America the Meritocracy

News item:

Chelsea Clinton has been hired by NBC News, joining George W. Bush’s daughter, Ronald Reagan’s son, John McCain’s daughter, and Tim Russert’s son.

I am really tempted to make an unforgivably snide and rude comment ...

... but I'll wait til next time.

Myths: Lots of people watch Fox News

We all know that Fox News' ratings are huge because of all the ranting and pandering that goes on appeals to a huge number of people.

Well, actually, not. Few people actually watch the network. Here's a small reality check from Conor Friedersdorf subbing for Andrew Sullivan:

And let's be clear on the size of the Fox News audience. In 2008, 59,934,814 Americans voted for John McCain. During election week, Fox News as a network averaged 3.54 million viewers. (Perhaps liberals would have more success trying to persuade the other 56,394,814 Republican voters.) That same year, Oprah Winfrey's show – just the one show – averaged 7.3 million voters (reported here as a ratings slump). Yes, among a certain demographic, Fox News is a huge ratings success. So is Rush Limbaugh. But where is the evidence that this rating success has translated into electoral victories or a friendlier policy environment for conservatives? There is none.

Define the demographic right and I probably could show you that Sententiae is a roaring success.

Of course, even fewer people watch the other news networks.

The State of the News

From ONN, some brilliantt parody of our news as brought to you by the MSM. This is what all news stories are beginning to sound like to me. Some blunt four letter words, so not for kiddies.

(courtesy of Andrew Sullivan).

OK - someone's reputation improves

Doctors. Or at least some doctors. Or one: Sanjay Gupta. Yes, a media figure, and yes, I am cynical too (and I haven't seen any of the TV coverage).

Still, this seems to be what a doctor should be doing.

alright. That's it. Now it's back to cynicism and gloom.

Sane Conservatives bis!

Over on Marc Ambinder's blog for The Atlantic someone named Chris Good has found the cool calm center of conservatism near the banks of the Potomac.

Mainstream conservatism still exists, despite the prominence to which the right's fringe elements have ascended since Obama took office. And sometimes it takes a mainstream conservative conference in Washington, DC to remind one that, while the infrastucture of conservative interest groups has engaged in heavy flirtation--some would say an outright love affair--with the passion of the protesters, dignified gatherings in hotel ballrooms are still its bread and butter.

Don't take his word for it though, catch this Fox News live broadcast covering the event. Too partisan for you? OK, take a look at what the MSNBC camera crew reported on mainstream conservatism.

They are apparently so sane they don't want any TV coverage of their event.

at last. We have found common ground.

.