A recent decision by the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the Federal Communication Comission’s broadcast indecency policy. The ruling stated that FCC standards covering offensive language are “unconstitutionally vague.”

If the decision is eventually upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, it could open the door for CNN to finally do something innovative. Take for example all the boring talking heads on the network. Instead of restrained debate when Republicans and Democrats face-off, the language could be more reflective of how political opponents really feel. Something along the lines of former Vice President Dick Cheney’s advice to Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, “Go f–k yourself.”

HBO’s success with programs such as The Sopranos is evidence that real life language attracts viewers. And take it from me, a reporter who spent a good portion of my career covering organized crime, that is the language of mobsters. But since CNN is desperate to regain lost viewers, let’s not rely on dirty words as an attraction. Instead of blondes in short skirts, “Take it off.”

I know this seems stupid. However, my old employer is getting close to cornering the market on stupid decisions—the foremost being its effort to incrementally sink to the level of Fox “News.” The departure of Campbell Brown as a prime time anchor is indicative of CNN’s failure to sustain its legitimacy as a reliable news gathering organization. Replacing her in the time slot is a show co-anchored by a horny former New York Governor and a conservative newspaper columnist. The program should be titled, Crossfire: Part Two. For readers with short memories Crossfire was a long-running CNN screaming match between liberals and conservatives.

Before I express contempt for the new show prior to its debut, I must concede that it has potential if the network takes full advantage of Eliot Spitzer’s more perverse talents. He can book a few of his paramours from the little black book he used while serving as Governor. Please, though, avoid demonstrations of past behavior. I don’t want to see a guy prancing around wearing only black socks as was his habit in Washington D.C. hotel suites.

Hopefully, co-host Kathleen Parker will keep his libido in check. Despite her credentials as a conservative pundit, she is an outspoken feminist. Actually, her politics seem more moderate than conservative—a view that I’m certain is held by Sarah Palin. During the 2oo8 Presidential campaign, Parker wrote many unkind words about the former Governor of Alaska, such as this excerpt from a column following the infamous Katie Couric interview.

Like so many women, I’ve been pulling for Palin, wishing her the best, hoping she will perform brilliantly. I’ve also noticed that I watch her interviews with the held breath of an anxious parent, my finger poised over the mute button in case it gets too painful. Unfortunately, it often does. My cringe reflex is exhausted.

Palin filibusters. She repeats words, filling space with deadwood. Cut the verbiage and there’s not much content there. Here’s but one example of many from her interviews with Sean Hannity: “Well, there is a danger in allowing some obsessive partisanship to get into the issue that we’re talking about today. And that’s something that John McCain, too, his track record, proving that he can work both sides of the aisle, he can surpass the partisanship that must be surpassed to deal with an issue like this.”
(Note: The interview proves that Palin was never a prophet)

When Couric pointed to polls showing that the financial crisis had boosted Obama’s numbers, Palin blustered wordily: “I’m not looking at poll numbers. What I think Americans at the end of the day are going to be able to go back and look at track records and see who’s more apt to be talking about solutions and wishing for and hoping for solutions for some opportunity to change, and who’s actually done it?”

If BS were currency, Palin could bail out Wall Street herself.

The Eliot Spitzer/Kathleen Parker show begins in mid-September. I wish CNN luck in bringing back viewers. But media critics are pretty much unanimous in verdicts that the network is taking steps backward, rather than forward—especially with the pending announcement that tabloid personality Piers Morgan will replace Larry King, who is leaving one step ahead of the arrival of a hearse.

As New Yorker media critic Nancy Franklin pointed out this week, there are no easy answers to CNN’s dilemma of competing with right and left-wing lunatics like Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and Keith Olberman. And as smart as Spitzer is by his own admission, he is probably 25 IQ points behind fellow liberal Rachel Maddow.

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/television/2010/08/02/100802crte_television_franklin?currentPage=all

I would like to think that CNN’s future is in its past. The New Yorker article reminded me of my ten years with the network when legitimate news stories were dominate. But those days may be long gone.

So I say to CNN, lets see some skin. It will help my IRA.

My memoir, Odyssey of a Derelict Gunslinger, is available at amazon.com and independent bookstores. It offers much more than $19.99 worth of laughs. The book is an account of my illustrious (I choose the adjectives) career.

I’m a half-full glass kind of guy. And when bad things happen to good people (or even bad people, for that matter), I look for the positives. In the case of fired Department of Agriculture official Shirley Sherrod much has been gained this week.

Foremost is exposing low-life Andrew Breitbart’s as right-wing scum. Prior to releasing an out-of-context video segment of a speech Sherrod made to an NAACP gathering in Georgia, Breitbart’s Internet site was the source of much of the racist propaganda on Fox “News.” Most notorious was heavily edited undercover video of a Breitbart operative posing as a pimp while seeking financial help from ACORN to open new whorehouse. Fox repeatedly ran the video and it flooded the Internet. Although, the black activist political organization claimed the video failed to reflect what really happened, Breitbart refused to release the raw tape. ACORN has since disbanded, in large part because of the publicity given the right-wing manufactured scandal.

The simpleton Breitbart “investigative reporter” playing the pimp role subsequently stumbled over his idiocy when he tried to entrap Louisiana U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu by tampering with telephone lines in her New Orleans office. Accompanied by two equally moronic “undercover agents” dressed as telephone repairmen, the trio was arrested and ultimately cut a deal with federal prosecutors to plead guilty to misdemeanor charges.

Brietbart has also been involved in other unsavory schemes designed to embarrass the Obama Administration, Democrats and anyone else on his enemies list. What makes him dangerous is the fact that Fox “News” will spread any rumor he passes along. Breitbart receives frequent French kisses from Bill O’Reilly, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh. They in turn spread the germs to fans. The good news is that the Sherrod incident might cause a few people to use mouthwash after being exposed to the Republican Propaganda Network.

Actually, there was a minor miracle on Fox. Glenn Beck came to the defense of Sherrod. It is the first time to my knowledge that he has ever told the truth about anything dealing with the Obama Administration.

Before reporting other positives from the Sherrod incident, I need to explain what happened for the benefit of readers who may have been trapped in remote parts of the world during the the past 72 hours, or failed to pass within 100 yards of a television set carrying CNN. The network went wall-to-wall on coverage, trapping Sherrod in its Atlanta studios and refusing to allow her to leave until Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack dropped to his knees, begged forgiveness and offered her a big promotion to compensate for his stupid decision seeking the Georgia official’s resignation before viewing the full video of Sherrod’s inspiring speech about her transformation from judging farmers by the color of their skin. She told the audience that a white farm couple in south Georgia helped her realize that poverty was color blind. The elderly couple were the first to come to Sherrod’s defense, telling reporters that the Agriculture Department official went far beyond the call of duty to help them save their farm. The Breitbart video only showed a few seconds of Sherrod’s speech in which she gave background of her epiphany about race.

Another possible bright spot in the debacle is the embarrassment it caused the Obama Administration in what is tantamount to an admission that officials actually watched Fox “News” and give a shit about its distortions. Maybe they accidentally switched to Fox to get away from Rick Sanchez. If that is the case, Fox could pick-up Administration viewers in August when Sanchez temporarily replaces Campbell Brown in the 8:00 p.m. slot. That is like replacing a healthy diet with junk food. Brown was one of CNN’s better anchors and reporters. On the other hand, Sanchez only acts like he knows what he is talking about. He was in top form yesterday, treating the Sherrod story like it was a state funeral. Overreaction to overreaction is the best way to describe his reporting.

Despite going overboard yesterday in its Sherrod coverage, I was happy to see CNN mount a strong defense of the woman. Objectivity was cast aside, which is sometimes appropriate in journalism—though not to the extent of Sanchez’s often uninformed reporting. Fortunately, the Sherrod issue was so clearcut that CNN avoided an outbreak of shrinking testicles—a virus that has regularly swept the network in the past when dealing with controversy. Believe me, I know. Read all about it in my book. Can’t resist the chance for a quick plug.

Back to the half-full glass. The biggest positive to emerge in recent days is Shirley Sherrod. The daughter of a farmer murdered by white men never brought to justice, she has become a hero of millions of people this week. Instead of going quietly after being publicly humiliated by her bosses and the NAACP, she defended herself with the kind of dignity that exposed Andrew Breitbart, Fox “News” and right-wing hate-mongers as people devoid of moral consciences.

If Sherrod can resist exploiting the scandal and/or being exploited, not only will her glass be half-full, it will overflow.

My memoir, Odyssey of a Derelict Gunslinger, is available at amazon.com and independent bookstores. It offers much more than $19.99 worth of laughs. The book is an account of my illustrious (I choose the adjectives) career.

As a Father’s Day gift, my wife—a child bride, some friends say—gave me Bill Press’s recently published book, Toxic Talk: How the Radical Right has Poisoned America’s Airwaves. I mentioned to her that wanted the book, even though it was like a choir member requesting a hymnal that he or she had memorized. But reading the book was the first time that I have seen the magnitude of the lies gathered in one place, which is a rather mind-boggling experience.

I don’t recommend the book as a great piece of literature. Press is a liberal Democrat and freely admits his political prejudices. But he did his homework in gathering examples of the lies, distortions and misinformation that dilutes the airwaves. One chapter each is devoted to liars Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and Michael Savage. Two guys with an ounce of brains, presumably—Harvard graduates Bill O’Reilly and Lou Dobbs—share a chapter. That’s too bad because they are probably the worst of the bunch because they have enough sense (a quantam leap on my part) to know they are exploiting fans for personal gain. In a matter of a few paragraphs, the book also cites a few wannabe stars of the far right.

Toxic Talk isn’t particularly well written. However, it catalogues abuses under specific headings and uses direct quotes from radio and television shows hosted by the wild-eyed characters, most of whom seem devoid of consciences since they will say anything for a buck.

Actually, Glenn Beck falls in a different category altogether. From all appearances, he is simply mentally unbalanced. Take, for example, his most recent outbreak of lunacy.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/22/glenn-beck-vomits-over-na_n_621551.html

The Bill Press book fills in gaps for me. I have a hard time listening or watching the ranting of wing-nuts for more than a few minutes. Fortunately, I get to watch a lot of right-wing antics on television’s two most legitmate news shows—Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show and Stephen Colbert. For my reading pleasure, Media Matters keeps me abreast with the lunatic fringe. The liberal left-wing Internet site obviously monitors and transcribes AM radio craziness and political distortions of GOP propaganda outlet, Fox “News.”

Speaking of which.

Over the past ten years, I’ve regularly worked out at health clubs in two golf communities— first in Georgia following my retirement from CNN, and more recently in my adopted home of Louisiana. I’m guessing the majority of my neighbors in both places are die hard Republicans. Arriving for my 6:30 exercise time in the morning, the television has almost always been on Fox “News.” I find that a bit surprising because in both communities, a large percentage of the residents are well-educated college graduates. Sadly, though, most apparently don’t subscribe to newspapers or major news magazines. If so, I believe they would have doubts about what Fox represents as “fair and balanced” news. Instead, I hear intelligent folks—including some members of my family—parroting the propaganda, lies and distortions proselytized by Fox and its pundits. It would be interesting to hear their responses if they took time to read Toxic Talk. But that ain’t gonna happen. Facts only confuse these people.

And late word just in.

CNN announced today that it has hired a narcissistic, whore-hopping egomaniac to replace Campbell Brown as a prime time anchor. Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer—a disgraced liberal Democrat—will host the show with Washington Post conservative columnist, Kathleen Parker. I really don’t care about Spitzer’s taste for hookers, his narcissism or outsized ego. What I care about is CNN’s decision to replace a news program with an updated version Crossfire, a program that aired many years ago when I worked for the network. 

Coincidentally, given the topic of this post, Toxic Talk author Bill Press was the liberal voice on Crossfire. Pat Buchanan occupied the chair on the right. The show was entertaining. But it didn’t qualify as news, nor occupy a prime time slot. In my opinion, the mummy show, Larry King, provides enough entertainment for CNN’s prime time. But what the hell do I know?

I predicted that Rich Sanchez would replace Campbell Brown. So the bad news that CNN is dumping a news show is tempered by the good news that I was wrong.

My memoir, Odyssey of a Derelict Gunslinger, is available at amazon.com and independent bookstores. It offers much more than $19.99 worth of laughs. The book is an account of my illustrious (I choose the adjectives) career.

Despite my repetitive bitching about Fox “News” and MSNBC, I am beginning to accept the reality that most television viewers don’t give a shit about legitimate reporting. In our current environment of job losses, wars and fiery rhetoric by media personalities, a lot of folks are like serial sinners seeking salvation at tent revivals.  They are easily converted to the doctines of Limbaugh, Beck and Hannity. I would also mention Maddow, Olberman and others from the left, but most of their viewers are already indoctrinated liberals? CNN is caught in the middle—the network of last resort for straightforward, relatively unbiased coverage of breaking news, politics and catastrophes.

Campbell Brown’s decision to quit her CNN prime time anchor job because of low ratings is added evidence of the diminishing interest in traditional reporting. In an era of shifting blame for failure, Brown displayed unusual candor in announcing her decision. ”As for why, I could have said, that I am stepping down to spend more time with my children (which I truly want to do). Or that I am leaving to pursue other opportunities (which I also truly want to do). But I have never had much tolerance for others’ spin, so I can’t imagine trying to stomach my own. The simple fact is that not enough people want to watch my program, and I owe it to myself and to CNN to get out of the way so that CNN can try something else. CNN will have to figure out what that is.”

I’ve never met Campbell Brown. She arrived at CNN after I departed. But as a matter of personal disclosure, I am a good friend of her daddy, veteran Louisiana politician Jim Brown. And Campbell’s maternal uncle is a nearby neighbor and occasional golfing partner. Actually, my relationship with her father has been strained in times past. He is Louisiana’s former Secretary of State and later, Insurance Commissioner—a job that put us at odds.

During Brown’s bid for relection to a second term as the state’s top insurance regulator, one of his opponents asked me to work for him in the campaign. It was my first venture into election politics—a learning opportunity I couldn’t pass up. Brown was opposed by his former deputy Commissioner, Winston Riddick, a close friend for 20 years and an important source while he was an assistant state Attorney General in the 1980’s. Riddick and Brown had split over the handling of insurance regulatory issues. In fact, Brown was target of a federal investigation. Our campaign centered on the theme, “Do voters want to re-elect a third consecutive Insurance Commissioner destined for prison?” Apparently they did. 

After winning re-election, Brown ended up in prison on charges that he lied to FBI agents. But as I learned in recent years, he was railroaded by agents who withheld notes and other exculpatory evidence that would have led to his acquittal. It was a classic example of lawmen hearing what they wanted to hear, not what was said. More damaging to Brown was the  presiding judge in the case—the same pill-popping federal jurist who handled the trial of former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards. Like the Edwards case, he denied nearly every motion that would have helped the defense. 

Jim Brown served six months in federal prison. He gives a detailed account of his trial in a book titled, Justice Denied. I think he makes a strong case against the the FBI and ambitious federal prosecutors, who believe winning is more important than justice. Despite our differences during the the 2000 political campaign,  Brown and I have renewed our friendship.

Anyway, back to his daughter, Campbell Brown and her CNN resignation. She fought a losing battle in attracting viewers. Her Fox “News” competitor in the time slot was loudmouth Bill O’Reilly, who built an audience by insulting people. MSNBC featured another loudmouth at 8:00 p.m. EST. Keith Olberman built a smaller audience by insulting Bill O’Reilly. So it was two opinion shows against Campbell’s legitimate newscast—a no-win situation for Campbell and probably for CNN in the near future. So what happens now?

The granddaddy of the Cable News Networks is faced with the dilemma of coming up with a show that competes with loudmouth pundits. It is the same quandry that has haunted television news for 30 years—the decision of giving viewers the news they need to know, or providing the entertainment and conflict they want to watch. As an alumnus of the granddaddy of 24-hour news, I fear that ratings will pre-empt journalistic integrity. And that is what the country does not need. More pundrity.

Interestingly, veteran Democratic political consultant Donna Brazile—a current member of CNN’s crowded stable of pundits—bit the hand that feeds her this week by saying that television news has too many pundits.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/10/donna-brazile-lets-get-ri_n_570421.html

Anyone reading my previous rants on this blog knows that I couldn’t agee more. If I had to make a bet right now on Campbell Brown’s successor,  my money would be on Rick Sanchez—the CNN afternoon anchor, who believes he is more important than the news he is supposed to report.

From the standpoint of credibility, Sanchez in prime time will be another giant step backward for the nation’s “most trusted news channel.”

My memoir, Odyssey of a Derelict Gunslinger, is available at amazon.com and independent bookstores. It offers much more than $19.99 worth of laughs. It is an account of my illustrious (I choose the adjectives) career.