They Rule

Something new for the blog: a few people caught my eye this week, people unafraid to speak their minds and go against the grain to say what a lot of us are thinking. So for the first time ever, I give you a little segment I'd like to call "They Rule."

Bob McKeown, CBC reporter. Ann Coulter - aka Nutjob - is a radical right winger who has absolutely no problem with going on Fox News or any other news channel and calling Liberals and their allies every dirty name in the book, as well as lying through her teeth. Such was the case when she went on Fox News (natch) and insulted Canadians, saying that they were wrong for not supporting our war in Iraq. "They sent troops to Viet Nam, and that was a much more controversial conflict," she argued.

But she was wrong. And Bob McKeown called her on it.

While appearing on McKeown's show in Canada, Coulter once again stated that she thought Canadians were wrong for not supporting us now after sending troops to Viet Nam. And with good grace and a pleasant demeanor, McKeown informed her that she was wrong. Sure, she tried to argue with him - that he was mistaken and of course she was right. But he had the facts, and very politely pointed out that she was wrong. After going back and forth, she finally said, "I'll get back to you on this, but I still think you're wrong." Of course she never did get back to him - Canada never sent troops to Viet Nam, and they won't send them to Iraq.

Bob McKeown - YOU RULE. Anyone who schools Ann Coulter is aces in my book. And to think, Republicans and Radical Right-wingers actually follow this woman.

Lisa Bloom, Court TV reporter. Most people probably missed her appearance on the Sunday morning edition of The Today Show, but Bloom ANNIHILATED Fox News "reporter" Geraldo Rivera for his "interview" with accused child molester Michael Jackson. "They call this network fair and balanced?" she started her segment, and it was on from there. She tore into Rivera's "questioning" like I wish all liberals would when it comes to conservatives (but they never do). Rivera tossed Jackson softball questions (even though Jackson is under a gag order) and when Jackson couldn't deliver his standard, pre-written response (talking of course about how he only loves "innocent fun") Rivera would actually help him out with his answers. Good for you, Lisa Bloom, for nailing Rivera on his obvious slant in favor of a celebrity who while not yet proven guilty, doesn't deserve a national forum while the alleged victims are forced to remain in hiding.

Lisa Bloom - YOU RULE. Thanks for calling out Geraldo, who's gone from a serious investigative reporter (his story on Willowbrook was chilling and caused real change in the mental health industry) to a joke who exists only to serve Fox's propaganda machine. Democrats and anyone opposing the Republican-controlled government could learn a thing or three from you about speaking your mind and calling a spade a spade. Or in this case, a shill a shill.

Jeff Jarvis, former TV Guide writer. I used to love Jarvis's columns, and it was great to see him on CBS This Morning ripping in to Brent Bozell, leader of the PTC. You know, the guys who say that TV is so dirty that it's corrupting our youth, and that the endless stream of sex (like the backs of nude women! not their butts, their bare backs) and curse words (he said damn!) is ruining our America. Jarvis called it like it is, saying, "They have this prigs and prudes sitting in front of their TVs all day long, combing through shows until they hear someone say something like the word 'dick.' 'Did they just say dick? And it wasn't a name? Contact the FCC!' And they do, and the government has to spend millions on attorneys and legal advisors to find out if someone said a word THEY consider offensive." He then went on to slam Bozell and his followers, and how they should go after the networks and the advertisers and the show producers instead of forcing the government to curb that little thing called the First Amendment.

Jeff Jarvis - YOU RULE. And thank the Founding Fathers that you have a right to speak your mind - even if you use a "dirty" word to make your point.