The hazards of Live TV: #24,885
Having Al Sharpton guest host live on Hardball when Breaking News happens. Setting aside for the moment the fact that MSNBC picked a liberal activist to guest host that program, I don’t know how Sharpton managed to restrain himself and play it straight when the news broke that President Bush had commuted Scooter Libby’s sentence. His lips must be made of stainless steel. It was actually kind of thrilling watching the show at that point because I kept waiting for him to blow up but as far as I know he never did. Apparently that happened the next hour during Tucker when David Shuster was commenting (though I never saw it happen, that’s the impression I got when Pat Buchannan was referring to Shuster later on)
FNC (The Big Story with John Gibson) and MSNBC broke the news almost simultaneously at 5:45 pm ET. CNN came in last 2 minutes later with Suzanne Malveaux in The Situation Room reporting an AP wire story.
MSNBC is live for the 7pm Edition of Hardball with David Shuster hosting. Chris is a call-in guest :()
Comment by Richard W. — July 2, 2007 @ 7:33 pm
Has Dan Abrams lost his mind? Having Al Sharpton host Hardball has got to be the worst decision he has made so far and he has made a few. Wonder what Imus thinks of this since he and Crissy were on and off buddies for awhile. Of course, David Shuster has been foaming at the mouth for weeks in anticipation of Scooter Libby’s imprisonment. He must be severely depressed about this. I am just stunned by Al Sharpton hosting and even of talk he will host a show of his own on MSNBC soon. God help us all!
Comment by sophia — July 2, 2007 @ 7:36 pm
I want to see that footage! I hope you tell us when it goes up on You Tube.
All of you Bush haters take note: This is Monday! You all predicted late Friday on a holiday weekend, remember?!? Hate Bush all you want; he has guts and conviction, and he’s not afraid of polls or the media. That’s something to be admired.
Comment by erljr — July 2, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
What is Dan Abrams thinking? Did he have to approve this?
Or does Chrissy have total control over who will guest host?
MSNBC continues to lose credibility.
Comment by Cella — July 2, 2007 @ 7:50 pm
Al Sharpton hosting Hardball is about the craziest thing I’ve heard of on cable TV news since Dan Abrams went off on O’Reilly the other day. I usually at least flip to MSNBC to see what they’re talking about, but I missed it today. What are they doing at MSNBC?
Comment by Objective Analyst — July 2, 2007 @ 8:01 pm
…meant to say “usually check in with Harball,” because I do watch MSNBC, on and off, throughout the day. After all, each of the networks repeat their stories throughout the news day.
Comment by Objective Analyst — July 2, 2007 @ 8:09 pm
“Tawana” Sharpton? As a host? On a “news” program? HUH??? This is beyond unbelieveable. It’s further proof that Abrams has no clue whatsoever and this pathetic cable outlet has no cedibility. None.
Comment by PF — July 2, 2007 @ 8:10 pm
MSDNC has just gone all liberal. I don’t mind Al hosting, but the guest list is a DNC convention.
Listening to David Shuster cry about Scooter is just too funny. Notice no mention of Sandy Burglar. MSDNC will milk this all week long.
Comment by Alix — July 2, 2007 @ 8:26 pm
To #8
Let’s not forget President Clinton pardoning Mark Rich fled to Switzerland while being prosecuted on charges of tax evasion and illegally making oil deals with Iran during hostage crisis and his wife socialite Wife made some big contributions to the Clintons to get a pardon for Mark Rich…
Where was David “No Credibility” Schuster during this?
Comment by Zone Daiatlas — July 2, 2007 @ 8:38 pm
Hi Alix(#8)…I think you are exactly right from what I’ve been seeing. It’s interesting, but I quess not too surprizing as this has been going on for a while.
Comment by Objective Analyst — July 2, 2007 @ 8:42 pm
Abrams needs to read the Left Blogs more. He must think that the progressive audience Keith Olbermann is telling him to program to, like Shartpon. They don’t like Sharpton.
Comment by BOStone33 — July 2, 2007 @ 8:55 pm
Thanx #9. Even when BO has Michelle, Laura and other conservatives host his show, they still have other opinions to give their views. Al hosting is fine, but when will MSDNC learn other people live in this world besides libs.
Comment by Alix — July 2, 2007 @ 8:58 pm
OK, before you go too crazy with the “Bush has guts” theory….
First, Libby just lost his ruling to stay out of prison during the appeals process. He was going to have to go STRAIGHT to prison had the President not stepped in.
Second, the White House did this a day before 4th of July eve, knowing it’ll only get some play tonight and maybe tomorrow morning. By Thursday or Friday its on to the next item.
Third, they didn’t do this in the Rose Garden or the East Room…the President issued a press release. He’s not proud of this. It was the only thing he could do. Pardon Libby and the house of cards of his administration crumble from more supoenas and investigations. Do nothing and what’s left of his base crumbles.
Libby scoots, so to speak. Yeah, yeah….he probably loses his law license and he has to pay a 250K fine. And he’s a convicted felon. So’s G. Gordon Liddy. Big deal….Libby writes another book or makes that up on the lecture circuit in less than six months.
And he keeps his mouth shut about Bush and Cheney like the good soldier he is.
The President had no choice. Well, except maybe the honorable thing and let the verdict AND sentence stand. Anybody who thought that was going to happen is naive.
Don’t think for one minute had the President not done this, then Libby would have started singing to the Special Prosecutor, judge et all.
Comment by bill — July 2, 2007 @ 9:15 pm
bill, very thoughtful…on time comments. You sound like a highly paid criminal defense lawyer. I like the spice you bring!
Comment by Objective Analyst — July 2, 2007 @ 9:32 pm
Missed the David “Slippery” Shuster blow-up. However, Shuster is in the same league as Olbermann and Matthews in terms of being one of the chief disciples of the Hillary Clinton cult of kook fringe conspiracy theorists. Shuster once assured the world that “Karl Rove” would be “indicted” and that Dennis Hastert would “resign” his position as speaker of the house.
Comment by Tom — July 2, 2007 @ 10:32 pm
I “scooted” (pun intended) the stations tonight and heard the MSNBC-ers whining that Bush announced the commutation of the sentence because it’s the fourth of July week. Yet none mentioned that it was just today that Libby’s last appeal (to stay out of prison) was exhausted (as mentioned by bill in post #13). And no one brought up the fact that Sandy Burglar, who actually committed a crime, got off with a slap on the wrist!
Shuster and Matthews must be simply devastated.
Now that whiner Jeffrey Toobin is on CNN; he, too, sounds suicidal that Libby got the commutation. Again, I remember no discussion by him about Burglar’s non-punishment for endangering national security.
Comment by Missy — July 2, 2007 @ 11:05 pm
If Sharpton gets his own show on MSNBC. Will he finally have to start paying taxes? Or will he whine, con & bully them into making it a non-profit?
Comment by strider — July 2, 2007 @ 11:17 pm
“Has Dan Abrams lost his mind? Having Al Sharpton host Hardball has got to be the worst decision he has made so far………………”
Actually 2. It’s called bowing at the altar of the 2 Rev.’s. This is payback for the I-guy. Don’t for a minute think otherwise.
—
13. ” Well, except maybe the honorable thing and let the verdict AND sentence stand. Anybody who thought that was going to happen is naive….”
Well the only naive one’s here could be you and Shister.
Scootie still has a felony under his name, just no jail time. BTW Bush will expunge that felony on his last day with a full PARDON. - Day 3 Fitzgerald knew Armitage outed Plame. The honorable thing was a full pardon. For 2 years fitz went after a process crime and Shister rallied the mob obligingly on Softball with Mathews
Fitzgerald is no different than Nifong.
Love Hillary’s comments, look forward to hearing more from her. 141 pardon Bill, pardoned Hillary’s two corrupt brothers……………………………………………………………..
Hillary will act like it never happened………….. ” But they still owe 100k. About what she invested on her cattle futures. =====We come tooo Faaaaaaar”.
Hmmm - July 3, 2007 @ 12:10 Am
Comment by Hmmm — July 3, 2007 @ 12:11 am
This entire incident is utterly ridiculous and the media is complicit in not covering the facts of a story that heavily involves themselves.
Because the facts of the case wouldn’t fit their agenda.
I bet the percentage of Americans who actually know who leaked the name of Valerie Plame to reporters in lower than Congress’ approval rating.
Here’s a hint. It’s not Libby, Bush, Cheney, Rove, Rice, Gonzales, Wolfowitz or any one else in the Bush White House.
It was RICHARD ARMITAGE. Who was not for the Iraq War. And who reporters Bob Woodward and Robert Novak testified, were positive that he had no ax to grind by revealing Plame was a CIA employee.
But how many reporters actually said the name “Richard Armitage” even once in their coverage Monday?
Comment by bigred — July 3, 2007 @ 1:07 am
Very little, if any of the media, bothered to mention either that Plame wasn’t even entitled to protection when he did leak her name. She had been working a desk for several years and her status as a covert agent and rights to the associated protections had long been over.
Comment by Laurel — July 3, 2007 @ 2:22 am
What?? Al Sharpton hosting for Matthews? What in the world are they thinking at MSNBC?
Comment by Anne B. — July 3, 2007 @ 10:21 am
I don’t call it “MESS”-NBC for no reason. As far as the libs outlook on LIBBY goes ………………….BWAhahahahahaha!
Comment by Roger C. — July 3, 2007 @ 11:01 am
Hmmm,
I have failed to comment about it, but have long thought that Fitzgerald and Nifong are two peas in a pod.
Thanks for reminding me. Each knew the truth and went ahead with a farce.
Comment by Cella — July 3, 2007 @ 11:54 am
I am sick of the conservative spin that Plame was not a convert agent when her name was leaked. It is inaccurate to make that statement as plain fact when there are government and news articles that completely discount that proclamation: i.e. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18924679
Comment by Danny G — July 3, 2007 @ 6:09 pm
I am sick of the conservative spin that Plame was not a convert agent when her name was leaked. It is inaccurate to make that statement as plain fact when there are government and news articles that completely discount that proclamation: i.e. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18924679
Comment by Danny G — July 3, 2007 @ 6:09 pm
Would anyone in the world have ever heard of the woman had her husband not gone on such a mega-publicity tour all over the media? He’s been everywhere except QVC! But he’ll probably be there next, selling his book.
Comment by Missy — July 4, 2007 @ 1:40 am