WAPO: "Rachel Maddow, MSNBC's Newest Left Hand"

[kpete]

Rachel Maddow, MSNBC's Newest Left Hand



"I'm a liberal. I'm not a partisan," says Maddow, whose nightly show will air at 9. (By Lauren Victoria Burke)
By Howard Kurtz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 27, 2008; Page A20

..........................

When Maddow was 19, two years after she came out of the closet, she watched with horror as Pat Buchanan took the podium at the 1992 Republican convention and called for a culture war against such liberal notions as "homosexual rights."

"I felt my country was declaring war on me," she says.

On Monday night, seated on a makeshift stage overlooking Denver's train station, Maddow recalled that experience on the air, turning to her left -- where Buchanan, her fellow MSNBC analyst, sat.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Unlike Olbermann, Maddow plans to interview some conservative guests. But she is determined to avoid the left-right pairings that sustain much of cable news.

"It creates fake balance," she says. "I'm sorry -- we're going to have a debate about whether or not the Earth is flat? It doesn't make sense to have a debate about whether offshore drilling is going to bring down gas prices. You know what? It's not. The fact that it's false ought to be reported, or you're advancing a lie."

more at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/26/AR2008082603069.html

[JerseygirlCT]

1. Oh God bless her!

Finally! Someone willing to say that and act on it. This phony "balance" crap has gotten us just where we are now.

I think she's terrific, and will be a real force in American politics.

[BlooInBloo]

2. Hopefully Press Secretary Maddow soon.

[Phred42]

4. WOW - There's a thought

:toast:

[RamboLiberal]

11. Be great but I'd rather see her on MSNBC

She'd do more good for an Obama & Democratic congress on MSNBC than in the WH Briefing room.

[Prophet 451]

26. I hope not

Within the system, she'd be more compromised and less effective. Better to have her outside, speaking truth to power.

[whathehell]

3. She's terrific...and I'm so glad she's taking on this phoney "balance" thing n/t

[Phred42]

5. Talking about the Phoney balance must really piss off Tweety

:rofl:

[emmadoggy]

6. Love her. She's is so smart, sharp, on the money. She's awesome.

:loveya: :loveya:

[Gidney N Cloyd]

7. With no 'phony balance,' half the pundits would have to find legitimate work somewhere.

Or dip into their trust funds.
Not mentioning any names, I'm just looking at Tucker and whistling...

[gatorboy]

8. "It creates fake balance." THIS is what's wrong with modern media.

The idea that every topic HAS to have a balanced argument is ludicrous. Sometimes the other side is simply WRONG and that does not mean they should be given a chance to lie on the matter.

[LynneSin]

9. This is why I'm watching MSNBC - a small way to thank them for Keith and Rachel

seriously!

[a kennedy]

20. I hear ya LynneSin, and I'm right there with ya......

:woohoo: :applause: for Keith and Rachel!! :patriot:

[FatDave]

21. Now if only they'd shitcan Scarborough...

Because I'd love to be able to watch the news in the morning.

[AldebTX]

10. Thank God

Thank God MSNBC had enough sense to give her, her own show.

I love to see the interaction when she and Keith Olbermann sit down and "discuss" the issues. Some of my favorite TV.

[ihavenobias]

12. K & R, I can't wait

[AzDar]

13. K O & Rachel make MSNBC worth watching.

:bounce:

[Swede]

14. I like good news.

Wish we had more great news like this.

[cliffordu]

15. I just LOVE the way she takes a ball peen hammer

to Buchanan - even BETTER since she got her own show ....


I hope Pat understands what a sad clown he has become, that this woman who he vilified in '92, is handing him his porcine ass on national television every night.

The fact that MSNBC at least has the ovar-esticular fortitude to give her her own show represents the changing of the guard in sooooo many ways.

[Moochy]

16. Go Rachel!

Definitely worth a read!

[KharmaTrain]

17. That Feeling Of Confronting Pitchfork Pat Musta Been Awesome

I've had the chance to meet and interview some very interesting and well-known people...it sometimes can be an outta body experience. This is especially the case when it was someone I watched or listened to as a kid. For example, I had the chance to interview the late John Phillips...spent an hour with a man who I grew up listening to and the chance to pick the man's brain and memory were incredible...a real "rush".

I could only imagine the feelings Rachel must have going as she sits in that studio...going from a viewer to a participant. For many years I used to call Crossfire "Shut The Fuck Up, Buchanan" cause that's what I spent the most of the show yelling at the teevee. It must be surreal for her going from a small radio operation right into the corporate media deep end.

[shireen]

18. "I'm not that pretty"

Oh please! Rachel, I think you're stunning.

:)

[Ishoutandscream2]

19. Yes, she's very cute

And that big brain of hers makes her even sexier. She is extremely talented and beautiful.

[Diane R]

30. I think she's gorgeous, in a naturally pretty way.

[shireen]

31. totally agree

i wish i could look that good!

[SeattleGirl]

22. God, but I love that woman!

Brains, humor, beauty....she's amazing!

[libnnc]

23. I'm beginning to get emotional about this.......

Reading Rachel's account of her reaction to Buchanan's speech floored me. That was my reaction as well. I am just a couple of years older than Rachel and I had just come out when the Clintons were elected. I remember weeping during the inauguration--so grateful that they didn't want me dead. (DOMA & DADT weren't welcome additions but at least their administration didn't openly discuss putting me in a camp).

It's easy to get caught up in the partisan us vs. them rhetoric and completely lose sight of how historic Rachel's success is. For the first time there is someone on the tee-vee machine, talking about serious political issues, who looks like me and whose personal life reflects mine...out and unapologetic.

Rachel Maddow represents much more to me than just being "one of the good 'uns."

I'd better stop now before I start blubbering...

[KatyaR]

24. I can't imagine how surreal it must have been for her to sit across

from Pat the first time. I don't know how she did it.

I think what I most admire about her is something the article said--that she doesn't seem to hate those whose opinions differ from hers. She's able to keep her cool, and I wish more people could do that.

[SoCalDem]

27. That's because she has a quick mind, and a high intellect

It's the dumb-ass loons who cannot "keep up", and always lose their cool because they can't string together 2 coherent thoughts..

[Kurovski]

25. K&R. (nt)

[opihimoimoi]

28. Poor Pat, reduced to high pitched incoherent babbling...out talked by Rachel

Put in his Place and told To STFU

[MJW]

29. She is real, and she is lovely

her show is sure to be a favorite, and since it follows Olbermann I just might OD on informatiomn and humor. Did I mention she is a Rhodes Scholar?

All that and smart too. My cup runneth over!

[Lugnut]

32. K&R n/t