November 16, 2005 by s.z.

Masterpiece Theater Presents 'Cops'  The NY Times reports that "Broadcast Chief Violated Laws, Inquiry Finds." Investigators at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting said on Tuesday that they had uncovered evidence that its former chairman had repeatedly broken federal law and the organization's own regulations in a campaign to combat what he saw as liberal bias. Well, as Barry Goldwater said, "Extremism in the defence of conservatism is no vice. And upholding federal law while in the pursuit of a PBS show for the Wall Street Journal is no virtue." But here's more about Kenneth Y. Tomlinson's alleged misdeeds: The inspector general's report is the first official conclusion that Mr. Tomlinson appears to have violated both the law and the corporation's own rules. [...]  The report said investigators found evidence that Mr. Tomlinson had violated federal law by being heavily involved in getting more than $4 million for a program featuring writers of the conservative editorial page of The Wall Street Journal. In the opinion of this American, the patriots who write for the WSJ's editorial page are some of the finest thinkers who have ever lived -- and if it takes a little law-breaking to get them a TV vehicle in which they can counter the liberal bias of programs like "NOVA,"  "Antiques Roadshow," and "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood," then it was well worth both the crime and the money.  But there are more allegations, including that Tomlinson used "political tests" to make sure he hired only red-blooded Republicans. [The report] said he had imposed a "political test" to recruit a new president of the corporation. And it said his decision to hire Republican consultants to defeat legislation violated contracting rules.  But some of those hiring decisions were allegedly made at the behest of the White House, so they had to have been kosher.  After all, would Karl Rove be involved in anything that wasn't on the up-and-up? Oh, and although Tomlinson is no longer the CPB chairman, he still has a government position involving broadcasting -- and his actions in that job are currently being investigated by another inspector general. Mr. Tomlinson remains the head of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which supervises all American government broadcasting programs overseas. The inspector general of the State Department is examining accusations at the broadcasting board of misuse of federal money and the use of phantom or unqualified employees by Mr. Tomlinson. Hey, I'm sure that if Tomlinson misued federal money to hire phantom employees, they were qualified phantoms, by virtue of being good conservatives! 3:36:29 AM

Another Great Seasonal Holiday Gift Idea from WorldNetDaily Admittedly, I'm tired. but I don't think I'm the only one who read that title as "Every Man a Hero, Every Woman a Couch."  Anyway, here's some info about the book from the WorldNetDaily holiday gift shop: "Every Man a Hero, Every Woman a Coach" gives you simple, practical, moral and godly strategies for dealing with the main challenges of marriage. [...] Read this book. Reclaim your manhood and redeem your wife from feminist bondage. Begin to experience the glorious marriage God intended for you! I think the first lesson that Mr. Orr has for the Coach is: Never laugh at his mighty sword. P.S.  If you go to Mr. Orr's book site (which exhorts you to  "Take back your manhood!"), he will let ou in on an exclusive insider deal for members of an elite group: "Special price for readers - $18.95!"  I think other businesses might want to consider Mr. Orr's book marketing scheme, and maybe offer special prices on food for eaters, special prices on gasoline for drivers, and special prices on antiperspirant for people with arm pits. 2:45:28 AM