Ah...the exquisite logic of S.E. Cupp
The news, it's not so good:
On June 25, MSNBC will launch a new show at 3 p.m. featuring a rotating group of hosts from the network's pool of contributors, sources at the network have confirmed.
Steve Kornacki, Salon's political writer, and S.E. Cupp, the conservative columnist, are among those who will co-host the new show, which will replace Martin Bashir's program when it moves to the 4 p.m slot.
S.E. Cupp??? C'mon MSNBC. It's kinda hard to buy the whole "lean forward" meme when one of the first people you bring on board works for that oh-so-delightful Tucker Carlson outlet (the one that celebrates lack of professionalism), appears on Glenn Beck TV and writes such painfully obvious attempts to be edgy and "controversial" as this:
If you don’t know me, I’m an author, a political columnist, and a conservative television commentator. I live in New York City, I love board games, and my favorite food is macaroni and cheese. I’m also a terrible person.
You should know this about me now, because it will lessen the blow later when I gradually reveal all of my grotesque short-comings over the course of our relationship here at The Daily Caller. I figure, if I’m upfront with you at the beginning, you will come to hate me only slightly less. It’s that modicum of tolerance that I hope I can eventually turn into a shred of acceptance, and then later maybe that will become a snippet of appreciation. But that may just be wishful thinking.
So let’s pretend we’re on our first date, and we’re getting to know each other. You are sitting across the table from me at some trendy, low-lit, beautiful-people lounge that you picked and I probably hate. You’re sipping from a glass of small-batch bourbon that you ordered to prove how “old-school” you are, and I’m sipping from a glass of small-batch bourbon because that’s what I drink. In the first five minutes you’ve been sure to let me know you’re a banker/lawyer/politico and I’m immediately regretting my pledge never to go out with a banker/lawyer/politico, and as you talk I’m imagining myself fishing the salmon run in Alaska (you’re not there).
And then, after your one-of-a-kind story about the time you and your college buddies ran with the bulls in Pamplona, you say, “So tell me about yourself.” And here’s where I get ready to lower the boom.
First of all, I say, I dislike you very much already. Not because you’ve already told me how much money you make, but because I’m a misanthrope.
Wow. So snappy. So empowered. So clearly disingenuous. Excuse me while I suppress my gag reflex.
I can't imagine why MSNBC thinks this is a good choice to replace Bashir, although to date, all other names thrown out (Steve Kornacki, Touré, Crystal Ball) are far less objectionable. But it's yet another slap in the face to the progressive brand that they've built and fostered in their campaigns using their prime time line up of Rachel Maddow, Lawrence O'Donnell and Ed Schultz. There are so many fantastic voices out there--Sam Seder, Mike Papatonio, Ezra Klein, etc.--that deserve a chance to reach a larger audience, but MSNBC opts for the quixotic programming of someone who lacks anything meaningful to contribute.
Lean forward? I think not. This is a big step backwards.
Want to give MSNBC some feedback on their programming? Here's the link.
