This reporter was thinking just a little while back, that what this country needs is another intolerant political loud mouth on the airwaves. It doesn't matter what political party they call home -- R or D, liberal conservative. No TV viewer seems able to go more than a few minutes without having some self-important gas bag named Matthews or O'Reilly, sporting one ideology or another, raging at a camera.Fortunately, MSNBC brings us another fix -- the emerging show from Air America personality Ed Schultz. Resembling a sort of square-headed Rush Limbaugh, Schultz's politics run more toward Keith Olbermann. But, let's face it: None of these guys are on TV to discuss sensible politics on either side of the aisle. They're on the air to pontificate, yell, scream and (in Schultz's case) have a borderline Network-ish nervous breakdown on camera every night.
You can see a recent example here. Whether you agree or disagree with Schultz, is too much to ask that he not succumb to clownish apoplexy to make his point? He even throws in an Elvis karate kick at the midway point of this rant.
The odd thing is Schultz was never quite this militant on his radio program. Opinionated? Sure. Ready to confront? He was paid to do that. But he wasn't wont to physically abuse bits of surrounding furniture.
It leaves you to wonder if MSNBC or Fox News producers get to their hosts and urge them to engage in the equivalent of political Vaudeville to stir up the viewers and win in the ratings. It seems the only loser is anyone who'd like some reasoned look at the facts without screeching and name-calling.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-10-2009 @ 10:57AM
Michael said...
This is a weak attempt at a ratings grab by MSNBC, nothing more. Every facet of NBC's "news" channels (and I use that term VERY loosely) is suffering badly in the ratings because they are so obviously in bed with the Obama administration. No other network has gone as far to kiss up in an attempt to grab some government cash as NBC/MSNBC. They don't even try to hide it anymore it's so obvious. Mr. Schultz is simply a lame attempt to prop up their sagging ratings by putting on a side show - and it won't work. His show will be gone before it embarrasses them too much.
They should have kept Tucker Carlson and just let him be as entertaining as he is on BTLS... Now FOX has him on board and you know he's going to just kill over there.
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6-10-2009 @ 11:04AM
Sy said...
When it comes to bias, MSNBC is the worst of the bunch. If they rename their station Obama Network, no one would even blink an eye.
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6-10-2009 @ 11:41AM
cherries said...
Oh gosh, I miss Tucker Carlson so much. Where is he on Fox? I didn't know they gave him a show. When is it? I've been waiting to see him resurface. I agree about the screaming maniacs on MSNBC; I can't stand any of 'em, except for Rachel who at least exhibits some sense of decorum. And this is coming from a lifelong liberal Democrat. I simply cannot stand the screaming on MSNBC anymore. It's awful. And after a long day at work, screaming is about the last thing I want to hear. Some measured, balanced, intelligent REPORTING would be so refreshing.
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6-10-2009 @ 4:30PM
Michael said...
Tucker is a regular on Bubba the Love Sponge on Sirius (he's going to be on today as a matter of fact!) and he announced a week or two ago that he's been hired by FOX News. I'd imagine he'll be a reporter and commentator much like many of the reporters are and appear on quite a few shows as he gets entrenched there. The Tucker Carlson I hear on Sirius is funny as hell and is miles away from how badly MSNBC stifled him when he was on their network. FOX will let him say what he wants and I would lay money on him getting his own show one of these days. Even as a conservative, I have to admit that Tuck is a great mind and I love hearing him talk politics or anything else.
6-10-2009 @ 12:26PM
Mike said...
The only thing worth watching on MSNBC anymore is Morning Joe. They effectively got rid of any dissent from their liberal slant when they deep sixed Tucker except from 6-9am... and look at their ratings in that slot. You'd think they would see that and consider for a moment that perhaps a more balanced and genial approach to the news would bear more fruit.
The thing with both Scarborough and Tucker Carlson was that they weren't screamers. And yeah, they're about as conservative as you can get, but they aren't haters... and that makes all the difference.
Scarborough was on Hardball to push his new book last night... a book that talks about bringing people together to maintain the large conservative tent Reagan had, rather than diminish it into the select club of pseudo-conservatives we were left with under Bush. And all Matthews could talk about was abortion... not even remotely the point of his book. A hit job up one side and down the other.
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6-10-2009 @ 1:27PM
chad said...
John Scott Lewinski- Ed Schultz is not, nor has he ever, been an "Air America personality." I know this is the Internet and people stopped checking facts about five years ago, but c'mon - you have to know that. Shultz is their primary competition at noon and he is cleaning their clock in most markets. Shultz is distributed by Dial Global, formerly Jones Radio. Air America Media offers Ron Kuby at noon, not Ed Shultz.
Thank you.
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6-10-2009 @ 1:28PM
chad said...
John Scott Lewinski- Ed Schultz is not, nor has he ever, been an
"Air America personality." I know this is the Internet and people
stopped checking facts about five years ago, but c'mon - you have to
know that. Shultz is their primary competition at noon and he is
cleaning their clock in most markets. Shultz is distributed by Dial
Global, formerly Jones Radio. Air America Media offers Ron Kuby at
noon, not Ed Shultz.
Reply
6-10-2009 @ 1:43PM
rick cokely said...
Ed Schultz most certainly is NOT an Air America personality.
That being said, he really shouldn't be an MSNBC personality either!
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6-13-2009 @ 9:08PM
StewartIII said...
Low Rated Ed Schultz Engages in 'Psycho Talk'
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/p-j-gladnick/2009/06/13/low-rated-ed-schultz-engages-psycho-talk
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6-18-2009 @ 3:30PM
J R said...
Joe Scarborough needs to be moved to fox, he would fit
in well.
Love MSNBC
Reply
7-13-2009 @ 8:42PM
Gary R said...
When was the Palin eldest son born? The official wikipedia page has tactfully omitted the birthday. When Sarah Palin’s nomination was announced, some sources stated Track Palin as being 18, some said Track Palin was 19. As of today, Sept. 1, 2008, almost all websites with new posts state Track Palin as being 19. So, if Todd Palin married Sarah Palin on Aug 29, 1988, then Track Palin may have been conceived almost immediately to be born in time for his age to be listed as 18 - 19 in 2008. The rumor started because the birthdate was known to be in April 20, 1989. An old traffic offence record from a speeding ticket on Track CJ Palin stated his birthdate as April 20 1989.
Some websites wrote that Track Palin was born less than eight months after the wedding. However, a baby may be born prematurely. Track Palin was born in April 20, 1989. Let’s give the Palins the benefit of the doubt. Track could have been a premature baby, born prematurely when he was 7 months, 21 days old. (give and take 1 day because the exact hours were not calculated)
Bristol Palin conceived a baby out of wedlock. The rumors said there was a trend.
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7-21-2009 @ 9:56PM
Al Beaton said...
Ed Schultz will say and do anything for the buck. Desperate people do desperate things. Ed screaming about Cheney and now screaming about Rush. Ed, they don't even know that you exist! The only reason you haven't been dropped from MSNBC is that the whole channel sucks. When you're bad, you don't stick out so much when you are surrounded by bad shows.
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7-29-2009 @ 11:11AM
jess said...
ed. members of congress should dress like NASCAR DRIVERS, with their sponsors displayed. a//l
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