Made the mistake of turning on CNN an hour early (caught Crowley's show before Zakaria's)

[pinto]

I watch Fareed Zakaria's 'GPS' show on CNN every Sunday - find him informed, sharp and thorough both as a journalist and an interviewer.

This morning happened to turn on CNN at 9 instead of 10. Caught most of Candy Crowley's 'State of the Union' segment. Disappointing.

She allowed 2 House Republicans to make what were essentially protracted political advertisements with little or no follow-up questions nor any attempt at getting clarification of the assertions made.

Missed her wrap up on closing - didn't hit the off button (my first impulse) but walked away to send the comment above to the staff at CNN.

Then sat down and enjoyed Zakaria's hour.

(aside) I seldom give feedback to political talk shows. Tend to take them or leave them. But felt good to call CNN on what is likely a common practice and, in my view, shoddy journalism. They could do better.

And an "informed electorate" deserves better.

[tulsakatz]

1. I rarely watch CNN anymore....

...the only time I watch is to see Fareed. He has a good show! I usually learn something new every time I watch it....and he usually covers the news with an international perspective too...

[golfguru]

8. Fareed Zakaria is on CNN & Newsweek

Both are in big financial trouble.

[Astrad]

9. CNN has its most profitable year in 2009

"And, in fact, CNN may not have collapsed at all—last year was its most profitable (half a billion dollars’ worth of profit); the current quarter will be more profitable still."

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2010/09/wolff-201009?currentPage=all

(I struggle to believe it but supposedly it's true.)

[golfguru]

10. With low ratings how's that possible?

Profits alone are not the best indicator of financial strength.
By slashing lot of expenses by layoffs and reducing R&D, the
bottom line can be made to look good, but it is a disaster in
the making.

If you study the stock market, you will find that when sales decline,
stock price goes down even with better profits.

[Bumblebee]

2. Since CNN is pretty much exploding, both she and Wolf will probably be

history pretty soon. Silver lining.

[Whisp]

7. I hope! what are the rumours?

I would love to see all of them out on their asses. Except Fareed. but he'd be picked up by someone else for sure, he's great i love him

[CrispyQ]

3. A few weeks before the 08 election, Anderson Cooper held a round table discussion.

His guests were David Gergen & Fareed Zakaria. It was one of the best hours of TV journalism I've seen - besides Moyers, of course. I couldn't believe it was on CNN. Most times on CNN you see Rick Sanchez blathering on about some inane thing or Blitzer trying to get through his segment without sounding like an idiot.

[pinto]

4. There's a great "analysis" duo. I bet it was good. Both clear, pointed, coherent, open to discussion

I say this irregardless of their respective political POV's. Seems both of them "get it" at this point, that a big part of politics is about discussion, debate and decisions, not mud wrestling.

[CrispyQ]

6. mud wrestling - lol.

Anytime the pundits start to raise their voices or talk over one another, I'm done.

I keep hoping someone will give Thom Hartmann a show. My right wing mother heard one of his shows & told me "he's reasonable." :wow:

[Whisp]

5. Fareed is excellent.

He's is millions of miles ahead of the rest of the ugly pack there.

CNN has been ramping up the 'Obama is in trouble' embarrassingly obvious the last little while. Patheticly transparent pieces of shit. Sorry I just can't help swearing when I think of those traitors.

[pinto]

12. Zakaria really is. He has no qualms about doing the basic journalistic stuff on air, like follow ups

and all that other messy stuff expected in his profession. Among a few, he's the real thing, imho.

[COLGATE4]

11. Crowley has been a Rethug shill forever. Just skip her. Watching

her will only raise your blood pressure.

[budkin]

13. I still remember seeing her here in Austin during the 2000 recount

She was practically drooling over the prospect of GWB in the White House.

[1stlady]

14. And they wonder why their ratings are so low.lol

I'm forced to watch CNN at work, they have the TV glaring right in front of my desk up high with the volume down. When I read the headline, its always something to the effect of Obama's incredible shrinking approval ratings or the tea party take over etc. They even had that idiot Donald Trump saying its not looking good for Obama and that he should keep the Bush tax cuts.wtf They think by going extremely negative on Obama, it will eventually pull in some teabagger viewers, NOT. The teabaggers are locked and glued on Faux news, CNN is a joke!!!

[whathehell]

15. It's too bad you didn't see the beginning of her show...She had

the audacity to pronounce something on: "..Entitlements which are popular, but unsustainable like Social Security and Medicare". Not "as some say" or any other qualifier...She stated this as FACT.

I was furious and emailed her show with the offending phrase in the subject line followed by a question mark. In the body I reminded her that Social Security has a SURPLUS and the only way it would be "unsustainable" is if those who RAIDED it weren't forced to pay it back, and that THAT battle had just begun. I then reminded her that the "integrity" of the show as anything other than a Republican mouthpiece was in great peril.

I actually rarely watch CNN anymore because of their Fox-like slant, but I wanted her to think I was a "regular" who was veering away from them.

[saltpoint]

16. If anything, I think you're being very generous of spirit

in describing Crowley's segment as "disappointing."

She is more or less the red-aproned sandwich maker for the Republican Party.

Recommended.