Why I don't think the Rev. Al Sharpton is a good replacement for Cenk:

[GillesDeleuze]

What would Jesus cut? Really? How about what would Mother Goose cut? What are the unicorns opinions on monetary policy? Do fairies think more stimulus is needed?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434/#43936312

Cenk could talk about the religious right and left without this sort of nonsense.

[Enrique]

1. actually Cenk talks about this a lot

not as a believing Christian, but as someone who knows what Jesus said, and knows that it is NOT anywhere close to what conservatives stand for.

[WhiteTara]

2. I read how he got the job

Lobby for Comcast. I like Al...he's got some great words, but he is a preacher and a con man.

[HipChick]

7. How he got the job? He couldn't get it on his own?..

[femmocrat]

17. This was on DU yesterday:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=439&topic_id=1600246

[OneGrassRoot]

3. While I hear what you're saying....

and I prefer to keep religion out of nearly everything of a public nature, it may be helpful for a progressive Christian have more of a voice and presence in our mainstream media, to counter the hypocritical right-wingers who claim to be Christian.

I love Cenk, but I also have grown to appreciate what a good interviewer Rev. Sharpton is. He lets people speak but he doesn't let them get away with not answering, or with spewing lies.

[sammytko]

4. He speaks too slow. I'm a fast talker, so can't process slow talkers. n/t

I tried watching, but changed the channel.

[brooklynite]

5. This was a perfectly relevant topic...

...because Evangelist Rick Warren brought up the question of why the poor didn't pay any taxes.

[SoCalDem]

6. It's a clever move by MSNBC

they give a show to possibly the most polarizing "leftie" (except maybe for Jesse Jackson), and the fact that he's black is a two-fer.. they cannot be accused of being prejudiced. Al cannot read a teleprompter, has terrible diction and mispronounces almost every interviewee's name.

He means well, and he's a tireless advocate, and makes a fine guest, but as host, he's lacking.. and of course his background is somewhat muddied, and those on the right are loving having him on tv every day to critique.

As goofy as they are, the black spokespeople from the right, tend to be more mainstream and more coherent speakers. The comparison is glaring...and then of course his guests calling "Reverend" is a big turn off too..

he's probably there as long as he wants to be, because to cancel him would only bring on mayhem and accusations.

All that said, Cenk had some flaws too.. he was over-the-top many times, and his delivery was not very professional a lot of the time (too used to freewheeling radio maybe?), but he was a better fit.

We all need to get used to the idea that MSNBC is NOT "liberal", and they are not "on our side"..they are not the anti-Faux..they are just another corporate media outlet whose main job is to sell Viagra, cars, gasoline, etc. The stuff between the commercials is just filler..

[hlthe2b]

8. I like him better as a guest as well...

I'll leave it at that...

[KittyWampus]

10. So Cenk's delivery was flawed too, but he's a "better fit". Sorry, Sharpton has a quick wit

and move the discussion very well.

And he is coherent as far as I'm concerned.

His diction? Really?

[HipChick]

11. Diction? Really?

if we are going to go there...then its about him being black..jeez

[SoCalDem]

14. no..maybe YOU are, but I did not..

Diction knows no gender/race.. It just is what it is.. Most people on tv are there because they speak well and can read a teleprompter..
I cannot watch Andrea Mitchell for the same reason.. her speech patterns are halting and disjointed and she can't read a teleprompter either.. and she's anything but black:)

[hlthe2b]

15. I agree with you on Andrea Mitchell...

She drives me nuts... I think Al may improve with time as I don't think he is accustomed to the teleprompter. Radio is quite different and more within his current comfort zone. But I will say once again that I think Al is a better fit as a witty guest than a host. He loses a lot of spontaneity as a host.

[SoCalDem]

16. It may also be the "ear bud" thing.. The director is always talking to them as they are on the air

and that has to be the most annoying thing to be trying to talk. read and listen all at the same time.. I could not do it..and would not want to try:)

[SoCalDem]

13. then enjoy his show.

I'll watch Dylan & Matthews and then something I've taped.. I'm fine with that, and you'll be fine with Al.. it's all good. :)

[JackintheGreen]

9. Last night my wife heard this sentence as:

WHO would Jesus cut?

Oh, the image of an angry, knife-wielding son of god shouting "Cutting aid to the least among you? I'ma cut you face!"

[digitaln3rd]

12. I just think that the he's not a good replacement for Cenk..

..because Sharpton is a douchebag.

But, maybe it's MSNBC's goal to want to have that timeslot be a ghost town.

[SoCalDem]

19. and give comcast a rationale for turning hard-right as the '12 election gears up

..media seems to always be telling us that "leftie media" is not popular, but they also never really commit to it...they think that if they have a leftie host, and then populate the show with 3-1 republican guests, and interrupt the conversation every 7 seconds they are currying favor with us.

the sad fact is that our media and politics have been set to "right & hard right" as the default positions, and any foray into leftie-dom is somehow an exotic, tentative and short-lived adventure to be recovered from.

[WinkyDink]

18. Rev. Al knows the audience that needs to hear this.