MSNBC's Carlson on Fox's Your World guest list: "Our civilization -- is it collapsing? Has it already collapsed?"
SUMMARY: On Tucker, while discussing Fox News' choice of Richard Simmons and Don King as Katrina "expert[s]," Tucker Carlson asked: "Our civilization -- is it collapsing? Has it already collapsed?"
On the August 30 edition of MSNBC's Tucker, host Tucker Carlson noted that on the previous day's edition of Fox News' Your World with Neil Cavuto, the program had "enlisted the expert opinions of a fitness guru [Richard Simmons] and a boxing promoter with weird hair [Don King]" to discuss Hurricane Katrina, as Media Matters for America documented. After airing clips of Simmons's and King's separate appearances on the August 30 edition of Your World, Carlson asked: "Our civilization -- is it collapsing? Has it already collapsed?"
King's interview on Your World followed that of Simmons, who was more critical of the Bush administration's post-Katrina relief efforts. King responded to Simmons's critique by questioning Simmons's knowledge of political issues, stating: "Now, Richard Simmons is one of the greatest exercisers in the world. I adore him, his energy, his vitality to be able to exercise. But, in running a country and knowing all the different idiosyncrasies and appealing to all the people, such as George Bush is doing, Richard should stick with the exercising." As Media Matters noted, on Your World, King also asserted that the vast majority of African-Americans who supported Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) for president in 2004 did so "[b]ecause they didn't know any better."
This is not the first instance in which Your World host Neil Cavuto has turned to the "expert opinions" of certain guests to discuss current affairs. As Media Matters noted, on the July 20 edition of Your World, Cavuto turned to right-wing pundit Ann Coulter and private investigator Richard "Bo" Dietl, chairman and founder of private investigation firm Beau Dietl & Associates and a former detective with the New York City Police Department, for insight into the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Cavuto has frequently invited Coulter onto his program -- dubbed by Fox News as "the No.1 business news show on cable" -- and asked her at least twice to discuss the effect of current events on the financial markets, even though Coulter has acknowledged that she "know[s] nothing about the financial world." On the August 16 edition of Your World, Cavuto interviewed Christian author Joel C. Rosenberg, the author of a novel laying out his vision of the Apocalypse, but whom Cavuto identified only as a "Middle East analyst," regarding the threat posed by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, as Media Matters also noted.
From the August 30 edition of MSNBC's Tucker:
CARLSON: Well, I don't know about you, but when I think Hurricane Katrina, two names immediately jump to mind: They are, of course, Richard Simmons and Don King.
Well, apparently, the Fox News Channel and I think exactly alike. As part of that network's coverage of the one-year anniversary of Katrina yesterday, Fox enlisted the expert opinions of a fitness guru and a boxing promoter with weird hair.
Watch.
[begin video]
SIMMONS: People are depressed here. They're eating. They're drinking. They're smoking. Some of them are very lost. And again, it's depression. And when you're depressed here in the South, you overeat.
KING: And Richard Simmons is one of the greatest exercisers in the world. I adore him, his energy, his vitality to be able to exercise. But in running a country, ignoring all the different idiosyncrasies and appealing to all the people, such as George Bush is doing, Richard should stick with the exercising.
[end video]
CARLSON: Our civilization -- is it collapsing? Has it already collapsed? I don't know. But we're determined to be amused on the way there.
Just keep the Republicans in power a few more years...
our civilization collapsed all over Don King's jacket.
Who does Tucker support... I thought he was a right-winger. He's just general commentary guy now?
Depends on who at MSNBC is telling him to target. Its obvious MSNBC is targeting anyone at FAUX.
That's good... I thought for a while there MSNBC was competing with FOX head-on... sort of trying to one-up them. Glad to see they're warring so-to-speak.
As I said recently on another Tucker Carlson thread, THIS guy is pretty much a lightweight among the many political commentators out there, BUT he has in the past gone up AGAINST Republican/Conservatives on CERTAIN issues, AND has changed his OPINION about Iraq.
ALSO, in THIS case Tucker may still have a bone to pick with Fox News. A few years back the audience [I think on CrossFire] dared him to give out his HOME phone#. IF I remember correctly it had to do with that No Call List that dealt with telemarketers. Tucker didn't agree with the it.
He pretended to give out his HOME phone# BUT in reality gave out the number of Fox News's switchboard which got deluged with phone calls. Fox, in an act of REVENGE listed Carlson's REAL Home phone# on their website. It was eventually removed...BUT as you might imagine there are probably still hard feelings all around.
Who knows what motivates these cable talkies to highlight what they do anymore, expecially from these sycophants at MSNBC.
It's really rather pathetic, actually. Apparently they have opted out of trying to out-Babe Fox News or even compete with their on air personalities anymore, instead they just look like bratty little brothers all the time by needling Fox and having these desperate little "worst" lists trotted out.
I have no clue whether it's helping their ratings or not, but I cannot imagine watching one of these blabbering news channels and seeing nothing but reports about another. Talk about oversaturation.
Right or wrong the Top Fox personalities are such insufferable jerks that they kind of provoke the teasing they receive. Moreover, maybe MSNBC's Fox attack is having an effect. Fox's ratings are way down but CNN appears to be the primary beneficiary of the lost Fox viewers although MSNBC's ratings are up.
[link to www.mediabistro.com]
Fox's rating may be down secondary to attrition. Their audience is old. The average age of a Factor viewer is 71 years old and the average age of the viewers of the Countdown is fifty something.
No wonder so many Factor viewers are senile.
Check the mediabistro site - the highest rated show on prime time on MSNBC is Countdown - and it seems that every day between 7 and 8 PM, O'Reilly loses viewers from his lead in, and Olbermann gains viewers from his. Maybe Bill is starting to hear Keith's footsteps behind him.
While Tucker can spout some Con Misinformation iwth the best of 'em at times, he's certainly not the worst offender. Anyway, I thought his bit on Cavuto's awful show was actually funny (be it from a con or a progressive).
I had no idea... as it is, I have a hard time keeping up with these weasels just on this site (!) That phone number thing -- I have to agree with TOMMY -- is really sophomoric. Right out of a high school playbook.
On the same note, do you think FOX et al are finally getting tired of Coulter?? That last bit where she got 'flustered' seemed to me to be a bit of steamroll by the Fox-hounds. Coulter actually seemed surprised by this. Dumb.
doesn't simmons know the depressed can also lose weight?
must have had a severe short-term bout of depression.
But she seems perfectly fit and happy now after the air-brushing.
is more then wearing bow-ties. It takes work, which lazy thinkers like you refuse to do.
Richard Simmons, Don King???? Fox is becoming the "Love Boat" for socio-political commentary. Washed-up? Need to make a house payment? Come, pontificate on FOX. As long as you genuflect at the name of George Bush you can say whatever you feel like and we'll just sit here like bobbleheads.
The "Love Boat" of news commentary. Very clever.
Truth, boring and blue Climb aboard, we're hacks here too Truth, won't set you free We hold it back, 'til it's ignored by you
FOX News, we'll soon make another spin The FOX News promises lies for Republicans Rove sets the agenda, So we know what to tell you
Truth, makes Bush look dumb We dish lies and focus on pretty blondes. Yes, Truuuuuth! It's not the Truuuuuuth! (yeah!)
FOX News, we'll soon make another spin The FOX News, Chaney's our No. 1 fan Our graphics and anchors mislead While Bill stages another war.
Truth, makes us look dumb If we said the world wouldn't end It's Truuuuuth! It's not the Truuuuth! Is it the Truuuuth? It's FOX News-yeah! Its' FOX News-yeah!
Don't forget to point out Tucker's pathetic ratings, declare that nobody watches him, complain that Media Matters is publicizing someone who doesn't matter, and wonder why Tucker isn't fired.
You know, consistency and all that..
Richard Simmons and Don King aren't any more ridiculous choices for political commentary than Cavuto.
And they dress better.
our guests today discussing Hurricane Katrina are Britney Spears and Big Bird.
Tomorrow's expert guests on Iraq will be Yanni and Larry the Cable Guy.
Just to remind our viewers to change your Depends and let the cat out.
I felt the same as Tucker. Give the guy a little credit, he came up with a good line that echoed what we all were thinking (pretty much any time I see King or Simmons!)
Chollie
Funny how before OJ and Farrakhan, Don King was the most hated man in white America. Before he was called a con artist, a liar, and a dozen unspeakable names rhyming with n*g*r, but now because he loves some bush, he is a favored guest on the Fokkks Network supposedly speaking for African Americans.
OJ, are you checking this out? Bend over for Bush and someday white America may forgive you too!