Mad about Maddow: The MSNBC host seeks influence, but she wants it on her own terms

[babylonsister]

Mad about Maddow: The MSNBC host seeks influence, but she wants it on her own terms
Stanley Crouch

Monday, February 22nd 2010, 4:00 AM


Few of a particular political persuasion are as entertaining or insightful as Rachel Maddow, who is willing to describe herself as a liberal on the left. Clearly, Maddow is terribly allergic to conservatives.

She is disturbed by what conservatives think, how they assess what is happening to us all out here, and what the wildest or most cynical of them present as facts, which they often see as nothing more than opposing opinions, even if they come from the scientific world.

Her allergy rises to bumps that do not ache or itch as much as they inspire Maddow to what is easily some of the finest commentary available on cable television. She is largely eloquent and in command of the English language on a level one is not accustomed to in television commentary.

Her statements almost always come from the same place - somewhere between the respectable left and those who intellectually live on the left side of the moon, but the depth of her wit is what makes Maddow special. It can slide from the intelligent dig to the devastating sendup.

Having grown up during the civil rights movement and become used to the inevitable presence at marches and demonstrations of Stalinists, Trotskyites and the other regular menagerie members of the left, I never met anyone like Maddow. Those old-time leftists were inevitably humorless and were always trying to gain influence among the leaders and the troops of the most impressive nonviolent revolution in the history of the species.

What makes Maddow unique is that while she surely seeks influence, she prefers it on terms that are her own, deeply informed and saturated with a sense of fun.

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[Clio the Leo]

1. She will prove to be the Cronkite of our generation.....

.... and as my man Joe Biden says, "that's not hyperbole, that's the truth!"

[hisownpetard]

4. I believe you are right about this! She is on a plateau above anyone else

in the news business due to her insight, her intelligence, her wit and her
personal dignity.

[Bluenorthwest]

11. Will Biden still hold that Rachel should not have equal rights

when she's Cronkite? Right now, he specifically agrees with Palin that Rachel and her community should not have equal rights nor protections under the law. That is not hyperbole, just the truth.

[cascadiance]

15. Both she and Thom Hartmann will be the ones we remember I think...

Like said here, she has a very polished and stylishly humorous delivery to match with the depth of content she presents too, that helps her fit on national TV. Her ability to cut through the crap on M$M and getting an alternative voice is awesome.

Thom Hartmann I like for the way he gets even more in depth with content, and pushes the envelope more on what probably even MSNBC won't allow discussed on their corporate media screened channels. And Hartmann's coming up with more and more great ideas on how to break through the ice by getting his shows video on the web as well as on Free Speech TV. He also has a decent way of engaging with the right and handling those confrontations well. He's probably not as polished as Maddow with his delivery, but for rabble rousing with concrete and more in depth data, there's not really many better than he.

Mike Malloy can rabble rouse even better than both of them, but he's not as in depth as either Maddow or Hartmann, and does more to inspire emotions with his show, which has its place, and is probably a decent show for the evening time.

Ed Schultz and Keith Olbermann also have decent shows that serve more of an emotional quotient like Malloy, though perhaps at a level more tolerable for M$M consumption.

[shireen]

16. agreed, i have the same sentiments.

One thing about Hartmann, tho' ... i wish he would slow down a bit, and be more patient with his callers. He interrupts them, finishes their sentences, and often interjects to show off how much he knows. We all know he's smart and we appreciate his insights. But I wish he'd let his callers have the chance to display their insights and intellect too, just for a few minutes. They may not be as eloquent, but they deserve to be heard as long as they're not too long-winded.

He also thinks very fast, sometimes his mouth can't keep up! LOL!

Don't get me wrong, i like him a lot. Just wish he'd slow down a bit and let his callers express their opinions in their own words. :D


BTW, why isn't Hartmann a regular on any of the cable news channels? He'd be an excellent person to interview!

[bertman]

20. I agree totally, shireen. nt

[napi21]

2. Great commentary & I completely agree. Rachel is very different,

and very special. I warn Matthews, Big Eddie, and the rest of the commentors on MSNBC to be cautious. I see Rachel taking over the popularity of all of them. I wouldn't be surprised to see her be the next Barbara Walters of TV.

[O is 44]

3. Best show on MSNBC bar none. n/t

[jillan]

5. I LOVE her and I almost hate to admit this but

when Keith is on, I'm usually "tuned in" for the first segment, or two, but then he becomes background noise.
Rachel holds my interest for the whole hour....even her silly cocktail moments and geeky moments.

I love how she went to CPac and dressed like the real Rachel. She's amazing and the best of the best. The one true journalist of our time.

[brand404]

6. Preaching to the Choir.

We already knew she was great.

[babylonsister]

7. So now you know someone else agrees. It's all good, right?

:fistbump:

[CHelms]

8. Rachel Maddow's Popularity

It's rare for a political show to be informative and watchable at the same time. The guy Rachel replaced was very knowledgeable about politics, a very smart guy, understood Washington and all that but he was freaking BORING. It's the same problem Ed Schultz and to a large degree Chris Matthews have; it's not their credibility, smarts or insight, it's that they tend to be about as interesting to watch as The Paint Drying Channel. Maddow and Olbermann are very rare in being not only informative but fun to watch. I'm glad she's doing well and I wish her many years of success. The left needs more like her.

[quantass]

9. A delight to watch and SO DAMN INFORMATIVE. I feel Smarter after watching Maddow.

[Armstead]

10. I remember listening to her on Air America in the dark ages and thinking she was an oasis

I was really glad -- and plesantly shocked -- that she actually made it into the Big Leagues.

A voice that has definitely been needed.

[tallahasseedem]

12. She kept me (somewhat) sane...

with her show Unfiltered throughout the 2004 election.

[Change Happens]

13. She did a one hour show on Air America, I think it was 5-6 AM? I found myself learning more

during the one hour than I learned all day from all other sources of newsy type shows!!!

I am so glad she is on my Tee Vee now, I also Podcast her show first thing in the morning!!!

[soleft]

14. I listen to 4 Rachel Maddow podcasts every day

Seriously. I have a 2 hour commute. Both ways. Every night I download the latest show from MSNBC, and 3 radio shows from one year ago. It's actually pretty fascinating to listen to the old shows, to know now what she and her guests were only projecting about. Usually with uncanny accuracy. Though I do sleep through most of those shows, saving the recent show for the ride home when I'm conscious.

I don't know what I'm going to do next year when there are no more Air America archived shows to listen to.

[RevCheesehead]

17. kick for Rachel....

and let's not forget that it was Keith who brought her to guest-host on Countdown. Best doubles in TV!

[PerpetuallyDazed]

18. Rachel is unique in her field in that she doesn't feel the need to demonize her opposition.

I think that's what I appreciate most about her, that she can remain classy, genial and "above the fray" in the face of amazingly disagreeable and angry people. Olbermann's crossed that line for me and kind of lost my respect.

[donheld]

19. Long live Rachel

[bertman]

21. She is THE BEST hands down. No meanness or vitriol and so frickin' articulate and smart.

Her intro tonight with John Boehner Number One and The Other John Boehner was right on target and hilarious.

Rachel is a National Treasure.

Rec.

[ProgressOnTheMove]

22. Yeah, she's definitely got a lot of heart and her reporting makes a world of difference...

Our mission to make her the biggest name out there, then our work is done.

[SoFlaJet]

23. I DVR her show every night

but ALWAYS FFD past Kent Jones at the end...just like I do with Keith's Oddball segment

[shimmergal]

24. Yeah, the Kent Jones portions

are the only part I find consistently pointless. Am I missing something?

[Hekate]

25. Rachel is brilliant and she never talks down to her audience. She's the most refreshing voice on TV.