Chris Wallace is no Tony Snow!

December 8, 2003 | Mike Baker

[MikeBaker]

I was worried when I heard that Chris Wallace, a long time member of the liberal media elite, was taking over as host of Fox News Sunday, but I decided to give him a chance. After viewing his pathetic debut performance, I can see that my fears were justified. In his interview of Andrew Card, Wallace acted like an aggressive prosecutor grilling a witness. He was cynical, rude and repeatedly interrupted Mr. Card, barely letting the poor man complete an entire sentence. But when Wallace interviewed Howard Dean, the tone was more like two friends chatting. Yes, he did press him mildly on a couple of points, but mostly he let Dean ramble on uninterrupted, with lengthy answers that were more like speeches. I assume that they'll be getting James Carville to fill in as host when Chris is away.

All politics aside, the other problem I have with Mr. Wallace, is that compared to Tony Snow, Chris has the personality of a door knob. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE email Fox News and ask them to reconsider their choice of host! My suggestion would be John Stossel.

Regards, Mike Baker

[babyface00]

I'm inclined to give him another week. I noticed the interviewing discrepancy between Card and Dean, but its at least possible that Wallace had to tone down the interruptsions because Dean was in another city and the interview was done remotely. There was a noticeable time delay and a couple of instances of the stop/start alternating that comes with the time delay.

I suspect, however, that the entire town of the broadcast will be more liberal and less entertaining than before. Brit is now the show's only saving grace (although I do enjoy when Charles Krauthammer visits).

[Salvation]

Sunday Morning Talk Show Thread 7 Dec 2003

[COBOL2Java]

All I want for X-mas is for the show to dump Juan Williams...

There was a "game" that Tony used to play - and he admitted as much once in an interview. He said he'd always try to throw some red meat issue out on the table and hope that Juan would jump at the bait with his McAuliffe-FAX'ed talking points. At which point Tony would then look over and watch with glee as Brit tore Juan apart.

I doubt Chris Wallace will engage in the same strategy, and I will miss it greatly.

[babyface00]

entire town should be entire tone.

I need more coffee...

[GirlShortstop]

Does anyone ever comment on the "sign-up" date
of posters who agree with them?

     Good point, Bluntpoint. (10-23-2000)

Cool... an enigma!?    ;-)

[netmilsmom]

They should have gotten Laurie Dhue to replace Tony. Most men would drool.
Let Brit come in and ask the hard questions.

A treat for the guys before the football starts!

[SunnyUsa]

I see you signed up today to post this rant.

So what? People (freepers) usually take that first step to sign up for posting when something's come up they want to rant about......

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I thought the same. Great screen name, by the way. Who says FReepers aren't hip? Notorious VRC is in the hizz-ouse!

[Principled]

You owe me a keyboard, Petronski! (member since 10/7/1998)!!!

[dirtboy]

Does anyone ever comment on the "sign-up" date of posters who agree with them?

Actually, I have. I tend to be suspicious of narrow-agenda newbies - many of them turn out to either be disruptors or returning banees.

[DCPatriot]

Ah, you made me spit up my coffee all over the keyboard. ;^)

[FreedomPoster]

Now we're talking!

[ken5050]

I didn't know that, thanks..and more's the surprise that Tony would admit it...part of Snow's effectiveness was his nice, guy, choir boy image...he'd get in some very sharp queries, and follow-ups...an effective interviewing style...

[Catspaw]

Snow and Wallace have different styles, and I didn't expect Wallace to be Snow. Wallace's questions had a harder edge that Snow's--perhaps because Wallace has a hard news background, where Snow doesn't--and I will note that Card seemed a bit taken aback when Wallace asked a tougher follow-up than Snow would've, but overall, with Card and Dean, I thought that Wallace was fair-handed in his questioning of both.

[duckman]

Agree. Laurie or Rebecca Gomez.

[MissAmericanPie]

I would email Fox, but I don't bother watching them anymore. Stick with getting your news from the net. Obviously Fox only used the majority of conservatives in the USofA to launch another covert liberal indoctrination program.

"Fair and Balanced", lol, what a joke. What's "fair" about giving socialist liars yet another platform to spew their insane, destructive, doctrine? Fox evidently doesn't want to be ideologs, so they end up refusing to take a stand, at least on the surface.

Like God said, "Were that you were hot or cold. Since you are neither hot nor cold I will spew you from my mouth". I'm guessing more than a few conservatives will spew Fox right off their viewing schedule.

[december12]

My problem with Chris Wallace is that we remember what HE said, rather than what the GUEST said. I thought he attacked Card and Dean equally. The trouble is, the response to his "gotcha" approach was bland, boiler-plate pap.

Wallace needs to learn how to encourage the guests to make newsworthy comments. They are the story, not him.

[Lijahsbubbe]

but he was way too easy on RATs. I found him tougher on GOP than RATs

Exactly. I found myself constantly waiting for him to play hardball with the liberals.