WTF Is It Now?!?

"Cruel and Unusual" - great column by David Podvin:

..."The new look Crossfire is bad news for the right wing, and they know it. They are well aware that they can’t compete on the issues. They know that, despite running a lousy campaign, refusing to take credit for the best economy ever, being outspent two to one, and having the greedy corporate media openly campaign for his opponent, Gore still won the election. If liberals ever stop cringing and start emulating what they see on Crossfire, then conservative politicians will soon be on the endangered species list that they so despise....

"It’s not that Novak and Carlson aren’t doing their best, but it’s just harder to make a case when the truth is against you…unless your opponents are doormats. The conservatives gamely try to defend their fact-free positions with the lies and ad hominem tantrums that work so well against other liberals. Unfortunately for these right wingers, Carville and Begala actually believe in the liberal philosophy, and are therefore too busy advocating the truth to notice they are receiving the traditional cue to capitulate. Inevitably, Novak and Carlson become overwhelmed by reality, helpless to do anything except shriek about the incivility of it all. There’s a distant déjà vu to the show, because you’ve seen it all before on Saturday Night Live: It’s The Hand versus Mr. Bill."