MSNBC’S THEATRICS CREATE Drama at GE Shareholders Meeting.

Things got testy Wednesday at the GE shareholders meeting courtesy of several complaints about political bias at its media division, NBC Universal. Just don’t expect to see the fireworks at the company’s webcast of the event, which contains prepared remarks from CEO Jeff Immelt and CFO Keith Sherin but leaves out their interaction with shareholders. . . . Just before GE board members were re-elected, shareholders asked about 10 questions of a mostly political nature concerning the viewpoints of MSNBC and CNBC, according to attendees.

First up was a woman asking about a reported meeting in which Immelt and NBC Uni CEO Jeff Zucker supposedly told top CNBC executives and talent to be less critical of President Obama and his policies.

Immelt acknowledged a meeting took place but said no one at CNBC was told what to say or not say about politics.

During the woman’s follow-up question, her microphone was cut off. Later, during the umpteenth question about MSNBC, another shareholder’s microphone was cut, according to multiple attendees.

“The crowd was very upset with MSNBC because of its leftward tilt,” one attendee said. “Some former employees said they were embarrassed by it.”

One specific complaint about MSNBC concerned Keith Olbermann’s interview of actress Janeane Garofalo, who likened conservatives to racists and spoke of “the limbic brain inside a right-winger.”

“They were upset that Olbermann didn’t bother to challenge her,” one GE shareholder said.

Interesting. I wonder if we’ll see more of this.

Related: MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow suffers big audience loss.

JAMES TARANTO: Is the Associated Press calling President Obama a communist?

I’D BE OKAY WITH THAT: Are Republicans Turning Into Libertarians?

UPDATE: Reader Tom Wright emails:

While some Republican office holders may move towards embracing Libertarian values what is really happening is simple.

The Republican Party is going through the same death throes as Chrysler, GM, Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, etc.; and for the same reason. The “management” of the Republican party abandoned its “customer base” and began producing a “product” that was a pale imitation of its competitor. Bad decisions at the top have basically placed the Republican Party into ideological receivership.

I would love to see a meaningful libertarian oriented party spring up to fill the void. Then the nation could have a true debate on market-based versus government-based approaches to the challenges we face.

I would, too. But if the Republicans are GM, the Democrats are Chrysler. Where’s Toyota?

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT?

Plus, a Tea Party Patriots website.

A MICKEY KAUS READER NOTES SOMETHING in a story about the death of Freddie Mac CFO David Kellerman.

Alert reader J. says, “[A]n odd story, isn’t it? The regulator says don’t disclose the cost of this government program? Why would he say that?” … There’s an obvious overarching reason–it would be embarrassing to the Obama administration. But why?

Yes, why?

FLYING A BIG AIRPLANE TO TALK ABOUT BEING GREEN: “The president flew all the way out to midcountry in his large airplane to the Hawkeye State to talk about saving the environment and developing green energy, which a 747 isn’t. But who would ever point out such an inconsistency if it didn’t involve evil automobile chief executives in their private jets?”

Perhaps he was just participating in the IowaHawk Earth Week Cruise-In.

Plus, CNN’s Marciano to Obama: ‘Let’s Park the Jumbo Jet’ for Earth Day. “I mean, it’s a pretty big carbon footprint just to make a speech in front of a windmill.”

RASMUSSEN: Most Americans Say Bailouts Were Bad Idea, Political Class Disagrees.

Plus, 60% Say Government Has Too Much Power, Too Much Money.

SAVE THE HUMANS: Earth Day thoughts from David Harsanyi.

ROGER SIMON: Durbin II Diary – Part 5: Arrivederci, Geneva.

FORGET EARTH DAY: Solar System Day.

ON PJTV, I talk with Jim Geraghty and Columbus Tea Party organizer Justin Higgins about the next step for the Tea Party movement. Geraghty’s idea — hit local events like City Council meetings and Congressional townhalls — is a good one.

NICK GILLESPIE:

Yesterday, President Barack Obama delivered (finally!) on arguably his most hope-changiest of all his campaign promises to use your tax dollars to support make-work jobs that will (finally!) allow America’s vast, all-ages reserve army of the unemployed to be paid volunteers with AmeriCorps. . . .First, public or national service is profoundly un-American as a historical concept and comes always and everywhere slathered in the stink of trench warfare and rhetorical horseshit. This is especially true when it is paid service even as those participating and spending your tax dollars luxuriate in the silky-smooth language of altruism. Which, last time I checked, was supposed to be free. Jesus rendered unto Caesar; he didn’t ask for a block grant from Pontius Pilate in return. That Obama pushes national service and voluntarism even as he works to limit tax breaks for charitable giving that drives all sorts of philanthropy is a classic screw-you, my-way-or-the-highway move.

Second, AmeriCorps is a program with a long and distinguished history of sucking even by government standards.

Read the whole thing.

THE RULE OF LAW IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN: The Attorney General says it’s legal to openly carry a gun, but the police chief says:

“My message to my troops is if you see anybody carrying a gun on the streets of Milwaukee, we’ll put them on the ground, take the gun away and then decide whether you have a right to carry it,” Flynn said.

So if you see Police Chief Ed Flynn, put him on the ground, take his wallet away, and then decide whether he’s accepted any bribes that day. If, after doing that, you think the money’s his, give his wallet back. Who cares what the law says? It’s the Milwaukee Way!

HOPE AND CHANGE: GM to shut many US plants up to 9 weeks.

HOPE AND CHANGE! Preparing for years in Afghanistan.

JANET NAPOLITANO BLAMES CANADA.

THE HITS KEEP COMING: Cheney hits Obama again: ‘Devastating’ economic policies.

COUNTERTERRORISM: Now a bad career move. Smart.

UPDATE: A reader emails: “The term that comes to mind is blowback I’m sure the CIA appreciates the irony that this current situation arises directly from the leaks the CIA used to damage George Bush.”

MISS CALIFORNIA: “I’d be surprised if Ailes hasn’t signed her already.” Video at the link.

MICHAEL SILENCE: That wasn’t the Knoxville Tea Party I Went To. Note that Silence responds to unsubstantiated charges with actual photos and videos. It’s almost as if there’s some kind of partisan smear effort underway.

SURE, WHY NOT? Insert dried spaghetti into hot dogs, then boil.

WAS HE, OR WASN’T HE? “Obama could use a new spokesperson.”

HAPPY Earth Day.

PJTV: Roger Simon and Jon Voight walk out on Ahmadinejad.

HOW TO ADDRESS FEDERAL CORRUPTION.