CNN's Bob Franken on Karl Rove

[brettdale]

www.huffingtonpost.com

"Speaking of the Karl Rove matter… that is news that is considered, at the moment, so yesterday. We've moved on."

[CatWoman]

what are you talking about?

[ironman202]

1. wishful thinking

[newsguyatl]

2. bob franken is HARDLY

a wingnut...

i have to agree with him here -- UNFORTUNTATELY there's nothing pushing this story at the moment.

that will change soon i'm sure, but at the moment, he's right.

[CatWoman]

4. can someone please post THE APPROPRIATE link?????

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

6. Here ya go, CatWoman:

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0507/19/lol.01.html

BOB FRANKEN: And one thing we've been told, by the way, is Scott McClellan, who in the last several days has been making some news deflecting questions on Karl Rove, is canceling his briefing that's coming up, scheduled to come up in just a short while, for reason we all understand, because he'd be deflecting questions that he wants the president to answer this evening in the Supreme Court nomination. Speaking of the Karl Rove matter, of course, that is news that is considered at the moment so yesterday. We've moved on. And of course, they're going to have big news tonight.

[CatWoman]

12. I don't get it

what the fuck does this have to do with the Huffington Post?

[liveoaktx]

15. AND the interview was BEFORE the SC nomination so if it was

old news, Rove sure came back as news with a vengeance.

And who the feck cares what Bob Franken thinks?

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

17. It's a live link in Arianna Huffington's most recent post

The words "dispiriting gem" constitute the clickable link on the Huffington Post site. Taken in its proper context, it seems to me that she's nailing him for the comment.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theblog/archive/arianna-huffington/can-the-media-walk-and-ch_4567.html

Arianna Huffington

07.25.2005 Arianna Huffington
Can the Media Walk and Chew Gum at the Same Time?

As the blanket coverage of the Rove scandal gave way to the blanket coverage of the Roberts nomination last week, I couldn’t help but wonder: Why do the mainstream media seem capable of fixating on only one big story at a time, while never fixating on the biggest story of our time -- the disastrous war in Iraq and the impact it’s having on our national security? It's the greatest embodiment of groupthink outside a school of mackerel.

The Washington Post demonstrated how you can cover at least two big stories at the same time (Roberts and Rove) by putting Rove back at the top of the front page just 36 hours after Roberts had become the big story. But, in general, the mindset that makes the media have such difficulty walking and chewing gum at the same time was in full display on CNN (pointed out by Atrios) when, in the midst of speculating on the impact of the Supreme Court nomination on the Rove story, Bob Franken, CNN's venerable Beltway reporter, offered up this dispiriting gem: "Speaking of the Karl Rove matter… that is news that is considered, at the moment, so yesterday. We've moved on."

Yeah, outing a CIA agent is, like, so lame-o, isn't it? I mean, for sure! But for once, it didn’t quite work out that way, Bob, did it?

Franken wasn't done offering viewers an unintended peek at the inner workings of the Beltway media machine. Oh, no… Later that night, appearing on Nancy Grace's show he raised the notion that the Roberts nomination was timed to shift the spotlight away from the Rove investigation, saying: "And what better way to take the emphasis off of Karl Rove, since we in the media can only over-cover one story at a time…"

Posted at 12:59 AM | email this post to a friend | permalink | comments
| read all posts by Arianna Huffington

[CatWoman]

19. thank you

it really pisses me off when people post like that. why the hell should I hunt and peck thru everything, when all the poster had to do was post the proper link.

[Kerrytravelers]

7. I'm sorry you feel this way. I find it desperately sad that rover may get

away with revealing the identity of a CIA agent simply as payback and a warning to all those who would dare oppose his. That's what this is all about. Letting us know exactly how much power he can wield over all of us.

What would it take to continue pushing this story for you? For me, the mere thought of treason is enough.

[newsguyatl]

10. you're missing the point

i'm not saying for me PERSONALLY it's passed... i'm saying for the mainstream media (even cable news) to keep covering it, there has to be some nugget to keep it going, and today there was no nugget. so no coverage.

[Kerrytravelers]

26. I'm glad I misread your post!

I was thinking about requesting your liberal documents!

kt

[scarletwoman]

16. "...nothing pushing this story"?!?!

Have you looked at the home page of DU today? There's a post about Dan Froomkin's latest article (dated TODAY) in the Washington Post that contains an extensive run down of the most recent press coverage including links to many other stories in the WaPo, the NYT, and the WSJ.

There's articles and opinion pieces being written all over the place on this very subject. As Froomkin reports, even David Gergen on yesterday's ABC pundit fest, "This Week', uttered the infamous phrase: "What did the President know and when did he know it?"

I'm sure that *some* folks fervently wish that this story would fade away, but I sure don't see much evidence that this is the case. I (happily) don't have cable, so I haven't a clue about who Bob Franken is, but he can say "it's so yesterday" all he wants. I just don't see any evidence that that's the case.

Maybe he forgot to sacrifice a chicken and intone the proper chants...

I certainly mean no offense to you -- as a longtime DUer I have always enjoyed your posts and regarded you with respect and admiration. I do beg to differ on this matter, however.

Peace,
sw

[newsguyatl]

18. a development today?

haven't seen one yet.

trust me, i've been looking.

[scarletwoman]

21. Thanks for responding. I think we are looking at this in 2 different ways

If I understand what you're saying, your point is that today (as opposed to yesterday or the day before, when the Gonzales 12 hour notice story started coming out) there has been no discernable new development in the case. If I am misinterpreting your position, please correct me.

My point is that it appears to me that at least in the written press, the story is still very much alive -- I cited Froomkin's article (dated 7/25 -- today) as an example.

In my own mind, that IS today's "development"; the fact that the case continues to be written about -- as opposed to some brand new information coming out, which may be what you mean by "development".

In other words, the fact that at least the print media is still very much "on" this story means to me that it is not fading away. (I hope I am explaining my p.o.v. adequately...)

sw

[newsguyatl]

22. yeh, i understand

and i'm just telling you guys (without putting my OWN judgement about kkkarl in there) that if there's no real nugget (what news folks call it) that advances the story, it just won't get any air time.

i can only speak for television news.

now, if tomorrow, kerry and clinton hold a press conference calling for the immediate firing of rove... and/or someone else comes forward with new information or a scoop... or if someone where to resign from the administration... or if scotty were to make some news in the briefing... etc, THEN it would again get some coverage, and perhaps gather steam... that's how this stuff works.

i'm not saying it's dead in the water -- heck no, there's an indictment coming, so it WILL be in the news again, i'm saying for now, it's simmered, and the media has moved on.

so i was saying that franken was correct in what he said.

now all this could change with the flip of a switch.

let's hope it does.

[scarletwoman]

23. Okay, I get what you're saying.

TV news plays such a small part in my overall news consumption that I pay rather scant attention to it. And as I said in my first post, I don't have cable.

It appears to me that print media at least is still fairly hooked on the story. TV news is something else altogether. I agree with you, it will take some new juicy revelation to bring the story back to the airwaves.

I definitely look forward the coming indictment coverage.

sw

[Clark2008]

3. Ordered to move on by your corporate-shilling bosses, you mean?

Because, the people still can't get enough of this story. Check all the "most read, most emailed" portions of all the major news outlets, Mr. Bob.

[Kerrytravelers]

5. What responsible journalists.

The White House has directed them to get off the subject, and like good little children, they do as they're told.

Democracy 1776-December 12, 2001
It was nice while it lasted.

[WinkyDink]

8. It doesn't matter.

Fitzgerald has been digging for two years; it hasn't been a major story. It's shark season now.

[Cha]

20. Blood in the water

and all that. I know this thing is eerie cause all this stuff has been going on behind the scenes for two years that we knew nothing about.

[Scout1071]

9. Outstanding.

Nuff said.

[greekspeak]

11. CNN...the "librul channel"

The story is not dead. If only Valerie Plame were a kidnapped blond haired blue eyed 18 year old, it would be on TV every minute of the day. Or if she had been a celebrity on trail for allegedly molesting children, we could hear about that ad nauseum. Thankfully the talking point memo of the day has decided the story is dead. I love a free press.

[Bumblebee]

13. I don't like Franken but he said that several days ago

immediately after Roberts was nominated. I actually watched it -- unless he is repeating the line today, this (his statement) is old news, not Rove

[Straight Shooter]

14. Well, the other talking points aren't working, so Bob tries another one.

Whistling past the graveyard, trying not to pee your pants.

The Benedict Rove story is far from over. Gonzales has just introduced America to a new revelation, known as "the 12-hour gap."

[Connie_Corleone]

24. So, what does a post from Franken last Tuesday...

have to do with what's going on now with the CIA Leak Case?

[deacon]

25. No big deal Bob, it's just treason--nothing to see here. The 12 hour gap

did you hear about that mr. Franken?