Didn't want to let this one slip by:

In other healthcare news, the watchdog group Media Matters has revealed one of CNN’s regular on-air commentators is on the payroll of America’s Health Insurance Plans, an industry lobbying group opposed to the current healthcare reform efforts. Until yesterday, CNN had never acknowledged Alex Castellanos’s affiliation. Media Matters revealed that Castellanos’s consulting firm, National Media, recently placed over $1 million of TV advertising for America’s Health Insurance Plans. Castellanos’s company has also done work for the Federation of American Hospitals, the pharmaceutical industry group PhRMA, and the HCA Sunrise Hospital.

Health Insurance Giant Aetna Paying $80,000 For Health Reform ‘Town Hall’ Moderated By CNN Host Tony Harris

Tomorrow, health insurance giant Aetna is sponsoring a “town hall conversation on the national health system reform debate” at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. CNN anchor Tony Harris will moderate the panel, which features lobbyists from the health insurance industry and opponents of reform

According to FAIR, CNN has corporate relationships with AIG, Health Cap, and Paratek Pharmaceuticals. I don't think they were ever going to do any honest reporting.

I have been watching more cable TV news recently and it is MUCH worse than I expected. It is Soviet, no, scratch that, it is like radio Rwanda. It is amazing there isn't more violence in this country.

One of the reasons our leadersheep internalize every lie that is told is that they all, elected and staff, watch the news every waking hour. In every office on Capitol Hill TVs are turned on to Cable Nonsense Noise. It just isn't necessary and actually gets in the way of understanding what is going on.

It would also send a very loud signal to the cable harpies if it were known that Capitol Hill Dems had pulled the plug on their lies.

VICENTE NAVARRO

Letter from John Conyers:

Earlier this month I raised concerns about the trial balloon floated for Surgeon General, Dr. Sanjay Gupta .

The doctor is a health commentator for CNN who dispenses medical advice with a breezy style appropriately suited to the brief two-minute segments of television.

While he has earned praise for his television persona, there are undeniable drawbacks that would limit his effectiveness as an advocate for the comprehensive health care reform this country urgently needs.

We need a Surgeon General serious about health care reform.

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ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES

COOPER: So, Sanjay, the third case of mad cow in the United States, how concerned should someone at home be?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, the short answer is probably not concerned at all, really, Anderson.

It's -- it's kind of interesting. On one hand, we used to say, here in the United States, mad cow disease was a disease of other countries, didn't worry about it. But after December of 2003, we had three cases in three years now. So, I think people are -- their -- their guard is up, for sure.

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In Sicko "fact check," CNN's Gupta falsely claimed his source's "only affiliation is with Vanderbilt University":

Contrary to Gupta's assertion on Larry King Live that Keckley's "only affiliation is with Vanderbilt University," Keckley is affiliated with Deloitte & Touche USA LLP, part of a global audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services group of firms. Keckley is the executive director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. The Deloitte Center for Health Solutions states on its website that "it delivers research on and develops solutions to some of our nation's most pressing health care and public health related challenges." As Moore noted on Larry King Live, the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions is also "connected" to Tommy Thompson. The center's website lists Thompson as the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions' independent chairman.

Keckley is also a Republican contributor, as Moore claimed. According OpenSecrets.org, Keckley has donated $8,500 to Republican candidates or party committees since 1990, including $1,000 to Sen. Bob Corker (TN), $2,000 to the Republican Party of Tennessee, $2,000 to Sen. Lamar Alexander (TN), and $500 to Rep. Marsha Blackburn (TN). During that period, he has made no donations to Democratic candidates or party committees that have been reported to the Federal Election Commission.

Many of you have commented on how violent the bloggers for BO have become. Also many now see how the mean-stream media [msm] and so-called Liberal Talk, Air America Radio are in collusion.

When AAR began, it criticized the msm for its myopic, one sided presentation of the news but now they are joined at the hip, with “stars” of both being exchanged to join the celestial chorus for the Precious one, their Messiah, BO.

So anti-Hillary comments are now de rigeur on AAR as the various hosts call on her to quit for the good of the party. They are backing up in spirit and fact MSNBC’s Keith Oldermann’s calling for a hit on Senator Hillary Clinton. Yes indeed – birds of a feather flock together, you are known for the company you keep.

This from CNN is just appalling.

CNN does a national poll that includes Guiliani, but not for Edwards--or Paul?

I don't really know what to say. Well, no, that's wrong. Maybe I do:  Read more…

Just to make the pearl subtext of the "diamonds or pearls" question for Hillary last night completely explicit.

Yes, it turns out that CNN planted the "diamonds or pearls" question.

Too bad the questioner played along, although I can see the pressure for Civility. There's entirely too much playing along with the CNN master debaters, wouldn't you say?

Ridiculous, you say? Well, how about this?

But Mr. DeLay isn't letting the indictment block him from political involvement. This month, he started the Coalition for a Conservative Majority, which he sees as an information clearinghouse on what he calls the "great threat posed to our nation by the organized forces of the radicalized left." Mr. DeLay believes the Democratic victory last November came about because "the Left now has more money, more interlocking organizations and more coordinated media supporters than we can possibly imagine." He hopes to shine a light on these activities and encourage conservatives to work more closely together. "Nothing frustrated me more that I couldn't get groups such as mining companies to see the need to work for a good energy bill. Most people in the business community are parochial and won't work together for the common good. I hope to change that."

Despite his antipathy toward liberals, Mr. DeLay joked that he's happy to work with them. He told me he is about to sign on with CNN as a commentator. "I may be their only conservative on air, but someone has to do it."

So I'd rather eat glass, take a bath in acid, walk across an electrified grid barefoot, etc., than watch CNN. But hey, look what I just learned. Guess who has a dad on the Advisory Board of the Libby Legal Defense Trust? Bowtie Carlson! Has he mentioned that yet, in his coverage of the trial?

Sir, when did you rape your first White Woman, and why should we not lynch you now?

Jesus. I wonder if the Grey Turtleneck is happy he's got this pantload's ads up at his site now.

John doesn't need to hits, but still, this one surprised even my cynical ass:

I just got a cease-and-desist letter from YouTube, see below, regarding my CNN footage I posted. The footage, you'll recall, was from Larry King Live last night in which Bill Maher outed Republican Party chair Ken Mehlman as gay. It seems that CNN has suddenly decided that it no longer wants bloggers, or YouTube, posting any of its video, which is kind of surprising since I always thought we were doing a CNN a favor by constantly touting their network. Apparently I was wrong.

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When you're naked, the safest place to keep your liquid explosives is clearly in your ass.