I loved William Buckley. Today, Rush.
you know what is amazing about tv in this country is that they can completely ignore a dozen or so important black accomplished people.
i get around and talk to people and i always inquire of blacks if they've read or seen sowell, for example, and they have NO idea who he is.
I guess Dr. Sowell doesn't watch ESPN.
"... "Meet the Press" with Tim Russert is not like "Meet the Press" with Lawrence Spivak or Bill Monroe." I'm old enough to give a hearty ditto to that. But TS left out in the rest of the article some of the reasons why a good talk show like Limbaugh or Glenn Beck or Liddy's rapid fire works so well for the listener. The main things is the support staff, like Sneardly for Rush or Stu for Glenn Beck. Call screeners (like Bo Sneardly) make things so much easier for the host, and the prep work that Stu does sets Glenn up with fat bowling pins to knock down as he sees fit. But host talent still shines through, clearly.
When TS listened to or watched the predecessors to today's shows, the division accomplished by the political parties wasn't as extreme and the shows (mostly in radio) didn't have the screening mechanisms and political filters which define the shows of today.
[BTW, I am perhaps one of TS's biggest fans. He is what is fast fading from America's resources, a man of clear thinking and articulate expression.]
Thomas Sowell, one of my favorite thinkers, is so right. Most talk show hosts are in love with their own voices, or hopelessly duct taped into their own ruts. Hence the incredible success of Free Republic. We all seem to spar back and forth, but most of us are willing to entertain new ideas on our own terms. Free Republic is a very stimulating venue.
G.G. Liddy is good because he's just a cool old guy with a riveting past. I've yet to hear him get into a shouting match with a caller yet, he calmly and politely decimates their argument. He's funny, too.
John Gibson is either on or off. Sometimes he goes off on tangents that don't work. Like analyzing hip hop.
Sean Hannity has made it clear that "Hannitized" means throwing your support to a guy who will guarantee a Hillary win in '08 while campaigning for his 'Stop Hillary Express.' But, he has a face for TV.
I can't opine about Spencer Hughes because I understand that I may be forced into rehab if I use the word, "faggot."
Andrew Wilkow and his Wilkow Pragmatism lectures got old after about a week. He has no personality aside from a driving need to teach his conservative audience about conservatism.
Most of the modern day talking heads are rude and interrupt guests frequently. And getting a straight answer out of a politician on a news show is like striking oil in my back yard. it aint gonna happen!
Most of the news shows have a theme and set out to report the news that best substantiates the theme. The guests, reel clips, reporters with their biased commentary are all picked based upon their approach to the theme. The very few picked in opposition are rudely interrupted and usually cut short before making any arguements.
And we call this news??
Wow, I finally read something from Dr. Sowell I disagree with. I think Hannity is an idiot and I can't stand listening to him.
You can listen online to the Hewitt show here.
The last time Russert was any good was when he had Bill Richardson sweating and stammering about Los Alamos. Since then, he's been completely in the tank for the RATS.
The only TV talk show I watch is FNS, just to see Brit Hume give his weekly b*tch slapping to Juan Williams during the roundtable. ;^)
Sowell is exactly right. I know he didn't mention all those who might rank up their with Limbaugh and Hannity. I also like Glenn Beck and Mark Levin. Two "take no prisoners" commentators.
Not one TV talk show, including Hannity & Colmes, allows the "conservative" guest to speak without the squealing, yapping liberal guest interrupting constantly. It seems all the show directors are interested in is some sort of WWF Smackdown show or in SNL's takeoff on "Point-Counterpoint" (Jane, you ignorant slut, etc).
I agree except if you are John McCain and you are looking for acceptance and popularity.