Greg Sargent of The Plum Line makes his picks for the top 5 online news stories of the year.

From Media Matters--Glenn Beck: Media Matters' 2009 Misinformer of the Year:

Glenn Beck's well of ridiculous was deep and poisonous before he launched his Fox News show, but the inauguration of the 44th president of the United States -- and the permissive cheerleading of his Fox News honchos -- uncorked the former Morning Zoo shock jock's unique brand of vitriol, stage theatrics, and hyperbolic fright, making him an easy choice for Media Matters' 2009 Misinformer of the Year.

When he wasn't calling the president a racist, portraying progressive leaders as vampires who can only be stopped by "driv[ing] a stake through the heart of the bloodsuckers," or pushing the legitimacy of seceding from the country, Beck obsessively compared Democrats in Washington to Nazis and fascists and "the early days of Adolf Hitler." He wondered, "Is this where we're headed," while showing images of Hitler, Stalin, and Lenin; decoded the secret language of Marxists; and compared the government to "heroin pushers" who were "using smiley-faced fascism to grow the nanny state."

Like his predecessor, Beck spat on scruples, frequently announcing his goal to get administration officials fired. He increasingly acted not as a media figure, but as the head of a political movement, while helping to bring fringe conspiracies of a one-world government into the national discourse.

And he all too frequently helped to set the mainstream media's agenda.

Continue reading...

Crooks and Liars has done our fair share of covering Beck's insanity as well if you've got the stomach for it. Hats off to Dave for managing to stomach him night after night for the better part of our coverage, and to the folks at the invaluable Media Matters who not only monitor his television show, but his radio show.

I'm reminded of Al Franken talking about the interns he hired to help him research his book Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them and that they were complaining to him that having to watch Fox was making them physically ill and Jon Stewart watching Sean Hannity and waiting for him to apologize for his show's "mistake" airing the wrong protest footage and saying it wasn't worth it to have to sit through the entire show to finally see the apology at the end of it. Franken interns and Jon Stewart -- any of us that monitor Fox News and especially Glenn Beck can definitely relate.

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("All the seasons changed and all the reasons changed")

"Any plan I sign must include an insurance exchange -- a one-stop shopping marketplace where you can compare the benefits, costs, and track records of a variety of plans -- including a public option to increase competition and keep insurance companies honest."

- President Obama - Weekly Radio Address - July 17, 2009

So . . . what happened?

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As Media Matters noted the O'Reilly Factor seems to be proud of Bill's endorsement of waterboarding or mocking Helen Thomas since they were included in this year end "highlights" video. I think without intending to all they highlighted is what a pompous ass Bill O'Reilly is.

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December 20, 2009 CNN

Of all the falsehoods and distortions in the political discourse this year, one stood out from the rest.

"Death panels."

The claim set political debate afire when it was made in August, raising issues from the role of government in health care to the bounds of acceptable political discussion. In a nod to the way technology has transformed politics, the statement wasn't made in an interview or a television ad. Sarah Palin posted it on her Facebook page.

Her assertion — that the government would set up boards to determine whether seniors and the disabled were worthy of care — spread through newscasts, talk shows, blogs and town hall meetings. Opponents of health care legislation said it revealed the real goals of the Democratic proposals. Advocates for health reform said it showed the depths to which their opponents would sink. Still others scratched their heads and said, "Death panels? Really?"

The editors of PolitiFact.com, the fact-checking Web site of the St. Petersburg Times, have chosen it as our inaugural "Lie of the Year."

PolitiFact readers overwhelmingly supported the decision. Nearly 5,000 voted in a national poll to name the biggest lie, and 61 percent chose "death panels" from a field of eight finalists. Read more at Politifact

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(In Veins - a bit more going on in Bordeaux than wine)

Something new tonight. Another MySpace band discovery. I first stumbled across this band a few years ago and really liked them. A French band, In Veins tips its hat to the best of Psychedelia, Shoegaze, Trance, Indie, Progressive, Alternative - all those superlatives you would use to describe a band you really liked, who wasn't mainstream or pop.

And if I didn't tell you they were all from Bordeaux you would never know. They do sing in English, but it's more background to the wall of instrumental sound they create.

This track, Just Vision is a new one. They have a new album (I think their first) coming out pretty soon and their ep's (which they have 2) are available via iTunes. They're performing around, but nothing here in the States.

Check them out of it you get the chance, and if you like them, please support them. We need all the good music we can get.

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November 25, 2009 CNN

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(Lowline - Something new coming from Manchester)

Thanks to my friend Mig and the people at The Louisiana in Bristol (I've got to make it over there one of these days), I keep getting turned on to their up-coming bands appearing there in the coming weeks. One of those bands is Lowline, an outfit from Manchester, and very much in that Madchester mold. They've been together since 2007 and are getting their first album together, slated to come out early in 2010. No label. And like most bands these days, they're doing it themselves - so they need all the support they can get(hint-hint download - or get the CD). Judging by their MySpace page, they're gigging around and getting a good word of mouth going.

This is their new track, Outside, and I think it was just released a day or two ago.

Check them out and come back often - and if you're in Bristol, fall by the Louisiana. There's a lot more going on there than filming the fourth season of Skins.

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(Crooked Cowboy & The Freshwater Indians - finally, a new music genre)

I don't think there is really an adequate way to describe Crooked Cowboy & the Freshwater Indians. So I won't. Other than I think we've hit on something wonderful.

But right now the only thing you can really do is listen to this track, BumpyGBH and get sucked into it. It's an amazing adventure.

And once you do that, go over to their MySpace or Last.FM page and check out the other tracks as well as their upcoming gig listings. They're an L.A. outfit, so I suspect they won't be showing up in London anytime soon (unless of course you have connections and can book them). They've only been together a short while, are not on a label and can certainly use every bit of support they can get.

Do yourself a favor.

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(The Capsules - dispelling the stereotype Kansas is a flyover state)

Something domestic tonight - The Capsules, from Lawrence Kansas. A three piece band fronted by Julie Shields, whose vocals are mesmerizing (don't take my word for it). Together since 2002, with three albums and an ep to their credit, they aren't what you'd assume something from the midwest would be all about. But then, never judge books by their covers.

Don't Be So Sad is off their new album, Long Distance Dedication and it's available either as a download or (for those of you, like me who like those chunks of plastic) on CD. It is a haunting testimony to sadness and optimism - good stuff for these times.

Aside from their band website, they're also on MySpace (as most bands are these days . . which is a good thing) and their albums are available via CD Baby (the indie album online store that's been doing wonders for new talent).

I don't know what their touring/appearances thing is like. I would assume they are gigging around.

They are definitely worth a look-see and at least a listen.

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(29 Luces - New faces of Mexican Indie . .si se puede!)

Further evidence that music is the universal language, 29 Luces comes from Mexico. They've been together since 2005, have one album out and I would bet you anything you've never heard of them, right?

Well, neither had I until a few years ago when I went exploring on MySpace and hit the browse icon and became a fan less than a minute later.

Aside from their album Sentado En Una Estrella (which isn't available in the States as far as I know, but is available via Amazon.com) they've been putting out some new material of which this track, El Dia es Hoy is one.

As always, check this band out. Their MySpace page is the best bet at the moment, as some of their other links don't go anywhere. I'll put some of their other material up in the coming weeks.

But for now . . .

(Sentado En Una Estrella - if you see it, grab it)

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(The Cheek - new single out as we speak)

Something brand new tonight - in fact, it came out just a few hours ago. The Cheek are a new discovery, via MySpace and my friend Mig Schillace who is an endless source of what's new and interesting in the UK since he does run The Louisiana, one of the more popular clubs in the Bristol area.

As far as I know, The Cheek haven't been together all that long - maybe a little over a year. They've issued several singles and ep's and are in the process of finishing their debut album which is slated to come out next year, via A&M in the UK.

This track, Hung Up just came out and the 7" is available via their website.

I'm sensing a future here.

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(Pamela Hute - What Paris is sounding like these days)

I first discovered Pamela Hute during one of my browses on MySpace in 2006. Her first ep hadn't come out yet and her player had a demo track for Chocolate Soup, the first song of hers I ever heard.

I was hooked after the first ten seconds and I've been a fan ever since.

This track, Hysterical is off her new album Ghost (coming out in December), but she has a new ep called Turtle Tales From Overseas that has this track on it as well. It's available now and I would urge you to fall by her site and pick one up. Her previous ep's have sold out rather quickly, although they are available from iTunes.

Hute is French, but she splits her time between Paris and London and has been doing a lot of club and concert dates all over Europe the past year and several videos.

I have no idea if there are plans to bring her and her band to the States. It would be rather cool if they did (I think she just signed to Warners in France) - but as has happened so many times before, I'm not going to hold my breath.

But check this out in the meantime and visit her site.