Beckel was never a “likable curmudgeon” - he was a consistently obnoxious asswipe.
It had gotten to the point earlier this year when it was becoming apparent even to as oblivious an observe as me that Beckel’s colleagues on The Five could barely tolerate his presence, much less his gratuitous attacks on the women there.
He had to go.
Juan Williams, his successor, is a liberal but an intelligent and generally intellectually-honest one.
Juan Williams, his successor, is a liberal, mindlessly regurgitating the party line, totally incapable of entertaining an original thought but an intelligent and generally intellectually-honest one.
Regards,
GtG
An intellectually honest liberal? I don't think so. Juan Williams especially not. He's a better liar than Beckel, that's about it IMO.