Fox News Channel has grown so much that it now only trails USA Network and TNT in viewers on basic cable.

Fox News also swept the cable news top-ten in total viewers led by The O’Reilly Factor, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck and On the Record.

Meanwhile, MSNBC and CNN are fighting over the table scraps with MSNBC outpaced CNN in the last quarter in weekday primetime viewers.

Creigh “What’s In Your Wallet?” Deeds has unveiled “Business Leaders for Deeds” which reads more like a list of former Democrat-ick officials, activists and donors as well as land developers who rely upon government assistance to make a buck. When looking at it in total, “Shakedown Artists for Deeds” might be a better name for this group.  There are no prominent Republicans that jump out from this truly unimpressive list.

Among those making the list:

Carlos Del Toro of Stafford, President & CEO of SBG Technology Solutions, Inc.
(He was a Democrat candidate for the House of Delegates two years ago in the 88th Dist.)

John T. “Til” Hazel, Jr. of Broad Run, founder and former chairman of the Virginia Business Higher Education Council
(Tertium Quids thoroughly examines Hazel’s background which leads me to believe that “Til” is short for “Public Till” as he, like Creigh Deeds, has never met a tax hike that he didn’t like.  The book, “The Big Ripoff,” details that Hazel is seeking these tax increases to pay for road improvements around property that he owns so that he can line his own pocket.)

The Honorable Elliot Schewel of Lynchburg, Former President of Schewel Furniture Company and former State Senator
(Yes, he is a Democrat.)

Linda Zecher of Charlottesville, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Public Sector of Microsoft Corporation.
(Democrat donor.)

When looking at this list as a whole, it is extremely heavy with developers, homebuilders and mortgage bankers — in other words, the very people who helped bring about the current economic collapse.

Good luck with that Deeds.

The Teleprompted One has joined alongside Hugo Chavez and the Castro brothers in supporting exiled former Honduran President Manuel Zelaya.  The Washington Examiner has a straightforward explanation of exactly what happened in the “coup” –

Honduras is a remarkable demonstration of a democratic country acting legitimately and constitutionally to protect itself against a domestic threat aided by a hostile foreign power.

Zelaya was tossed out after he attempted to subvert the Honduran constitution in order to do away with presidential term limits and maintain power. Despite warnings from Honduras’ attorney general and the courts, Zelaya pressed forward in an attempt to amend the constitution that was not in accordance with the amendment process. When faced with this, Zelaya had ballots shipped in from Chavez’s Venezuela. That is when the Honduran Supreme Court intervened and ruled that the referendum was unconstitutional.  That is when things got interesting.

Instead of suspending the constitution and assuming power for themselves, the generals supported the Congress, which in an emergency session declared its own top leader as Zelaya’s interim successor and affirmed the election in November of a permanent successor. These actions were also affirmed by the Honduran Supreme Court.

In fact, Zelaya’s interim successor is from his own party as well.  Hondurans have protected their democratic institutions.  The United States should be supporting the Honduran people, not seeking to reinstitute Zelaya who wants to undermine their democracy and turn it into a Marxist state akin to Venezuela.

The Washington Post and the Obama administration have been caught red-handed trying to sell lobbyists exclusive private access to government officials.  No wonder the Obama admin. has a ban on government officials meeting with lobbyists — why do it for free when you can meet with lobbyists behind closed doors to benefit one of your allies in the media?

Once word got out, the WashPo quickly scuttled this Nixonian scheme (oh, the joy in the irony of labeling the WashPo “Nixonian”…) and offered this lame excuse:

[Washington Post CEO and Publisher Katharine] Weymouth knew of the plans to host small dinners at her home and to charge lobbying and trade organizations for participation. But, one of the executives said, she believed that there would be multiple sponsors, to minimize any appearance of charging for access

Oh, so it would have been better had they gotten 10 “sponsors” (is that what the kids are calling it these days?) at $25K a pop instead of limiting it to just two?  In other words, to them it wouldn’t have seemed as corrupt if more people were engaging in the corruption.  Give me a break.  The WashPo may just as well resign from publishing and move to Argentina to live with its soul mate.

(Click on the below image of the WashPo’s flier to embiggen it…)

Creigh Deeds: High Stakes Hide-and-Seek

- Democrat Candidate Dodges Debates, Ducks Stances on Issues -

RICHMOND – Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins today called on Democratic candidate for governor Creigh Deeds to come out of hiding and answer important policy questions and agree to an aggressive schedule of face-to-face debates with Republican candidate Bob McDonnell.  To this point, Deeds has refused to discuss major issues facing the voters and has appeared to be reluctant to appear on stage with McDonnell in a sufficient number of meetings to satisfy voters’ interests.

“I don’t know what the guy is afraid of,” said Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins.  “I guess I understand his trepidation, but you know, sooner or later you have to say that you’re for or against something.”

Debates: Who, Me?

Bob McDonnell has challenged Creigh Deeds to a series of ten debates, but Deeds appears to be shy about the idea.  Through a spokesman, Deeds gave a non-committal answer.

“If past precedent is an indication, McDonnell shouldn’t hold his breath while awaiting a response,” reported the Virginian-Pilot (http://hamptonroads.com/2009/07/mcdonnell-deeds-lets-have-10-debates).

“The modern logistics of scheduling these things are tough, because you’re trying to get two campaigns together,” Deeds told the Washington Post. (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2009/07/post_263.html)

Cap-and-Trade: Deeds Absent

The leadership of Creigh Deeds’ party shoved the boondoggle of “Cap and Trade” through the House of Representatives, imposing perhaps the largest energy tax increase on Americans that has ever been.  Governor Kaine spoke glowingly of the action and five Virginia Democrats voted for its passage.  Deeds’ response has been barely conscious.

“[Deeds] hopes Congress will focus on legislation to address the very serious problem of global warming,” the candidate for governor said through a spokesman (http://hamptonroads.com/2009/06/cap-and-trade-cavalcade).

Card Check: Deeds Incoherent

On the similarly job-killing legislation known as Card Check, Creigh Deeds has been characteristically confusing.

“From my perspective, this is not something that we have to be engaged in,” Deeds stammered.  “We’re gonna have to deal with whatever the federal government does.  But we don’t know.  Terry [McAuliffe] to a certain extent is exactly right.  We don’t know what that legislation is gonna look like right now.  It doesn’t look like it’s gonna pass.  We don’t know what form it will take if it does pass.  I think this is just a bridge we have to cross when we get to it.”

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUSxJQKJdMo)

Kaine Travel: Deeds Pretty Much Mum

Under tremendous fire for his stealthy travel schedule on behalf of the Democratic National Committee, Governor Tim Kaine still refuses to release the details of his whereabouts.  Deeds throws his mentor under the bus.

“I think one job will probably be enough for me,” Deeds said (http://www.wdbj7.com/Global/story.asp?S=10603552&nav=S6aK).

The venerable Washington Post was frustrated as well.

“We tried to get Deeds directly on this topic, but he would not make himself available. His spokesman Jared Leopold said: ‘Creigh Deeds is committed to transparency in government.’”  (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2009/07/post_262.html#more).

“Creigh Deeds may be committed to something, but it sure isn’t to being transparent with the voters,” said Chairman Mullins.

-30-

OUCH!!!

Reporter Helen Thomas, who is preparing to celebrate almost as many birthdays as Yoda, has some harsh words for The Teleprompted One & Co. over their faux townhall meeting on healthcare in Annandale, VA yesterday where the entire event was staged from beginning to end.

“Nixon didn’t try to do that. They couldn’t control [the media]. They didn’t try that. What the hell do they think we are, puppets? They’re supposed to stay out of our business. They are our public servants. We pay them. I’m not saying there has never been managed news before, but this is carried to fare-thee-well – for the town halls, for the press conferences. It’s blatant. They don’t give a damn if you know it or not. They ought to be hanging their heads in shame.”

When a liberal Democrat has gone so far as to disillusion Helen Thomas, you know that they’ve really gone too far.

Apparently some don’t agree with Ms. Thomas and enjoy being puppets.  Take for example The Washington Post which is now selling lobbyists access to Obama admin. officials and members of Congress for a cool $25K per shot or $250K for the entire series of private, off the record meetings with them.  Following is text from the flier the WashPo sent around to lobbyists yesterday.

“Spirited? Yes. Confrontational? No. The relaxed setting in the home of Katharine Weymouth assures it. What is guaranteed is a collegial evening, with Obama administration officials, Congress members, business leaders, advocacy leaders and other select minds typically on the guest list of 20 or less. …

“Offered at $25,000 per sponsor, per Salon. Maximum of two sponsors per Salon. Underwriters’ CEO or Executive Director participates in the discussion. Underwriters appreciatively acknowledged in printed invitations and at the dinner. Annual series sponsorship of 11 Salons offered at $250,000 … Hosts and Discussion Leaders … Health-care reporting and editorial staff members of The Washington Post … An exclusive opportunity to participate in the health-care reform debate among the select few who will actually get it done. … A Washington Post Salon … July 21, 2009 6:30 p.m. …

“Washington Post Salons are extensions of The Washington Post brand of journalistic inquiry into the issues, a unique opportunity for stakeholders to hear and be heard,” the flier says. “At the core is a critical topic of our day. Dinner and a volley of ideas unfold in an evening of intelligent, news-driven and off-the-record conversation. … By bringing together those powerful few in business and policy-making who are forwarding, legislating and reporting on the issues, Washington Post Salons give life to the debate. Be at this nexus of business and policy with your underwriting of Washington Post Salons.”