4 Minutes of Worth It

Rachel Maddow says more in four minutes than most people say in an hour. 

Battle of the Presidential Wannabes vs Battle of the Late Night Stars

Some pretty fascinating conversations going on after Sarah Palin's appearance on Leno vs Mitt Romney's on Letterman. Not only are the talking heads saying Palin trounced Romney for viewership but the media watchers are wondering if Leno will regain his crown as King of Late Night or is this just a bounce for his return to the "Tonight Show"?

The most interesting piece I've read about it comes from a Twitterer known as SymbolMan who was in the Leno audience for Sarah's debut as a stand up comedian. He says it was laughtracked, the audience was silent or jeerish (a new word I made up) and she was poorly received. For more on this visit The Political Carnival where I first read his take.  After he discusses the SFX of laughter for Sarah Palin he lambastes Leno for the sell out.  Makes for a compelling read.

Priorities

So, the casualties, destruction and news keeps growing out of Haiti.  Yet the lead stories on the early shows this morning, i.e. CBS Morning News, GMA & Today, were about Conan & Leno or Edwards admitting he's fathered the 2 yr old by the mistress he had during his presidential campaign.

Wow.  Talk about burying the lead. 

U.S. Govt According to Limbaugh, Moore & Burns

Depending on who you are, your perspective about our federal government will vary. Talk show tv was awash with perspective last night. I just happened  to catch these three interviews:

•   Limbaugh on Leno

•   Michael Moore on Countdown

•   Ken Burns on Rachel Maddow
  

I'll start with the Limbaugh appearance on Jay Leno's show.  It was slightly uncomfortable for a number of reasons: 

1. Leno is too nice.
2. Limbaugh actually made sense on one point, GM.
3. Limbaugh is cunning but he's not crazy; only his followers are!
4. Limbaugh never concedes a point.  Wish Obama were more like that.

Rush claims that no govt sponsored programs work and that the govt will control everything we do if we let it. He goes on to discuss capitalism in all its glory. Leno does ask fair questions which are sidestepped by Limbaugh who blames the entire sub prime mortgage fiasco on Clinton, Frank, ACORN and pretty much the entire Democratic party.


Taking the opposite side of the path is Michael Moore who feels more government intervention is the only way to control the corrupted interests of big business.  Moore is convinced that capitalism is inconsistent with Christianity and the two cannot coincide.

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The most interesting perspective about our government comes from Ken Burns who is making the talk show rounds to launch his newest masterpiece: "The National Parks: America's Best Idea".

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Ken Burns is a voice of reason and equanimity in a sea of angst. Can't wait for his show to debut.