Lou Dobbs announces his resignation from CNN -- is Fox his next stop?

Longtime CNN anchor Lou Dobbs announced on his program this evening that he is leaving the network.

His resignation is effective immediately, overriding a contract set to expire at the end of 2011. Tonight’s show was his last on CNN.

The anchor updated his Twitter account, loudobbsnews, with “Be sure to watch CNN tonight at seven eastern for what will be, for me at least, a memorable show.”

Dobbs is perhaps best known for his anti-immigration views, which Twitter users repeatedly referred to as word of Dobbs’ resignation spread:

sarahhirsch says: And Fox said to CNN "red rover red rover let Lou Dobbs come over" Good riddance.

daveweigel says: Lou Dobbs leaving CNN to spend more time with his racism

mkapor says: Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Zohreen says: One more thing to add to things thankful for at fam thankgiving din in 2 weeks

nutzareus says: Only option is FOX News for Lou Dobbs. Seems appropriate. :-)

Last month, Dobbs met with Roger Ailes, chairman of the Fox News Channel. According to a New York Times blog post, Dobbs was viewed as a potential hire for the Fox Business Network at that time.

Tell us your thoughts -- did Lou Dobbs break his contract with CNN to start a job with Fox? In your opinion, would that be the right move for him? If not Fox, where might he be going next?

-- Kelsey Ramos

Photo: Lou Dobbs announces his resignation from CNN on his show Wednesday night. Credit: Tony Pierce / Los Angeles Times

South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson yells 'You lie!' to the president

It was a perfect storm of hot buttons that evoked an utterance of such negativity that it turned heads. President Barack Obama was giving a speech to Congress and he started talking about healthcare and illegal immigrants and money, and unexpectedly, Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina spoke up.

"You lie!" the Republican congressman blurted out on the floor of the House immediately after the president said: "the reforms I’m proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally."

It was Rep. Wilson who had been reinforcing the belief that the healthcare reform would include the so-called Death Panels. He called it an "end-of-life counseling program, which has been correctly highlighted by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as a program which could lead to seniors being encouraged to seek less care in order to protect the government´s bottom line."

Minutes before Wilson's wail, the president had debunked the theory that grandma's plug would be pulled in order to save federal dollars. "It's a lie, plain and simple," he said, which brought most of the attendees to their feet.

After the speech, the criticism for Wilson was bipartisan. "I've never seen anything like that before," said Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.) "We do not invite the president of the United States into the House of Representatives and hurl insults."

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said the outburst was "totally disrespectful" and demanded that Rep. Wilson apologize to the president. "No place for it in that setting or any other, and he should apologize for it immediately," McCain told Larry King on CNN.

Wilson apologized shortly after the speech for how he acted out: “This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the president’s remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the healthcare bill. While I disagree with the president’s statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the president for this lack of civility.”

So how did you feel about the speech, the outburst, and/or the apology? Blurt out your comments in the field below. 

-- Tony Pierce

Photo: Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) shouts "You lie!" as President Barack Obama addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol on Wednesday. Credit: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Related:

Rep. Joe Wilson's response to Obama's speech: 'You lie!'

Text of Obama's speech: Now is the season for action

Where do you stand on the proposed ballot initiative to end state benefits for illegal immigrants?

There is a proposal for a new California ballot initiative that would end public benefits for illegal immigrants, cut off welfare payments for their children and impose new rules for birth certificates.

"We will be out in full force to qualify this initiative," said Barbara Coe, who helped develop Proposition 187, the 1994 measure that would have ended benefits to illegal immigrants but was ruled unconstitutional. "Illegals and their children are costing the state billions of dollars. It's invasion by birth canal."

Supporters of the initiative, recently unveiled by San Diego political activist Ted Hilton, hope to challenge the citizenship of children born in the United States to parents who are here illegally.

Where do you stand on the issue? Feel free to comment below.

Photo: Ted Hilton launched a state ballot initiative against illegal immigrant parents and the anchor babies they deliver here, eliminating welfare for their children. Credit: Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times