A lot has been written about CNN and their upcoming prime time adjustments, at one, possibly two, hours. We’ve heard the partisan versus objective arguments – but is it an issue a of “raucous” versus “passive” model?

What ever happened to the pundits in the middle? Radio host Michael Smerconish takes aim at cable news in general as he mourns the loss of “moderate, thoughtful analysis” in a Washington Post column today.

That would be radio host and MSNBC contributor Michael Smerconish.

Brian Stelter of the New York Times takes a devastating look at Larry King, the host of the 9pmET CNN show that is in deep decline; the personality whose contract is up next year with the murky future; the 76-year-old who hosts an “old” program.

But what jumped out the most was a quote from Tom Dougherty that only loosely referred to King personally, and more broadly about CNN as a whole. It essentially asks: Who are you, CNN?

The New York Times takes a look at the reaction since RedState.com Editor Erick Erickson was named CNN contributor in March. Erickson has heard it from all sides – but as the Times story shows, it’s uncharted territory to appoint an outsider to the pundit position:

One of the first anchors from another network to join the young Fox Business Network in 2007 was Liz Claman, who came over from CNBC. This week the Los Angeles Times profiled the star at FBN, who revealed a bit about her “tree-hugging, West Coast, free-market, liberal Jew from L.A.” background.

We’ve written a lot about FNC’s record ratings – ratings that have the news network looking to knock off cable competitors outside of the news world. So how does this translate to advertisers? It’s all part of FNC’s new pitch.

Gawker’s Ravi Somaiya made it into the Vanity Fair Oscars Party uninvited last night for “seven minutes in total,” and today described (with pics) some of what went down in the extremely hard-to-crash event. Besides the interaction with Rupert Murdoch and everyone’s favorite pilot Chesley Sullenberger, he also ran into Anjelica Huston before getting run out of the event.

Charles M. Blow, in Saturday’s New York Times op-ed “Crucible of Change” writes about the negative change that has come to Washington after so many promises. “[T]he far right has formed a movement fueled by irrational anger,” he writes, but it’s not too late for Obama to be the one to adjust. But first, he has to stop being “[s]o stubbornly sweet. So simply naïve.”

Do you feel like you haven’t seen Pres. Obama doing enough media appearances and interviews? Probably not. But that’s because he’s gone through other means – a YouTube Q&A, a college basketball broadcast – in addition to one-off interviews on broadcast networks. And this strategy is not making the White House press corps who covers the President the most very happy.

An extensive feature in today’s New York Times calls Sarah Palin “a new breed of unelected public figure operating in an environment in which politics, news media and celebrity are fused as never before,” painting her as an unstoppable national brand and even “as big a celebrity as Princess Di,” according to one Alaskan journalist.

David Brooks, in Tuesday’s New York Times op-ed “The Geezers’ Crusade,” writes about the political implications of aging in our world. Youth, he says, is overrated in making change. Instead, it’s the old people — taking money, freedom and opportunity more than ever before — who need to catalyze progression: “Only the old can lead a generativity revolution.”

Megyn Kelly‘s new two-hour 1pmET show, America Live, premieres today on Fox News and she talked to the New York Times‘ Brian Stelter ahead of the premiere.

She gave some insight into the thought process of one of the most successful TV news executives ever.

Charles M. Blow, in Saturday’s New York Times op-ed “Lost in Translation” argues that Obama’s rhetorical style is too professorial and complicated to convince anyone. “They’re suspicious of complexity,” Blow writes, and “Obama has to accept that today’s information environment is broad and shallow.”

Frank Rich, in Sunday’s New York Times op-ed “After the Massachusetts Massacre” insists that a political obituary for Obama is premature, but that doesn’t mean the Democrats’ political path is promising: “If the administration sticks to this trajectory, all bets are off for the political future of a president who rode into office blessed with more high hopes, good will and serious promise than any in modern memory.”

Bob Herbert, in today’s New York Times op-ed “They Still Don’t Get It,” slams Democrats, who he claims are ignoring America’s economic plights in favor of pursuing a warped health care plan: “The idea that they are not spending every waking hour trying to fix the broken economic system and put suffering Americans back to work is beyond pathetic.”

Frank Rich, in today’s New York Times op-ed “The Great Tea Party Rip-Off,” argues that a grassroots movement is being exploited, not only by politicians seeking election, but by companies, marketers and lobbyists. “Both Steele and Palin claim to be devotees of the tea party movement,” Rich writes skeptically, wondering if the group is “being co-opted by hucksters.”

In his Sunday Washington Post column, Dana Milbank cites last week’s new Gallup poll about the public figures most admired in America. As we noted Wednesday, President Barack Obama easily won the Most Admired Man title with 30% of the vote, while Glenn Beck came in fourth place, above Pope Benedict XVI and just behind Nelson Mandela. And that makes Milbank scared.

In his Friday column, the New York Times‘ David Brooks wrote about the immaturity of the American psyche, especially with regards to terrorism and national security. Brooks mourned the vanishing of a collective “mature attitude,” noting that “this is apparently a country that must be spoken to in childish ways. Don’t worry, little Johnny.”

Here is a lesson in how journalism (and really, life) works in 2009: the passenger on Northwest Flight 253 being billed as a hero for helping subdue Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab will tell you his story – but only if you pay him money. But Jasper Schuringa was already on CNN, you say? Well, CNN paid up. And Mediaite has the full story inside!

Jasper Schuringa, a 32-year-old film maker from Amsterdam, is being lauded as the primary hero after he led the charge to subdue would-be terrorist Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab on Northwest flight 253 yesterday. Now, CNN has a fascinating interview with Schuringa, in which he describes the fire and tells how he subdued the suspect. Video inside!

A senior Department of Homeland Security official is telling the New York Times that yesterday’s failed terrorist attack aboard Northwest flight 253 might included an “incendiary” device as opposed to an “explosive” one, and that the suspect may have attempted to cause a fire on the plane, not necessarily blow it up. “[O]ur sense is he wanted to wreak some havoc here and was attempting to do just that,” the official said.

New York Times TV Critic Alessandra Stanley‘s takeaway from the move is that Diane Sawyer taking over for Charlie Gibson means she, Katie Couric and Brian Williams are now “evenly matched in looks and take-charge personality.” Also, from earlier in the column: “Ms. Sawyer appears to have the same high-octane drive and ambition as Brian Williams and Katie Couric.” But wait – looks?!

It’s no great secret that Senator Joe Lieberman has enraged many liberals with his vocal, well-publicized threats to derail the health care bill under consideration.
Dana Milbank’s theory: Lieberman is just an old-school moderate, which is something today’s hyperpolarized Senate can’t handle.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s new book, “Cheating Death,” was released in October, but the celebration took place this week. In the crowd was a mix of talent and executives from CNN and other networks – including a large contingent of TV doctors. How was his boss going to describe him Monday night?

For those who have watched Bill O’Reilly on Fox News, you know how much he values “the folks” and being able to connect with them.

So which anchor does he bestow the high honor of this quote: “The folks believe he’s one of them, not some anchorman from Mount Olympus.” Hint – he’s your favorite car chase anchor…