You love ‘em. You hate ‘em. You swear ‘em off. You fall off the wagon. One night they’re saying something so true, something that so needs to be said, and the next night you want to throw your shoe at them. (Chris Mathews, I’m looking at you.) Folks roll their eyes over them, scream at their TV when they're on, quote them, read them, e-mail and tweet their words---and there was a time if they really pissed you off, you could wrap them around your old fish and throw both where the sun don’t shine. Sadly there is no such known thrill on the net. Clicking them off just doesn’t have the same charm.
But I will admit, that I have always liked to read other people’s opinions. Well, smart people’s opinions. I found early in my political/news junky life that some people had a gift to say something in a way that has you nodding your head all the way through, that solidifies just what you were thinking. Decades ago I used to go to the Page of Opinion first, to see who was saying what about the latest news. Now of course, there’s a zillion pages of opinion, all over the TV and the net.
While we often lament pundits or love them here, it's always as a part of some other thread. So. I thought it would be fun to throw a whole diary at it. Follow me below the squiggle, and then let your freak fly when it comes to pundits.
Here’s my contribution.
Favorite all round pundit: Thom Hartmann.
Always a gentleman, always civil, smart as whip and a veritable fact machine. Love brunch with Bernie.
Runners up: Rachel Maddow, Matt Taibbi.
Both for their incredible ability to run down a story like no one’s business.
Love ‘em/hate ‘em: Chris Mathews.
I think his heart is in the right place, but he doesn’t always give his brain a chance to catch up.
Drives me crazy: Chuck Todd.
The guy has an air of self satisfaction that’s hard to take.
Love to read: Gail Collins, Eugene Robinson.
Smart, gentle people, both of them. And as for Gail, the best thing since Molly Ivins, imo.
Defend all the time: Ed Schultz
Yeah, he’s bombastic. Yeah, he’s a shouter. But I see him as a liberal, blustery but lovable football coach. AND, it’s indisputable that he’s the most visible liberal voice for labor. They love him, Wisconsin loves him. And frankly, he's earned it.
So that’s a quick take from me. So many I know I’m leaving out, not thinking about right now. Would love to hear what y’all have to say. Maybe I’ll discover someone new---a smart person’s opinions I’ve yet to discover.
(And I must note, I find smart people's opinions here in the comments every day. Y'all are my pundit people---as in group pundit--- of choice. :)