Big Lies on Fox News’ 10th Anniversary

Last updated by at January 25, 2012.

July 26, 2006 in Media, Media Orchard, Politics by Scott Baradell
Big Lies on Fox News’ 10th Anniversary

In the big lie there is always a certain force of credibility, because the broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily; and thus in the primitive simplicity of their minds they more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie, since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods. It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think that there may be some other explanation. For the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it, even after it has been nailed down, a fact which is known to all expert liars in this world and to all who conspire together in the art of lying.

Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf

What are you worried about? That we’re going to do fair and balanced reporting at the local stations? I have no problem with fair and balanced reporting anywhere it’s done.

Fox News Channel boss Roger Ailes, to television critics on Monday, when asked about his plans to take charge of the news operations of Fox-owned local television stations.

Ailes talks with critics about Fox News’ accomplishments in its first 10 years, via Romenesko.

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June 26, 2006 in Media, Politics by Scott Baradell
What Fox News Really Needs: Democrats in Power

From Broadcasting & Cable:

Ailes Cracks Whip as Fox News Slips

Slackers at Fox News Channel, you’re on notice! Your boss is not pleased. Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes is on the warpath following his network’s recent ratings slump, and he won’t hesitate to clean house to turn things around.

So far during the second quarter, the No. 1 cable news channel’s primetime schedule has dropped 22% in its core 25-54 demo and 8% in total viewers. The first quarter was even worse … Ailes is fuming over the complacency he senses among staffers. Production values are slipping, and bookers aren’t competitive enough, relying too heavily on the same pool of faces …

Commenting through a spokesman last week, Ailes left no doubt: “Anyone who displays launch-type intensity will continue to have a job at Fox News. Those who don’t will not. And that includes talent.”

Here’s another theory:

The Fox News Channel has been defending the Bush administration for six years now. Fox’s preferred political party also controls both houses of Congress. It’s like watching Will and Grace in its last season or two — comfortingly consistent, but no longer compelling.

What Fox News really needs is a major change in the show to stir things up — like when Lucy and Ricky went to Hollywood, or when the “Tailies” joined the gang on Lost.

In this case, the best thing for Fox’s ratings would be Democratic victories in 2006 and — even better for them — 2008. That would ensure that Hannity et al could stop blaming silly targets like the ACLU for the quagmire in Iraq and could start pointing fingers at people who actually have power.

Trust us, Roger: Fox’s ratings would go through the roof.

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June 22, 2006 in Celebrity, Media, Media Orchard, Politics by Scott Baradell
We Love the Smell of O’Reilly-Bashing in the Morning

From the Chicago Tribune:

The impenetrable fog of Bill O’Reilly

If intellectual dishonesty could be said to have a face, I saw it Tuesday evening as I watched Bill O’Reilly’s program on Fox News… There was much fuming about “taking the handcuffs off” and “taking the gloves off” and people cowing the Bush administration and forcing it to fight the war “defensively,” which after all was exactly how the war in Vietnam had been wrongly fought…

Bill, it wasn’t the press or the Democrats or the ACLU or Air America that sent our soldiers to Iraq in numbers that evidently are too small to control the place. It was Don Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz who did that, because they had some notions about smaller, lighter, quicker forces that … Well, let’s not go there.

Bill, I understand your dilemma. You want to blame somebody for outrages like the murders of Menchaca and Tucker, but if you put the blame where it really belongs, you have to say bad things about some people for whom you have been a cheerleader. It’s OK , Bill. Nobody who cares about the truth takes you seriously anyway.

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June 21, 2006 in Media, Media Orchard, Politics by Scott Baradell
More Edifying Discourse on Fox News Channel

Julie Banderas is a piece of work. In a recent thrilling episode of “The Big Story Weekend” on Fox News Channel, she actually managed to seem crazier than the certifiably crazy guest (a repeat guest, we might add) booked on her show.

Journalist Banderas, in the great tradition of Edward R. Murrow, shrieked at guest Shirley Phelps-Roper, calling her the “devil” and telling her that she was “going to hell.”

Some more of the discussion:

Anchorwoman Banderas: “The Bible says ‘the fear of the Lord is hatred of evil,’ [from the Book of] Proverbs. ‘Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.’ Perverted speech like yours: ‘God hates fags.’ You are preaching absolute B.-., and you know the final letter.”

Guest Phelps-Roper: “If you don’t tell them that this nation is full of idolatry, full of adulteries …

Banderas: “Full of insane people like yourself, ma’am.”

Phelps-Roper: “You’re proud. You’re proud of your sins. You can’t do enough sinning. You think ‘gay’ pride, bimbo. You have sinned away your day of grace.”

Banderas: “OK, you are an abomination.”

Phelps-Roper: “America is doomed. America is doomed. … Before your eyes, missy, you’re gonna see the destruction of America.”

Banderas: “If America is doomed, then why don’t you get out? Why are you in this country? Why are you an American? Are you an American?”

Phelps-Roper: “I am exactly where my God put me to tell you plainly, that you are going to hell, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Banderas: “Why don’t you take your church to another country, then, ma’am? Thank you so much. You should not be proud to be an American, and thank you. Good-bye.”

At least she ended with a thank you. We think we got permanent hearing loss from this reasoned debate.

Watch it and weep.

Julie’s Fox bio, by the way, says the purpose of her show is to provide “in-depth coverage and analysis” of the news.

Guess hell is pretty deep.

(Via WorldNetDaily)

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May 9, 2006 in Media, Media Orchard, Politics by Scott Baradell
Adult-Diaper Salesman O’Reilly Blames Demo Decreases on the "Fox Hating Print Press"

From Media Bistro:

Bill O’Reilly’s “Most Ridiculous Item of the Day” related to ratings last night. He says: “The ratings for April are in, and here at ‘The Factor,’ we improved our total audience over April 2005. A nice achievement since the pope died last April, and there was huge interest in that story. We thank you all very much…

“But if you read some of the FOX hating print press, you’d never know how well we’re doing, actually, because the writers in the Los Angeles Times and Rocky Mountain News, among others, want to prop up our competition.”…

O’Reilly actually lost viewers at 8 p.m. compared to April 2005. He averaged 2,102,000 last month, compared to 2,178,000 for the same month last year. O’Reilly must be combining his 8 p.m. average with the repeats at 11 p.m. and 4 a.m.

O’Reilly’s ratings are tanking with everyone but the over-55 set.

(O’Reilly graphic is from here.)

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