Lou Dobbs leaves CNN

In his final edition of “Lou Dobbs Tonight”, the former business anchor spoke about his decision to leave the network he was a founding member of back in 1980.

There has been lots of speculation about Lou going to Fox News or Fox Business, but I do remember previous speculation about him making a run for Congress at some stage.  It could well be that he might make a run for a congressional seat, not sure where.  Alternatively, he may turn up somewhere completely unexpected.

Lou Dobbs has a radio show, so he won’t be leaving the air entirely.  It’ll be interesting to see what his next move will be.

Idiot Brigade Awards - Wednesday 4th February 2009

Today's awards start with the Best Act of Political Suicide, which goes to the leader of the UK Conservative Party, David Cameron. In Prime Minister's Questions today, after PM Gordon Brown had said "Does anybody want British jobs not to go to British workers?" Cameron stood up and without saying the word, basically answered 'Yes'. His response was that the PM had basically was a protectionist and an oppourtunist, and was pandering to people's fears. Way to go, Cameron! That's really talking the economy up. Oh and nice to have known you, since that one statement just lost him the next election next year.

But now to the medalists, and the bronze medal goes to CNN's Lou Dobbs, for parroting a talking point without checking it. He claimed, as others have done before, that more than $4blln dollars would go to advocacy groups like ACORN under the cover of a neighbourhood stabilisation programme. In fact, The Neighborhood Stabilization Program is a programme from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, a government department. Lou, you used to be a journalist, a business journalist, and a damn good one. Now, you're starting to sound like a poor man's Rush Limbaugh!!!

Our silver medal today goes to Dick Morris who has been caught lying! Back on 24 November 2008 on Hannity and Colmes, Morris denied claims that he was working with the National Republican Trust, claiming they had only bought ads on his website. But in an email to his mailing list, which also appeared on his website, Morris says and I quote, "...As I did during the election, I am working with the National Republican Trust to do what I can to stop this (stimulus) package from passing..." So not only did Dick Morris lie about his relationship with the National Republican Trust, but he wants the USA to remain in recession! Charming fellow!!!

But today's runaway winner has to be Bill O'Reilly, who last night on his Fox News show, accused some of his favourite bogey-men, The New York Times, the ACLU and George Soros, of using the illegal immigration issue as a cover for creating a one-party state. Funny, cos the Republican party just tried to use 9/11 over the past 7 years as a cover for creating an effective one party state! A Republican party state. But guess what... in 2006, the electorate threw the Republicans out of Congress, and then two years later, threw them out of the White House. I guess they're smarting a bit!!!

Worst Person In The World: Rear Admiral Mark Buzby

This is another one of those "who?" moments, but the Friday fools gold medal goes to Rear Admiral Mark Buzby.  Who?  He's the Commander of the Joint Task Force at Guantanamo Bay.

Dishonourable mention to CNN's Lou Dobbs, who obviously hasn't learned from the likes of Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, Brian Maloney and Michael Savage, that by rejecting Media Matters or going up against them, you are going into a fight against yourself and your own words!  Heck, I don't think there's a conservative around who's learned that yet!

Lou Dobbs and the November Surprise!

The Lou Dobbs Commentary that he writes weekly for CNN.com contains something that has been taken across the blogosphere as code for him saying he will announce candidacy for the presidential race, probably as an independent.

I'm more skeptical though about the real meaning behind the commentary. The following is a short excerpt...

"...the arrogance of our political leaders now threatens the future of our nation, and their elitist sense of entitlement has reached such heights that our leaders are now openly dismissive of the will of the people. Working men and women and their families are simply not being represented in Washington.

One year from now, we will have elected a new president. As eager as I am for that reality, I can't imagine any one of the current candidates for their party's nomination being chosen by the American people to lead this nation for the next four years. I believe the person elected a year from now will be an Independent populist, a man or woman who understands the genius of this country lies in the hearts and minds of its people and not in the prerogatives and power of its elites.

As I travel around the country, my feeling about the lack of true candidates is validated by those I talk with: They are not excited about the candidates seeking their party's nomination. The Democratic and Republican Parties have become merely opposite wings of the same bird, and it's the American people who are getting the bird as our elected officials serve their corporate masters and the special interest groups that dominate both parties."

Hmmm... Does he really want to enter, or is he just properly judging the growing mood that I myself have seen from friends on the other side of the Atlantic?

I tend to believe the latter.

The Democratic and Republican parties have retreated to their base 20%, leaving the middle 60% of the political spectrum in the centre relatively clear. It's down the centre highway that I choose to travel, and it's so empty down this way that I can travel as fast as I please, whilst those in the left and right highways are stuck in permanent traffic jams, as the parties and their supporters have retreated away from the centre.

I will on this blog highlight some of the other parties that form part of the US political system, but for some reason or another, have yet to come forward and claim the centre ground that is currently unoccupied by either party.

News Roundup: Monday 29th Ocotber 2007

Australian Broadcasting Corporation: The Coalition is gaining ground on Labour according the latest poll in The Australian.

Comment: I have a poll of my own here too, albeit somewhat less scientific. Don't forget to add your vote. You can vote on the poll anytime before November 24th.

Al Jazeera: Somalia's Prime Minister, Ali Mohamed Gedi, has resigned.

NY1: New York's Governor Eliot Spitzer is under fire over his driver's licencing plan.

Comment: CNN's Lou Dobbs notably has taken aim at Spitzer. The Quick Vote on his main show page is about the story and he also has a list of those who oppose the Governor's plan, under the title "Great Americans"! Hmm, methinks Dobbs is showing some bias here.

CNN Politics: FEMA's Public Affairs Director will not be taking up his new job as Head of PR for the Director of National Intelligence in the wake of the fake news conference last week.

ESPN: Boston sweep Colorado to win World Series for second time in 4 years.

Comment: Congratulations to the Boston Red Sox. It was a richly deserved victory. But let us not forget, the Colorado Rockies are champions too. They are the National League Champions, and thoroughly deserved their place at the big game.

France 24: Shilpa Shetty has been so busy since winning Celebrity Big Brother, including currently starring in a musical in Berlin, that she hasn't found the time to start a family.

Comment: Shilpa, I'm available, and I would consider it an honour to have a family with you.

And Finally...

Ananova: A thief has accepted an unusual invitation - they stole a book from a modern art exhibition called "Steal This Book"!!!

Comment: This was a real book, written by Abbie Hoffman and published in 1970. I guess the thief took the title a little too literary-ly!!!