As you may know, the merger process at the FCC and DoJ is a mess.  In fact, some believe the entire process is not much different than extortion.  Not only do we have some newly reported shenanigans going on around the AT&T merger – with FCC staff last week playing fast and loose with data in an effort to sink the merger once and for all – now we have this gem.

To fulfill part of its merger “penance” with the FCC from earlier this year, Comcast / NBC-U announced the other day it has entered into agreements that:

…create new and innovative cooperative news gathering and reporting arrangements with a series of locally-focused, non-profit news organizations.

The partnerships are with ProPublica, which will work with all ten owned stations, serving the following markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Dallas-Fort Worth, Washington, D.C., Miami, San Diego and Connecticut; The Chicago Reporter which will work with NBC 5 Chicago; WHYY which will partner with NBC 10 Philadelphia; and KPCC which work with NBC4 LA. (Emphasis and links added)

As I wrote about previously on these pages, the Comcast Merger Order “voluntarily” commits the new company to foster local journalism via the “Voice of San Diego Model,” a socially progressive news organization.  ProPublica, The Chicago Reporter, and KPCC make good on this promise.  They are archetypical liberal media outlets, which are supported in large measure by the usual suspects among America’s top progressive foundations (like Soros, Ford, MacArthur, Knight, Pew, etc.).

What’s amazing is it’s happening as I had predicted – coming just in time to boost progressive messaging for the 2012 elections, all in key urban cities that are vital to Obama maintaining the White House.

Quite a “voluntarily agreed to” platform, huh?  And, go figure, a progressive one at that.  Hmm…

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Cross-Posted: TobyToons.com (Conservative Political Cartoons)

Recently an aide of presidential candidate, Tim Pawletnty said: Michelle Bachmann is drawing attention in part because of her sex appeal. He later apologized for the inapropriate yet flattering statement. Was Pawlenty’s aide wrong in saying that? I think it’s a fair and true assessment.

Michelle Bachmann, the Tea Party favorite is intelligent and attractive. However, she makes some serious mistakes. The mix up in birth places for American icon and film star John Wayne with  pshycotic clown/serial killer John Wayne Gacy is noteworthy. If not moderately hysterical in a sick and perverse way. OK, everybody makes mistakes, but I’m thinking if she researched Mother Theresa. Bachmann would come back and say Mother Theresa worked in New Dehli and made some really good sandwiches.

Substance is far more important than flash and charisma. Too many Americans were lulled into the smooth operator Obama trance. Practically, everybody bought into that. Even Coinstar wanted change.

So what if Mr. Pawlenty is slightly mannequinesque. I like him.

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