Iowa Heats Up

One can’t read too much into the poll because of the small sample size, but Zogby tracking shows the four-man race tightening:

Dean 24% (-4%)
Gephardt 21% (-2%)
Kerry 21% (+4%)
Edwards 15% (+1%)

Poll taken Jan 11-13; (% change from yesterday).

CNBC Stock Ownership Policy

In an unusual move, CNBC has adopting a policy prohibiting employees from owning most stocks:

The General Electric Co.-owned cable channel laid down new restrictions this week considered among the toughest in the industry, barring news staff and managers, as well as their spouses and dependents, from owning individual stocks or corporate bonds. Other employees such as receptionists and hairstylists can hang onto their stocks, but not buy more.

The move is supposed to improve viewers’ confidence in the network’s objectivity, though some doubt it will accomplish much:

Jane Kirtley, a media ethics professor at the University of Minnesota said the new policy likely would little impact on viewers’ trust in the network, and instead might stem from concern about potential regulatory scrutiny down the road on reporters’ investments.
“I have to commend any news organization for saying we want to be like Caesar’s wife — beyond reproach,” Kirtley said, adding: “I wonder whether it is really going to do a lot to increase public confidence or whether it is a policy that is being imposed for some other reason.”

CNBC would have made its confidence-building task a lot easier if it hadn’t been pushing stocks so hard before the market bubble popped–particularly these of the dot com variety.

Liberal Talk Radio

Al Franken finally gets hooked up with a radio show:

This ends a year of speculation about whether Franken would jump into radio. “Our long national nightmare is over,” said Franken. “I�ve signed.”
“My first priority is to get sued by a right wing jerk in order to generate interest in my new show, The O�Franken Factor,” Franken said. “Our hope is to do drug-free talk radio, although I understand it�s never been done.”
“Quite simply, my plan is to alter the political landscape, drive this radical right-wing president from office and stand as a beacon for ordinary Americans who work hard and play by the rules. Short of that, I�d just like to get on in Albany,” added Franken.

I’ll probably have to connect by Internet or satellite radio if I ever want to listen in. The odds of a Knoxville radio featuring liberal programming are only slightly greater than them offering me a show.