I have no idea what restrictions MSNBC puts on Imus and his program format. I suspect they'd be pissed if he started playing Polka music for the duration of his program. But, I doubt the powers'that-be micromanage how he conducts interviews, Imus is perfectly capable of micro-managing his own show, according to his own sensibilities relating to maintenance of ratings.
The DNC started blaming the RNC before Drudge even put the report of media investigation of Kerry out. The story of media investigation was out on Feb 6, on at least one bloggers site.
I don't know where to start. No one, I mean NO ONE controls Imus. (Well, maybe Diedra.) The powerful come to him. He is a big-hearted curmudgeon who hates just about everyone at one time or another..
MSNBC regular programming started hinting about the story by talking about "frontrunner" Kerry about to come under assault. Of course the insinuation is from the republicans, though they don't say exactly. And their "Question of the Day" is "Do you think this will be the dirtiest campaign season ever" or similar phrasing. Curious question all of a sudden. I don't think they are referring to the slanderous and baseless "Bush was AWOL" stories that they've shamelessly led with for days on end that were instigatted by McAuliffe and Clark and Kerry himself.
What a disgusting lot.