I sent an e-mail today asking MSNBC to consider Cenk Uygur to fill their 10pm vacancy. I can't think of a better host to promote than Cenk, will you help support Cenk's bid to host a new show?
If he brings over a Meet the Bloggers/The Young Turks format it could be huge! It'd be blogger interviews and debates, political interviews and debates and the usual fun, news and blog-talk. I wrote on December 6th, 2008 that MSNBC should fill their 1600 Pennsylvania show with Cenk. That diary didn't take but there were many nice comments in it.
Cenk can bring some great innovation to complete MSNBC's nightly lineup combining both Keith's great outrage, Rachel's ability to disagree with a smile as well as her attention to political minutiae. These traits and many things that are unique to The Young Turks and Meet the Bloggers could make this new show exceptional!
Image of Cenk Uygur by Isaac Matthew White
Air America had a huge 2008. The party they supported won the White House and expanded majorities in both houses of Congress. Al Franken became a United States Senator. Rachel Maddow became a cable news phenom landing an exclusive interview with then-Senator Barack Obama. And a less exclusive but more newsworthy one with then-Governor Rod Blagojevich.
2009 could start out with even more excitement for Air America hosts if Cenk Uygur and the Young Turks can get promoted to the open 10pm time slot.
#1 Cenk is a Great Blogger
Cenk's recent diaries have excelled most notably Rush 177, Obama 0.
Cenk also covered the shameful "Move On" Defense Of George W. Bush Cenk notes that the legal argument would never hold up in court that we should just look forward and forget the past.
If the state can say that they have a "move on" defense and that any prosecution against them is an act of "political vengeance," then they will have carte blanche to break any law they like. For me, this isn't about politics. The American people have already rendered their judgment in that sphere. I'm very comfortable with their decision in that regard. I can even see some people's concerns that this might backfire politically on the Democrats. But that is not my concern.
This is about precedent. How many presidents can we allow to break the law before it becomes de facto legal for the president to break the law? In other words, before it becomes legal because the president did it!
Cenk always talks about what I care about! As a former Republican I think he has a knack for getting to the root of their delusions (like Kos?). On Dec 19, 2008 Cenk pointed out the rank hypocrisy in those that selectively choose their morality from the Bible. In Not Another Word on Gay Marriage Until They Execute an Adulterer
The religious right picks and chooses which parts of the Bible they want to apply. And they choose based on which outsider group they would like to hate next. First, they emphasized slavery in the Bible when they wanted to hate black people. Now, they emphasize the parts condemning homosexuality so they can hate gay people.
They are completely and utterly disingenuous. They don't mean a word of it. They don't give a damn what the Bible says. They just want to use it as an instrument of hate.
The Bible says eating shellfish is an abomination. Yet there are no Red Lobster Amendments. The Bible says you shall not wear two different types of cloths at the same time. Yet there are no Propositions against cotton and wool combos.
The Bible says you should leave your family and join Jesus Christ. The religious right pretends that Jesus was about family values. He wanted you to abandon your family. Read the Bible.
Cenk is a first rate blogger, there's no subject he isn't afraid to broach as his multiple diaries on Israel/Gaza these last few months have shown.
America is Primarily at Fault for the Conflict in Gaza
How Israel is Wrong and the Palestinians are Misguided
What Was Israel Supposed to Do?
From the Center Right Myth to the murderous results of George B's actions to the defense of General Wesley Clark, Cenk covers what I care about as a progressive blogger.
Image by Dameon Williams
#2 Meet the Bloggers (which Cenk hosts) can bring a unique feature to cable news. This segment has potential either as a round table with bloggers or the current format which is with one on one interviews. This can do more than what Rachel and Keith have done in terms of bringing the blogosphere to TV news. They interview journalists and bloggers according to what is happening in main stream discourse. Young Turks can go and talk to bloggers about hot button issues that have yet to see much press (or are purposely being ignored). Like this prescient Meet the Bloggers video from 11-23-08 with Dr. Marion Nestle about food safety issues.
"The Food Industry isn't trying to make us fatter, The Food Industry is trying to sell products, in an environment in which there's twice as much food available as anyone needs or wants" - Dr. Nestle
I couldn't help thinking about that myself. All the tens of millions spent by snack food and soft drink makers during the Super Bowl was disgusting. Sure it was hilarious to hear about Pepsuber, but it also sent a chill knowing how many impressionable minds were being influenced towards nutrition free sugar drinks, and high fat/sugar low nutrition snacks! Here was the lineup of food/drink advertisements during Super Bowl XLIII: Pepsi, Taco Bell, Coke Zero, Kelloggs, Coca-Cola, Denny's, Coca-Cola, SoBe, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi Max, Doritos, Pepsi, and Doritos. Fat and sugar are about a half a trillion dollar industry, while Whole Foods is worth about $1 Billion. These are the types of issues that are burning up the blogosphere in proactive debates, but skipped over in the mainstream until they are a reactive story.
#3- Cenk has an astute nose for political debate, and as a former Republican can untie any of these main meme knots. Like when Cenk took on the leader of the now bankrupt Log Cabin Republicans. This guy ran with this meme that Democrats want government to do everything for them. If you've got 20 minutes to spare this video is well worth it.
Log Cabin Republicans
#4 Cenk could really take the forefront in cable news with a continuing segment about the politics of Health care.
Why Is There Always Money For Wall Street And War And Not For Healthcare?
As a Huffington Post and DailyKos blogger as well as an Air America, Bravenewfilms, AOL Films and Youtube political talk show host, Cenk Uygar is uniquely qualified to become the host of MSNBC's 10pm slot. He can bring the progressive politics but in a way that doesn't follow the standard template (see 20 minutes in to that Marion Nestle video for something you've never seen on an evening politics show).
Cenk has announced his candidacy for this position which is an interesting way to go about it. The last time I heard of something like this was at my high school when this eccentric kid campaigned for admission to Stanford University. He drove through the school with a megaphone handing out his application. It drew news coverage but no Stanford admission. Sound bad? Well, this same kid went on to win the Amazing Race (Tyler McNiven).
If you agree with me and want Cenk Uygar and the rest of the Young Turks crew on MSNBC, please write a letter to letters@MSNBC.com and join me in supporting our friends!