If so, why? This morning I heard her give her "expert analysis". It consisted of the following deep insights. The Democrats are divided between those who want to move left, and those who want to move right. The winner of the post of DNC chair will give us an insight into which way the party is headed. The party doesn't know how to appeal to church goers without pissing off abortion-rights and gay-rights supporters and Hollywood (yes, she actually said "Hollywood"). Even if there's more policy agreement between them than you'd think, Bill Clinton represents the "moderates" and Hillary Clinton represents "the liberals", because she has liberal constituents in New York. The Bush administration and House Republicans are more partisan than many previous power players in Washington.
Why don't they just send a reporter and a producer over to the nearest middle school? If that want insight that deep I've known several 6th graders who could provide it (hey, even Bill Schneider could provide), and they'd probably do it for free (and maybe that would save us from a few minutes of those interminable fund-raising drives). And if NPR wants pointless and vapid ... well, they aren't doing their job.
Posted by armand at November 29, 2004 10:49 AM | TrackBack | Posted to MediaHonestly, I think they keep her around for her "connections" as a child of a deceased, powerful Louisiana congressman. After all, that's got to be useful for fundraising, if nothing else.
Though, if we're going to bash Morning Edition, why not just come down on the entire show? Since Bob Edwards has left, their "chipper" Rene Montagne and Steve "I've always got something to say" Inskeep have made that show nearly unlistenable. The last time I wrote the Ombudsman about the declining quality of programming and a slide towards, "News You Can Use" a-la local evening tv news programs, they actually started an ad campaign about "News You Can Use." I just about spit. Someone said if they want to update the program, get rid of Carl Kassel (sp?), but as I see it, he's the last bastion of carefully edited and reviewed news coverage at that program.
Does anyone know if Bob Edwards is on satellite radio yet?
drew, not sure edwards is on the air yet, but in any event as i understand it his show is going to be more along the lines of Fresh Air than Morning Edition -- probably not something to subscribe for in itself, and with bob edwards at XM and howard at Sirius, i think there's a real question whether both services will even survive, which is why i'm waiting until the market sorts itself out to consider buying in.
Posted by: joshua at November 29, 2004 11:21 AM | PERMALINKC'mon Joshua, this is capitalism...you're supposed to put your money where your vote is and contribute to the sorting out. ;)
Posted by: binky at November 29, 2004 01:43 PM | PERMALINKmy money still goes to NPR and my local indie record store (or, in bouts of laziness or fits of pique, amazon.com).
Posted by: joshua at November 29, 2004 02:28 PM | PERMALINK