Bye, bye. Señor Dobbs

Rejoice. Celebrate for 365 days and nights; and on the 366 day rest for as long has you need, half an hour should do, and then celebrate some more!

Although I like to hear the definitive left handed news on MSNBC, and glee giddily. And Fox reports the definitely extremist right side of the news, and I never watch it anyway. I like CNN where Anderson Cooper et al report and we decide; although it can be maddening when the true is staring you clearly in the eye, and the CNN correspondents don't say "GOP Senator 'Mother Fucker' What kind of stupid people do you think I and my public are? We know you are lying with all your rotten teeth and you expect us to believe your bull shit? My audience will make their own opinion out of all the uncultured lies you are saying; but, please, Senator 'Mouthfull DuMerde' don't offend us by saying that the White House is literally black now; and that CNN is a communist sympathizer because its logo is "RED"!

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In broadcast news, CNN makes play for the middle ground

By David Ryan

Published: Friday, November 13, 2009
Updated: Friday, November 13, 2009

Despite low ratings and diminishing cultural relevance, CNN still touts itself as the most trusted name in news.

Obviously, this approval isn’t measured in ratings. Much of the network’s output falls behind rivals MSNBC and Fox News.

Not that ratings are an indicator of trust, either. It just shows more people are willing to watch the competition for something.

CNN has typically considered itself the moderate network, despite cries of liberal influence and democratic ideologies.

Its anchors typically front straight-faced, news-oriented programming that only features opinion from the mouths of its guests or so-called "experts."

But there was always one stand-alone in CNN’s arsenal.

Sandwiched somewhere between Wolf Blitzer’s 15th hour of "The Situation Room" and Anderson Cooper, Lou Dobbs sat in front of an electronic flag.

Dobbs, a former financial guru for the network, anchored a semi-political, semi-news program focusing on a select few issues dear to his heart.

Those topics?

Illegal immigrants and President Barack Obama’s birth certificate.

The host would frequently choke up in rage, red-faced and spitting out in disgust at policies implemented by the government he felt were failing middle class America.

But not anymore.

Dobbs announced on his program Wednesday he resigned from both his show and CNN immediately.

President of the network Joe Klein announced Thursday John King, CNN’s magic board extraordinaire, would assume the vacancy.

"There is a lot of noise and conflict in our political discourse, which is fun to cover. But I’m convinced from my travels that people also thirst for more details as well as insight and context," King said in a statement Thursday.

This is apparently an attempt to position CNN further as a moderate alternative to MSNBC and FOX.

But how long can that truly last?

It’s evident from ratings, viewers prefer the fiery, fiesty opinion-laced programming of "The O’Reilly Factor," "The Glenn Beck Program" and "Countdown with Keith Olbermann."

This isn’t condoning such programming.

News should be news. Opinion should be opinion. But that’s not the case.

For CNN, to say it will be the righteous defender of moderation is a dangerous card to play.

First and foremost, CNN is a business.

It exists purely to make revenue for its parent company Time Warner, like any of its other cable networks (though I doubt Cartoon Network has the same prestige).

The network has a problem with its ratings, and it will eventually have to acknowledge it.

If King, who is known for being impartial, isn’t a success, it’s only a matter of time for either a new host or for some dramatic retooling.

Even Dobbs, who started out as a business reporter, eventually sank into a pool of opinionated rhetoric that helped book sales.

It’s a tricky card because much of what CNN actually reports as news can be taken either way.

There’s the original news package – in which a reporter sources, has background and allows for some greater understand.

Then, later, supposed analysts bicker on the screen for five minutes before the host has to call a timeout.

Nothing is further explored beyond the last words of the last person’s desperate screams.

CNN is attempting to regain its ground by reverting back to what made it so important some 25 years ago – news.

It’s just a matter of whether or not people want it.

And sadly, for CNN, its ratings seem to tell a different story, Dobbs or not.

Spencer Pratt

Anderson Cooper

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All the pictures except the CNN logo were put here by Peter -- the video belongs to Achmed, he asked me to give him credit or "He kill me!" CNN needs Jeff Dunham and Peanut and José Jalapeño and Achmed, whom I have no idea why he wasn't included in the photo at the beginning of this report. Infidels!

And, of course, CNN also needs some good looking ass; and who better than Spencer Pratt who has not a single news item to report, but who, doubtless and single handedly, could raise the rates throughout the stratosphere (think teenagers and gay men glued to the TV.) Imaging Spencer substituting once in a while for Erica Hill and you'll see the fireworks lightning and shooting to the heavens in a New York second!

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I consider this video as Achmed's audition to be a co-anchor with Anderson Cooper.
Here he is reporting on the best way to go shopping for a casket.