Is MSNBC beginning to go after Republicans like Faux goes after Democrats?

[Stinky The Clown]

Yesterday, there was open challenging of Actor Fred on both Hairballz and the Carlson boy's show. I noted it here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1801455

Now, today they seem to be going after America's Favorite Thug Mayor, Booty Rudy. It started in the 10.00 hour with Mika and then went into the later times slots with Contessa Brewer, as noted here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1807293

Here's a story about the back story, from the Wapo:

Giuliani Hits NYT Over MoveOn Ad

Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani took a double-barreled shot at Hillary Clinton and the New York Times today, accusing the paper of giving favorable ad rates to MoveOn.org and blasting Clinton for questioning General David Petraeus's honesty.

At a campaign stop in Atlanta, Giuliani vowed to take out a full page ad in the Times defending Petraeus against a MoveOn ad lambasting him as General "Betray Us." But Giuliani demanded that the Times give his campaign "the same rate, the discount, heavily discounted rate they gave MoveOn.org for that abominable ad."

MoveOn said it paid $65,000 for the ad, far less than the standard $180,000 rate for a full-page ad. A Times spokeswoman told a Reuters reporter that the content of the ad was not considered and that there are many different rates for a full-page ad.

"The advertising folks did not see the content of the ad before the rate was quoted," Times spokeswoman Catherine Mathis said.

A spokeswoman for Giuliani said the campaign is unlikely to buy a full-page ad at the standard rates, but is trying to point out that the Times should not be giving favorable treatment to a group like MoveOn.

Giuliani is also trying to make a point about Clinton, who he accused of calling Petraeus a liar during her questioning of him at a congressional hearing. Giuliani said her questioning of Petraeus was "typical" of the Clinton.

"Hillary Clinton, The New York Times, MoveOn.org should apologize for what they did," Giuliani said. "Their excessive political view led them to character assassination."

"Mayor Giuliani supports George Bush's Iraq policy and believes it is working. Senator Clinton knows it isn't and will keep up her efforts to end the war," Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said. "She believes the best way to honor our heroes in Iraq is to bring them home."

--Michael D. Shear

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/09/13/giuliani_hits_nyt_over_moveon.html

Note to mods ..... since this is from a blog and not the WAPO itself, I am not sure about the four paragraph rule. Cut this if you need to.

So now they have Jonathan Alter and Joe Watson (Watkins?) on discussing the same thing. And once again, they're beating up on the Republican spokesmodel and Rudy, and stridently defending the Dem view, Moveon, and HRC.

Are we seeing the start of a pattern? Has anyone else noticed this?

[babylonsister]

1. Not if you consider Scarborough. At least not yet. nt

[Stinky The Clown]

2. Scarborough ......

..... he's doing a lot more sports celebrity fluff and non political stuff. He seems to be softening his image a lot. Even his promo says "Neither party owns me. Not the Democrats and Not the Republicans". I realize that's hype, but it is indicative of the image he seems to trying to cultivate.

Further, they cut back the Carlson boy to one hour and quite often they (MSNBC overall) have two Dems on and no Repub at all when they discuss issues.

[babylonsister]

4. Oh yes, bowtie boy, too, but I did notice they cut him to one hour.

Now if they just got rid of him all together and give Rachel Maddow a solo shot.

Yes, MSNBC is slowly changing, I think, surely mimicking KO for ratings. But I don't care what their motives are. Matthews has done a full out 180-this week. We shall see, but I like it!

[rodeodance]

3. cheap rudy

[Clark2008]

5. Market share.

They've seen how popular Keith Olbermann has become and hope to translate, you know, actually asking our governmental leaders questions people want to know about, into bucks.

[rodeodance]

7. so more---" returns on success? (bush speak)

[mrreowwr_kittty]

8. I agree. I don't think it's partisan with them as it is with Fox.

They finally see that it's possible to make money doing more legitimate journalism.

[rodeodance]

6. hey, Rudy, when will the Swiftboaters apologize for character assiniation of Kerry--?

.."Hillary Clinton, The New York Times, MoveOn.org should apologize for what they did," Giuliani said. "Their excessive political view led them to character assassination."

[chill_wind]

14. And when will MSNBC apologize for all the free airtime they gave this bunch of scum?

Matthews especially.

[rodeodance]

9. Does anyone know if Hil reponsed to Rudy?

[lyonn]

10. Hate to speak too soon but, it seems they are getting better

The Dem guests they have and how they are treated is improving. They have improved on questioning the repubs and asking them how they came to such conclusion.

[Stinky The Clown]

11. Do you recall, quite some time ago, they officially called Iraq a 'civil war'?

I think they've been cautiously (and way too slowly) trending this way for a while.

[Metta]

12. Rudy's thug, Dyke, walked all over Mika. He shut her up for the most part.

With all of his t-shirt and bumper sticker slogans and lies. She didn't have much response for him and said nothing about what one does when a general or the president continues cherry picking info and lying. A pathetic performance. I'm still pissed after two and a half hours of seeing it.

That station needs someone who's informed and can hold their own, besides Keith Olbermann.

[Stinky The Clown]

15. That's pretty interesting. Obviously we saw the same thing, but our takeaways were quite different.

I sure wish this would turn up on youtube.

[bullimiami]

13. if msnbc is willing to lie, smear, spin and dissemble then yes.

if they are just going to tell the truth, the whole truth, for a change then its not the same at all.