Why does anybody put pundits on TV, radio or quote them in the media? What's the point?
if they are pundits because they once were reporters --they're no longer reporting and have nothing to report anymore.
if they are pundits because they once were politicians --they're no longer politicians, the world has likely changed since they were, and probably they are pundits because they washed out somewhere pretty far from the top. who cares?
oh and I think Ed Rendell is a pundit for the same reason Tommy Lasorda started giving speeches.
but if they are a great economist --not a pundit.
foreign policy expert? not a pundit.
expert on law? not a pundit.
expert on a currently breaking story? not a pundit.
yet a pundit will be asked, frequently above actual experts, about all the above. and then they will actually take what Cokie says seriously. i mean what they say.
oops.
= new reply since forum marked as read
I think they need to be evaluated, based on the accuracy of what comes to pass from their comments/predictions.... Thus the "always wrong" type, like Bill Kristol, would find themselves booted in disgrace off the air.
My little naive' fantasy...