The ascencion of david gregory

Is it the mainstream media's march into 'young and smart?' 

It's official: David Gregory is the new permanent moderator of NNBC's Meet the Press.

It's a change of generation as well as style for the venerable news show, inarguably the most prestigious in all of teevee, the New York Times of the medium. if you will.

We're happy. Gregory is a great reporter who is not 58 years old, and who's distinguished himself by asking some (not enough of course) pointed questions with follow-ups in the arrogant, secretive, inarticulate and rare Bush press conferences.

But what will happen at MSNBC, and the rest of cable? More generational changes? 

Another development is  the long-winded, circumblowcuting windbag, Chris Matthews' , 62, national cock-teasing about running for Arlen Specter's Pennsylvania Senate seat. He's reportedly already bought himself a Philadelphia mansion and is being urged to resign from MSNBC sooner than later.

Chris Matthews is not beloved by the left, David Sirota writes poetically of a Matthews candidacy

"The sense of entitlement that this blowhard personifies is truly stunning. He's spent his entire life as a principle-free political gossip in Washington - a human embodiment of all that is sick and wrong with Beltway culture. And yet, he really thinks he can just parachute into one of the largest states in the country, buy a mansion in Philadelphia and be a senator on sheer celebrity alone. I mean, maybe he can - maybe politics is now so devoid of meaning that this is just the way it is. But I really hope not."

With the change at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Gregory's 6p (EST) show. Matthews exit could mean total two slots opening on the network.

The prospect of the "young and smart... and civil" concept getting a foothold is exciting to those of us who watch cable news from our progressive couches, and have grown weary of the hard edge of Fox's right-wing commentator, and even of Keith Olbermann's dutifully sarcastic and funny responses.

The emergence of Rachel Maddow, who doesn't curtail her vocabulary, and dares get into the policy weeds in cable conversations where guests actually get to finish making their point, has given to a little impatience with Keith Olbermann's snide humor and insiderish media snark.

Fox News has a n eve larger dilemma. They're even more invested in the hard conservative partisanship on which they built their impressive standing or look at the trends which has CNN and MSNBC making gains? Do they stay the course?

Rachel is a prime example that the old rile-'em-up formatics of talk media may be passé. Maybe we're just pollyanish, but likeability, affability -- if not vulnerability -- seems to be working for her in this post-Gingrich revolution era that we hope we're in. (Or maybe we're just gay for Rachel)

The financial crisis which dominates everything is an issue the old form is particularly bad at as McCain found out. It's hard to paint it in simple right-wing, Manichean terms when the hallowed private sector is in shambles, and the solution and most conservatives are crying out for government to save us. (That's heresy to two dimensional conservative blabbermouths like Hannity and Limbaugh).

Bill O'Reilly, who could never fulfill his objective of beating arch-enemy Rush Limbaugh officially announced is giving up his radio show next quarter.

This is media news the significance of which is roughly equal to a rodent dying in a wall, but he's no fool: chasing 3 million listeners at the expense of his increasingly challenged no. 1 cable show just isn't worth it. He's busy these days pitching himself as a muckraker and tell-it-like-it-is journalist holding Obama's feet to the fire even before he's taken office.

It's also a sign that O'Reilly, who's no dummy as a broadcaster, sees radio's writing on the proverbial wall. Talk radio in its present form is in trouble, and part of the problem is its replacement by cable and  new internet platforms.

These are all great opportunities for Rachel Maddow, Chuck Todd, even the terse-tongued but relatively flavorless Mika Brzezinski and others. How about another Ron Reagan (KPTK m-f, 6-7p) teevee go in these new atmospheric as talk teevee makes inroads on the left in political advocacy media?

It'll be interesting to watch... teevee is in trouble too in this mess, but is cable news entering into a heyday bringing the talk radio listeners with them? We'll see.

Comments

[PugetSound]

hmmm, Chucks, et al

We can add ph(J)oanie-ness to the crimes of Illinois Gov Blagojevich.

"Long time anti-gun Governor Rod Blagojevich can add hypocrisy to his many shortcomings. Like Diane Feinstein, who campaigned for “handgun control” while possessing her own handgun and CCW permit, it seems that Governor Rod has at least one gun of his own. Count on the Democrats for “Do as I say, don’t do as I do”. John Lott points to an AP story that points out:

Blagojevich also was ordered to relinquish his passport and his firearm owner’s identification card."

[PugetSound]

Hey Sparkles,
Can I borrow your Twig Truther Tin Hat as I sally forth with the What Did Obama Know and When Did He Know It regarding the 'sale' of his Senate Seat.

[Habu]

My oh my. What do we have here?

http://www.connecttristates.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=217582

Did The One misspeak?

[nevets]

"Jesus, people!"

With less proof,people have been believing in this guy for 2000 years.

[Habu]

Obama has no recollection of talking to the criminal Gov. about his replacement. Sounds like Hillary-"I cant recall......" how many times under oath about how many of her criminal acts? Two of the smartest ever elected? Dont think so and Fitz may yet rain on your parade. Wouldnt be surprised if Hill & Bill are stirring the pot.

However, Obama loves the criminal Gov:

In 2002, on a Chicago TV show, Obama had the following exchange:

Obama: "Right now, my main focus is to make sure that we elect Rod Blagojevich as Governor, we..."
Host: "You working hard for Rod?"
Obama: "You betcha"
Host: "Hot Rod?"
Obama: "That's exactly right"

And more recently, in 2006, Obama spoke at the Illinois State Fair on behalf of Blagojevich.

Obama is one dirty SOB right out of the Chicago pol. mold. You that voted for him are in for some difficult times and rightfully so.

Put on the popcorn Chuck. We are in for a show.

[joanie]

more gassy blasts

You guys should take something for that.

[PugetSound]

Actually we have purchased our carbon offsets.

You remember that Al Gore scam dealie...Nevets made you look a little more foolish than usual before you hightailed it up to Birch Bay for a weekend of Randy Podcasts and Vino.