This whole affair is way beyond repugnant. Oh and lest anyone get the impression that Murdoch has developed any notion of ethics (versus business necessity) there is this from the BBC piece today:

There have been repeated calls for Rebekah Brooks - the former editor, now News International’s chief executive - to resign. But in an interview Mr Murdoch stood by her again, saying he was satisfied with her conduct.

Ms. Brooks being the one who authorised, instigated and oversaw all of the mobile hacking.

Newscorp will now double their focus on Fox News.This is good news for John Stewart, he will now have much more to rip on.

Yeah, this is pretty much just to save face, at the expense of the current crew who had nothing to do with the matter. The common opinion seems to be that a replacement news(gag)paper will be out soon—most likely, “The Sunday Sun”. 

Sun/Sin who can tell the difference?

Another fine example of We’ve cleaned out the few bad apples (everybody who works for a living), and are going forward with circling the wagons around the people who signed off on this isolated lapse in judgement.

Conservative News of the World has reported in the past about outrageous/luxurious benefits supposedly bestowed on the unemployed.

As seen on a friend’s* facebook’s page:

I wouldn’t worry too much about the News Of The World journalists losing their jobs.......I read somewhere the unemployed get 5 bedroom houses and £50 000 a year in benefits......

*Spazmo’s British coworker