Roger Ailes, of course:
Fox News officially announced on Monday afternoon that former Democratic Senator Evan Bayh is becoming a contributor to the network.
Michael Clemente, the network’s senior vice president for news, announced the move in a statement. He said that “Senator Bayh’s decades of experience in the political arena and his participation in key decisions in Washington will lend a valuable point of view to the entire Fox News lineup.”
“I’m pleased to offer analysis of public policy and politics to the millions of Americans who get their news from Fox,” Bayh said in the statement.
I don’t watch Fox, and I don’t listen to Evan Bayh except to mock him, so this won’t have much of an impact on me. I do, however, pity the poor bastards at Media Matters and elsewhere who monitor the network, because watching this smug prick on Fox concern trolling over the deficit and begging for “sacrifice” from the proles while his wife collects seven digit checks from finance and pharmaceutical firms will surely be nauseating.
(via)
Mattminus
The story should use his full name, “Even the liberal” Evan Bayh.
JenJen
Tweet o’ the Day, via Jim Geraghty:
BGinCHI
As a recovering Hoosier, I’m sorry to see the dickhead son of a great US Senator go this route.
It’s been coming for a while.
This is another reason why we can’t have nice things.
Good luck with the karma, asshole.
Thomas Beck
Time for another blogger ethics panel!
powderfinger
It’s not just his wife that will be collecting seven-figure checks. Bayh’s other job is with McGuireWoods, a big time insider DC law firm and lobbying outfit.
Mr Furious
Liberal DEMOCRAT Evan Bayh.
Social Outcast
There’s always good money for a democrat on Fox. Easy work, too. All you got to do is repeat the same line 12 times an hour: “Well, as you know I’m a democrat- have been all my life, but I have to tell you what the democrats in Congress are doing right now is just wrong.”
The Political Nihilist Formerly Known As Kryptik
The saddest part of this?
Democrats still active in office will still end up taking his suggestions like mana from God, because he’s a ‘centrist’.
Bob
Juan Williams in white face.
Upper West
Bayh will, of course, endorse Mitch Daniels for President, and be acclaimed as a bipartisan saint.
Chuck Butcher
I suppose somebody was going to take Evan seriously. The fact that it is Faux makes me feel better about ignoring him.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Social Outcast:
How many times do you think there’ll be some variant of “Senator, is this your father’s Democrat Party?”
-Heh, heh… well, Megan, I’m sorry to say…
The Political Nihilist Formerly Known As Kryptik
OT: Just had to pass this along since the topic figure down is kinda dying out as is:
Say goodbye to abortions in Virginia.
Now, they aren’t actually OUTLAWING it, of course. Just making it prohibitively difficult for 1) clinics to operate, and 2) anyone actually looking for an abortion to receive one even at the clinics that won’t be totally shuttered. But I’m sure they’ll take care of those last few clinics soon enough, once they find another reason to declare a ‘financial emergency’.
Warren Terra
Well, if she still is collecting seven-digit checks from them, now that he has no power, either he has more influence over his fellow colleagues than I’d have guessed or they’re much more inclined to reward former loyalty than I’d ever have believed.
Meanwhile, I have one digit raised for the former Senator. Two, if I can be bothered.
P.S. Shame he isn’t British, for at least two reasons: (1) then he wouldn’t be American; and (2) instead of being entitled by his behavior to one raised digit from his fellow citizens (two if they want to use both hands), he would be entitled to two raised digits from each (four if both hands were used).
BGinCHI
Now David Broder can RIP.
Redshirt
@Mattminus: Nailed it one. Kudo’s. “Fair and Balanced” indeed – look! DEMONCRATS on FOX!
Lev
@BGinCHI: Win!
This would make me lose respect for Bayh–you know, if I had any to begin with.
Zifnab
@Upper West: He and Joe Lieberman should form some kind of club.
cat48
@The Political Nihilist Formerly Known As Kryptik:
Sweet Jesus…..No Unions, No Abortions, Voting Rules changes which make it almost or not possible for students or felons to vote, etc.
I’m voting Dem all the way next time. I don’t ever want to hear how they are just the same again, but I will.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Zifnab: my first thought was, how pissed is Lieberman? But I’m sure Uncle Rupert’s checkbook has plenty of room for both. Evan will be their very special Democrat guest for taxes and budget issues, Joe will come in to simper and bleat for all occasions that call for bombing brown people, or some religious sanctimony.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@cat48:
on the main topic and yours, I was gonna point out that this is one of the magickal sixty that Obama was supposed to change the world with in eighteen months, but I didn’t want to drag the O-Bot vs PUMA/Naderite fight up from whatever thread it’s been on today
Omnes Omnibus
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: I think it was resting, but, now that you summoned it, it will take up residence here.
Just Some Fuckhead
What’s the over-under on Bayh getting a prime time speaking slot in the 2012 Republican National Convention?
Ash Can
I can’t help imagining his father barging into Evan’s house one of these days, grabbing Evan by the ear, and putting him over his knee for a sound thrashing.
Yutsano
@Omnes Omnibus: So now we get to hear how Bayh going to play in Uncle Rupert’s sandbox is all the fault of Obama? AWESOME!! I’ll get the pretzels and the popcorn.
singfoom
The revolving door continues to accelerate. If only it would take us back in time at 88 mph.
Have you no shame, at long last, sir, have you no shame?
Omnes Omnibus
@Yutsano: I’ve got a bag of Costco rice crackers with nuts, so I’m good.
NobodySpecial
“I knows we’s kin, but they got this re-cession on, and I got to look out for me and mine…”
Yutsano
@Omnes Omnibus: I just ate some Thai yellow curry (probably not the smartest food stuff to consume when one is nauseous, but I figure it’ll come up easy if it does) and I’m about to nosh pecan sandies, bring on the firebaggers!
You Don't Say
Well, he’s finally found a home. Let’s hope it’s because no other news org wanted him and not because Fox just offered the biggest bucks.
negative 1
@Zifnab: They did, the blue dogs. “Well Megan, this is exactly the kind of thing I couldn’t stomach and that drove me to retire…”
Glen Tomkins
Fox is widening its holdings in political animals.
They have long provided a forum that allowed politicoes between jobs to retool and refit for another go at directly plundering the public coffers to wreak havoc on the public good. But you used to have to be a wingnut ot get their welfare.
Well, now it seems that they’re not just a zoo that specializes in wingnuts anymore. They’ll fund any political hack willing to take their money.
The hopeful way to view this diversification is that they are selling wingnut politicians short, so they want to broaden their investment base.
The despairing take on this developement is two-fold.
They already own all the Rs, yet still have a bunch of money left over. Why not buy up the whole spectrum, get a monopoly?
The whole spectrum isn’t that wide anymore. Wingnut — centrist Democrat. Who can tell the difference anymore?
MikeTheZ
@Just Some Fuckhead:
Lieberman is +300, Bayh is +500, Nelson is +750, Dodd is +2000, Obama is +5000
Max Baucus is the favorite at +200, and Mark Warner is a decent value at +2500
HeartlandLiberal
Well, as a Hoosiers, I can assure you that our feelings about Bayh go way beyond nauseating.
Of course, I am still sort of proud that Bayh admitted that all those angry, left wing liberal FAXes I kept sending him for the past few years just hurt his fee-fees so bad he was going to quit his job in the mean old nasty Senate.
What a total, disgusting excuse for a human being and politician.
And you are right, his wife has for years been hauling down seven figures annually from the teat of the pharmaceutical industry.
huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/22/evan-bayhs-wife-reaping-t_n_400827.html
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@You Don’t Say:
Probably both but more this. He’s about as interesting as a celery stick and has no accomplishments besides keeping his ego shiny and huge. I’m convinced he left the Senate because his plan to establish himself as a powerbroker via his Blue Dog Senate Caucus fell apart. After being short-listed for Veep three times, I’m sure Master Evan felt the capital and country failed him by failing to acknowledge his totally awesome gravitas and the stature that is his due.
vtr
I tried to contact his office email, but couldn’t get through. I wanted to tell him what an honorable man I thought his father was.
Marc
@Mattminus:
Yeah, Cole might as well just draw up this tag now.
SiubhanDuinne
Awesome thread title, John.
Okay, cheap and obvious joke, but pretty damned funny nevertheless.
Omnes Omnibus
@vtr: That’s vicious and cold. Well done.
Martin
Wait, does this mean that Bayh is running for the 2012 GOP nomination?
Zifnab
@negative 1:
Well, that’s the House. Bayh and Lieberman are Senators.
You know, I honestly think that’s the Tea Party lunatics over the “Oh-no! Too progressive!” Democrats. Evan Bayh would be perfectly happy to wheel and deal with a compromiser like Barry Obama. But I’ll bet you those mean old GOP Senators stopped inviting Bayh to all the cool parties because he was a stinky Democrat. When you can’t be a little Prince anymore, it is time to abdicate your kingdom.
gypsy howell
@Just Some Fuckhead:
Christ, just be happy if he doesn’t speak at the Democratic concvention
gypsy howell
@Just Some Fuckhead:
Christ, just be happy if he doesn’t speak at the Democratic convention
FlipYrWhig
@Yutsano: At least no one is on the side of Evan Bayh. We can all live harmoniously without discussing the threat of underpants suicide.
Culture of Truth
This should provide Bayh with the ideal platform to primary Obama.
Unless he runs with Mitch Daniels under the “Charisma Tour 2012”
FlipYrWhig
@Culture of Truth: Hmm. Bayh takes job with Fox, establishes residency in a state other than IN, links up with Daniels, and all Constitutional objections are obviated! It’s just crazy enough to snxxxxxxzzz
Observer
Lieberman, Bayh, Obama, whatever.
If they bleed at all their veins bleed the color of blue dog.
Steeplejack
(Belated) DVR Alert!
The Shock Doctrine is on Sundance at 7:05 p.m. EDT tonight.
Joshua Norton
Once upon a time – in the heady pre-Kerry days, his name was being seriously bandied about as a Dem. prez candidate. I truly felt the need to backhand the asshat making that statement. Even back then.
JPL
John, The last few days have been so depressing, can we have pictures of the pets, please. Chuck is not a repeat tonight but that alone won’t dull the ache of the last few days.
Dennis SGMM
@Joshua Norton:
Lest we forget, Droopy Joe Lieberman was Gore’s running mate.
FlipYrWhig
@Joshua Norton: The _idea_ of Evan Bayh can be made to sound appealing, in that he (supposedly) could help grab a state that had been inhospitable to Democrats. But the actuality of Evan Bayh has never been appealing.
Parallel 5ths (Jewish Steel)
@Yutsano: When we elect a REAL PROGRESSIVE, then (then!) we’ll see N0bama’s true colors of fake hopey changey…uh…I’m on a lot of vicodin. Kinda lost my point.
Blue is a really peaceful color, ya ever notice?
Villago Delenda Est
Bayh and his wife should both be on tumbrel manifests.
Villago Delenda Est
@Dennis SGMM:
One of Gore’s more egregious errors. He should have gone with Kerry from the gitgo and given the stinking, sanctimonious prick Looserman a wide berth.
Yutsano
@Observer: @Parallel 5ths (Jewish Steel): You’ve been pre-empted. But it’s as predictable as the tides. Yes I went there.
keestadoll
John, you’re on fire with the blog titles today. New mattress?
Chris Grrr™
@Martin: Srsly. Is the DINO tag on a smoke break or something?
flounder
I posed this question for Howie Kurtz (who was estatic) on Twitter: is there any current issue where Bayh even differs from the Fox company line?
Tractarian
John Cole is en fuego (bloggily speaking).
Calouste
Pet peeve of mine: referring to former (ex-, retired, insert whole Monty Python Parrot sketch here) Senators and Governors with their former job position as if it were a title for life. It isn’t, and some people were hardly entitled to use it while they held the job, on account of not actually doing the job they were elected to.
JR
We should make a list of the “good” positions Bayh has taken (as in, positions in line with the Democratic mainstream), and the “bad” positions he’s taken (ones opposed to the Democratic mainstream), and see if he’s EVER asked to comment on the former or even NOT asked to comment on the latter.
ThatLeftTurnInABQ
@flounder:
Birtherism probably.
The official Fox News party line is Birther-curious. I don’t think the former Senator has gotten that kinky just yet, at least not in public. Time will tell.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@JR: IIRC Bayh did oppose the Bush tax cuts, but as far as I could tell the only issue he really believed in was eliminating the estate tax, which he seemed weirdly and emotionally attached to. I think he was the original ‘deficit peacock’
Ruckus
@Calouste:
Count me in on the pet peeve score.
Like the title was the whole ball game, not the actual work. It’s like royalty, I’m supposed to give a bigger shit that you were born, that your life is more important than mine.
Jebediah
@Calouste:
Yes! Irritates the hell out of me too. The pissiest-offiest for me is of course the snowtard, but it’s plenty aggravating in general.
Suffern ACE
@cat48:
I figure between those initiatives in “swing states” aimed at shaving a few percentage points off of Democrats vote tallies, and the coming re-jiggering of election district boundaries after a census, we will be looking at the wilderness for Democrats for a decade or so.
liberal
@The Political Nihilist Formerly Known As Kryptik:
How does it really matter? They’re so antitax over there they can’t even fund their road system. In a few years, anyone wanting an abortion or any other medical treatment is going to be SOL because they won’t be able to make it to the clinic anyway.
theodoric of athens
@Ash Can: unfortunately Bayh pere is still around, cognizant, and presumably capable of giving the boy a thorough public tonguelashing despite his 83 years. Yet he apparently does not.
Steve
Political parties are for mindless followers.
DanielX
@HeartlandLiberal: Well said….as senator, that man never took a leak in the morning without chekcing a public opinion poll first. I used to write letters to his office saying Evan, buddy, as one of your constituents, you may as well vote against (my irritant legislation de jour). Because you know what? The wingnut brigade here in our fair state is going to vilify you anyway no matter how you vote, so you MIGHT AS WELL BE A DEMOCRAT. Evan is all about Evan, and he has fewer principles than your average hooker or drug dealer. They at least understand that you have to provide value in exchange for people’s hard earned dollars (votes).
jcgrim
When is he endorsing himself for president? asshat
Anson Mitchell
Wow, it sure must suck being a liberal nowadays. When Fox News hires a former US Senator who happens to be a Democrat, this means they want all sides of the story. For the same reason they have on Joe Trippi (remember him? He ran Howie Dean’s campaign), Juan Williams, Doug Schoen (who was Clinton’s pollster), and Kristen Powers (again, worked for Clinton). None of these people are conservation – they are all liberals.
That is why Fox News is number one on cable. MSNBC is falling behind because people just don’t want to hear grating, annoying liberals without any arguments from the other side.
Jebediah
@Anson Mitchell:
Geez, thanks for explaining that to all us dumbasses. Don’t you have somewhere you need to be? Go on – we don’t want to keep you.
sturgeonmouth
Hoocoodanode? Well, Icoodanode. Back in June, I predicted that both Lieberman and Bayh would end up at Fox News.
So far so good. Good because I get to gloat, and good because this will end Bayh’s chance of ever being a Democratic presidential candidate. I hope he switches parties and tries to run as a moderate Republican. A humiliating primary defeat might be just the thing to wipe that perma-smug look from his face.
My only worry is that one of the crazies will use him as their vice presidential pick to demonstrate their centrism, just like Fox will use him to demonstrate that they are fair and balanced.