Posted on 06/20/2005 11:23:42 PM PDT by soundandvision
Okay, so last Monday night I'm flipping through the channels and 9 O'Clock rolls around. I think to myself "why not give Tucker's show a chance...hell he sweated it out for years in the belly of the beast over at CNN -- I can give him 5 minutes of my time".
Five minutes went by..then ten...then thirty..then before I knew it I had watched the whole first show of "The Situation", MSNBC's news Primetime shot at catching FOX in the ratings.
Now, I know this is going to rub a lot of you the wrong way but I've had a growing resentment of Fox's Primetime lineup for some time now. Ever since last fall when the story about O'Reilly broke -- it was very hard to take the man seriously. Is he amusing to watch at times, yes. But... come on.
Sean Hannity. I started listening to Hannity's radio show via the web during the 2000 election campaign and was a minor fan at the time and enjoyed watching "Hannity and Colmes" from time to time. However, it's increasingly grown obvious to me (why it took 5 years to kick in, I have *no* idea) but watching "Hannity and Colmes" is tantamount to viewing the Harlem Globetrotters play the Washington Generals. The outcome is clear, everynight. Not to mention the fact that Sean seams to be stuck on talking points on both the radio show and the TV show -- in between Ruth's Chris plugs.
Greta. If I wanted wall to wall coverage of freak shows and local stories on steroids I would watch -- well, On the Record with Greta. Nevermind...
That brings me back to MSNBC and my disillusionment with Fox, in general. While I must say I occasionally find Keith Olberman amusing (am I allowed to say that here?) And also that as much as I think Joe Scarborough is a good guy, his show is as much fun to watch as, I imagine, Mario Quomo's radio show was to listen to. Get it, both former politicians trying to do commentary... eh.. no.
I say all this to circle back to Tucker Carlson. No one will ever accuse Carlson of aping William F. Buckley's astute conservative commentary from the days of "Firing Line". But, given the options..I would listen to the middleweight Carlson over the RNC talking points deliverer Hannity any day at this point.
I want honest thought and debate, not nondescript exposition.
Watching Carlson's show practically every night since its week old inception, I feel like I'm getting that. Carlson has had on the same two commentators with him the majority of each show: Rachel Maddow (from Air America Radio) and Jay Severin (Libertarian Talk Show Host). The discourse isn't really fiery but instead funny and at times coy. The great thing about the show is the lack of saturation of any one topic. Granted, that doesn't leave much room for in depth analysis; it's advertised as "fast paced" and it indeed is that.
So, fellow Freepers...I ask you...give Chatsworth Osborne, Jr a fighting chance.
I kinda like the show too. Bow tie notwithstanding. If it turns into another one-sided crossfire shoutfest...it's over.
I'm sorry. I have a firm "no bow ties" policy in this house. Yes, that means you too, Charles Osbourne.
Actually, the other bow-tied guy in the commercials (Raj from The Apprentice) could do better.
Tucker Carlson is a poser.
I am a Jay Severin devotee. Not that I agree with him on every issue or on every point. You should hear what Jay calls Hillary!
I like Sean Hannity's honest if not naive zeal. I adore Laura Ingraham.
All "talk" commentators are limited informers. For deep thinking and analysis I look to David Horowitz.
Of course, I have to admit that most guests whom he opposes are just DNC flacks who don't let opposing arguments even get voiced completely, much less considered. Therefore, I use the on-off switch.
Actually, the 3-hour lineup of O'Reilly, H & C, and Greta leaves one exhausted from the deliberately frantic pace. The producers must think this is so "now", so "cutting edge", but the shouting, hurrying-up of shell-shocked guests and the shallow depth of the interviews due to speed is getting to me.......and sending me to the computer in another room to freep.
Yes, the H & C show attracts the good guests, but the formats are getting predictable, tiresome, and frustrating.
Guests are forced into strings of one-liners or nasty screaming and yelling.......in part, I believe, because of the rapid-fire pace of the show.
I watch, but much, much less than I did before.
Leni
While I must say I occasionally find Keith Olberman amusing (am I allowed to say that here?)
Yes, you most certainly are. Not that I watch any of them, I learned a long time ago to shut the tv off. You won't find me giving CNN or MSNBC a boost in ratings.
Carlson is insipid and boring. He doesn't delve into issues, talks around them, bends over backward to play the middle, and does not do the conservatives any good.
Ann did a mighty good job in her prediction.
The two best radio hosts are Rush and Savage. Rush has the insight into politics, though he aphrehensive of criticizing Republicans "from the right." Savage is unmitigated in his opinions.
For independent commentary Horowitz is great. Also for Islamic affairs, Srdja Trifkovic (http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/cgi-bin/newsviews.cgi) is highly knowledgable.
My opinion of Sean has dropped. I appreciate his zeal in support of the troops, but he doesn't offer anything that Rush doesn't offer while being less effective than Rush. Finally I heard him slighty critical of the Bushes yesterday, wondering why Papa Bush allowed Clinton to befriend him.
The two best radio hosts are Rush and Savage. Rush has the insight into politics, though he aphrehensive of criticizing Republicans "from the right." Savage is unmitigated in his opinions.
***My radio doesn't receive the stations broadcasting Savage and Rush. I cannot receive AM at all. I have reservations about Rush's negative attitude about protecting the environment and wildlife. As a philosophical conservative and Christian humanist I cannot accept Rush's *Man Is Earth's Primary God* attitude. I am not a "tree hugger" - I embrace Earth's Nature - a treasure to be protected. My ethos is reverence for life and nature, and their Creator. Although Rush is sharp as hell and really fillets phony "liberals", I resent his lack of empathy in some areas.
For independent commentary Horowitz is great. Also for Islamic affairs, Srdja Trifkovic (http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/cgi-bin/newsviews.cgi) is highly knowledgable.
***Is the above cite known as "chron..."?
My opinion of Sean has dropped. I appreciate his zeal in support of the troops, but he doesn't offer anything that Rush doesn't offer while being less effective than Rush. Finally I heard him slighty critical of the Bushes yesterday, wondering why Papa Bush allowed Clinton to befriend him.
***Well, I certainly wonder why the Bushes are patronizing Bill Clinton. My intuition tells me Wm Clinton is terminal and he won't make '08. Maybe the Bushes feel sorry for him because he's stuck with Horrible Hillary.
***You have no comment about Jay Severin? He's raw! Jay unabashedly loves his dogs too.
I concur with practically everything you said -- very well said.
I absolutely think Rush is the best at what he does, he's the only commentator (on radio) I listen to daily.
I don't get Mark Levin either, which makes me very unhappy. What a sharp mind he has.
Leni
How do you listen to Rush then?
I'd rather be deaf than listen to Savage.
I like Savage. There are times, especially recently, when the administration has drifted left and only Savage criticized them. Open immigration, wanton spending, and a PC military policy in Iraq and Rush & Sean say little.
Sometimes Savage yells too much or belittles his audience, but he does provide an independent conservative (as opposed to Republican) voice.
No, the "chron" is usually a reference to the San Francisco Chronicle or secondly, the Houston Chronicle. That link is just a small conservative online magazine.
I don't get Jay Severin or ever heard of him. Glenn Beck comes on for a couple hours and he is funny. I don't get Mark Levin, except when he is on Sean's show. Tony Snow comes on late and he is okay if I am driving in the car, but I don't usually go out of my way to listen to him.
Jay Severin broadcasts on FMtalkradio 96.6 which airs only in New England.
I agree with you about Mark Levin. Mark pulls no punches!
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