So Long, Turd Blossom

Bearded wonder and NAFTA-gate blabbermouth Ian Brodie is stepping down from his post as Stephen Harper's chief asslicker. He's apparently giving up his position because of a sudden desire to teach at UWO. Uh huh.

But the decision comes just ahead of the release of an investigative report into "NAFTA-gate," the leak of sensitive diplomatic information that made headlines on both sides of the border, embarrassed Harper and his government and possibly undercut Canada's dealings with the future president.

The Star has learned that Brodie will be replaced by former Mike Harris staffer Guy Giorno. I wonder who leaked that bit of information to them?

Bush Upset Over Media Bias (Fox News Agrees)

Awwwwww. The poor old Bush administration just hasn't been able to catch a break these past 8 years. From winning the war in Iraq, to saving the environment, to fixing the US economy, every major Bush accomplishment has been under-reported or distorted by the liberal media. Today, President Dorkwad W. Dicksmack has taken the fight right to the doorstep of the enemy - NBC News.

The White House issued a terse statement condemning NBC for demonstrating bias after it edited out a portion of Dubbya's evasive non-answer to Richard Engel's question about whether or not Bush's recent "appeasement" comment was directed at Barack Obama. In answer to Engel's question, Bush replied:

"You know, my policies haven't changed, but evidently the political calendar has. People need to read the speech. You didn't get it exactly right, either. What I said is that we need to take the words of people seriously."

Only the first sentence was used in the network broadcast, although the entire interview was available on the website. Frankly, NBC could have edited out Bush's entire response, and it wouldn't have made a difference. The President never answered Engel's question, and no amount of culling of his rhetorical talking points could alter that fact.

Of course, for George W Bush to accuse anyone of misrepresentation is laughable. His administration has been unconscionably deceitful, and has been enthusiastically supported by Fox News, which acts as a de facto media extension of the Republican Party. Curiously, we never heard the White House complain about shoddy journalistic standards when mass media stalwarts were slavishly beating the drum for war in Iraq. Nor have we ever heard condemnation of Fox for their ongoing assault on honest reporting.

The White House has issues with Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews setting an agenda at NBC, but gives Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity a free pass at Faux News. In typical right wing fashion, what's good for the goose isn't necessarily good for the gander. Congratulations to NBC on their response to the White House (although personally, I would have used more four-letter words in telling Bush to go fuck himself).

"Just as the White House does not participate in the editorial process at the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal or USA Today, NBC News, as part of a free press in a free society, makes its own editorial decisions," NBC said in a statement.