Let me start this off with two disclaimers.  First, I very rarely do diaries (altho I do comment.  A lot).  I just happen to think that there are those who can put diaries together much better than I so, unless there is a matter that I may have a unique perspective on, I prefer to read other people's diaries and comment on, and in, them.  Second, I happen to like Media Matters a lot.  I think that it has done yeoman work in pointing out media bias and, just recently, its pieces on Malvaux's and CNN's piling on Pelosi and its piece on Imus and the Rutgers' woman's B'ball team spurred action by the MSM and by the blogosphere that might not have occurred otherwise.
It is specifically BECAUSE of this influence that I feel it necessary to point out an egregious omission in MM's coverage of the media that occurred yesterday.  That is, its lack of coverage of Lauer and The Today Show's hit piece on Pelosi that took place yesterday morning.  To get a better feel of why I'm pissed off, follow me below the fold.

Ok this is not for you guys that are finding the morning session that's being televised on C-Span stimulating.  This is for the attendees that are thinking 'Yup, YKos is great but this panel just...isn't" (and from the shots that I'm getting of audience members with eyes closed there's more of you than you admit.

Well, fear not.  You're in Vegas and today is a special day for players.  Why?  Well check out the flip.

I can't go.  I can't get out of a motion hearing on Friday so I can't go.  And I LOVE VEGAS!!!!! AND DKOS!!!!!  But I can't go.
So, as a service to all Kossacks that can, I've decided to give you some real survival tips on enjoying Vegas when you're not listening to panels and changing the world (and even saviors have to eat and play).

Now I've got to say that this is not the "Vegas on $10 a day" guide.  This makes some assumptions.  One, that you're staying either at the Riv or at another casino/hotel (and if you're not, why not dammit.  It's Vegas).  Two, that you're not totally broke.  I don't mean that you're rich, just that you're not giving your blood to bloodbanks to survive.  Three, that you're not averse to handling Vegas on its terms, i.e. that you can act like a player even if you're not.  With that in mind, here we go.

While watching CNN this morning, I just happened to catch a segment (one of many) on the same sex marriage ban amendment and was shocked to see the National Spokesman of the Congress for Racial Equality (CORE) telling Rush's girlfriend that CORE SUPPORTS the amendment.  

The gentleman's name is Niger Innis (obviously son of Roy) and, in addition to being the national spokesman for CORE, he is also on the board of an org called the Alliance for Marriage.  More on flip.

Today, the NY Times public editor published an article as to what he called the "uniformly negative and partisan" response to the Healy article on the Clintons' marriage.  That response can be found here. UPDATE As per a request in the comments, Calame's e-mail address is public@nytimes.com. Aside from the idiotic comment about responses being both uniformly negative AND partisan, the article shamelessy defends the Times' coverage of the subject.  It got me mad enough that I responded with a letter to Calame, which I'll post on the flip.

I should say here that I am NOT a Clinton supporter, but this type of crap has to be nipped in the bud.

The newest Newsweek Poll, posted here
 shows Bush at 36% tied with the lowest rating ever reached in the poll by him.  More on the flip

To:  Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Howard Dean

I have been loath to publish this letter.  I am not one to publicly flag the leadership of a party I have supported with my vote and various contributions for over 25 years.  However, your behavior, and the behavior of Democratic elected officials, culminating with the shameful desertion of Russ Feingold, both figuratively and literally (when you ran out the back door of your caucus) leave me no choice.  You need to be told something that niether your consultants (who are telling you that you're doing fine) or the 'lefty blogosphere' (who is telling you that you're cowards) will. You have become a punch line.