Comments on: Fix ‘Meet The Press’, Hire Rachel Maddow

By: sruben

sruben — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:47:38 +0000

Rachel Maddow is lovely, smart and to be taken seriously but she is not objective nor does she pretend to be. So MTP doesn’t fit her strengths.

Let’s remember Tim Russert wasn’t always Tim Russert. He wasn’t that good when he started.

While Gregory has managed to learn to mimic Russert’s style and has adjusted to the show’s cookie cutter format, there is a fundamental difference between the two, which DG may or may not be aware of or overcome.

Russert asked simple direct questions to get the answer to complex issues but one often had the sense that Russert understood that the issues were complex.

With Gregory, one is less convinced that he understands the COMPLEXITY of issues so the question can appear to be standard “Jimmy Olsen” stuff. He seems to be more interested in simplifying issues to a ‘who, what, when, where and why’ than to use the format to insure that his audience perceives that in simple terms he has actually made them more expert.

Russert was around a long time before he received the propulsion that came from “Florida, Florida, Florida”. In those three words one understood that he really got it well enough to teach it without one thinking that he was trying to.

By: ericarthurblair

ericarthurblair — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:08:13 +0000

Here’s another good reason to hire Rachel Maddow: When she’s called out on a mistake, she apologizes on the air and sets the record straight. That alone, if nothing else, puts her head and shoulders above most of her rivals and all of her detractors.

By: Meet The Rachel « ENDAblog

Meet The Rachel « ENDAblog — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:52:04 +0000

[...] The Rachel Brian Donovan at True Slant: Let’s be honest, “Meet The Press” has been lost since Tim Russert’s [...]

By: larrybum

larrybum — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:42:59 +0000

I think Rachel is one of a kind. She is truly sharp, she has passion, and she is looking for the truth. Very seldom do you hear a commentator acknowledge points that her opponent makes. They usually point out that “they aren’t the only ones doing this kind of thing, so why get on my case?” She cuts through the chaff better than anyone I’ve seen in recent memory. It is refreshing to hear her go after some of these dudes. I’m wondering if their agreement to come on her show reflects their need for publicity or their distain that a woman could actually kick their ass?

By: dventimi

dventimi — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:30:23 +0000

I’m afraid I don’t buy the premise that Tim Russert was a good interviewer. MTP “was lost” long before Russert’s passing, Russert was hugely unreliable in his “dogged” determination, he didn’t leave especially large shoes to fill, and his successor could hardly be more of a let-down than Russert was day in and day out, every week. Anyone who watched Russert’s MTP while getting color commentary by Bob Somerby at http://www.thedailyhowler.com knows what I’m talking about. I see some of the commentators above do.

I’ll take back one thing, though. Russert seemed like a nice fellow, and so does Gregory. That’s more than I can say about the ghastly pool of “mean girls” Washington journalists from which a successor might have been drawn.

By: ddavis78725

ddavis78725 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:47:22 +0000

She’s too partisan for Meet the Press. Maybe her and Fox New’s Sean Hannity should host the show together in order to get the balance that Tim Russert provided by himself.

By: Brian Donovan

Brian Donovan — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:40:09 +0000

julie, i clicked the link, but all i say was a hilarious, totally amazing and topical rap by a bunch of funny and hip men in tuxedos. is that the right vid?

By: mgvestal

mgvestal — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:22:19 +0000

Unlike many, I don’t dislike Maddow just because she is gay. I wonder if your judgement is clouded because you identify with her lifestyle, or you are just so liberal that you forgot how good Russert was.

By: juliepeterson

juliepeterson — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:57:08 +0000

I think that Rachel Maddow would be a great host for Meet The Press Yes, she’s admittedly Progressive, but she’s also very smart and I believe that her priority is getting to the truth and holding those involved in politics accountable. Like most in the media, I believe that David Gregory’s priority is getting access, not getting to the truth. I lost all respect for him after seeing this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdvHwtRdg_I

By: liberal2thecore

liberal2thecore — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:44:56 +0000

Hi Mrs. Gregory!