Hard Questions vs. Rhetorical, Opinionated Political Hackery

[AVID]

Tucker Carlson got all high and mighty about the service Crossfire does for the political process. He kept refering to hard questions - Stewart was right, they don't debate - they pontificate (most times on top of each other).

Hardball is the same - I'm sure Tweety sleeps well at night dreaming of is altruistic blabbering.

Wolf Blitzer and Candy Crowley also let their "hackery" into their expressions and conotations. Do they wonder why their credibility is at stake.

Pundits have become the "Alex Trebek" of journalism: "I'm smarter than you - I know all the answers!"

Are there any good journalists left?

[lil-petunia]

1. PBS still has a few. And Chicago's local PBS station has some great ones.

Serious, well respected, well read, and informed without being partisan dogs.

[Minimus]

2. Dan Rather was making an attempt and

they crucified him for it.

"News" people care about nothing except ratings. They are not providing the public with a service. They days of journalism, even in newspapers is gone.

Oh Cronkite, my Cronkite....

[KharmaTrain]

3. Depends On Your Definition Of Journalist

We're in an age where labels don't apply. You have journalists, like Carlson (remember, this is rhetorical and theoretical, right???) who don't report but editorialize...or claim to be entertainers, while you have entertainers, like Stewart who report but supposedly to expose the ironies and quirkiness of the political process.

The lines have long been blurred as your news anchors are "stars" and become a part of the story...as well as a Washington press corp that value their bylines and access above being objective and doing serious investigative journalism.

Remember, Carlson is paid by CNNservative to appear on that show as a Conservative. If he backed down to Stewart or didn't play the "hack", he'd be in breech of his contract. And that's where the problems you point to begin.

We're in an age where Q rating (how a TV personality rates with an audience) along with ratings can mean millions of dollars to a Carlson or Tweety or any pundit wannabe. There's also a cadre of "experts" just dying for that quick $250 or so for popping into a TV studio and yelling at a camera for 30 minutes.

Andy Warhol & Marshall McLuan had this world pegged 40 years ago.

Cheers!

[gavodotcom]

4. Excellent post!

[AVID]

6. Oh the joy

I agree.

The irony of Carleson's journalism jab - and Stewarts comeback. Both their shows are entertainment pieces - Tucker just doesn't get it.

[ronabop]

5. How many hard questions are asked *here*?

How many folks here are accused of being freepers for daring to dissent on DU?
How much emphasis is placed on "staying on message", rather than honest discourse?
How many serious questions are met with derision, or cheap talking points, on DU?

Now, if you'll pardon me, I have a logjam in my own eye to clear up....
....15 days from now, that is. :)

-Bop

[AVID]

7. Your fallling into the Tucker Trap

See the medium for what it is.

My point is that too many people are suckered into believing that they are getting news from some of CNN and MSNBC's Pundits

They see those shows as news hours and beleive the pundits.

DU asks plenty of hard questions of *. During the primaries there was "spirited" debate about each dem candidate. There were lots of hard questions of him thrown around then.

We have a candidate to support here. The hard questions of Kerry have been asked and answered for most of us.

[ronabop]

9. Hm... delicious irony!

"We have a candidate to support here."
"The hard questions of Kerry have been asked and answered for most of us."

.....mmmkay.

I'll see ya in 15 days. ;)

[AVID]

11. Whats your point?

Have you accidentally entered the wrong board?

Do you know wher you are?

15 days - Do you have a hot date on Friday Nov 5th? You go ahead and vote on Friday. I doubt we'll miss yours

[ronabop]

13. I was adding in a safety margin...

For some litigation days. :)

I certainly know "wher" I am.

-Bop

[secular_warrior]

10. You have a point - it is human nature to shout down dissent

Even on liberal message boards, there is a "class structure", a self appointed "ruling elite" who feels it is their duty to control the "little people", to enforce a company line for "the greater good". (sound familiar ?)

Liberals are simply better about it, but the underlying dynamic is still there.

[secular_warrior]

8. The problem has more to do with Big Media

The news has become a product that is tailored to maximize profit.

If a media corporation feels it can draw a bigger and/or more profitable audience from a conservative message, it will go that way. If it feels a liberal message will sell - it will go that way as well. They care much less about the message/product itself and how it relates to their own politics than do about selling a profitable product.

People like Tweety don't make any decisions - they are simply employees trying to please their bosses.

The way to address this problem is to break up Big Media and institute strict regulation, as the government did to the telecom industry in the '80s. The situation will get worse until this happens.

[0007]

12. Haranguing us sheep is the favor pastime for the media whores

and some politicians.