‘They simply don’t care about the integrity of our public broadcasting system’

December 22, 2006

At a certain point, it seemed as if the White House was intentionally trying to destroy the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Bush had tapped [tag]Ken Tomlinson[/tag], a Karl Rove ally, whose partisan, ideological, and generally ridiculous tenure became laughable. By August, it became almost farcical when we learned [tag]Tomlinson[/tag] ran a “horse racing operation” out of his office.

With Tomlinson getting promoted, the CBP needed some sane, capable leadership. True to form, Bush chose a different direction.

President Bush quietly appointed television sitcom producer Warren Bell to the board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting this week, overriding opposition from public broadcasting advocates who fear the outspoken conservative will politicize the post.

Bell’s nomination had been stalled since September because of concerns about his qualifications among several members of the Senate Commerce Committee, which must approve nominees to the board of the CPB, the private nonprofit that distributes federal funds to public television and radio stations.

But Bush was able to circumvent the need for Senate approval by naming Bell to the board Wednesday evening as a recess appointee. His term will last about a year, unless a permanent nominee for the seat is confirmed before then.

Though Bell said he’s “not nearly a political person as I’ve been made out to be,” there’s ample evidence to the contrary.

Bell, who has no experience in public television, is a National Review contributor, Bush donor, and virulent critic of Democrats. In one infamous example from last year, Bell wrote, “I could reach across the aisle and hug Nancy Pelosi, and I would, except this is a new shirt, and that sort of thing leaves a stain.” Classy.

For that matter, several former Bell colleagues sent a letter to the Senate Commerce Committee claiming that he had previously described public broadcasting as a waste of taxpayer dollars and proposed “dismantl[ing]” the CPB.

Association of Public Television Stations president John Lawson told the Los Angeles Times, “We are definitely concerned about Warren Bell’s nomination. After the damage caused by Ken Tomlinson’s activities, the last thing we need on the CPB board is another ideologue of any stripe.” Bush obviously sees things differently.

With the bigger picture in mind, as recently as yesterday, CNN was touting the president being in a “conciliatory” mood. I’m not sure which president CNN is watching, but consider the appointments and nominations he’s made since his party got a “thumping” in the November elections.

* Warren Bell was given a recess appointment to the CPB, despite a record of hostility and partisanship.

* J. Timothy Griffin was named the new U. S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, despite his most notable public service coming as serving as an aide to Karl Rove.

* [tag]John Bolton[/tag] was re-nominated to the United Nations, despite (or, perhaps, because of) Dems’ strong objections.

* [tag]Ken Tomlinson[/tag] was re-nominated as chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, despite his comically ridiculous tenure thus far.

* A series of far-right judicial nominees, including Terrence Boyle, William G. Myers III, and William J. Haynes II, were re-nominated, even though the White House knows the Dems vehemently oppose their nominations.

* Bush appointed [tag]Eric Keroack[/tag] as the new chief of family-planning programs at the Department of Health and Human Services, despite the fact that he apparently believes that the distribution of contraceptives is “demeaning to women.”

* [tag]Andrew Biggs[/tag], a zealous advocate of privatizing Social Security, was nominated to serve as the next deputy commissioner of Social Security, just a few days after Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson pledged to try and “build a consensus” on the issue.

In each instance, the White House had a choice: nominate/appoint a partisan hack and raise the ire of congressional Democrats, or tap a qualified person that befits the “bi-partisan” rhetoric. Guess which direction Bush chose?

I can think of a number of words to describe this, but “conciliatory” isn’t one of them.

Nobody in the Republican’t party wants to go and sit down with Boy George II and simply explain to him that it is time to behave. Nope, they want the Democrats to unfund his war, impeach him and destroy him forever.

Then they want to complain about it for the next thirty years like they complain about Nixon (Pat Buchanan, I’m talking about YOU!).

Tell the Republican’ts that a man shoots his own rabid dog and it’s time for them to stand up and deal with the Regal Moron.

  • From US News and World Report,

    White House insiders say Bush is counting on Rove, who is the president’s main political adviser and deputy chief of staff, to define “common ground” in dealing with the Democrats who now control Congress. In Rove’s view, that means the White House shouldn’t stray too far from the conservative base and should continue making policy from the political right–and not give too much ground to the Democrats. Rove argues privately that the Dems should also reach out to the White House and that Bush shouldn’t do most of the compromising. One of Rove’s theories is that the Democrats can be maneuvered into a series of difficult choices next year as they try to enact their legislative agenda and pass the federal budget.

    The central choice, according to Rove, will be to cut spending or raise taxes. If congressional Democrats cut spending, their liberal base will be alienated. If they raise taxes, rank-and-file voters will be unhappy. GOP insiders suspect that Rove also had a big hand in distancing Bush from the Iraq Study Group because he believed the bipartisan panel was too critical of current Iraq policy. Rove, insiders say, believes that victory is still achievable and that Bush should pursue it as vigorously as he can. The president made those points at his news conference today.

    The appointment you note fits nicely with the idea that Rove doesn’t want the president to move to the center. Further, based on the notion that Rove wants to maneuver the Democrats into a corner suggests that Democrats not take the bait on SS “reform”. Third, people are dying in Iraq because of Rove’s political machinations and Democrats should be wary of an effort to shift blame for the the failure in Iraq, which was predestened by BushCo, to the Democrats.

  • they want the Democrats to unfund his war, impeach him and destroy him forever.

    Then they want to complain about it for the next thirty years like they complain about Nixon (Pat Buchanan, I’m talking about YOU!).

    Tell the Republican’ts that a man shoots his own rabid dog and it’s time for them to stand up and deal with the Regal

    Lance, excellent post.

  • This madness is going to continue so long as we are subject to the madness of King George and the rest of the Bush Crime Family. The only remedy is for Pelosi and Reid to schedule impeachment hearings for Cheney and the Regal Moron.

  • If congressional Democrats cut spending, their liberal base will be alienated.

    No they won’t, as long as the social programs so many so desperately need are kept in place.

    The easiest solution is to repeal all of the corporte kick backs to the energy industry and enforce the royalty provisions — there’s a few billion right there.

    The fact is, Bush has no intention on working with Dems at all. That way, when he vetoes bills or persuades Congressional allies to create gridlock, the GOP can blame the Dems for not getting anything done while still keeping the base happy.

    It’s quite brilliant. Completely wrong and evil on a number of levels, but still brilliant.

  • One thing you have to admit about Bush and Rove — they are absolute connoisseurs of flaming a**holes.

  • Rege, I may have to spend that money on a new monitor. Mine is dying, no doubt from the overwhelming humor that comes across it every day.

  • The central choice, according to Rove, will be to cut spending or raise taxes.

    No problem: Raise the SHIT out of taxes for the top 5% of the wealthiest people. Reinstate the estate tax and boost it besides. Fuck the plutocrats but good. 95% of the electorate will watch and a good proportion of them would cheer.

    Oh, but then you’d better enact public financing for campaigns or this’ll be your last go-round in the capitol building. And while you’re at it, reinstate the old limits on media ownership and restore the Fairness doctrine. Do all that and the Dems would coast to the White House. But will they? In your dreams.

    P.S. Don’t forget to ban voting machines just to be on the safe side. Mail-in voting only. Work like a charm and be really cheap to boot.

    Like Gore Vidal always says, if everybody would just do as I say, everything would work out just fine.

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