If you are looking for truly useful information on Fox head Roger Ailes (like where he hides his horcruxes) you won’t find it in this morning's Columbus Dispatch interview.
But interviews with Ailes are rare (apparently he granted this interview to garner interest in his Fox Business Network, launching Monday), so let’s study it for any insights we may garner.
Asked about his college days in Ohio, Ailes recalls fondly an instructor, Archie Greer:
He once told me I was the best or worst thing to happen to broadcasting.
Mr. Greer is still around, apparently. It might be worth asking him his opinion now. Maybe some regrets as one enters one's senior years? Anybody here know him?
Recalling his college days...road trips between his university town and Columbus.
We’d get loaded and try to find our way back to Athens without getting pulled over.
Thanks for driving around my city drunk, sir. (Now which President does this remind us of?)
Here is something interesting. When asked about how he will compete against CNBC, he reveals:
But everything I say we’re going to do, they go out and do. When I say we’re going to do more Main Street and not just Wall Street, they (CNBC) to out and do some of that...I don’t think they’ve ever been a Main Street. (laughs) It’s actually a head fake by me. Now I’ve got them going up and down the byways of America trying to find Main Street.
So you’re a liar (quel surprise). And what parts of this interview are "head fakes."
On Donnie Duetsch’s program:
I’m not sure it’s anything but a very expensive way to meet girls for him.
Granted. Also, it’s an hour of watching Duetsch fawn adoringly over his profoundly wealthy guests, without asking them anything deeper than "How can I grab me some of that?" Wanna bet Ailes steals Duetsch--or more likely--does a cheap knock-off?
And next, here's a good question:
Fox News Channel uses "fair and balanced" as its slogan. Will Fox Business Channel have a slogan like that.
How about "head fake news." (So tell us Mr. Ripper. Your signature move has been disemboweling prostitutes. As you branch out, any future trademarks in the works?) And the answer:
Internally, we’ve been saying, "We actually don’t feel guilty about capitalism."
Strawman; implication being, "liberals feel guilty about capitalism." Let’s pull out a handful of straw and look at it. How about Bush’s grandpa being "Hitler’s banker." Or Rove’s family getting the contracts to build Auschwitz? Or Bush cronies turning the war into a bottomless right-wing pig trough? Nothing to be ashamed of there. How about this as a slogan "Business news for sociopaths."
When asked when he plans to retire:
I thought about retiring, but I decided, well, I don’t’ see any real value in that. Fox News Channel is making contribution to America with fair and balanced news. The country is at war, and everyone needs to stay at battle stations.
So Fox--which airs less war news than any other network--is at its battle stations? Gotta keep doing its part, blowing the lid off lapel jewelry?
Excuse me now. I must go take a shower.