PAGE SIX/Lock & loaded (Keyes MSNBC Show?)

New York Post ^ | 1/04/02 | RICHARD JOHNSON with PAULA FROELICH and CHRIS WILSON

[kattracks]

THE folks at Msnbc are talking to former Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Alan Keyes about hosting a 10 p.m. show up against Fox News' new hire, Greta Van Susteren. Meanwhile, Van Susteren, a lawyer before her O.J. Simpson commentary turned her into a CNN star, reportedly has penned an eight-page memo detailing CNN's demerits. She plans to keep the document secret as long as CNN doesn't try to paint her as an ungrateful traitor.

[Howlin]

Yes, they do. And I don't think Tom Daschle will take the job, so Keyes is the next best thing. Unless Jesse wants the job. :-)

[deport]

Now give him some time. Some of the Cable channels are scrambling for new viewers.... The new hosts will bring their supporters but will they retain the old viewers and garner new ones, enough to make a difference. With the vast number of channels/options the audience is split many ways, thus no one gets a huge rating number now days. 10 p.m., I assume that is Eastern time, if not then they go up against local news which won't help either.

[rdf]

How about listing all the ones he was NOMINATED for; not the ones he RAN for; list ALL the ones you say that he has been NOMINATED for so frequently.

Keyes has been in four electoral races, and lost all four.

We all know about the 1996 and 2000 GOP Primary races.

He ran, as the MD GOP's candidate, in the general elections of 1988 and 1992 for US Senate.

I believe one needs a "nomination" from the party to be on the ballot as its candidate.

Here is what the 1990 Almanac of American Politics says about the 1988 race.

" ...[t]he original Republican nominee dropped out, and the party picked Alan Keyes, ... He got some visible support from Ronald Reagan [but] the reults were almost the same as six years before." Keyes lost that year, 62% to 38% He was outspent by more than 2-1.

In 1992, Keyes was the regular GOP nominee, and lost to Sen. Mikulski by a slightly larger margin. He was also outspent by more than 3-1 that time. Mikulski has generally run more strongly than Sarbanes, though both are strong in the state. The GOP has not won a Senate race in MD since 1980, for what that is worth.

So, in summary, you have two "nominations," one to fill a vacant slot, and one in the ordinary way, and two efforts to get a nomination.

Happy New Year,

Richard F.

[mombonn]

There is one other reason MSNBC could be seriously looking at hiring Keyes: they need a known Bush-basher on board.

I think you're onto something.

Fortunately, I sleep early, and won't have to make the gut-wrenching decision of whether to watch him or greta.

[Howlin]

I believe one needs a "nomination" from the party to be on the ballot as its candidate.

So that would mean he wasn't really nominated in 1996 or 2000, wouldn't it?

[Howlin]

And he comes with NO baggage.

*Rolling my eyes*

[deport]

You reckon ol' larr is up for a show somewhere?

[Howlin]

Yeah. Probably Fox.

[rdf]

I wrote: "So, in summary, you have two "nominations," one to fill a vacant slot, and one in the ordinary way, and two efforts to get a nomination.

You wrote: "So that would mean he wasn't really nominated in 1996 or 2000, wouldn't it?"

I believe we are in agreement on the facts.

[estpeter]

Right on target as usual Miss Marple. In this same vein. did you see C-Span this morning? Especially the portion with L. Lapham of Harpers? How do they continue to get public funding? This is blatant.There were inumerable calls from I'm a Republican but... and the most partisan pap spewing imaginable. Of course it all was incredibly stupid as usual but the head honcho host lapped it up along with Lapham, of course.

[sinkspur]

Will Alan have a guest?

I can't imagine more than one guest being able, in an hour, to get in a word edgewise.

[OldFriend]

Known Bush Basher.....says it all.......But I doubt even the left is willing to pay the price of Keyes' moralizing.

[Miss Marple]

I am fascinated by this whole thing. Deep games are being played, and I don't know the answers yet, nor even have really good theories.

Geraldo I understand. He has switched emphasis and is covering war, not discussing politics.

Now, will Greta continue the news emphasis of the 10 PM slot? Is she going to be giving war coverage, or are we going back to a talk format? Why hire her, with her political baggage, as opposed to using someone like Linda Vester, who is non-partisan?

I just had a thought: what if Greta has been hired to provide balance fo another yet-to-be-hired, conservative host? Perhaps her contract is signed and the announcement made before the other new person is brought on board? Heheheheh.

[deport]

..........How do they continue to get public funding? ......

Do they get public funding?

[Miss Marple]

C-SPAN is not public funded. It is funded by the cable operators.

Call your local cable company and tell them they can make more money if they only show the House when in session, and the rest of the time switch it to QVC. Money talks.

[deport]

........Perhaps her contract is signed and the announcement made before the other new person is brought on board? Heheheheh. ......

Ol larr...... LOL

[Sunsong]

"There is one other reason MSNBC could be seriously looking at hiring Keyes: they need a known Bush-basher on board."

Exactly. It's a liberal media ploy. Probably suggested by Russert who brings on W. Saffire of B. Kristol when he needs a "balanced" look. They're almost always good for some negative comments about GW.

I hope this happens. You only need to hear Alan Keyes once or twice to know exactly what he will say for the next 20 years. "He's the most moral person on the planet and his followers are the same -- nobody else has anything worthwhile to say and GW is worse than Hitler".

[CounterCounterCulture]

Good for Alan Keyes if it comes to be.

[AppyPappy]

You are thinking of Harry Browne.

[rdf]

Good for Alan Keyes if it comes to be.

I have high hopes if it does happen. Alan is a media natural, and the conservative movement needs a powerful voice now, when many of its issues are submerged ... ending affirmative action, life, school choice, reduction of federal meddling in K-12 education, abolition of the income tax, defense of the marriage-based two-parent family, ... the list could be extended.

So let's hope.

Cheers,

Richard F.