Maybe rupert murdoch's not so bad...

Media Generalissimo Rupert Murdoch and his Fox News Captain Roger Ailes "absolutely despise" Bill O'Reilly, the fat-mouthed, faux populist bruiser whose show on their network is cable's top-rated.

In a biography of Rupert Murdoch, The Man Who Owns The News, to be released Tuesday, Michael Wolff writes:

“It is not just Murdoch (and everybody else at News Corp.’s highest levels) who absolutely despises Bill O’Reilly, the bullying, mean-spirited, and hugely successful evening commentator,” Wolff wrote, “but [Fox News chief executive] Roger Ailes himself who loathes him. Success, however, has cemented everyone to each other."
 
 “The embarrassment can no longer be missed,” Wolff wrote, in another section of the book. “He mumbles even more than usual when called on to justify it. He barely pretends to hide the way he feels about Bill O’Reilly. And while it is not that he would give Fox up—because the money is the money; success trumps all—in the larger sense of who he is, he seems to want to hedge his bets.”

(Ailes has plenty to be loathed about his own self).

(photo: Roger & He)

Murdoch, according to Wolff, has been embarrassed that the raggedy- ass, right-wing populist Fox News is seen as the flagship for his empire (this from the guy who owns The New York Post???) and has been coy for years about his politics,which are conservativive, but sometimes he's backed surprisingly liberal candidates like Tony Blair, and Hillary Clinton.

He even cock-teased everybody this year with a possible endorsement of Obama.

He describes (via Politico's Michael Calderone) a fascinating meeting last summer between Obama and Murdoch who unexpectedly brought Roger Ailes along:

Obama lit into Ailes. He said he didn’t want to waste his time talking to Ailes if Fox was just going to continue to abuse him and his wife, that Fox had relentlessly portrayed him as suspicious, foreign-fearsome—just short of a terrorist.

Ailes, unruffled, said it might not have been this way if Obama had come on the air instead of giving Fox the back of his hand.

A tentative truce, which may or may not have historical significance, was thereupon agreed.

Despite the truce, Fox and the Obama campaign still battled it out, especially in the campaign’s final weeks. That said, Obama did sit down with O’Reilly, Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday,” and “Fox & Friends.”

The endorsement never came, and in October, Obama told the NY Times in a cover story:

"I am convinced that if there were no Fox News, I might be two or three points higher in the polls. If I were watching Fox News, I wouldn't vote for me, right? Because the way I'm portrayed 24/7 is as a freak! I'm a latte-sipping, New York Times-reading, Volvo-driving, no-gun-owning, effete, politically correct, arrogant liberal. Who wants somebody like that?"

Obama won in the end despite active opposition by Fox News who had been eight years in the forefront of White House access, and clout. The cable leader is now being elbowed out of the way in the new Washington by the likes of MSNBC, CNN and even Air America. 

Comments

[PugetSound]

Another reason that Ailes may dislike O'Reilly is Rush Limbaugh. Ailes and Rush are tight. A few years ago when Rush was having his hearing issues O'Reilly was starting his radio show. He was fairly aggressive in painting himself as the heir to Limbaugh.

I don't care too much for either but that may also account for some of Aile's dislike.

[KS]

Actually, the person Obama despises from Fox is Hannity - he even said so when Bill O was interviewing him one on one. Obama and O'Reilly seemed to hit it off fair with his sit down interview - there was some tension based on disagreement, but it was civil (watched it over Thanksgiving). Afterwards, Bill O respected BHO for doing so and their campaign for taking some on the air advice, whereas the McCain campaign did not pay as much attention. In short, I don't buy into the premise that Fox News is the SOB. Actually, it was shown that they were fairly even-handed (ie objective) in their coverage of McCain and Obama. I know that Chris Wallace was also objective on Fox News Sunday and Juan Williams was also very good at being objective.

Any other competitive source likely distorted Fox to make them look bad - since they are the largest viewership of any cable network. Even Politico appears to have a dog in that fight, so I am taking what Mr. Wolff says with a grain of salt, until further evidence surfaces. Its just that this take does not jive with what I've seen and heard. In my book, Limbaugh is more pompous than O'Reilly (even though Bill O is), but he is also more objective than Rush. As to who is hated the most, that's a tough one.

[KS]

PutS - right on the fact that Rush and O'Reilly have their conflicts - Rush referred to Bill O as Ted Baxter.

Michael Savage has issues with both of them - Rush whom he calls the golfer and O'Reilly, who he calls Loofah sometimes and/or the Leprechaun. Savage paints no one as a saint and refuses to kiss up to anyone - that's why I can tolerate him more than most talkers, although I am getting tired of listening to all of them - they seem to all have egg on their face, all talkers --- both right and left.

[joanie]

The way right-wing talk radio operates, I can't imagine them all not having hate for one another! Isn't that what right-wing talk radio is all about?

I watched - late last night - Katie Couric hand out plaques to newly inducted broadcast hall-of-famers. It was boring actually. A lot of CEO"s and former salesmen who've become presidents in media celebrating each other.

Roger Ailes was honored. He's an older man with a young wife and a very young son - like may eight or nine. But, he was funny. He apparently came from the lower class and he talked about digging ditches at one time. Very humble beginnings. But, he had personality and drive and moved up the ranks quickly.

I hate to say it but he was very likable and I liked listening to him. He was funny, common. and actually sounded like a person I'd like to know.

You know the song from Chorus Line: "What I did for Love?" Well, with these guys, it must be "What I did for Money."

[joanie]

BTW, Katie herself was inducted a decade or so ago, they said. That surprised me. How hard can it be to get in?

They also honored Matt Lauer. He was great. The most humble of the bunch and he gave a great, short, gracious speech. Katie made some jokes that were a little bit off. Some of them when introducing Lauer.

I got the feeling that she's pretty devious - catty. My take on her little digs and poor ability to make jokes. She sounded very silly at times - high schoolish.

[PugetSound]

now that media matters targeted billy cunningham for hate talk i tuned him in last night to see what the fuss is all about.
i listened to about a half hour. he was saying at this point he didn't care about the birth certificate issue; he was happy with the appointment of Volker as a Reagan economist; he was pleased with the the likely appointment of former Marine Gen James Jones as the new NSC Chief; and that given Hillary's move to the center in regards to the Iraq war/supporting the Surge that he was happy she was going to be the Sec of State. in fact, now that the surge worked so well Obama is going to be able to move into afghanistan and pakistan like he said he would.
cunningham's theory was that given the way Obama ran and his nutroots supporters proclivities that the above mentioned choices boded well for a more centrist Obama presidency. the only ones that should be ticked are those far left types who are now seeing the first bit of road runner cloud as Obama speeds away from them. not to worry, he'll be back in a few years when he needs 'em for 2012. ROFL, eh?
all those fat cat rich clintonistas moving back in to power. i think the first clue should have been when he campaigned against NAFTA but quietly sent his representative up to Canada to let 'em know that it was just 'politics' and that he wasn't serious about changing it. now THAT was funny.

[PugetSound]

thanks KS, also I would note that Drudge has been dueling with O'Reilly and Savage for years.

[The Beast Rabban (formerly Gay Gary)]

I'll give the comments section a jump-start.

Mumbai Attacks - Hundreds Dead and Hundreds Wounded; Nuclear War on Brink all Because of Obama

The Times of London reports what US papers won't, that, because Joanie and Sparky helped elect Obama, hundreds of people died horrible and bloody deaths in Bombay. Joanie laughs and says it was the compassionate thing to do and everyone knows, as a liberal, whatever she does is driven by compassion so she can't be held responsible for anything.

Joanie/Sparky - he hasn't even been inaugurated yet ... how much blood will be on your hands? If nuclear war breaks out, how many tens of millions because a 1/2-term senator made some reckless foreign policy statements?

Joanie and Spaky = Chubby Angels of Death

[The Beast Rabban (formerly Gay Gary)]

Total Mobilization - India Readies for Nuclear Strike Against Pakistan Over Obama-Inspired Attack

"WAR!" The Times of India proclaims in a signed editorial.

Joanie and Sparky giggling with glee; say Pakistanis just need to Hope for the best when the mushroom clouds start.

[The Beast Rabban (formerly Gay Gary)]

We just got back from the holiday late yesterday so I'll be offline for a couple days as I play catch-up on some schoolwork so I'm afraid I won't be able to reply to responses. This is just a quick, hit-and-run, strafing comment, Joanie-style.

[PugetSound]

but GG, I will say you have much greater accuracy...

[The Beast Rabban (formerly Gay Gary)]

LOL! Thanks but, come on, it's a pair of glorified baby sitters at a welfare school we're talking about!

[Adam Hartung]

You don't have to like Mr. Murdoch's politics (in fact, you can hate them). But you have to recognize what a great job he's done growing News Corporation into the media industry leader. Fixated on the future, obsessive about competitors, willing to Disrupt and full of White Space projects to try new things has made News Corporation a powerhouse - at a time when most media companies (look at Tribune Corporation) fear failure. Read more at http://www.thephoenixprinciple.com

[The Beat Rabban (formerly Gay Gary)]

Here's another quick hit -

Even the enlightened foreign media that liberals like to drool over are raising eyebrows at the Obama "change cabinet" filled with former Bush staffers like Bob Gates and Jim Jones and reanimated Clintonistas like Larry Summers and Hilary "I Dodged Snipers" Clinton.

Russia Today, the English-language state news service of the Russian Federation, reports on Larry Summers shady past.

Change? LMAO.

[Duffman]

Exactly GG...it should be solely on how hot she is. Were only Mrs Clinton half that hot, she'd presently be POTUS-elect. :)

[chucks]

OK Gary. You are spending a lot of energy peeing in the pergressive librals Wheaties 'round here lately. You are attempting to get to them through the use of facts and humor.
Gary, my young (?) friend, they do not understand either tact.
But carry on.

[Duffman]

Exactly GG...it should be solely on how hot she is. Were only Mrs Clinton half that hot, she'd presently be POTUS-elect. :)

Posted by: Duffman | December 01, 2008 at 04:22 PM

Yet ANOTHER bogus re-post of my previous post by another IMPOSTER. This is really getting old; Bla'M would you kindly consider doing something about this?

[Duffman]

It's almost like when I don't post for a while (i.e. over this T/Giving holiday period) someone apparently misses me so terribly they must re-post my older posts. Go figure?

[Hill Bill]

are you ok?

[The Beast Rabban (formerly Gay Gary)]

Oldie but Pertinent:

Russia Today Reported: Hillary "I Dodged Serbian Snipers" Clinton can't pronounce names of world leaders.

Crappy Old Foreign Policy=
Current SoS, Dr. Condoleeza Rice, has a Ph.D. in Political Science, and spent 10 years teaching Eastern European policy at Stanford University. Prior to her appointment as SOS she served as Special Advisor on Russia to the National Security Council and then as National Security Advisor to the President. She is a classically trained pianist and lifts weights 4 days per week.

New, Wonderful, Enlightened, Forward-Thinking, Progressive Foreign Policy=
Clinton the Cow, whose primary qualification for SoS was that she used to choose the china patterns at state dinners, is a former child custody lawyer. She's overweight and famous for her cankles.

CH-CHANGE!

[The Beast Rabban (formerly Gay Gary)]

Crappy Old Foreign Policy of Idiots
Dr. Condoleeza Rice: fluent in English, Russian, German, Spanish and French

Wonderful, Progressive, Caring Foreign Policy of the Liberal Intellectual Intelligentsia
Clinton the Cow: fluent in English (but can do funny accents!)

Condi's Legs

Clinton the Cow's Legs

[The Beast Rabban (formerly Gay Gary)]

BREAKING NEWS

Wearing a Tilford evening gown,
Condoleeza Rice today played a private piano recital for Queen Elizabeth II; is joined by the London Symphony Orchestra.

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton took some kazoo lessons in 5th grade and is dusting off her talents to showcase to the Queen as soon as the swelling in her cankles dies down. Questions remain if the ass of the Arkansas Hog-Queen will actually fit through the doors of Buckingham Palace.

Queen Hil-Hil: America's New Face to the World /
Diplomacy & Refinement - The Face (and Cankles) of Ch-Change

[PugetSound]

hey GG
did you ever get those answers you were looking for?

[Duffman]

'are you ok?

Posted by: Hill Bill | December 01, 2008 at 07:37 PM'

That's GG's line...shame on you for plagiarizing that way.

[Duffman]

I just realized I am sucking up to a 17 year old boy. Shame on me! Please accept my sincere apologies.

[Duffman]

Dec 02, 2008 at 09:14 AM

This post yet again an imposter...pretty low (but that's where you normally reside).

[The Beast Rabban (formerly Gay Gary)]

did you ever get those answers you were looking for?

Sadly no, sparky said she was "above" providing sources for the statistics she makes up, which gave me quite a laugh, for obvious reasons.

That's GG's line...shame on you for plagiarizing that way.

I was going to say something but then I came to be rather flattered that sparky would use my material.

This post yet again an imposter...pretty low (but that's where you normally reside).

Sparky isn't allowed to post in threads where I'm posting so she has to make up new names and isn't, as a general rule, a very creative or intelligent human being.

[Coiler]

What kind of a person would pose as a 17 year old? Fantasize about riots and rapes? Like a pedophile, dirty old man? c'mon, 'gay gary' your shtick is old. Pick something else.

[PugetSound]

ah, the ever faithful Coils....a comfort during these tumultuous times.

[PugetSound]

Hey Duff, Chucks, Nevets, et al.
This may cause an explosion on the far left and a feeling of comfort for those of his center-right types.

"Rove: Obama security team represents continuity
Posted By: 6 hrs ago
WASHINGTON -- President Bush's former political director says the national security team named by President-elect Barack Obama "represents, to a substantial degree, continuity" especially in hot spots like Iraq and Afghanistan.

Karl Rove said on NBC's "Today" show the naming of the national security team is "a reminder that continuity exists particularly in our foreign and international relations."

Rove pointed to the retention of Defense Secretary Robert Gates
and the naming of James Jones as national security adviser, a
Vietnam war veteran who rose to become a Marine four-star general and served as military chief of NATO during the Bush
administration. Obama also named Hillary Rodham Clinton as his nominee for secretary of state."

[PugetSound]

also, rupport murdoch did donate money to clinton's run for the whitehouse hosting fundraisers such as this for her. looks like rupert and the clintons 'can do business' whatever that means.

back in 06

nice to see they are such great pards....

here in 08

[sparky]

Your delusions of grandeur are amusing Gary. Duffman and Puts need another man to look up to on this blog, and I guess you are it for now.

The other day I posted something about how odd it is that you and Duffman and Puts seem to think that what you say on here "affects" me in some way. Really? They were not able to believe such a thing, because their egos depend on mattering to someone on here, although I can't for the life of me figure out why. It is all anonymous. I guess that is why they like to accuse us of posting as several people, as it makes them feel they have a bigger audience. Duffman even wondered if people missed him so much that they post as him. Um..whatever. Maybe he was joking.

You announced to Joanie that you would be making up another personality to post here, so I guess this is it. Whatever.
Michael has a hard and fast rule here that you can say anything you want and he usually won't interfere, and its his blog. So, please continue with whatever it is you are trying to do here. But don't make the mistake of thinking that lack of comments to your posts means anything other than disinterest.

[Duffman]

If you wanted to talk to me, why didn't you...in stead you opted to talk 'about me'...very typical and chicken**** of you as usual. I could care less if ANYthink I post affects you in ANY fricken way. I just don't like folks postin as me...whether it's you or your cohorts.

[The Beast Rabban (formerly Gay Gary)]

Sparky - why won't you provide me with a source citation for your statistic that 49% of marriages end in divorce? This is my 18th request in the last 3 weeks. Even a babysitter at a welfare school like yourself should feel a tinge of embarrassment at this point. If you don't you have a low sense of self-esteem and I am worried about you! Your friends care about you, sparky, and want to help you.

[The Beast Rabban (formerly Gay Gary)]

But don't make the mistake of thinking that lack of comments to your posts means anything other than disinterest.

Sparky, you are the only person not commenting and it's only because you don't have a source to back up your faux facts so must remain silent.

[blathering michael]

GG or whoever the fuck you are, you are really getting boring and repetitive. Add irrelevant, off-topic, obnoxious, and the multiple personalities, you're getting extraneous.

[The Beast Rabban (formerly Gay Gary)]

multiple personalities

please explain?

[PugetSound]

c'mon,is it so hard for you sparky to admit that maybe you were wrong?
if you can't cite the source then just say so.
is it really so hard?

i think that is all GG wants.

[sparky]

Same as I pointed out to Duffman....I decided to let a stupid argument go. The stats that I saw are the stats that I saw. If you guys have different stats, so be it. You guys get off on arguing minutia. For me it is an argument not worth my time on here and therefore I moved on. Hopefully, you both will do the same at some point.

[The Beast Rabban (formerly Gay Gary)]

The stats that I saw are the stats that I saw.

And where did you see them again?
(19th request)

We pleasantly and nicely asked for a source citation for the discussion you started. When such a citation was requested, you abruptly decided your discussion was "stupid" [sic] and no longer worth your questionably valuable time.

Sparky, surely even someone of your class appreciates how terribly amusing this is for the rest of us. If you'd make the admission we all already know to be fact you'd deny us these ongoing chuckles, but unwarranted pride can be a dangerous device for the ungifted so, for now, you permit us this amusement. So, thanks for that.

[PugetSound]

pride goeth before the fall...

obviously it must mean a lot to you to keep this veneer of perfection on for some reason.
it's okay, you can be wrong once in awhile.
duff gives you permission.
nevets will give you a pass.
don't go loon like joanie.
you're much smarter.

c'mon, it will be good for the soul.
let the 17 year old know he won.
even Fonzi came clean about his Bush vote in 2000 with the: 'i was wa-wa-wrrrrrrronnngggg'

[sparky]

Heaven's no. It is far more enjoyable for you guys to feel so self righteous..so consider it an early Christmas present from me.

[nevets]

"Michael has a hard and fast rule here that you can say anything you want and he usually won't interfere"

Except when you Sparky ask B'lam to ban a certain word. Like the "S" word. Only you on BW have complained openly about that word. And low and behold. It is banned. Why is that?

[Coiler]

Because it was over used. Others complained too.

[sparky]

You are not Hamilton Burger, and I am not Perry Mason. I didn't ask him to ban anything.

[PugetSound]

the 'others' complained because it was apt.

[PugetSound]

self-righteous. sounds like you're the one who has the overly developed sense of self.
okay, you are never wrong. that's the definition of self-righteous.

[The Other Kevin]

GG or whoever the fuck you are, you are really getting boring and repetitive. Add irrelevant, off-topic, obnoxious, and the multiple personalities, you're getting extraneous.

Is it just me or does this have a charming, Grandpa Simpson-esque quality to it? "Dagdubit you whipersnapper, get offa my lawn before I get the garden hose on yer!" (only kidding)

[nevets]

Sparky, you cant expect us to believe that crap. The writing has been on the wall for some time now. But for a recent episode just look at the posts below.

"Sparky, you are the only person not commenting and it's only because you don't have a source to back up your faux facts so must remain silent."

Gary posted that and by B'lams response only a few minutes later...

"GG or whoever the fuck you are, you are really getting boring and repetitive..."

It reeks of you calling B'lam and crying that you were getting tired of Gary calling on you to produce a citation. Was this enough for you or does B'lam have to go further to satisfy you.

[sparky]

lighting a cigarette here...satisfied? ohhh yes.

Honestly, Steven, you bring a smile to my face every day. I thank you for that. I wish I had a nanometer of the power you think I have. I could be a rich woman!