Jacqueline Marcus: Are Liberal Talk Hosts Obsessed with Insane Republicans? How about Promoting Progressive Democrats Instead!

I am a dedicated progressive program listener and is dissappointed on the amount of air time spent on interviewing  or talking constantly about the republicans instead of educating us and keep us informed on what the Liberals and Progresives are doing; for I don't care or want to hear what the nutcases doing every day. If I want to know that bad all I need to do is turn to any Fox station which I never listen to; but when I listen to Liberal radio I mostly listen to be educated about on what's happening on the liberal side, That is why I have been only listening to Ed Schultz, Mike Malloy, Mark Thompson, and Ring of Fire, and sometimes use a cassette recorder to tape some of the programs and listen later, and bypass the irritating ads for gold, credit repair which is a waste of my listening time.

The best example of a program that waste time with republicans and Libertarians is Thom Hartman, which is a good show; but can be much better if he spent a lot more time interviewing liberals and other people like Sen. Bernie Sanders, which is the only time I listen to Hartman's show every Friday, for I get an education every time I listen to Sen. Sanders and the callers who talk to him.

If the talk shows on the left would concentrate on what's going on our side the audience would grow more and more younger people that would like to be progressive talk show hosts can start getting in to the business; for we need to groom our future talk show hosts now so one day progressive radio and TV can start overtaking conservative radio and TV.

For taking the words right out of my keyboard. I have been feeling exactly this way about mainly Keith and to some extent Rachel, as well as Randi, Ed, and a lot of others on TV and Radio who built their shows, even their careers fighting the right wing power structure that was supported and represented by their right wing colleagues (after all, they are all in the same business- selling advertising). But whereas I understand that the kind of demogoguery we've seen recently from Faux news types and the town hall freak fests demands a cogent and rapid response (to avoid the Kerry Swift Boat syndrome), I really don't need a daily synopsis of the same bs.

I don't watch Faux news, except for the occasional channel-surf, but very rarely do I ever see their hosts do a recap on what Rachel or Keith said the previous day, not even those special comments.

MSNBC has three hours available to the left for self promotion, educating, creating passion and getting people into the streets. And it is rush this bill that.

I've taken to recording all of these shows so I may speed search through them. As time has progressed I can now watch all three shows in less then an hour. How sad and what a waste!

eddiestinson@gmail.com

spudqueen

     Thank you so much for this insight.  I totally agree.  It's along the lines of MSNBC or CNN reporting anything anti Democratic or Obama by running footage of the anti-interview, event, statement or whatever.  We get FOX News whether we like it or not, and the negativity gets reinforced and planted in the subconscious.  I've been bugged by this for a long time, but hadn't thought of Ms. Marcus' observation.  Excellent!  Interesting-- as I type, Rachel Maddow is spotlighting Bernie Sanders and Anthony Weiner in her commentary as she broadcasts in the run-up to the Obama health care speech.  Maybe whoever has written her in the recent past has gotten through.  Time will tell.  And good for Keith.  He's asking the rhetorical question: Who does Obama work for?  The People or the Corporations?

I agree wholeheartedly with this writer.

I do not want to waste any more of my time on Republicans.

I don't care what Palen, Beck, Hannity, O'Reilly, et al are up to. I don't waste my time either reading about them, or listening to what is said about them.

Conversely, I am ashamed to say --- although I am a regular viewer of Olbermann, and Maddow --- I never heard of Van Jones -- until he lost his job ---

Why?  Why do we not focus on Progresssive people who are successful at Progressive programs?

I agree it's important to expose what the nutcases are doing -- and who is funding their nuttiness.  However, I also think equal focus should be put on what rational, logical people (like Van Jones) are doing, to make this country a better place to live. 

Could we just emphasize positives --- every once in a while -- so we call can retain some sense of balance in our lives? 

...with all of the comments presented below. It clearly is time for what little progressive media we have (other than those sources available on the Internet - they are already doing this) to begin to focus on our side. We need to be promoting those who are not corporate shills or compromised by campaign contributions instead of rewarding the DINOs and RINOs with attention they don't merit.

Keith and Rachel - - -  I already know Beck and O'LIEly and Limpbore are nutjobs.  Spend more time on what we can do to get things passed, how other countries deal with healthcare (good and bad), who in the Democratic Party is blocking the passage of legislation (and why) and who is pushing hard to get things done (how they are doing it).

I get enough FAUX all day long with all these websites showing all their lies.

The Glen Becks and other browridge knuckle walkers are a distraction used to spin a fictional narrative that eventually becomes reality.  Power elites have always claimed that the minority represents the majority.  They do this by shining the light of attendtion upon themselves and their values except when they disparage the majority as being a radical minority.  The con is older than the pyramids.

Unfortunately just by their incessantly talking about it the liberal talk show hosts are rewarding right-wing lunatic behavior.   Instead,  the talk show hosts should resolve to allocate minimal time to such behavior, so as to maximize the amount of station time allocated to liberal activities.   Why not punish these lunatics instead of merely ignoring them?   Because, same as us, they have First Amendment rights.  Admittedly they stretch that amendment beyond recognition when they call for our President and others to be shot,  but that's for the Justice Department to decide.            

I agree completely with you.  It's like the world revolves around these a$$holes.  I emailed Rachel Maddow about 2 months ago and asked her this very question.  She didn't answer. 

I agree with you absolutely. I do have one additional comment. Why must everyone be so interested in the Republican position. They have a record of never voting for other social measures--as in one Republican vote for Social Security. The Democrats are obviously wasting our important time and energy, almost as though they intend to waste it. I shall blame the Democrats if we lose the health care we so badly need. We worked so hard to give them the numbers they declared they needed. We have been lied to and betrayed by the Democratic party. If we wanted the Republicans we could have voted for them--so what are our deceitful "representatives"? up to, maybe using the Republicans to hide their trickery. I really recent being thought to be too stupid to see throough these fools!

unfortunately,she's right.all too often on the social networks,you'll see people complaining about the right,rather than thinking of ways tomove the country forward