Joe Coscarelli writes about “the ensuing fawning … can sometimes be too much to bear” while mentioning an earlier interview with Dick Cheney. Funny, it seems Coscarelli’s fawning over Maddow was too much for me to bear. This was not “one of the most extraordinary things ever seen on television,” and anyone who says otherwise might consider the moon landing, Vietnam, the Munich Olympics, the Miracle on Ice, the Challenger disaster, the falling of the Berlin wall, etc. Hyperbole much? Maddow is a hard-core, unapologetic liberal, and that immediately robs her of any comparison to Murrow, who was an actual journalist without an agenda obvious to everyone with eyes or ears.

As for our military actions, Mr. Coscarelli, the vast majority of Americans believe the following: We are the good guys. The people we’re fighting are the bad guys. This vast majority is right to believe that.

Ms. Maddow lacks the ratings and the credibility to change that. Attacking the Bush Administration and its mistakes might give Mr. Coscarelli heart palpitations, but it falls flat with Americans more concerned about the problems staring us in the face.

Hey Jim, take a look around (in the media, not in the warm conservative hearts of America) – Maddow is respected and adored because she’s really good at what she does. Having a distaste for liberalism doesn’t lend too much to your argument, unfortunately.

Kevin, I always chuckle when I’m arguing with someone who refuses to address the specific points of my argument. Let me show you how it’s done.

You say: Maddow is respected and adored because she’s really good at what she does.
I say: Maddow is respected and adored by an incredibly small (and shrinking) sliver of the population. She is very bright, and unlike Mr. Olbermann, Maddow earns my respect because she invites people on her show who disagree with her.

You say: “My distaste for liberalism doesn’t lend to much to my argument.”
I say: Maddow has turned her distaste (with a raised eyebrow and unending smarm) for conservatism into a lucrative career.”

As for Maddow’s long-term future, look at the trend of her ratings since her show began. MSNBC may love her, but her audience is dwinding. Why is that?

“Maddow is a hard-core, unapologetic liberal, and that immediately robs her of any comparison to Murrow, who was an actual journalist without an agenda obvious to everyone with eyes or ears.”

“Maddow has turned her distaste (with a raised eyebrow and unending smarm) for conservatism into a lucrative career.”

So you believe the same thing about conservative counterparts then, right? If you weren’t here just to trash liberals, like Kevin said, then I expect you to do the same treatment with conservatives.

I’m sorry M, is that the “takes one to know one” or the “I’m rubber and you’re glue” defense?

Bad behavior never justifies bad behavior. I have no tolerance for Hannity or Beck because they are just as myopic as Maddow and Olbermannn. I would argue Maddow is smarter than all of them, but she lacks their showmanship (or perhaps they just have better producers, it doesn’t really matter).

Maddow is very bright, but is she smarter than everyone? No. Does she act like she’s smarter than everyone? Constantly.

Now, would either M, Kevin, or anyone else care to challenge my arguments on the merits, or do my conservative leanings render me undeserving of an intellectual discussion?

I’ll take intelligence over showmanship any day of the week.

Ratings aren’t a great reflection of our collective intellectual aptitude. Unfortunately viewers are more often drawn to side shows and car chases rather than actual news.

I agree though, even Maddow is a little too partisan at times for my tastes, but at least she brings on people who do not share her views and gives them a chance to defend themselves, and doesn’t try to talk over them like many other hosts tend to do.

“that immediately robs her of any comparison to Murrow, who was an actual journalist without an agenda obvious to everyone with eyes or ears.”

Have you seen “Harvest of Shame?” “See It Now”? Murrow’s criticisms of McCarthy?

Murrow was an excellent journalist, but to say he didn’t have an agenda at times is risible. He pioneered well-researched, documented advocacy journalism on television.

“the vast majority of Americans believe the following: this vast majority is right to believe that.

Ms. Maddow lacks the ratings and the credibility to change that.

but it falls flat with Americans more concerned about the problems staring us in the face.”

Quoting television ratings, and vast majority opinion (or your perception on the vast majority opinion) on the Iraq war, are not a refutation of Coscarelli’s opinion that the interview was well done.

how can anyone watch Maddow’s show
absolutely AWFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!