This week you are rewarded for being great readers, or punished because you’ll have to skip over two editions of Inspection. I really felt “Stomping” needed to be out this week, but “Moments” deserved its own special treatment, and especially not combined with a rather strong rant such as this. So, here’s my first offering with a hearty “you’re welcome,” or a hung head “I’m sorry:” whichever most applies.
Ed Schultz did a stupid thing. No; not “stomping off stage,” his “stupid” move was to go on Fox and Friends at all, or at least without very plain and obvious preconditions. He also should have demanded that he address the audiences: unedited in any way; telling them of these preconditions. But Ed Schultz, for some odd reason, is one of these talkers who thinks unfair; even outright cruel, people will use cameras and microphones fairly when he walks into a studio. One hopes it’s not because his self image is that Hindenburg like.
If so, then put a gas escaping needle in it, Ed, before you explode and splatter all over us like Rush so often does.
Dorothy was far less clueless when she landed in Oz than some talkers when it comes to FOX and other Right-leaning media sources. If only I could advise them as they drive to the studio. Oh, I know, I hate back seat drivers too but… yeah, I’m going to insist on doing it anyway.
Preemptive warning: I am not an “Ed-head.” When I first heard Ed I thought it was Limbaugh trying to get richer by pretending to be a Left talker too. Their style is very similar, right down to the annoying ego; only as much as I dislike Rush, Ed is no Rush. Rush is obnoxious, full of himself, a liar, out to “do your thinking for you…” but he is quite talented to an extent that Ed isn’t. Now it is the kind of talent Goebbels would be proud of, but talent it is. Plus, he has a great spoof writer that comes somewhat close to Smothers Brothers quality. How close? Not even close enough for even a Laugh In Fickle Finger of Fate Award, but at least the attempt is there.
Ed could take lessons, but then there’s that blimpish Limbaugh-like ego that probably prevents such.
So I’ll bet you’re surprised that I am about to defend Ed… cringe. Invited to appear as a guest they immediately did what they always do with any guest they disagree with: ask a barrage of questions but not give him enough time to answer, while ridiculing him after every four or five words he somehow managed to blurt out. Such programs: no matter who runs them, are not “talk shows” in any sense. They are public lynchings.
If I hosted a talk show I would have my policy right up front: before any calls, or words escape my lips. You call my show, or I could go on your show; but I talk… you talk… then I talk. The rest follows that pattern. If we happen to interrupt each other we apologize and stop: then let the interrupted talent finish. If you feel I’m going on too long then politely say, “Ken, I need to get on with this.” If you think I won’t stop, hang up and call another show. If I feel the same about your call, if I feel I need to, I will warn you and if I must: I also will hang up.
Come on my show and you would know right up front that this is a no talk over; no filibuster, show, Buster. Being polite and respectful to each other would be the rule: though not necessarily whomever else; or whatever group, either of us are slamming.
I know: it would probably wouldn’t last even if anyone ever did hire me to do a talk show. Seems; as long as it vindicates their own opinion, everyone wants the lions to eat the guests, I guess. Ironic how they complain only when it doesn’t make their favorite pundits or pols look good, isn’t it?
Ed Schultz has a similar rule, though not as strictly enforced as I would enforce mine… or as strict in general. So when he went on Fox and Friends, without making sure the audience and the hosts know right up front he has to be respected, not interrupted and talked over constantly, it was no surprise that’s exactly what they did. Then, when he stood up and walked out, they just laughed about it.
That can be fixed too. You stand up but don’t walk out, watching the lights on the camera: don’t say anything until they shut up. Just keep standing and look into whatever camera has the light on; arms folded. Wait for them to ask why you are standing, then talk straight into the camera explaining why you are about to walk out unless they stop acting like unruly chimpanzees. Explain it again and again no matter how much they interrupt or jeer. Basically: freeze their “eat the guest” format until they start acting like responsible adults.
Bad TV? Horrible radio? Yes, would be; and that’s the point. You do whatever will takes to make them suffer from a loss of viewers/listeners until they act human, not simian.
Sidebar time!
I can see it in my head now: a U-Tube with Fox and Friends jumping all over a guest: interrupting him or her, and splice in scenes of chimps going nuts while sitting on a similar set.
But Ed walking out? Yes, I understand. Under certain circumstances I might do it too. My main critique of Ed is he was naive, hadn’t planned for the obvious result and gave up too easily. But I willingly admit: after I tried my plan;and if it failed, maybe I would have walked off too.
Or maybe I’d just bring a bunch of bananas and start peeling them while they blathered. Then toss both peels and bananas at them declaring over and over the discussion will continue when they act more human and less like raving, rabid, insane monkeys.
Everyone knows what monkeys do in their cage at a zoo that makes Mom and Dad cover their little boy’s eyes and move on to the next cage. That’s all this style of “talk” is. They sneer and smear our TV screens and radio waves nationwide with this slime, and it’s about time people like Ed turn it right back on them: revealing them for who they really are.
Monkeys with less morals than a jackass.
Only the jackass is probably smarter.
-30-
Inspection is a column that has been written by Ken Carman for over thirty years. Inspection is dedicated to looking at odd angles, under all the rocks and into the unseen cracks and crevasses that constitute the issues and philosophical constructs of our day: places few think, or even dare, to venture.
Ken, I’m not a big fan of Ed, either — I like Thom Hartmann much more — and I didn’t see this since I refuse to watch Fox News at home. (I find its contents stink, like a colostomy bag breaking open in the living room.)
Since I think he’s appeared on Fox News before, I can’t imagine why he’d be surprised at this treatment. I’ve seen him on CNN and the wingnuts tried to cut him off on there as well, but he didn’t storm off.
I admit, it’s hard to know what to do what you’re trying to have a conversation or even argument with a total jerk. A few weeks ago I was in a spat with a Bush supporter (yes, they still exist) and he was trying to blame Clinton for 9/11. When I started to point out that Junior ignored the CIA PDB on August 6, 2001 entitled “Bin Laden Determined to Strike in US” — he just started talking very loudly, trying to drown me out. Even when I stopped, he continued talking, the equivalent of putting your fingers in your ears and going “Na, na, na, na, na” like a 3-year-old. It was such a juvenile and stupid performance I just laughed at him and he walked away. He didn’t impress any of the other folks who had been listening to us.
Is this some new wingnut tactic when confronted with facts — act like a infant? No wonder they’re losing.
RS Janes wrote:
I watched the YouTube of it and it all seemed to be more damaging to Ed than anything else. Having been in radio for eons, you have to have a very thick skin and be able to take just about everything thrown at you. I was surprised that Ed got as petty as he did.
Like RS, I don’t listen to Ed even though he is on here AFTER Thom Hartmann. I have always been mad at my local affiliate for putting Randi Rhodes off and giving preference to Ed.
It isn’t that I dislike Ed, I think he plays much better to “The Heartland” than he does to the metropolitan areas. He is kind of that “cross-over” Democrat who tends to straddle the line a bit. I would prefer to listen to someone like Randi, with her almost-over-the-edginess, where I don’t always agree, I can have fun listening to anyways.
I like Rachael Maddow, however her recent habit of only being live for the first hour and re-broadcasting the previous evening’s MSNBC show gets kind of tiring. Ron Reagan will probably take over for that time slot right after the election.
But yes, I lost a lot of respect for Ed when he first chose to go on one of those shows, then lost even more when he stomped off like a child taking his ball home.
Ken, it’s the exact opposite here: Ed is on BEFORE Thom in Chicago. I’m mad at my local affiliate about Randi as well, and had an email exchange with the general manager who weaseled and said they were thinking about picking up Randi again. Months later and they’re still thinking. But they are expanding their broadcast day, and going into FM as well as AM, so I have some faint hope they’ll pick up Randi, and maybe Mike Malloy, too.
I have the same gripe about Rachel Maddow, but I undertsand that doing a ‘full hower’ TV show and a three-hour radio slot puts a lot of pressure on her and her staff. In the days when I did a 15-minute news wrap-up and 5 minutes of news and weather every half-hour were enough for me, and that was just on the radio. Some of my news content was ‘rip-and-read’ (with a little rewrite) off of the AP and UPI machines, but what took up my time was covering and writing original local stories.
Ron Reagan’s been doing a good job on those times when I’ve heard him as a sub but, understandably, he refrains from criticizing his old man for his role in the present disaster.
Actually that was David who typed that, but he is on after Thom here. But I’m not playing fair: I listen to Sirius.
I don’t think Nashville has an AA affiliate or inde that programs left. We’re quite behind the times here, but if the rest of the nation gets it and it hits even more of a stride, popularity-wise, someone will then program it… then they, and all the trades here, will act as if we invented it. We did that with brewpubs. We do that with Country music… how sick is that for “Music City?” Pretty much no one really “makes it” here: someone comes in with big money and then, again, Nashville rewrites their promos to seem as if we invented them. I’ve seen it done. I knew (she’s dead now) a lady who used to do it for them. I’m pretty sure the Opry was considered a scourge until it became painfully obvious they weren’t going away. 24 years after I decided to go on the road I’m finally getting a modicum of recognition here.
It’s one screwed up town.
One of the best lineups I’ve ever heard was when IE America had Malloy, Werbe and Randi. I love Miller: it’s part clown act, part informative and very creative. Bernie Ward, who used to be national, is probably one of the best Con debaters I have ever heard. Don’t call his show and spout Neo nonsense: he’ll chop you down to size and without the vitriol Mike lovingly spews. (I can really enjoy it sometimes, but argument it’s not.) Thom’s great, except he’s too nice to those he debates and doesn’t challenge them well. Bill Press is fair, but somewhat full of himself. Maddow’s “OK.” Doesn’t knock my socks off. Mike Feder’s pretty good: low key. I do tend to disagree with him a lot… but that’s fine. We’ve traded Es quite a few times, though the other Mike and I used to do so more often. Dave Marsh is an egomaniac, but I can listen and somewhat enjoy in limited doses. I call Mark Thompson the “I hate White people show…” because he constantly declares only White people can be racist. He lives here, too. Hope I never run into him: I haven’t been kind. But Lynn Samuels… royally sucks. She does more damage to the cause than if Barack decided to appoint OJ as his main spokesperson, and the format would be more dead than his ex-wife if Lynn were the only mouth; and quite nasty voice, of Lib talk… and it’s not the Randi like accent.
Whew! Maybe I listen too much??? But I do know… we need better talkers.
I haven’t heard much Ron.