Letter to Hardball re: Schuster

[ejbr]

sent to: [email protected] cc: [email protected]

fwded to:CNN

Dear Sir/Madam:

I am writing to thank you for allowing David Schuster to fill in for Chris Matthew on Hardball last night. Unfortunately, I have noticed that Hardball has changed from when I first began to watch the show. At that time, Mr. Matthews was actually playing Hardball with his guests, showing no partiality to one side or the other, as well as focusing on the important issues that were at stake. However, recently Mr. Matthews has been very disappointing in that he spends in inordinate amount of time asking ridiculous questions that surely appeal to the National Enquirer crowd, refuses to challenge erroneous assertions that any intelligent political observer would expect to be challenged and continues to invite Ann Coulter on to his show, leaving me to wonder whether you ARE trying to appeal to the National Enquirer crowd.

On the other hand, the fresh-faced Schuster is focused on the realities of a situation and allows ample time for his guests to comment on the topic at hand, cutting them off only when they digress. Unlike Matthews, Schuster asks appropriate, pointed questions, challenges erroneous information and would probably commit hari kari before interviewing Ms. Coulter* who seems to think that political discourse involves fabricated facts and childish insults that others should not even dignify with a response.

I have great anticipation for Mr. Schuster's next hosting assignment. He and Mr. Olbermann remind me of the newscasters of the 1970s where truth was the objective and any obfuscation of the facts anathema. To borrow a phrase from Senator Lieberman**, "there is too much politicization". However, I am not referring to government, but of news broadcasting. There are too many hosts who come to the table with a preset agenda and are ready to defend their side regardless of the facts. I find this not only to be disheartening, but also a sign of contempt for intellectual honesty.

Once again, thank you. Mr. Schuster is a breath of fresh air that I hope will continue to shed light on the many political topics of the day. CNN claims to be "the most trusted". I disagree. Keith Olbermann and David Schuster are my most trusted sources of television news and could convince me to think differently about any topic --not an easy task, mind you -- due to their fierce attention to logic and passion for the truth.


Sincerely,

In an attempt to appear as John Q. Public with no hidden agenda (which I really don't have because I would be content with a news host making any of my Democratic heros prove their point and tell the truth!):

*provided appropriate prefix to remove any indication of partiality. Would have loved to have referrred to her as Ms. Bitch

**did not allude to my utter disgust with and hatred for this man because that would not only be a digression, but an indication of partiality. GOD I HATE LIEBERMAN