Does anyone remember when CNN's Crossfire wasn't the joke it is now?

vanity

[jmcclain19]

Does anyone else besides me remember when CNN's Crossfire was a semi-respectable show. When Bob Novak and Bill Press actually made the show watchable.

I caught today's edition for the first time in over a year and what a joke it's become. Tucker Carlson is the perfect figure head for the liberal CNN crew - a patsy that's easily shouted down by the pin head Begala.

Anyone who wants to know why CNN is in the toilet as far as rating are concerned, can look toward their former primetime show.

[Doctor Stochastic]

No

[tom paine 2]

I stopped watching years ago.

[Keith in Iowa]

Tucker is a twit. Few people can wear bow ties and look credible - and Tucker is NOT one of them. He looks like he forgot his propeller beanie.

[Huck]

Nope. It's always been THE example of idiotic screaming political nonsense....well, except for McClaughlin Group, who may have invented the form.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

This program should be renamed DNC Crossfire.

[nutmeg]

I haven't watched it since it was moved from 7:30pm ET to its new time slot... 4pm (?).

[ken5050]

The show is unwatchable...they yell and scream at each other..you can't hear one word....but do consider this one point..the fact that Begala and Carville are the faces, the voices of the left...Dem party operatives..shows what's wrong with the show...

[OldFriend]

A long time ago. The hosts actually spoke intelligently about important topics. They weren't out to carvile each other but to discuss the issues of the day. We often watched with our teenagers and were able to learn from the conversation. A LONG LONG TIME AGO...........

[Moby Grape]

I remember a time it was LESS of a joke, but always a joke.

[ampat]

Right you are. I think crossfire is disgusting. Instead of a serious discussion about important issues facing this country, two people, sometimes four, with one half always lying (they both can't be right), argue like children do. At the end they all laugh and say goodbye. Simply disgusting.

[ken5050]

OTOH..you may want to consider going back on your meds for a short while...reread your post..you realize that you're actually praising Bill Press...a mean, vituperative , smarmy bastard....

[Tacis]

Aren't Novak and Press still there? Isn't Tucker Carlson Margaret Carlson's son? Isn't Begala the Italian word for dog s**t? Why would you even watch CNN or be as concerned about it as you seem to be? CNN is for the America-hating, neocommunists traitors who want to destroy our country. It has been a long time since I watched (I do click through) because I go elsewhere first and have never found it necessary to move past Fox, CNBC or MSNBC. I do watch the BBC once in a while, if for no reason, than the novelty of getting 30 minutes of news in a 30 minute news program and not 18 minutes of medical commercials.

[jmcclain19]

HAHA funny, but I was simply refering to the fact that the show used to be the primetime politics show to watch. I was just marveling at how far off the mainstream tree CNN hsa fallen. I try not to watch it, but like a train wreck, I couldn't avert my eyes this time.

[ken5050]

I agree..part of the problem is the 30 minute format....no time for any substantive comments...with all the commercials, the promos...and feedback..many 6 minutes for the guests to say something...and the audience is like 99.9% lib....how would the Yankees do if they had to play all their games on the road..

[Huck]

I agree with you. I used to love Firing Line, the old William Buckley program, where they held formal debates on a topic. That was quality policy debate. And the participants were accomplished people, not political hacks.

[Magnum Fan]

To be honest, I haven't watched much of Crossfire (or CNN, for that matter) in years. Still, it's interesting to note what becomes of those the elite media chooses to represent the "conservative" side:

David Gergen left PBS to work for the Clinton administration.

Pat Buchanan splits his time between opposing the war in Iraq and pushing the AFL-CIO line on trade and economics.

Robert Novak is similarly skeptical of our efforts in Iraq, and seems particularly gloomy in his assessments of the Bush administration and of the Republican party in general.

Arianna Huffington has become, quite simply, a left-wing flake, driven by a personal desire to bring down the Bush administration. Good luck.

Tucker Carlson is, as noted above, a pushover. He's most famous for pulling a prank on Fox News (apparently at Paul Begala's urging).

Quite an impressive lineup, huh?

[BerniesFriend]

I could not remember the original liberal co-host..so I looked it up under imdb.com..Tom Braden was his name..unless I am mistaken..he and Pat Buchanan were either the original co-hosts or the ones that made it famous..a LONG time ago it was kinda entertaining..now it is pathetic..passive conservatives..loud mouth demos..

[LisaFab]

The worst part is the live (yet brain-dead) audience. Every night it's like being at a DNC pep rally--but what would expect when it's taped at George Washington University?

BTW, Yanks had a better road record (51-29) than at home (50-32).

PS Think you'll really hate my latest column.

[xJones]

Criminy, I remember when Tom Brady and Pat Buchanan first started it. Brady was the official lib, but he was a far cry better than the idiot libs they've had ever since. The old bugger was funny, well-mannered, and the author of "Eight is Enough". The book was based on his own eight kids, and had been the inspiration for the 70's sitcom, "The Brady Bunch". IOW, he was the only liberal Democrat they ever had that was half-way interesting and not obnoxious.