Josh Marshall's observes the morning talk shows lack of "balance"

[CatWoman]

Just saw Mary Matalin on Meet the Press arguing that Vice-President Cheney isn't a political liability to the president. He's just taken a lot attacks from Democrats; and doesn't fight back apparently.

"He's not Mr. Rapid Response," said Matalin.


Really? That burn campaign against Joe Wilson got off the ground pretty quickly, didn't it? And the Plame hit came out of the Vice President's office.

It was all pretty quick.

Credit where credit is due.

Late Update: About noon now, I'm watching ABC's This Week show, and like watching Meet the Press, it's reminding me why I seldom watch these shows anymore. They're both terrible. Now there's a panel with Matthew Dowd and Tad Devine, chief strategists for the Bush and Kerry, respectively.

The 'commentators' are George Will and Cokie Roberts. And thus your balance, one rep of Washington Movement conservatism and another of the capital's supercilious center. Will thinks the Bush commercials with the firefighters corpse at ground zero is great. And, guess what, Cokie thinks they're swell too.

So it's Tad Devine against three folks who think the ads are great. Then they move to deciding whether the president's attacks on Kerry are good. And they think those are good too.

-- Josh Marshall

www.talkingpointmemo.com

[Kathy in Cambridge]

1. It really is disgusting

I can't stomach 'This Week' or 'MTP'. I think 'Face the Nation' is a little more palatable.

[still_one]

2. Absolutely correct

ABC and NBC are 100% behind this administration

The only network that shows some give is CBS which is owned by viacom, but when they are pressured, i.e., the Reagen made for tv movie, they fall to pressure by the right wing neo cons

[jean]

3. They argue against the reality of the situation

and think they can tell the country what to think and how to feel.

Karen Hughes and other RNC operatives insisting the 9/11 bush ad is "tasteful" and Matalin insisting Cheney is a prince - they think public perception and opinion will be whatever they tell it to be.

It's just not going to work this time around.

:dem:

[Skittles]

4. it's a political circle jerk

and watch them all get closer to wacking each other off the closer the election is.