What fun!

Doug did a great job of trying to keep on the subject of balanced news coverage. I hope this is one of many times we get to see and hear the Chief.

Sandy

Atta boy, Doug. What we're really dealing with is a format issue, for our media, on a national level. There's never any depth or serious debate on any of the networks, just sound bites, Jerry Springer archetype self-obsessed megalomaniacs shouting their views (Doug was the only of the three who took the high road, here) and emotion-driven incitement and drivel.

This was called 'good television' when I worked in the TV biz in LA; it probably still is. The point being, the networks go out of their way to AVOID tackling the issues. Doug's right, of course, it's all about ratings. (What this says about the American public is not exactly news, either....)

The Obama administration is foolishly playing to a partisan 'base', presumably to avoid talking about substantive issues, as well. That puts 'em squarely in the Nixonian and/or Jerry Springer category.

How does the tag line for the chorus of the song go, "Everybody wants to rule the world?" Well, guess what? Obama is just as eager to win the pissing match as Fox is. What IS amazing is that in some ways, the media really does have more power than the President does. If there's any point to this rant, it's that the format of the media is all screwed up, not just FOX with it's radical opinion-based programming.

The reasons I left the media 25 years ago were many. But the biggest one was seeing the blatant agenda and power that a small group of political and ethnic partisans had to control our information and interpretation of it. Doug's calling the media 'Nixonian' is frankly an understatement, IMHO, and it ain't just FOX, either. I wish CNN had allowed Doug to elaborate on the larger issue of the media mob vs. the politicians, but that would have taken more than 3.5 minutes and would have seriously taxed the attention span of almost any American, not just the Americans who watch Jerry Springer or Monster Truck rallies. Anyway, nice job, Doug. Not only did you manage to slip in some of the truth, but you also managed to make your co-debaters look like complete imbeciles! And all you had to do was act like an adult and stick to the question! We need a LOT more like you, but alas, it might not be 'great televion.'

Interesting, isn't it, how the conduct of this CNN segment was a metaphor for the very topic being discussed. David Waldman and Ben Ferguson sniping at each other about how the White House and Fox are sniping at each other – with Waldman clearly representing the White House and the leftist media, and Ferguson representing Fox.

I have to wonder, though, just who Doug was representing. Certainly not any of our mainstream media, at this point. Isn't that kind of sad?

—W—

Doug said it all, thank you. I watched and saw just how bad the media has become. Yet even as bad as the media is, it is not as bad as the administration who is playing a petty elementary game. Yet my husband is deployed and the administration's wasting it's precious time with a tv network? Unbelievable. Is there no better issue to tackle, is there no more important matter to finish? No wonder the American people are angry with there elected officials. Come down to the real world and you will see more important matters than your feelings being hurt.
Mari

Wow that guy from Daily Kos was a real dickhead. Thanks for the unpleasant but necessary reminder of why I don't watch television.

I was actually exposed to CNN for about forty grueling minutes earlier today and just shook my head in utter dismay the entire time.

That's twice in one day...I need a shower. I feel grimy now.

Great job Doug. Shredded those losers in three easy segments. I don't know how you kept yourself from breaking out in hysterical and uncontrollable laughter at those stooges.

Fantastic job Doug. You came off as the only sensible non-partisan on the show. The other two acted like spoiled children shouting over each other. So when does the CHB Network start airing?

But Woody, CHB does not need a network; we have the best blog group there is! CHB focuses on news and opinions on news without the anger and hatred of the right versus left. Doug would rather report right versus wrong and let the political parties fall into their own place.

Good job Doug.
You know of course that all the liberals will now have you down for a rabid conservative and vice versa, because in their world you must choose a "side". Perhaps some of the news organizations can take a cue from you.
It would be so nice to just get real news all the time.
I have to hand it to you for your reserve. David Waldman is a jerk. He is every bit as hateful as anyone on the rabid right. yeesh!
Obama is coming off like a spoiled brat for freezing them out.
Apparently he missed the Godfather adage, "keep your friends close. Keep your enemies closer."

The only difference between the liberal and conservative news/opinion/entertainment shows is where they point the blame.

The problem Obama has is the vast number of promises he made that he is now back-tracking on, which Fox is clearly having field days pointing out.

Olberman, Maddox and their ilk don't like having "their" man take the well-deserved heat, but they aren't up to deflecting the slings and arrows away from him.

Thus, the WH is forced to appear as the thin-skinned bastion of deceit it has become.