Alone among networks, Fox News gives Bush homecoming cheer

Former Vice President Dick Cheney and other Bush administration officials sometimes let it be known that they stuck with Fox News for their informational needs. And on Tuesday, Fox News returned the favor, even as the rest of Washington remained gripped by Obama fever. 

Late Tuesday afternoon, Fox News was the only major national TV outlet that carried a live telecast of former President Bush's homecoming speech to cheering supporters in Midland, Texas.

"Sometimes what I did wasn't popular," a smiling Bush told the crowd. "But that's OK. I always did what I thought was right."

The rest of the networks, however, did not see the Bush address as news fit to broadcast. At 6:40 p.m. EST, MSNBC was in the middle of "Hardball," with host Chris Matthews and guests batting around the meaning of Obama's swearing-in. CNN was carrying live ongoing coverage of the final moments of the inaugural parade, with the Obamas beaming from the White House reviewing stand.

The broadcast networks likewise did not cover the Bush speech. At least in Los Angeles, both KCBS-Channel 2 and KNBC-Channel 4 had returned to regular syndicated programming ("Judge Judy" and "Deal or No Deal"). KABC-Channel 7 was airing local news.

-Scott Collins 

Comments

[yoodles]

The left is full of hate yet preach tolerance. Always amazes me to read thier posts. Stay classy dems. Good luck to President Bush, he deserves some dowtime. And God Bless President Obama, he has a tough 4 years in front of him.

[philosopherkingtomas]

we need legislation to force FOX "news" and other haters to be fair, we need a new FAIRNESS DOCTRINE !

[Audeaumus]

For the defenders of Bush, I'll treat him with the same level of respect he and his administration treated the Constitution, the rule of law (including habeas corpus and the Bill of Rights), the press other than Fox and its acolytes, the government he was head of for eight years, the scientists he muzzled or ignored, the European countries who wisely chose to stay away from the debacle in Iraq, the hundreds of thousands of innocents who have died from the chaos he unleashed there, and the millions of U.S. citizens who were not his base. He deserves no less and no more.

[carol]

As usual, Fox News is the only "fair and balanced" news show on the air.

[Dee B]

Just wondering, why do some of you Bush supporters consider his homecoming 'news'?

It isn't. I do think it's ironic that you consider FOX's Bush-butt kissing reports 'objective', but the networks covering the REAL news, namely the incoming President, well, that's biased.

You people need to get on some holoperidol.

[Tom Abdella]

Thank you President Bush for keeping us safe and thank you Fox News for keeping us informed. Many of us love the former President and are grateful for his principled leadership. He always turns the other cheek, which may account for some of the anger from the left. Those who claim that Fox News is biased are unacquainted with it. No media outlet offers more diverse perspectives. The left is not used to hearing the other side, so they shout loudly. For years we only heard the mainstream media view. They don't want to here anything other than what they have already decided to be true. Shame on those who show disrespect for the President. To the Bush haters: we pray for your speedy recovery.

[Ben W. - Tomball, Texas]

I totally agree with the Bush Administration was a total failure. Unlike the Clinton years, we only experienced one terrorist event on American soil and that event took shape under Clinton and Janet Reno when the CIA and FBI were forbidden to share information. Just think, since 2001, we have not had any events similar to : Oklahoma City, Waco, Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta. Not to mention the first attempt at the bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993. Yes! the Bush Administration was a total failure at keeping American's safe. In the meantime, London has experienced bombings, Spain has been terrorized, and the umemployed youth in Paris have torched their neighborhood. Way to Go Europe!

[Ted]

Thank You FOX!!

I purposely upgraded my Dishnet subscription during the campaign to get the FOX News Network after watching all the other News Networks with all their slanted and biased reporting. Journalism as a profession has taken new lows in the US. To get any fair reporting I either listen to FOX or sort thought it all on the Internet. Obama owes alot to to NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, MSNBC and PBS for getting him elected, it's all Propaganda.

[phil]

what a joke the news agencies in this country have become. nevermind the coverage of Bush's homecoming, nevermind the complete unbalance between the coverage of McCain to Obama. all of you cool-aid drinkers here care nothing about what is right, all you care about is demeaning those you disagree with. you say Fox in not fair, well at least Sean Hannity never got tingly feelings up his leg when Bush spoke. however we can't say that about Chris Matthews and Obama speeches. so Fox is just a right-wing propaganda machine? that would make them alone in a world of liberal propaganda machines. everything MSNBC, CNN and other news agencies accused Bush of doing was nothing more than multiple attempts to turn popular opinion against him and to the Democrat party they supported. and the sad thing is, all you mindless twits fell for it. just ask yourself, "who protects your interests when the media, the alleged watchdogs of the government, have too much invested in that government to report it's failings?" you are all morons. you are the epitomy of what you accuse conservatives of being. brainless drones who repeat the mantra handed to you by obvious slaves of the new government. personally, i refuse to accept any news outlet's view on a single situation and instead read and listen to multiple reports to gain my own view. however, most of the country has become so unreceptive to research in the age of information. sad. so all of you robots can continue to be spoon fed information and rest assured it will usually be only opinion.

good luck, you will need plenty of it while the news media of your choice tells you everything is fine while the house burns down.

[Fremon]

The reason it wasn't covered was because it was not news. It was only another place for Bush to give his legacy tour speech. And, by the way, who wants to see a lot of people in cowboy hats chanting "four more years!". It was like the last eight years wasn't enough to destroy America. Obama Rules!

[Amy]

I find it interesting that many of the posters here claim that because FowNews covered the Bush homecoming, that they are slanted? If your attacks on Fox News were anything other that an expression of your own left wing bias I might take you seriously, but you claim that because Fox News has Sean Hannity or Glenn Beck that they are right wing propagandists? If you will look at CNN or MSNBC you will see shows that are commentary, not news, as well. Fow News airs mostly news shows, covering daily events and the like with a couple of hours of commentary in the evenings, meant for entertainment. To those of you that question Bush's homecoming as news worthy, it is. And showing the parade over and over, or non-stop coverage of the inagural balls is a likewise too much. I am also looking at the pictures of the day after the inaguration, the huge piles of litter and trash that was simply thrown on the ground and the monuments vandalized, and wonder how those people who appeared so patriotic yesterday could at the same time show such indifference and lack of pride. Do you see conservatives out vandalizing Clinton statues and heckling democrats like they did George W. Bush yesterday as he was steping out onto the steps just before the inauguration? No. And the question I leave you with is... Why is this considered to be acceptable behaivor when it is clearly disrespectful, childish and inappropriate?!?!

[popeye]

this is awesome. the point isnt whether you liked bush, his policies, or fox news. the point is that the media is ignoring a president they dont like. it is hilarious to hear journalists insist they do not see a bias, and then do this. it is even more funny to hear idiots run off about how horrible they think someone is so it justifies bad behavior and irresponsibility.

btw, i did see part of the inauguration, and it got to be a joke for a while. they just sat there looking at obama and fauning over him for an hour during the parade. he wasnt talking, they were just mentioning how great he looked, and how it feels to be there. i do not recall a single person or even getting that kind of coverage in the news. it was like watching 13 year old girls who have a crush. and that was more newsworthy than spending 5 minutes cutting to the outgoing president? dont be silly.

[Rokketmania]

"The Liberal mind is small, and is reflected in the agenda of journalistically dead media in this country- including this paper. "

Amen!

How's your bottom line, L.A. Times?

Thank YOU, Mr. Bush!

~(Ä)~

[Tpayne08]

Fox will learn the hard way... It's the economy ......

Yes, Fox (not Fox News) is the Propaganda arm of the Bush Administration and the evangelical Right wing of the Republican Party. Also, of note, the Drudgereport.com is the internet propaganda arm that links to and trys to give traction to pro Fox stories and slants (vis_a_vis the link to this story on Fox.). They promote each other, including Ann Colter's nonsense of late......Got YA Reporting is back seat to the economic problems today...Old news that is not important to the future...

All this right wing propaganda machine is part of the program to control the thinking of the average American people........ Sorry to say, the Bush admin is old news Fox and Drudge are losing the mind control game.... nobody cares..... Their ratings will suffer and Murdock (owner) will clean house of ideological hosts and managers when his profits drop....

[R Dog]

Thank you President Bush. I hope the best for our new administration. God bless America and our peaceful changes of power.

[MJ]

Thanks Fox, for being fair and balanced unlike the other cable and network channels which are just an arm of the socialist party.

[dana]

Fox news did a great job covering the Obama's and showed respect for the Bush's. I would hardly call President Bush disgraced. If my memory serves me right...and it does. The Dems overwhelmingly supported the invasion of Iraq. They know the deal and issues...but it is about attaining power. The Dems seen the war as an opportunity to gain control. So, they created the perception that the war was a lost cause. People were dying needlessly and the weapons of mass destruction were a lie. Most of the simple people... Yes I said "simple," bit into the perception of dishonesty. After all to the simple perception is reality. That is what politics is all about...Power through perception. President Bush did an admirable job for everything except one failing.... He is a piss poor communicator and consequently was daubed less than intelligent by his advisories...and the public bit into it. He could have devastated the Dems had been able to articulate clearly and been more charismatic. Just like the Fanny Mae meltdown... the Dems own that one squarely, but where able to pin it on Bush. I truly believe that we will get as a country exactly what we deserve...An Obama. I am looking forward to the double digit inflation, high interest rates, high taxes, and double digit unemployment. I hope I'm wrong on that one...our great grandchildren don’t need our burden.

[phil]

We are trying to forget Bush and the last 8 years.

[Matt]

Let me be perfectly clear. To those of you who take the position that you should respect Bush whether or not you agree with his positions... you are wrong. You must earn respect. The entire WORLD hates the U.S. because of Bush's ignorance, yet you want me to respect him? What a joke! You people deserve Bush.

[Doug]

I was ashamed to be called an American yesterday when the crowd beagan booing President Bush. Agree or disagree with his policies there should be a respect for the one in the highest office of the land. We can point our fingers and blame someone for our problems, but I was taught when you point a finger at someone there are three fingers pointing back at you. We, as Americans, must take some responsibility for where our country is today. We all tend to live beyond our means and to keep up with "Jone's." It's all about me. What are you going to do for me? God help us all. The liberal media has potrayed a man to be The answer, The saviour of the world, He can lead us through the red sea. I'm afraid we have open a can of worms that will eat us alive. We will sell our souls for money in our pockets. Oh Great Obama, lead us and we will follow. So fellow Americans who follow the liberals, the media, you just took a turn for the left and you will see the fall of America. Thank you President Bush and Fox news for the truth.