2fer: MURDOCH-Hillary split. And Craig FERGUSON comic at WH Correspondents Dinner

[UTUSN]

COLBERT was the best ever, with his barb to the "journalists," (paraphrasing) "Why don't you just go write that book you've dreamed about, how a brave journalist uncovers government corruption---you know, FICTION!1"

I'm still seething from 2000, when the SNL dude, whassisname Darrell HAMMOND, savaged GORE throughout the campaign, then in 2001 was the comic at this event, and CHEENEE intimidated/scared him shitless away from aiming ANY barbs at Shrub.


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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/04/business/media/04carr.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
The Media Equation

It’s Splitsville for Rupert and Hillary

By DAVID CARR
Published: February 4, 2008

.... As a senator, Mrs. Clinton did put time and effort into the care and feeding of the tabloid, making sure that Post reporters had access to news and expertise out of her office, along with the occasional scoop when it suited both parties. But she never once appeared before its editorial board — a customary act of tribute by local politicians — and her lack of deference was duly noted by the paper’s leadership. ....

When John Edwards announced that he would boycott the Fox News Channel debate last spring, Mrs. Clinton went along. Fox News and The Post are corporate siblings, although they’re not particularly close. Still, Mr. Murdoch certainly took note of the fact that the courtesies extended to Mrs. Clinton — a muted presence in the gossip columns of Page Six, more balance in the news pages — did not seem to be returned in kind. ...

And then there is the tabloid instinct for mischief. Papers like The Post thrive on what Edgar Allan Poe called the “imp of the perverse.” By zigging when others expect it to zag, The Post puts itself in the thick of the national discussion and asserts itself as something other than a money-losing tabloid that people in an island off the coast of America pick up mostly for gossip and sports.

Tabloids thrive on heat. They love a running story, but they also get bored easily. (Although not everyone in the newsroom does. The political editor of the paper, Gregg Birnbaum, has a Web site called JustHillary that is constantly updated with fresh pictures and links to articles.) Col Allan, the editor of The Post, is someone who lives and dies by understanding the moment. And it is his opinion, and that of Mr. Murdoch, that this moment does not belong to the Clintons. ....

Is there any hope for Mrs. Clinton and The Post? Well, she’s still the senator from New York. The Clintons and Mr. Murdoch were supposed to have a conference call after the Obama endorsement last Thursday, but it failed to take place because of conflicting schedules. No one knows better than the Clintons and Mr. Murdoch that life is long and they will undoubtedly meet again.



http://www.examiner.com/blogs/Yeas_and_Nays/2008/2/5/Ferguson-slated-to-entertain-at-this-years-WHCA-Dinner

Ferguson slated to entertain at this year’s WHCA Dinner

February 5, 3:45 AM

.... Ferguson seems to be a choice that splits the middle ground between Stephen Colbert and Rich Little. Colbert, who performed two years ago, made some pols and journos squirm when his edgy material, according to some, violated the event’s unspoken rule: You may poke, but not pierce. On the other extreme, Little’s performance last year was both polite and harmless, but it also came off as dated and irrelevant (and not that funny).

For his part, Ferguson tends to play it safe on his late night show. In 2005, for instance, he cut off HBO’s Bill Maher when the comic made a joke about Michael Jackson’s child-molestation trial. A recovering alcoholic, Ferguson has refused to make fun of Britney Spears’ recent troubles.

The Scottish-born Ferguson, who passed his U.S. citizenship test only last week, likes to open his monologue with the catch phrase “It’s a great day for America, everybody.” He’s also fond of calling his audience “naughty monkeys” and “cheeky monkeys” (we wonder if he’ll direct one of those sobriquets toward President Bush?). ....

UPDATE, 8:20 a.m.: Told ya...Ferguson mentioned his involvement on his show last night: "Anyway, my first job as an American citizen, I can exclusively reveal tonight is performing at the White House Correspondents Dinner weekend. I am doing it. I am doing it. I know! ... It's a big fancy party in D.C. It is like the Oscars for politicians. There are 2,800 journalists in attendance, Congress, military brass, Cabinet. I sit at the top table with the president and first lady right there. I am thinking, 'Does he know I can't be kicked out now?'"

UPDATE: WHCA President Ann Compton (from ABC) tells us that, during her recent interview with President George W. Bush, the first thing Bush asked her was, "Who's the entertainment?" He was reportedly pleased with the answer. ....

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[DS1]

1. Gallagher would be appropriate for that simpleton's sendoff