ABC Frets as Stossel Plans His Own No-Spin Zone

NewsMax.com ^ | 2/04/04 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

John Stossel is eager for Barbara Walters' retirement so can remake "20/20" into his "very own no-spin zone," the New York Observer noted today.

"She’s going to be around until September," Stossel said. "After that, I want to do the show by myself."

Naturally the execs at ABC, the network of Peter Jennings, have other plans. One has already predicted an "ensemble cast" instead, even though Stossel has brought in big ratings.

As we reported last week, he has exposed his own colleagues at ABC as hypocrital left-wing elitists who vilify the capitalistic system that enriches them.

'Totalitarian Left'

"Stossel’s true love remains the contrarian 'who woulda figured?' investigation, predicated on the idea that the free market is a cure-all for social ills, and that government institutions and the 'totalitarian left,' as Mr. Stossel has called them — environmentalists, the liberal media and Upper West Side liberals ('where the New York Times writers live,' he said) — deserve a good drubbing," the Observer observed.

Stossel told the paper he wasn't following Bill O’Reilly's lead.

"That’s wrong and unfair," he said. "I was certainly doing this before O’Reilly was on the air. I’m doing it because 25 years of reporting showed me that regulation repeatedly fails and wrecks lives."

And don't call him a conservative. He's a libertarian. He didn't want publisher HarperCollins to add that final phrase to the title of his new book, "Give Me a Break: How I Exposed Hucksters, Cheats, and Scam Artists and Became the Scourge of the Liberal Media."

"I think it is misleading," he said. "I was annoyed at the subtitle, but I went along with it because the publisher knows how to sell books …. It makes me seem conservative. And it insults them, too. I’m more liberal than them, because I’m libertarian."

He is pro-choice on such issues as drug abuse and flag burning. "The moral conservatives are highly offended by me," he said.

[kcpopps]

I vote for Stossel to man his own show. I'd love it.

[KarlInOhio]

I expect ABC to screw up what could be the best news show on TV. ABC never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity. (See "This Week with the wrong George" for an example).

[Deliberator]

the execs at ABC, the network of Peter Jennings, have other plans. One has already predicted an "ensemble cast" instead, even though Stossel has brought in big ratings.

If he can't get a lead slot on the not-so-Big Three, he'll take his audience to cable as ABCBSNBC continues its slide into irrelevance.

[Tricorn]

"ensemble cast"

ABC will follow the standard network practice of balancing all conservatives with 5 or 6 liberals and a moderate.

[1Old Pro]

I expect ABC to screw up what could be the best news show on TV. ABC never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity. (See "This Week with the wrong George" for an example).

I agree.

[saint]

...the execs at ABC...have other plans...even though Stossel has brought in big ratings.

Gotta love seeing the way these idiots think. I call it the Eisner Effect -I'll run the place into the ground just 'cause I can.

[international american]

I think Stossel may win this one, because he can go anywhere he wants.

[Tacis]

ABC knows better than to allow Stoessel to have this show! ABC knows that America wants to see that Mass. is correct in giving superior rights to fairies and that Barney Fwank should be able to marry his parakeet. There is no way that ABC will allow anyone but a certified left-wing media crapweasel to own that show before a national election.

Look for one of those Hollywood neocommunists to do a career change and replace Baba Wawa. It'll be one of those aging females who did well in movies years ago but hasn't done much recently. Look for someone who has dabbled with being a union officer in one of those ultra-leftie Hollywood unions.

[Cicero]

There used to be a day when corrupt media moguls would do anything for a dollar. No longer. They are so far to the left now they'd rather go into the ratings tank than admit to the truth right in front of their faces.

[itsahoot]

ABC will follow the standard network practice of balancing all conservatives with 5 or 6 liberals and a moderate.

Little Steffie does a solo don't he :)

[Luke21]

"Crapweasel," what a word to describe these loathesome media lefties. My compliments. Will remember that one.

[Jmouse007]

Fox News should pick him up and give him his own one hour show in primetime on Sunday nights, should ABC mess him over because of his honest unbiased reporting.

Were I in charge, I would offer Mr. Stossel whatever ABC wants to pay him and MORE. FNC could end up with a huge increase in viewership and it would be another kick in the teeth for ABC.

[ForOurFuture]

Stossel is awesome. We're lucky to have him.

[international american]

"Fox News should pick him up and give him his own one hour show in primetime on Sunday nights, should ABC mess him over because of his honest unbiased reporting.'"


I will bet you that Fox has already offered him an alternative, or told him to call before he signs.

[princess leah]

He reminds me of David Horowitz and the shift he made from left to right over the years...I hope FOX is paying attention and if ABC throws Stossel off the ship, they pick him and his ratings up!

[tdadams]

'totalitarian left,' as Mr. Stossel has called them

I prefer 'Fascist Left', but that will work too.

And don't call him a conservative. He's a libertarian. I’m more liberal than them, because I’m libertarian."

Sounds like I'll have to add Mr. Stossel to my "list of people I hardly disagree with".

[coloradan]

Dear ABC,

Please please please please send Stossel packing over to FOX.

Thank you.

[OPS4]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1071438/posts?page=15#15

Follow this link and see how Isicoff at Newsweek just plowed Kerry under.

Ops4 God Bless America!

[G L Tirebiter]

Stossel told the paper he wasn't following Bill O’Reilly's lead.

Amen to that. O'Reilly is a pompous windbag with no governing compass other than his own ego.

Stossel's the man.