TV News LIES

There was much gloating to be done, and at the level of blood sport -- the same level on which bloodthirsty, cutthroat Republicans have acted every single day for four consecutive years. This was going to be sweet, I thought, too delicious for words, and would soothe a long-dry palate, removing the foul GOP aftertaste that always dogged the vintage of each new year.

A quick search found a live stream from Romney Campaign Headquarters.  And here, at 11:30 p.m. Eastern, America had dodged a lethal bullet.  The joyous cork was popped, the glass filled, and the sip made, watching poleaxed GOP supporters online -- and just that fast, the sizzling effervescence slipped from that golden moment and champagne stream, and every bubble popped.  The joy was instantly fizzled and flattened, set stone flat.

I know a guy who listens to Rush Limbaugh every day, and watches FOX News every night. And he’s been doing this for years.

I have to deal with this guy regularly. And almost all of the time what we have to talk about has nothing to do with politics. But every once in awhile we “go there.” And an amazing transformation takes place. He becomes a Rush Limbaugh - FOX News - talking points regurgitator.

On big news nights, when the sort of people who don’t watch Fox News every night are more likely to turn it on, the channel nearly always puts its best face forward. The real crazies aren’t invited.

The idiots and most grotesque race-baiters and conspiracy theorists and worst hacks wait patiently until the next morning, when Fox & Friends resumes as scheduled with its usual audience of credulous and furious old white people.

So last night we got Megyn Kelly, Bret Baier, Brit Hume and Chris Wallace hosting a roster of oddly reasonable pundits and analysts, from Juan Williams to Karl Rove and Joe Trippi.

A nearby star appears ​to be circled by six planets, including one "Super Earth" world that orbits at distances that could allow the existence of oceans, astronomers report.

Astronomers had earlier reported that three planets closely orbit the star, HD 40307, which is about 43 light years away (one light year is about 5.9 trillion miles). Now in the forthcoming Astronomy & Astrophysics journal report led by Mikko Tuomi of the United Kingdom's University of Hertfordshire, the team reports three more planets larger than Earth — but not as big as Jupiter — likely orbit the star.

Voters for the first time approved legal gay marriage in at least two states and voted to legalize recreational pot in Washington and Colorado.

In California, voters rejected an initiative that would have required labeling of most food with genetically engineered ingredients but approved Measure B, legislation to require actors in adult films to use condoms.

The measure, which garnered more than 55 percent support from voters Tuesday, is intended to promote public health and to protect porn actors from sexually transmitted diseases, although opponents said it would force the adult film industry to relocate from the San Fernando Valley.

As of 11 p.m. Tuesday, the ban — Ballot Question 300 — was leading 16,798 votes to 11,544 and had widened its margin of victory with every report, according to the Boulder and Weld county clerk's offices. That gave ban supporters about 59 percent of the vote.

“Are you kidding?” screamed ban supporter Teresa Foster as results came in to a watch party held by Our Health, Our Future, Our Longmont. “Awesome! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!”

Late on election night, there are plenty of things everyone would really rather not think about -- not after such a long, grinding, 4-year campaign.  And that's probably a good indication that we should think of them.  Now.  Even if we get queasy.

I dunno about you, but my own private version of Nightmare on Pennsylvania Avenue managed to leak out and stain my innermost thoughts, even now, fully tired, and my guard down.

After brushing aside all the shouts of Peanuts! Popcorn! Hot Dogs! Cold Drinks! and ducking around vendors and crowds, I found myself standing alone, under a huge banner, overhead:  Step Right Up and Make a Prediction for the Big Day (TM).

Australia's Federal Court has ruled that credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) misled investors before the global financial crisis.
S&P gave its safest credit rating, AAA, to complex and risky securities, which later lost most of their value.

In what is regarded as a landmark ruling, the court ordered S&P and the bank which arranged the product, ABN Amro, to pay damages to investors.

S&P said it planned to appeal against the decision.