For many far-left MSNBC fans, one conservative on the cable network is one too many. Combine a tired tirade against Joe Scarborough of "Morning Joe" with the inanity of a Hollywood leftist's lame attempt at media commentary, and you have one entertaining Huffington Post column.
"Are the programmers at MSNBC nuts?" asked legendary actor Donald Sutherland (pictured right) on Sunday. "They give us refreshing afternoons with Chris and Ed, put us to bed with the clarifying sensibilities of Rachel and Keith and then, idiotically, wake us up with Mr. Small Mouth."
Yes, Sutherland did just use the terms "refreshing" and "clarifying sensibilities" in reference to Ed Schultz and Keith Olbermann, respectively. And no, apparently he was not being sarcastic. Then comes the Scarborough-bashing:
Who is this idiot? Why is he there? He can't even listen. He doesn't conduct a decent conversation. He runs over everyone else's words with a landslide of diarrhea. I saw him on Friday, stomping around the stage like a posturing rooster, calling Paul Krugman a political hack. Paul Krugman's a political hack? Surely they put make-up on Mr. Small Mouth. Doesn't he look in the mirror? That's where he'd see what a political hack looks like.
Got it, Joe? You're a political hack, unlike the gloriously liberal Paul Krugman. Never mind the fact that Scarborough seems to be getting it from all sides lately (including some flak from fellow NBers) -- not exactly the sign of an opportunist -- while Krugman is willing to disregard and contradict his own economics research to score political points.
Then comes the call for Scarborough to be fired:
For god's sake, MSNBC, get rid of him, he's beneath you. This guy makes Pat Buchanan look embarrassed. Go out and get the television equivalent of David Brooks to chair your program. He'd be worth listening to. He'd give conservative opinion a rational voice. That person would be calmly articulate, and that'd make for worthwhile conversation. Reminiscent of William Safire or, better still, William F. Buckley. That'd be fair and balanced broadcasting!
Ah yes, a man who considers Ed Schultz "refreshing" -- Ed Schultz! -- is now lecturing readers on what would constitute "fair and balanced broadcasting." No person who considers Keith Olbermann's vitriolic rants "clarifying" is in a position to play media critic.
As for Sutherland's longing for a Buckley or a Safire, it is just another example of a false nostalgia. His longing for the "calmly articulate" conservatives of yesteryear will likely be echoed in 40 years by liberals who reminisce of the days of Rush Limbaugh and Michelle Malkin.
Conveniently, there are no living figures (except Tea Party-bashing elitist David Brooks, who makes Scarborough look like Michael Savage) who Sutherland thinks merit the mantle of MSNBC's token conservative.
