New CNN 'Crossfire' has GOP turning the channel

U.S. News ^ | 04/06/2002 | Paul Bedard

[Pokey78]

Maybe it was Paul Begala's opening comments on the first day of CNN's revamped Crossfire that it was time to "kick a little right-wing ass" that angered Republicans. Or when cohost James Carville kept interrupting GOP Chairman Marc Racicot. Whatever, Republican leaders are blackballing the show. "The word is out: Don't go on; you'll get screwed," says a top Senate aide. Adds a House colleague: "It isn't a total boycott, but the show's last on our list to do." That's a blow for CNN, which has struggled to snare GOP guests as it battles with conservative-friendly Fox News. The complaints: Combative liberals Begala and Carville, both Democratic Party operatives, are too good at what they do, and conservative journalists Robert Novak and Tucker Carlson, who might see a nuance now and then, can't keep up. And they hate the live George Washington University audience. "It's like Jerry Springer," gripes a GOP-er. Says CNN's Ali Weisberg: "Robert Novak and Tucker Carlson are tough and smart on the right, and they can certainly hold their own. ... Crossfire always tries to keep its guests–and now its live audience–balanced."

[Stefan Stackhouse]

STILL the "Clinton News Network", even after all these years. Move over, Tokyo Rose! Move over, Axis Sally & Lord Haw-Haw! Move over, Radio Moscow! Another failed propaganda media outlet is on its way to the grave.

[Jim Scott]

This 'show' will bomb big-time and rightly so.

CNN is making the classic liberal error of assuming that liberal politics are really mainstream politics and that a majority of the people agree that Bush is an idiot and Clinton was a prince among men and a towering success as President. The reality is the opposite, of course.

Bush has solid support and his moderate-conservative politics are popular with the general public. Carville and Begala are obnoxious bores, not TV material at all, and the Republican/Bush bashing will fall flat very quickly. CNN is frantic to stop it's continued viewer loss but they won't because they'll never abandon liberalism. It's a religion, a mindset and for the CNN executives, impossible to reject. Good! Let them fail with it, as they will.

[dvwjr]

"Carville and Begala are not "tougher" than anyone else, they just lie a lot while most conservative's do not."

But they are the "Asses of Evil"...

[KQQL]

Begala is a mean spirted A$$ and that's why his show was cancelled by MSNBC......

[Puzzleman]

Novak is NOT a conservative. He has admitted on the air that he is a Democrat. He pretends to be on our side and his liberal bosses allow him to take our side to build his credibility. That goes on until we need him. Every time we're in a close election he ALWAYS turns on us and obeys his liberal employers.

He's a hypocrite and he's worse than Carville or Begala.

Conservatives need to understand that we have no true friends on television. They are simply not allowed on the air.

[GuillermoX]

Should they block out the Fox Network (not FNC) as well?

[Mike Darancette]

They should rename that show "BUSHWACK".

[dvwjr]

Actually, I believe that Novak is a conservative, be that a JFK cold warrior Democrat. I would say he is more of a monetarist than anything else. But that part of the Democrat party died long ago...

[Cindy]

Consider CNN...it is not a source for news, but it is a source for the evil left to spread their propaganda. Have the Republican's had enough of "bi-partisanship" yet? Stay tuned....

[timydnuc]

It looks like CNN has actually come out of the closet. I can just imagine a new bumper sticker I'm Left Wing & Proud Of It

Let these idiots spew their lies to an empty space. The American people will tune them out. Which ever program is on opposite them on FOX will get the audience, so it's for the better anyway.

Jimmy "the snake face" and Paully "the bug-eyed-big forehead". I'll bet you ten bucks that they don't take phone calls. I'll bet you twenty bucks that they'd never take mine!

Re-name the program Cheese...From The Left. Afterall, if you have 2 RATS there must be cheese somewhere.

[Morgan in Denver]

I have to admit, it has been interesting reading the comments.

I, for one, will not watch CNN's Crossfire. Bill Press was bad enough but Begala and Carville are worse then bad.

Crossfire sucks, and so does CNN. Try as they may, this network is useless and this program will fail along with the other ones.

[JCG]

My favorite Crossfire moment was when Tom Braden, the first liberal host, walked off the set when Cal Thomas insulted him.

I liked the time when Abbie Hoffman called Tom Braden "Pops."

America's Fifth Column ... watch PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
Download 8 Mb zip file here (60 minute video)

[VinnyTex]

You're crazy. Novak is a hard rightwinger. Yes it's true he worked for LBJ in the 60s, but over the years evolved into a tax cutting Republican.

He's not a Neo-con, but falls more into the TAFT wing of the Republican party. Slash government, cut taxes and mind our own business when it comes to foreign affairs.

[CasearianDaoist]

And the ratings are reflecting it.

[Pagey]

Novak...he's worse than Carville or Begala. I actually don't believe you (or anyone else for that matter) believes this,but it is your right to say it,that's for sure.I don't believe Novak is an apologist for anyone.He's not a conservative either,(that's for damn sure),and When Mark Shield shut's his mouth and doesn't interrupt him,he can speak quite clearly.He IS only a REPORTER who's been around forever and seen the slime come and go w/ Rollie Evans(RIP),for what 45-50 years?

But to say he's WORSE than those 2 Paid Clinton Shills,that just doesn't register w/ my brain at all.When I think Satan and Begala,I think,"Liars,Cheats,Intentional Manipulators".That ISN'T what I think when I read Bob Novak's columns,though.I've changed the channels since about 1993 when either of them come on.I wouldn't mind meeting them personally though,Just to "Horribly Freep" them.That would be serious.Get REALLY close to Paul. "You look a little UNEASY Paul"? LOLOLOLOLOL

[logician2u]

That's an interesting premise.

Do you have anything in writing to back it up?

Novak has turned out quite a number of columns over the years, so it shouldn't be hard to find one or two.

I'll be waiting.

[Gritty]

Under the new Campaign Finance "Reform", we can look forward to a lot more of these rabid leftist nutjobs on the TV, spouting their nonsense non-stop - all UNCONTROLLED and LEGAL, of course. This will be considered "fair political discourse". They'll chase any decent candidate or commentary off the air, and nobody can say a thing about it or buy any time to refute it. After all, the Media talk shows can interview anybody they want, anyhow, to make "news".

Goebbels never had it so good...!

[VinnyTex]

Sure. I've been reading Novak for years. Watch the Capital Gang and crossfire too.

[CyberAnt]

Yes, and how convenient this will be for the dems/libs when (and if) CFR comes into play - these two will be allowed to trash all the repubs/conservatives and no response will be allowed! Ouch!!

[sandydipper]

Carville and Ann Lewis - open mouth and start the democrats diatribe of propaganda. They are both lowlifes that need some hard jail time with Bill and Hill.