Media Miscarriage

Yesterday's decision to drop Imus from MSNBC came after a number of major advertisers bailed. CBS Radio says it's keeping the I-man, for now, after his two-week suspension.

How's Imus taking it?

"Mr. Imus did not respond to telephone messages last night. But Bo Dietl, a security expert who is a frequent guest on Mr. Imus's show, said last night that he had just talked by telephone with the host, and that his mood was "very down, very upset about what occurred with MSNBC."

" 'I said to him that they didn't even give him time to talk to the victims,' Mr. Dietl said. 'He agreed with me.' "

NBC News President Steve Capus described his decision on "Hardball":

"When I first learned of the comments, we issued an apology and we denounced the comments. They were awful. They were hateful. They were deplorable. But something also happened right after that, and that is a dialogue that's been going on inside the country, and it's been going on inside NBC News. I've received hundreds, if not thousands of emails, both internal an external, with people with very strong views about what should happen. I've listened to those people with their comments. And many of them are people who have worked at NBC News for decades, people who put their lives on the line covering wars and things like that. These comments were deeply hurtful to many, many people."

What Imus said, as he has acknowledged, was indefensible. But Michelle Malkin reprints some horrible and misogynistic rap lyrics from the most popular CDs:

"Al Sharpton, I am sure, is ready to call a press conference with the National Organization for Women to jointly protest this garbage and protest the radio stations and big pimpin' music companies behind it . . .

"One dumb radio/television shock jock's insult is a drop in the ocean of barbaric filth and anti-female hatred on the radio.

"Imus gets a two-week suspension. What kind of relief do we get from this deadening, coarsening, dehumanizing barrage from young, black rappers and their music industry enablers who have helped turn America into Tourette's Nation?"

Maybe, in the Elizabeth Edwards era, you can't be a serious candidate without owning up to an illness or one involving a family member:

"Advisers to Fred Thompson said his decision to disclose his cancer Wednesday after keeping it secret for more than two years -- and the way he let the news out -- reflects his growing seriousness about tackling a race for the White House," the Politico reports.