![]() WHAT DIGBY SAW! Digby saw two CNN stars display Millionaire Pundit Values: // link // print // previous // next //
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2009 The possible future of snide: In a recent column, Michael Kinsley imagined the possible future of news reporting. Maybe the newspaper of the future will be more or less like the one of the past, only not on paper, he wrote in the Post. More likely it will be something more casual in tone, more opinionated. Soon, the gentleman asked a good question: Will you be able to get your news straight and not in an ideological fog? More casual in tone, more opinionated? We thought of this piece when we read todays Postmore specifically, when we read the Posts sports section. Yesterday, the Washington Nationals played their second game of the season. Chico Harlans report on the game tops the first page of this mornings sports section. And good God! What follows is the start of a very peculiar news report:
Snaarrrk! The Nats have lost their first two games. But Chico Harlan is taking it hardand giving us a worrying look at the possible future of snide. Kinsley pretty much called his shot with regard to Harlans exertions. But well be honest: We mainly thought of Rachel Maddow when we read his column on Monday. And good news! Maddow did a string of excellent segments on her eponymous program last night. Her program was extremely informative. For the most part, the host played things straight. For ourselves, we still dont like Maddows jokey, Im-your-best-friend, grin-heavy stylealthough shes exceptionally good at it. Because we assume that she will be very important, we think one comment she made last night does deserve preservationand well preserve it below. But Maddow presented a string of informative segments last nightwith Paul Krugman about the economy; with Mark Danner about accountability for torture; with Chuck Schumer about a range of topics, including the vastly under-reported nature of the legislative procedure known as reconciliation. (Her session with Hilda Solis was a bit frustrating, mainly due to Solis failure to answer most questions she was asked.) Personally, we still dont like Maddows joke-heavy style. But the mugging and clowning of recent weeks was largely missing from last evenings program. Nor was Ana Marie Cox called in to pretend to discuss US politics. Last week, we said we wouldnt mind Maddows clowning so much, if the reporting and analysis were strong. Last night, the reporting and analysis were just that. And this is a very important matter: Given the way the rest of the media work, its very important for progressive journalists to develop a content-rich culture. That said, Maddow said one thing we thought deserved preservation, if only because we find it odd. She was introducing a light segmenta bit of comic reliefabout that old favorite, computer porn:
We were intrigued by the highlighted comment, in part because it recalled the way Maddow balked when David Frum assumed shed prefer a more grown-up discourse. In our view, Maddows style is remarkably heavy on hidden self-congratulation. (Sorryher styley, to use last nights lingo.) This particular statement struck us as another example. But mainly, we were struck by the comment because weve puzzled, for several decades, about the ongoing juvenilization of humor, a pattern which has been apparent among the kids. (Think Adam Sandler. Then keep thinking.) Maddow is going to be very important. In particular, shell be very important discussing the news which affects the worlds people. And this is a serious matter. This morning, Chico Harlan gave us a look at a possible (dystopic) future of snide. Maddow was recently drifting that way. She clowned and mugged and joked and snarked; she even took her cues from mainstream clowns like Al Kamen. Last night, she did a very strong program. Our question: Except among people who really are twelve, whats so great about having the sense of humor traditionally displayed by that class? One last point: When we endorse the virtue of 12-year-old humor, its a fairly straight shot to a world in which 50-year-old men are mocking young women on national TV every night. At this point, its fairly clear that the progressive world has no sexual politics whatsoever. But Maddow presented an outstanding program last night. We hope our evolving culture of news will allow for many more like it, by various broadcasters. Given the way the rest of the media work, its very important for progressive journalists to develop a serious, content-rich culture. Yes, theres always a place for jokes. But the jokes have to take second place. Final thought: Could someone please talk down Chico Harlan? Today, he suggests a future of snide from which we will need release. WHAT DIGBY SAW: We dont always react to events the same way Digby does, but her sensibility is the one we most value on the web. (Along with those of Foser and Boehlert, of course.) Were thankful she was watching CNN last Sunday when the press corps famous Millionaire Pundit Values were taken out for a good solid run. Digby stumbled upon a discussion between two broadcasters (Ali Velshi/Thelma Gutierrez) on CNNs Your Money show. If the subject involved here werent so unfortunate, their conversation would qualify as one of the all-time examples of unintentional press corps self-parody. (For Digbys first post on this subject, click here. For her second post, just click this. The tape of this segment can be seen at that second postthanks to Crooks and Liars.) The subject of this remarkable conversation actually was quite unfortunate. You see, CNNs tyros were discussing Mildred Copeland, a California woman whos waiting tables to get bydespite being 84 years old. Youd think that situation would melt the heart of almost any observer. But Velshi and Gutierrez were mainly struck by how lucky Copeland ismuch more lucky than people like them, people stuck with gigantic mortgages. Youd think that no one could be this tone-deaf. (Did we mention the effects of Millionaire Pundit Values?) Skillfully, Velshi and Gutierrez discerned the real meaning of Copelands situation:
Because Copeland had been living close to the edge a long while, it wasnt as bad for her, Velshi mused. And Gutierrez could see how right that was! The most important thing? It wasnt the fact that Copeland has to do tiring work at age 84. The most important thing was the fact that Copeland has no mortgage payments! She doesnt have a monkey on her back, the way CNNs working stiffs do. Could anybody top that for sheer nonsense? In a word, yes. These two did:
Note to Gutierrez: Its possible Copeland is able to sleep at night because shes extremely tired. Were sure that Velshi and Gutierrez are perfectly decent people. But those Millionaire Pundit Values can really be silent killers. Could we make a suggestion for Velshi and Gutierrez? Stop referring to your deep elders as Mildred. Maybe then youll develop the sense it takes to sympathize with them a bit more. Final point: Some of you are asking an excellent question. What on earth did Olbermann say when he honored Velshi and Gutierrez as worst persons in the world? Rubes! When will you learn the rules of this game? Of course he didnt honor these two. That segment is used to run us rubes! Ridiculous as these statements were, these statements werent rendered on Fox! Howler historyobserving those values: If we recall correctly, our understanding of Millionaire Pundit Values began to come into focus in October 1999, after the first Gore-Bradley debate. The solons had staged a very intelligent sessionso much so that conservative Kate OBeirne praised them for same on Capital Gang. (Both were completely conversant on the issues, impressively so. Both sort of have a rationale for their presidency. I disagree with it, but they both have one, OBeirne gracefully said.) In particular, the pair had discussed the future of health care. But millionaire pundits already have health care, as became quite apparent in their crackpot reactions to this debate. They were deeply troubled by Gores funny clothes; several complained when he dared to ask a young woman about her sick child. It is hard to imagine that [Gore] thought to ingratiate himself with the nation's earliest primary voters by trying to look like someone seeking employment at a country music radio station, the late Mary MrGrory snarked in the Post, in a truly disgraceful column. McGrory was a liberal, of course. In two separate columns about this debate, she made no attempt to discuss what had been said about health care. Each time, she snarked at Gores clothes. (In her second column, she snarked about his distracting new suit, a three-button brown affair that caused much nostalgia for navy-blue serge. Gores suit had three buttons, she said.)
They simply dont careand they dont plan to start. Large salaries will do that to many people, even those who are perfectly decent. Its why you should be keep watch on those to whom such swag gets paid. |