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

[Samuel]

If you ever want to know why dolts like Bush are elected just read Su(s)an's comment above. This is where it starts, with simple ignorance. "When we display or make envious, unhappy or disgraceful comments about others we really are describing ourselves..." Uh, actually we are not describing ourselves, we are in fact commenting on others. And, a winner in any 3rd-grader's book, "you have to be one to know one." Su(s)an, I'm sure these sayings sound cute, but honestly, it doesn't mean they're true. President Bush was neither courageous nor much of leader. As with his tenure over several oil companies, a major league baseball team, and the state of Texas, his presidency was essentially a failure. His term's in office were dedicated to making two industries extremely wealthy. Can you guess which two? Perhaps the two that Bush and Cheney are connected to? Oil and Defense. Of course that's just a coincidence, right?

[Brian C.]

Fox News is just as vile as Bush and Cheney are...they deserve each other.

[Helen]

The decision to run a story should not be swayed by whether a news agency approved of the service of the outgoing administration. There were 30,000 people at the event in Midland. Fox got it right.

[josh]

second rate presidents get second rate news coverage. Thanks fox for covering these criminals. Maybe in twenty years we can use this footage to dissect the wonders of sophisticated (not really) lies and deception. And thank you to all fox news viewers. Your gullibility and ignorance will go down in history. It will be an interesting study of how modern fear-mongering propaganda affects a group of people.

[Bryan]

Scy, Saddam Hussein was a war criminal, not George Bush. Your juvenile taunts are a horrific insult to those who suffered and died under the rule of Hussein and all dictators throughout history. No reasonable person can draw any parallel to our 43rd President. Not only do you insult the victims of these criminals, you bring the debate about how our country should react to threats in these challenging times down to the level of a drunken brawl.

[BobN]

I think the networks now assume that Americans interested in all the day's events will just turn to cable. This just in! A lot of people don't have cable. Good on Fox (can't believe I just said that) for including Bush's arrival in Texas. It was newsworthy.

[Mark]

Thank you Mr. Bush for keeping me and my family safe over the past 8 years. Thank you for being a class act, and not going down to the level of the idiot left wing media. So now it's time that the right start treating B. Hussein Obama the way the left treated you the last 8 years. Sleep well tonight Mr. Bush. Thank you for your service. When Obama completely bankrupts this country in 4 year we will come to appreciate what you did for us.

[Old Guy]

It's really disturbing to see how much hate saturates these comments. I'm no fan of Bush, but the office he held does. If anyone believes that the media is unbiased and fairly reports the news, they need help. Shame on the media for turning their back on the President of the US. It disrespects the office. Maybe that's the problem, "respect" is no longer part of our culture.

[Loric]

And we care because?.... The rest of us were soaking up the good vibes and getting our faith in the human race renewed once again with our NEW President. A man who in the short weeks since his election has made Bush look small-minded and now, thankfully, totally irrelevant.

[Randall unruh]

Yes, Bush did what he thought was right. Too bad his understanding was so lacking. A child does what it thinks is right when it plays with matches or runs out in the street and we have to teach them otherwise. Fox Network helped shield Bush from learning the necessary lessons and he kept making mistakes right up to justifying what he did because he thought it was right and never questioning whether he really understood what he was doing...

[mojo]

Working in the mainstream media since 1969, qualifies me to comment without political slant /agenda. From PBS, to ABC, to NBC, to FOX Televison (not FOX News), the only affiliation I am missing is CBS. We, in the mainstream media, tend to like to present information in a way very much like a Paint by Numbers painting. If we leave certain colors blank, our painting appears in certain light. We are not telling lies, we just omit certain information. It helps to keep controversy alive. You need to understand, that this is good for business. We can no longer count on just reporting the entire story, to keep us in the black. We need to use controversy, to stay on top. Dollars and ratings must trump all else. After all, we are a "business". Fox News fills in the rest of the colors in the Paint by Numbers painting. This creates a problem for us, as it shows that we do have an agenda. But our agenda is not political, it is driven by our "bottom line". If individuals and organizations on the "left" benefit from our reporting, it is not something we intend. With so much competition from cable news sources, we must use whatever means we can, short of blatent lies, to stay alive. Fox News just happens to be the biggest threat to our survival.

[Damon]

The time for speeches and parades will soon be over and we'll see what happens. And to that sailor talking about 15 months in Afghanistan...whatever...Deployments are 12 months now. I know, I have 1 of those to go with my 2 15 monthers...on top of my multiple 6 monthers before I manned up an left the Navy for the real military ;)

The thing that really bugs me is all of these " We need to work together now types." As you wouldn't set aside your beliefs for the past 8 years I won't be abandoning mine so quickly. Though I will engage in a meaningful presentation of my ideas rather than the hatred shown by the anti-Bush crowd over the past years.

[jon]

It is a sad state that all the Libs care about is 1 thing: AFRICAN-AMERICAN! Does it really matter what color this guy is? His record is a disgrace, he has no Executive power ever! He never even ran a small entity! Nada!! I cannot bear to see how the level of reverse discrimination will escalate to our children! It will be tough to tolerate, but if this keeps up, like those hate speeches his fan base keeps spewing out, it will be a very tough 4 years.

[Ron]

So what else is new. Objective journalism is dead. GWB deserves the same respect as any other President and the press showed its hatred towards this man. And oh yes, Obama made actual historical errors in his speech yesterday to whit: he is the 43rd president not the 44th. And he even misquoted the date of Washington's statement. If GWB would have done this the news would have been all over it noting what a dunce he is. Yet when their messiah makes an error nothing is said.

I do not agree with Obama and fear for the country if his policies are instituted. Yet I wish him well because he is my president and I respect the office. Its too bad the left can't do the same thing for GWB. The facts are that he did keep us safe and he did what he believed was right. Not like the Clinton's who poll tested everything and the Messiah who says absolutely nothing but is idolized.

[Merle]

If the main stream media were objective, Obama would not be our president today. If the main stream meadia had done its job, the public would understand that it was the the Democrats who caused this banking crisis, not Bush and the GOP. And the public would understand the role that Barney Frank, Maxine Waters, Gregory Meeks, Franklin Raines, Artur Davis, Lacy Clay... AND Obama had in this.

[Dixie]

Reading the comments makes one wonders, where has our dignity gone. It seems by some of the comments, none of them have ever made a mistake. Bush seems to be getting all the blame,
so it will be very interesting to see what four years will bring and how grateful everyone will be toward Obama then. We need to realize that he like Bush is only human, and Obama will make mistakes as well, just as all our Presidents have, but I thank God for the fact that President Bush was able to help keep us safe from Terrorist. When a President does what he feels is right for the Country then at least give him that much credit. When it comes to being critical, just remember no matter who is in office, he also is human and will make mistakes. The right thing to do is Pray for our elected leaders, and not be so critical all the time. Yes, I did look to see if the other channels carried the Arrival of Bush back home, and it was not surprising to me that they did not.

[Matt D]

From c lawrence, "Now we can begin to join the rest of the world in the 21st century!"

By joining the rest of the world, do you mean we should be more like China with its continued repressive regime that would not even post Obama's inauguration speech? Or do you mean like Russia that invades smaller nations and engages in gangster-like ransoming by withholding oil to Western Europe. Or how about like France that continues to have race riots and public discourse from the Muslim slums. Then of course there are all those enlightened nations in Africa who are living in peace and prosperity. And lets not forget good old Hugo Chavez down in Venezuela who is doing his best to promote world peace and tranquility. Last but not least, we have the Palestinians and their Hamas leaders in Gaza who feel it imperative to built tunnels to transport weapons to attack Israel rather than build roads, schools, and hospitals.

On the American side we have courageous acts like the miracle on the Hudson River. A peaceful transfer of power from one party to the other. A nation that spent its own national treasure in lives and money to free 50 million Muslims in Afganistan and Iraq. A nation that gives billions in dollars in federal and private aid to countries ravaged by natural disasters while other enlightened nations of the new century only give a fraction in donations. Just to name a few.

Please tell me what part of the, "world in the 21st century," do we need to be a part and that makes us such a bad nation?

[Ron]

Fox News consistantly outrates all the other news channels.

That's about all that really needs to be said.

[Rgrenader]

"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."

That is going to be the legacy line of the Bush presidency. His delusional memory of his administration. For the rest of us it will be forever known as an 8 year slow motion train wreck.

[Donna M.]

God Bless George Bush. He may have made mistakes, but he is a man of honor and integrity and deserves respect. I am very sorry to see him go. Now we have to deal with socialism at a level never seen before in the United States.