The cable news shows

We are down to single digits! Yesterday was nine days to go until the election next Tuesday. Yea!

- The Cable News Channels

So where do I get all of my wonderful information? Primarily from the Internet but I also have been watching the cable news shows on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News. I think they are fairly valuable resources for information so I thought I would give you a review of the shows and encourage you to watch them if you can over the last week of the election to try to inform yourself of what's going on in the final week.

- The first show I want to talk about is Countdown with Keith Olbermann. This program is on weeknights at 8:00 (repeated at 10:00 and 1:00) on MSNBC.

I have to say it: I think I have a man-crush on Keith Olbermann. OK, I'm kidding, but I do love his show.

I've been a fan of Olbermann's back from his ESPN Sportscenter days. I always loved him and Dan Patrick. I was disappointed when he left ESPN and I had not seen any of his work since he left until a little over a month ago when I found a clip of him on Youtube.com. Since then his show has become almost religious viewing for me.

Olbermann is unapologetically anti-McCain... and Palin. His show is basically a nightly recap of all the dumb things the Republicans have said and done over the previous 24 hours. OK, maybe I'm being a little unfair there saying they do "dumb" things. But Olbermann sure makes it seem that way!

Here's what I really like about this show.

First, I agree with most of what Olbermann says. What can I say? I'm pro-Obama here so if Olbermann is going to point out all of the idiocy of the McCain campaign and the Republicans, I'm sure to agree with it. And make no mistake about it... Olbermann is doing all he can to make the Republicans look foolish. And not just foolish but at times mean, insensitive, boorish, and down-right ignorant.

But here's what I really like about this show: While Olbermann's tone is unmistakably snarky and at times arrogant, if he's saying something negative about the Republicans, he usually has a quote, record, or video to back up what he saying. He's not just spouting off at the mouth (like Sean Hannity, who I'll get to) ... he's backing up what he's saying with facts. And that's what I like about it. There are times when he gives opinions and makes snide remarks (which are usually funny) but the most important thing about this show is that it is both entertaining and informative. I highly suggest it to anyone who is interested in finding what's happening with the election... and maybe have a few laughs at he expense of the Republicans. :D

Here's a great clip of Olbermann giving a "Special Comment" on the McCain campaign using divisive tactics and dangerously inciting crowds while doing nothing about it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL0XgB8vYiw

- Following Countdown is The Rachel Maddow Show. Rachel's new to the channel. She's definitely more low key than Olbermann but is most certainly on the Liberal side of things. She does a lot of the same things Olbermann does... pointing out what's going on with those silly Republicans. But I think she's a LITTLE more respectful. Pat Buchanan is a regular guest on her show to give the Conservative point of view. An interesting, informative show, but no where near as entertaining at Olbermann.

Maddow's show is on at 9:00 (with repeats at 11:00 and 2:00) weeknights on MSNBC following Countdown.

- Before Countdown is Hardball with Chris Matthews. This show is on at 7:00 weeknights on MSNBC (with a repeat at 12:00).

Matthews is more serious about things than Olbermann and does not suffer a fool. Last week he had on Nancy Pfotenhauer, an advisor for John McCain, to talk about Palin's comments about the role of the Vice President. The woman could not convincingly defend Palin's remarks and would not stick to that topic and Matthews kept calling her on it. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI6WRYFesTw) He's definitely a smart guy. I recommend his show for a more even handed look at things than you'll get from Olbermann or Maddow on MSNBC.

- Moving over to Fox News (I just had a chill...) first will talk about their star attraction, Hannity & Colmes.

I have watched this show a few times but I have a hard time stomaching it. Sean Hannity is so pompous and unapologetically conservative it's not even funny. This guy just takes anything the Republicans say as fact and spits it out over and over again. His unremorseful pro-Republican position make him almost impossible for me to watch. There's not a thing the Republicans can say that he would question while he questions everything about the Democrats.

But the one thing that this show has over the other's I've mentioned so far is Alan Colmes. At least on this show you do get both sides of the argument, although Hannity's personality is so overwhelming it tends to drown Colmes out. But Colmes will question the things from the Liberal side. If Hannity has on a guest, Colmes will question him hard from the opposite perspective when he gets his chance. And that's generally how they work it. They usually get equal time with their guests, although Hannity has no problem interjecting when Colmes is trying to conduct his interview. Sometimes when I watch this I kind of wish Colmes was a little more of a blowhard and more forceful like Hannity but he does get his points in. Like recently when Joe the Plumber visited. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_txkO5eOIc)

If you can stomach Hannity, I would recommend this show. I tend to ignore or roll my eyes when Hannity talks but do watch it to try to get a better understanding of the Republican perspective. And, man, is it messed up.

Hannity & Colmes is on Fox News, 9:00 weeknights.

(PS. If you have a chance, here's a CLASSIC clip of Obama staffer Robert Gibbs on the show following the second debate calling Hannity on the carpet after he had an anti-Semite on his show. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF858s-JPEY)

- I haven't watched the O'Reilly Factor much (8:00 weeknights on Fox News). I personally find Bill O'Reilly a bully, a blowhard, and pretty insufferable. Plus he's on the same time as Olbermann and I'd rather watch him. I've only seen clips of him and guys is just obnoxious. If he has a Republican on, he's respectful, accommodating, and is willing to have a polite conversation with the person. If he has on a Democrat, he's rude, boorish, and interrupts frequently, not allowing the person to speak freely. He also has no problems with blaming others for his problems. Like recently when it was shown that MSNBC's ratings have been improving recently, O'Reilly said that couldn't possibly be true and blamed the media and the ratings systems.

Here's a perfect O'Reilly example when he recently had on Democrat Barney Frank (thankfully Frank wouldn't just sit there and take O'Reilly's crap): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bijtBkKQwY8

I can't highly recommend this show because I personally can't stand O'Reilly. But if you can, have at it.

- The other show on Fox News is On The Record with Gretta Van Susteren at 10:00. I have to admit I've never watched it so I cannot say one way or the other what this show is like. I'll try to see if I can fit it in in the next week or so. But don't count on it.

- Finally, let's move over to CNN.

First there's Election Center with Campbell Brown at 8:00.

I generally find CNN to be more even than MSNBC or Fox News. I tend to see CNN as more the moderate ground, somewhere in the middle. This show is somewhere around there.

I have only watched a few times but Brown is quite capable. She doesn't get into the one-sided histrionics of Olbermann and Hannity. The whole tone, to me, is more subdued and more informative. Of course, normally they are talking about McCain because that's where most of the news and controversy seems to be these days.

I like Brown. I think she does a good job on this show and if you want a more moderate POV, you can't go wrong here.

- Next on CNN would be Larry King. I've seen King's show a few times but must admit I haven't watched it much recently. I've been watching the other shows. But I'm sure most of you know about Larry King and don't need me to tell you about him.

- Finally at 10:00 is AC360 with Anderson Cooper.

I think Cooper is a very smart guy and quite fair. He doesn't seem to have an agenda for either side and calls things as he sees them. I quite like this show. He usually gets a variety of experts on his show to get opinions from both sides and non-partisan experts. This is probably the most even-keel information possible. Much to recommend here.

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So there you go. A look at the cable news shows. I generally try to watch Olbermann nightly at some time (although I'm not always successful). I watch the other shows when I can, but that's been hard lately when I'm trying to catch up on my Tivo and watch the World Series, too. (Go Phils!) If I had to set the ideal lineup, I'd advise watching Countdown at 8:00, Hannity & Colmes at 9:00, and Anderson Cooper at 10:00. That way you can get the opinions from both sides and then see it all more or less filtered out afterwards.