USA Today: Fox News Channel parted ways with liberal pundit Bob Beckel, according to a statement from the company. Beckel, now former co-host of “The Five,” is a Democrat and liberal strategist who disappeared from the anchor chair Feb. 16. “We tried to work with Bob for months, but we couldn’t hold ‘The Five’ hostage to one man’s personal issues,” wrote Bill Shine, Fox News EVP of programming. Beckel initially departed from the show to undergo major back surgery, according to previous statements by Fox. Later, he entered rehab after a relapse in prescription drug abuse.