Is it possible for you to post a link to the ratings for these Sunday shows? They are just used as propaganda tools by the left, because certain comments become talking points both in Congress and in the DBM. Other comments - favorable to Republicans, conservatives or the Administration just get dropped down the memory hole.
This is just as true like while Fox is top on ratings over other cablers, it also sufferred ratings hit. Remember during 2002, whenever President makes a prime-time or SOTU speech FNC came very near to catch broadcast networks. EveryOne was predicting FNC was about to beat broadcast networks. Unfortunately, FNC started to hire liberals from other networks and sometimes more hostile to Bush & Republicans.