Hannity & Colmes.....Calling It Quits...

[Denny Crane]

Greta Van Susteren? I always wondered how she became so prominent, first as one of FOX News' top legal analysts and then her own show.

She co-hosted her own legal show on CNN for several years. She was one of Clinton's biggest apologists during the impeachment trial.

She's no conservative.

 

[Real]

Yes, it's not literally the same thing, but it's an indicator, IMO. As far as I've seen, people who consider themselves strongly conservative or liberal don't register or call themselves "independents." He may have been liberal-leaning, but registering as an independent or unaffliated is generally a centrist/moderate statement.

Robert Gates is a registered independent.

Would you characterize his politics as being right of center?

 

[Real]

Greta Van Susteren is a scientologist.

Scientology and conservatism are mutually exclusive.

 

[Minstrel]

Robert Gates is a registered independent.

Would you characterize his politics as being right of center?

Not really. Certainly not strongly right wing. He seems more like Colin Powell, very moderate. I'd, in fact, be perfectly fine with him remaining in his cabinet post.

 

[Minstrel]

She co-hosted her own legal show on CNN for several years. She was one of Clinton's biggest apologists during the impeachment trial.

She's no conservative.

I'm not sure why you quoted me. I didn't say anything about whether she was conservative or not. I simply don't think she's a particularly good or interesting personality.

 

[Denny Crane]

I'm not sure why you quoted me. I didn't say anything about whether she was conservative or not. I simply don't think she's a particularly good or interesting personality.

You wondered why she became so prominent.

Her career and CV are more impressive than Obama's, IMO.

 

[Real]

Not really. Certainly not strongly right wing. He seems more like Colin Powell, very moderate. I'd, in fact, be perfectly fine with him remaining in his cabinet post.

Okay, what about Bill O'Reilly?

 

[Minstrel]

You wondered why she became so prominent.

Yes, what does that have to do with whether she's a conservative?

Her career and CV are more impressive than Obama's, IMO.

Right, but you listed the same types of things that I listed. What I wondered is how she got those positions, considering my opinion that she's not a very good TV personality.

 

[Minstrel]

Okay, what about Bill O'Reilly?

O'Reilly I see as a complete fake, so he wouldn't be the best example to me. But I'm not sure what you think the exercise shows. I never said that it's impossible for a person to be an independent and be strongly right-wing or left-wing. I simply said that it's an indicator because, in general, independents have tended to be more centrist, as far as I've seen. Pointing out a single example or two to the contrary isn't terribly relevant to that. Being religious tends to be an indicator about one's view on gay marriage...finding a Christian who supports gay marriage doesn't change that.

 

[Denny Crane]

Yes, what does that have to do with whether she's a conservative?

Being "liberal" and rooting for Clinton during the impeachment and Al Gore during the 2000 recount gets you tons of brownie points in the media biz.

Right, but you listed the same types of things that I listed. What I wondered is how she got those positions, considering my opinion that she's not a very good TV personality.

I agree. Left leaning academic types don't make good TV personalities (or public servants for that matter).

On the other hand, there's her CV and the TV ratings that say she's one of the better TV personalities.

But hey, this woman seems to have been on the air forever:

 

[Minstrel]

Being "liberal" and rooting for Clinton during the impeachment and Al Gore during the 2000 recount gets you tons of brownie points in the media biz.

If you're a tin foil hat type who believes in liberal media conspiracies, yes.

I agree.

I'm glad you agree she's a poor TV personality.

 

[Denny Crane]

If you're a tin foil hat type who believes in liberal media conspiracies, yes.



I'm glad you agree she's a poor TV personality.

Left leaning academic types don't make good TV personalities (or public servants for that matter).

I'm glad we agree on that.

 

[Minstrel]

Left leaning academic types don't make good TV personalities (or public servants for that matter).

I'm glad we agree on that.

Well, academic types of all political stripes tend to make poor TV personalities, because the idea of a TV personality is to be loud and obnoxious, which isn't the style of most academics. Politicians aren't exactly the same (there's more diversity of style in their manipulations), but the same general principle applies. Academics are good at the theory, politicians are better at the salesmanship.

 

[Denny Crane]

Well, academic types of all political stripes tend to make poor TV personalities, because the idea of a TV personality is to be loud and obnoxious, which isn't the style of most academics. Politicians aren't exactly the same (there's more diversity of style in their manipulations), but the same general principle applies. Academics are good at the theory, politicians are better at the salesmanship.

To the best of my knowledge, Van Susteren may have pioneered the legal news program on cable TV.

There was a huge bidding war for her services between CNN and Fox when she made the switch. Shrewd of her to go where the ratings are.