Hotline After Dark -- Amnesty Denied
"World News" led with the arrest of a United Airlines pilot. "Evening News" led with the Ft. Hood investigation. "Nightly News" led with Veteran's Day.
During "Lou Dobbs Tonight" 11/11 p.m., CNN's Lou Dobbs announced that he will be leaving the network, effective immediately.
Dobbs: "Tonight I want to turn to a personal note, if I may, and address a matter that has raised some curiosity. This will be my last broadcast here on CNN, where I've worked for most of the past 30 years, and where I have many friends and colleagues whom I admire deeply and respect greatly. I'm the last of the original anchors here on CNN and I'm proud to have had the privilege of helping to build the world's first news network."
More Dobbs: "I'm grateful for the many opportunities that CNN has given me over these many years. I've tried to reciprocate with a full measure of my ability and my energy. Over the past six months it's become increasingly clear that strong winds of change have begun buffeting this country and affecting all of us, and some leaders in media, politics and business have been urging me to go beyond the role here at CNN and to engage in constructive problem solving as well as to contribute positively to a better understanding of the great issues of our day."
After the jump, more on Dobbs, FNC's Sean Hannity addresses Comedy Central's Jon Stewart's footage criticism and Gen. David Petreaus is interviewed.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX & ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Dobbs, on discussing his decision with CNN pres. Jonathan Klein: "As a result of those talks, Jon and I have agreed to a release from my contract that will enable me to pursue new opportunities. At this point, I'm considering a number of options, and directions, and I assure you, I will let you know when I set my course."
Dobbs: "I truly believe that the major issues of our time include the growth of our middle-class, the creation of more jobs, health care, immigration policy, the environment, climate change, and our military involvement, of course, in Afghanistan and Iraq. ... I believe these to be profoundly, critically important issues, and I will continue to strive to deal honestly and straightforwardly with those issues in the future."
More Dobbs: "Unfortunately these issues are now defined in the public arena by partisanship and ideology rather than by rigorous, empirical thought and forthright analysis and discussion. I'll be working diligently to change that as best I can. And as for the important work of restoring inspiration to our great free society and our market economy, I will strive as well to be a leader in that national conversation. It's been my great honor to work with each and every person at this wonderful network. I will be eternally grateful to CNN, to Ted Turner, and to all of my colleagues and friends and, of course, to you at home. I thank you, and may God bless you" (CNN, 11/11).
THIS CROW IS DELICIOUS!
Meanwhile, Hannity addressed the rally footage controversy on "Hannity," 11/11.
FNC's Hannity: "Finally tonight, although it pains me to say this, Jon Stewart, Comedy Central, he was right. Now on his program last night, he mentioned that we had played some incorrect video on this program last week while talking about the Republican health-care rally on Capitol Hill. He was correct. We screwed up."
More Hannity: "We aired some video of a rally in September along with the video from the actual event. It was an inadvertent mistake, but a mistake, nonetheless. So Mr. Stewart, you were right. We apologize. But by the way, I want to thank you and all your writers for watching" ("Hannity," FNC, 11/11).
GENERALLY SPEAKING
Gen. David Petraeus sat down for an interview with CNN's Phillips, segments of which were shown during "Situation Room" 11/11.
Petraeus, on whether Obama is taking too long in his decision: "Actually, I think the process has been very productive and very useful. I think there's been a degree of discussion and debate, indeed, that has been excellent. There has been a refinement of objectives, there's been discussion of various courses of action, there have been explanations and discussions about how the civilian component of this will complement what is done by the work of our military troops. All in all, I think this has been a very productive couple of months that we have spent on this."
More Petraeus, on whether McChrystal will "get what he needs": "That's up to the president, obviously. And, again, our job is to provide him our best professional military advice. And that's what we're determined to do, we will do. We owe that to our country and to our troopers, especially those like Brian, who have sacrificed so much for our country" (CNN, 11/11).
