Ashe in the conservative district, which includes Norfolk and the resort city of Virginia Beach. "Wow. I had not heard that. That's really something," said Ashe, a lawyer, in a telephone interview. Schrock, 63, a retired Navy officer and Vietnam veteran, was elected to the seat in a 2000 Republican sweep of Virginia in an area that is home to the world's largest U.S. naval base.

In January 2001, Schrock was elected president of the Republican House freshman class and landed a seat on the House Armed Services Committee.

Hat tip: Jeff Quinton

Daily Kos reports:

According to BlogActive, Rep. Ed Schrock, R-VA-2, co-sponsor of the Federal Marriage Amendment, uses the MegaMates telephone dating service to hook up with gay men for sex.

There is also a rather disturbing audio version of what purports to be Schrock's come-on ad on said service. Kos has a transcript of it as well. It is, shall we say, rather explicit.

I find the idea of "outing" people for political purposes repugnant. Still, when the "outie" is running on a family values ticket and supporting a ban on gay marriage, it's hard to find much sympathy for him if the charges are in fact true. It has to be devastating for the wife and kids, however.

Howard Dean on Monday Night Football

What in the world? Howard Dean asking me whether I'm ready for some football? That's a profound question coming from Hank Williams, Jr. It's simply annoying coming from the screammeister.

Beltway Traffic Jam

The daily linkfest:

• Will Baude ponders the significance of the 2:1 white:black advantage in chess.
• Steven Taylor points to yet another new low in American pop culture.
• Kevin McGehee reports on Scotty's farewell performance.
• Kathy Kinsley points to more evidence that journalists are "on the other side."
• Bill Hobbs identifies a pro-Kerry demographic: "prostitutes who want to kill unborn children."

To join in, link and send a TrackBack to this post. If your blog doesn't automatically generate one, use the Send TrackBack feature below. For more information, see this post.

Daschle Loves Bush

Matt Drudge somehow has an "exclusive" based on a television ad: Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle using footage of him hugging President Bush before his post-9/11 address to Congress as part of his tight re-election race against John Thune.

Courtesy Drudge Report

No hugging from Kerry appears in the ad, one gathers.

Network Convention Coverage and the FCC

Michael J. Copps, a Democratic commissioner with the FCC, argues in a NYT op-ed today that the networks are failing to meet their obligations with their non-coverage of the conventions this year:

As a Democratic commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission, I may not agree with many positions taken by speakers this week at the Republican National Convention. Even so, I believe our broadcast media owe us more coverage of an event that remains an important component of the presidential campaign. Yet tonight, if people around the country tune in to the commercial broadcast TV networks, most will not see any live convention coverage. That's not right.

Let's remember that American citizens own the public airwaves, not TV executives. We give broadcasters the right to use these airwaves for free in exchange for their agreement to broadcast in the public interest. They earn huge profits using this public resource. During this campaign season broadcasters will receive nearly $1.5 billion from political advertising.
What do we get in return for granting TV stations free use of our airwaves? Unfortunately, when it comes to coverage of issues important to our nation, the answer is less and less. Coverage of the 2000 presidential election on the network evening news dropped by a third compared to reporting on the 1996 election. During the last election cycle we heard directly from presidential candidates for an average of 9 seconds a night on the news. Local races? Forget it. In 2002 - the most recent midterm elections - more than half of local newscasts contained no campaign coverage at all. Local coverage has diminished to the point that campaign ads outnumber campaign stories by four to one. What coverage there is focuses inordinately on polls and handicapping the horse race.

TV executives tell us that the convention and campaign coverage provided by the cable channels is sufficient. I don't think so. Around 35 million Americans don't get cable, often because they cannot afford it. To put it in perspective, that's more than the combined populations of Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Furthermore, broadcasters legally undertake to serve the public interest themselves in exchange for free spectrum - their licenses don't allow them to pass the buck to cable.

It's an interesting argument. Of course, defining the "public interest" is difficult here. For one thing, the conventions are nothing more than staged political ads these days. For another, the fact that even those with access to cable or satellite still overwhelmingly choose to watch other programming--mostly summer reruns, no less--instead of the conventions gives a pretty fair indication of what it is that the public finds interesting.

Honestly, it seems to me that this is more of an argument for ending the government bandwidth giveaways than for forcing private companies to air programming they don't think competitive. It would make far more sense to simply charge a fair market price for the rights to broadcast spectrum and then let the networks air whatever programming they wished.