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By SusanUnPC on February 17, 2009 at 6:35 PM in Andrea Mitchell, China, Japan, Media, Television, National Security, North Korea, Rachel Maddow, Russia, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, State Department, World News

You emote. You rant. You scream. You inhale. You reflect? No … you rant.

And now, CLASS: Please compare, and contrast, these two examples of television journalism:


Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Yes, well. Actually, there was some news in there.

And, Rachel, I’d flat-out kill for Hillary’s coat BUT it is NOT your lead, Rachel. So not your lead! (North Korea, for example

Hillary, you rock. Rachel? You not so much.

And why oh god why Rachel do you over-enunciate and over-emote every single word that comes out of your mouth in a very much too-high-pitched way?

Breathe, Rachel.

Take it from an old former French horn player: Use your diaphragm.

You’re supposed to be engaging, not grating!

****************************************

Oh, that second example? That’s from the new PBS world news program that I’m very fond of, WorldFocus. Besides the above video, there’s this “blog” report:

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Tokyo on Monday night on her first trip as the nation’s chief diplomat.

“I have come to Asia as my first trip as secretary of state to convey that America’s relationships across the Pacific are indispensable to addressing the challenges and seizing the opportunities of the twenty-first century,” Clinton said to a crowd in Tokyo.

Sheila A. Smith, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Martin Savidge to discuss how Clinton will approach North Korea, Japan and how the Japanese view China’s growing economic and military power.

Read what a Worldfocus contributing blogger had to say about Clinton’s stop in Japan and what her visit means for internal Japanese politics: Clinton plans for a rare meeting with Japan’s opposition.

Check out MORE at WorldFocus.

P.S. Last night’s program included a quite disturbing if fascinating examination of the fascination with and admiration for Joseph Stalin that today’s Russians have: “Stalin Makes a Comeback With Russia’s Youth.”

  • Ferd Berfle

    Who was that banshee from the first clip? I know it wasn’t Siouxsie-Sue because she has a great voice.?

  • http://www.rabblerouserruminations.blogspot.com/ Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy

    I admit – I could not listen to the entire Rachel piece. I gave it my best effort, though – she was working my last nerve.

    And making such a big deal abt Clinton’s COAT?? SERIOUSLY? It was a nice coat – big deal! And here’s a little newsflash for her – women’s overcoats and men’s overcoats are a little different. So, yeah – it may have been newsworthy if Colin Powell actually wore a woman’s overcoat instead of a man’s, but that’s abt it! I mean, really – has this woman gone on and on and on like that over Michelle’s (hideous) wardrobe? Sheesh. Talk abt demeaning the Sec. of State by focusing on something so superficial rather than the work Clinton was actually DOING there.

    As I already admitted, I didn’t listen to the end – did Rachel actually acknowledge the young Japanese women who look up to Hillary as a role model?

    Thanks for the example of GOOD reporting, too, Susan. Really helps to be reminded of how it is SUPPOSED to be…

    • J S Ruby

      RRRA, I could not finish the Maddow piece either. I don’t think by the direction it was heading that there was any news in the report.

      The Martin Savidge piece was very good and informative.

      • jbjd

        Me, three.

    • Elsie

      Rachel Maddow is ill informed about style.. Chanel coats and other haute couture coats use lining such as that worn by Sec. Clinton.. It is a fun thing to wear.. The nice and pleasant surprise.. But to tasteless Maddow, she is absurd for making those stupid comments..
      Compared to Michele Obama’s coat at the inauguration… The side seams of her coat are so visible and whoever designed it should get a failing grade in construction.. The lining is white which is not so amateurish…just like her husband… could not even speak clearly. Obama is just above one notch over Ms You Know, You Know Who….Carolyn Kennedy..

    • JulieDarlingNotJulieOBOT

      What would Rachel Madcow know about women’s fashions?!

      What a freak show MSNBC has going on.

      They should stick to something they have a chance of mastering like guessing weight or funnel cakes.

      PS: Thanks for filtering the news, so I don’t have to Susan! I’m way busy studying up on the Tilt-A-Whirl.

    • FLDemFem

      What Ms. Maddow failed to understand, probably through her own ignorance, is that the lining of that coat has dragons on it, and they are a very important symbol to most of the people in Japan, China and the rest of Asia. And in all of Asia, but especially China and Japan, the dragon is a HUGE cultural icon, and a symbol of good luck and prosperity. I would bet money that Hillary knows that, and chose that particular coat for that very reason. Either way, it’s a big plus in her karma column in the cultures she is currently visiting. And the fact that the dragons are so close to her person, inside the coat, is also a good thing. The closer they are, the better. Hence the large number of dragon tattoos you find in Asia. Can’t get closer than skin, right? But having them display on the lining of her coat, even if it’s an accidental display, is huge joss in Asia. I bet Hillary knew that.

  • Peggy Sue

    Well, we have the frivolous against the serious, don’t we? Like I or anyone else cares what HRC’s coat liner looks like or Rachel Maddow’s opinion of same. By the time you get to anything substantial, you’re distracted [which is probably the whole reasoning behind the clip].

    In the World Focus piece it’s all business, straight journalism: what is the thrust of the meeting, who are the important players, etc. Fashion does not come into it.

    Nor should it.

    There’s a reason MSNBC is an absolute joke. This is but one clear example.

    • wodiej

      There’s a reason MSNBC is an absolute joke. This is but one clear example.

      No kidding!

  • HardCoreDemocrat

    How interesting that Kim Jong-Il’s coverage is the same as that for Barack Hussein Obama.

    Rachel, thanks for more sexism. I guess selling out really means selling out. And there she is trivializing sexism. You are a joke, Rachel. You are a mindless hack.

    Now I understand why Obamabots are mentally challenged after watching that hack Rachel Maddow reduce news to so much nonsense. WHAT A JOKE!!!!

  • MrX

    Rachel was actually somewhat supportive and said that Hillary’s coat was badass. But yeah, Rachel was more of a comedy channel special than the news.

    • noproblama

      Maddow can’t criticize Hillary now because she’s prezbo’s sos, so she has to settle for heaping (rather uncomfortably) faint praise on Hillary’s attire.

      She’s also conforming to the hack journalism style of Obamamann and tweetie that went over so well with Obama supporters – probably with the hope that some of them are still watching.

      And now, CLASS: Please compare, and contrast, these two examples of television journalism:

      I saw only one example of journalism.

  • margarita

    I was only able to listen to maddow go on for 1 minute about the Secretary’s coat. Is maddow’s head really that empty?

    Thank you for the World Focus clip…very informative. It was actually News…imagine that.

    • Barry bums a ciggie

      Shoot, that was about how long I lasted. Maddow is such an annoying person, she really is. What I don’t get is during the primary, Hillary was portrayed by these hacks as a cold, boring, icy, bi-atch. Now, she’s “rocking” it with her fashion sense. Sheesh, it’s no wonder their ratings are dipping and print media is in the red. If this is journalism, why bother.

      • wodiej

        MSNBC is as relevant as the National Enquirer….maybe worse.

  • Mel

    Well if Rachel stopped shopping at the Men’s Warehouse, she might realize that woman’s clothing often comes with great lining.

    She is a typical Obama paid journalist.

    • Mary

      There’s a REASON Rachel bonded so well with Tweety and Gooberman.

      Yuk.

    • Andy

      ROFLOL Mel.

    • OxyCon

      If Hillary would have worn a beat up, dirty old t-shirt, some Levi’s straight leg jeans and purple Chuck Taylor’s, while sporting a little boy’s haircut, Madcow would have orgasmed.

      • Ashy1

        Don’t forget comfortable shoes.

    • Judy L. NC

      Mel, LOL! You’ve boldly gone where no man has gone before!

      Rachel just lost any authority on womens’ issues she may have had. Get her a bowl of milk.

  • http://baddemocrat08.wordpress.com/ obamastolemyboyfriend

    You emote. You rant. You scream. You inhale. You reflect? No … you rant.

    Now, Susan, I certainly hope you didn’t mean that you are comparing us ranters to Rachel! Yes, I do rant. It keeps me from hurting myself by banging my head against the wall. That could cause me to make a bloddy mess on the wall, get injured and be unable to work and feed my children, and cost me a huge medical bill! so, yes, i do rant and complain. the difference is that I am neither paid to be here, nor a news anchor!

    But I do so love you Susan! you rock! Just take it easy on us poor ranters, will ya? I mean seriously. it is a wonder people like m haven’t completely lost our minds, living this nightmare for a year and then some!

    And Rachel, get off the air, and take MSNBOKJI with you!

    The second clip is real news. I will start watching that!

  • candymarl

    Rachel Maddow is a Rhodes Scholar and has a PHD. She can do better than this. Sad really.

    • http://www.sonicninjakitty.wordpress.com Sonic Ninja Kitty

      But she chooses NOT to–why oh why?!?!?!?

    • Ferd Berfle

      That PhD must stand for post-hole digger since everything apparently looks like a hole to her and she doesn’t know the appropriate time to stop digging.

    • Ashy1

      With the type of personality she projects, I don’t think she can do better than this. If she had some other job, that personality would be a part of whatever she did. Yuck!

      Someone needs to let her know that the elections are over.

  • fiscalliberal

    Susan – thanks for the World Focus blurb with the intelligent comment. I do not listen to US main stream media now because of what they did to Hillary. It is interesting, my son and son in law are business people and made it a practice to listen to PBS to get reasonable input. Both of them have stopped listening to PBS also because of the Obama bias.

    Fool me once – shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. So US main stream media just will not get the second chance. From our blog comments, it looks like the MSM is still up to their same old tricks

    • fiscalliberal

      I should have qualified PBS as PBS Radio

  • Cindy

    The second clip was by grownups, for grownups.
    The first clip was the result of an inner circle wannabe who sold her soul to get there.

  • Texas Playwright

    So THAT is Rachel Maddow. What a waste of air time.
    The other video? Professionals. Very calming in how they present the news, like thought and preparation went into it.

  • http://americanpumainitaly.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

    It was just killing Maddow to say something nice about Hillary wasn’t it? She was trying her best, had to come up with something, since her *chosen one* added Hillary to his staff. She bugs me SO bad. Her snarkiness is so not funny, and so unappealing.

    She is just a more feminine….er…softer voiced….er…just a carbon copy of Keith Olbermann.

    The second clip was most informative.

    The first clip was like the old film they used to show at the drive-in movie, with the dancing hotdog and bun.

    • wodiej

      The first clip was like the old film they used to show at the drive-in movie, with the dancing hotdog and bun.

      aw..don’t ruin those good memories of the drive in for me….LOL

      you all ain’t right tonight…LOL

    • socalannie

      LMAO! You nailed it Sara! Especially loved the oberfuerhrer comparison.

    • Collen

      Oh please….she was not knocking Hillary at all – she said the coat was badass and she would have commented had Powell or another SOS wore such a great garment.
      Get over it Sara – Hillary is happy as SOS. Instead of your continual knocks on Obama or anyone who ever said anything positive about him (which of course means those same people must hate Hillary, right?) why don’t you just support her?
      lighten up-

      • http://americanpumainitaly.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

        oh please colleen – why don’t you read it again, adn why don’t you lighten up! My comments above were light.

        yes she said something nice about hillary, but i said it was killing her to have to do so.

        i think maddow did a pretty good job of solidifying her feelings for hillary during the primary. now that Hillary is SOS, Maddow is trying her best to be nice to hillary. so she compliments her wardrobe…? please. would it kill her to compliment hillary on her accomplishments? my opinion, yes, it would.

        support maddow? hardly! it was torture to just watch that clip. maddow didn’t just say nice things about obama, she kissed his ass, threw her career out the window, and ripped apart Hillary.

        Maddow accused Hillary of using race to divide, and drive a wedge in races, she caled hillary a liar about her vote on Iraq resolution, she piled on her about the Bobby Kennedy comment, she pushed for Hillary to drop out of the race, she mocked Lady Lynn Rothchild, she brushed off claims that Hillary received sexist treatment, and on and on.

        Maddow also said that Sarah Palin was flat out lying about the trooper story, which she wasn’t, and repeatedly attacked and mocked her.

        Maddow gets no love or respect from me. Please don’t tell me to get over anything.

        Maddow is an intelligent woman, it is most unfortunate that she lowers herself to KO standards, attacks succesfsul women, and has become a ridiculous snarky biased commentator.

      • http://americanpumainitaly.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

        and what the heck is your problem with me? i don’t see your rude comments directed at anyone else on here…. perhaps YOU need to get over it.

        • Collen

          What should I get over? And why are my comments rude – just because I don’t agree with your opinion?
          It is unfortunate that Rachel Maddow has become more snarky since she got her own show – but surely you know that being snarky is part of her contract? No snark, no viewers.
          However, we obviously differ in our opinion of her, especially during the primaries and gen election – I do not find that because she pointed out Hillary’s flaws and often critisized her that that translates into ‘attacks successful women.’ Quite the contrary, she is VERY complimentary of the many successful women who come on her show. And she is also very critical of Obama when she feels he warrants such criticism. All fair, no?
          I could go back to the primary wars and give you examples of when Hillary and her supporters made snarky and rude comments towards obama – and many of those supporters were on TV talking for all to hear. That’s what politics is –
          you have your candidate and I have mine, bound to disagree. Where I see some truth, you see rude.
          And while I supported the candidate who won, i don’t see that it justifies the hatred that comes from you all on this blog, in the form of dissecting every word the man says, every opinion he gives (and often its your interpretation of what he is saying, not his real intention) It’s ALL bad and ALL at Hillary’s expense.
          Come on, American girl, can you just give me ONE positive on the President’s actions or policies (other than appointing Hillary as SOS)? Could you try?

  • VMorris

    The second clip is true journalism….a rare commodity in the USA these days.

    The Maddow clip was pure (BFM)….Bovine Fecal Matter….

  • AlexisM

    I can’t add anything better to the above.

    Madow is certainly nothing but a bloviator whose mouth spews BFM.

    Good one Vmorris.

  • oowawa

    I was able to watch about half of Maddow’s spiel. Its main point: “Listen to how really cool and intelligent I am: I can laughingly deconstruct this woman’s fashion-sense and interpret its meaning. Now who wants to be in my club!?”

    • Ferd Berfle

      I can laughingly deconstruct this woman’s fashion-sense and interpret its meaning. Now who wants to be in my club!?”

      LMAO. I think I’ll take a pass.

      Madcow ought to take on Me-chelle’s early-20th century just-sat-in upholstery look, if such criticism is relevant to this issue.

      • oowawa

        Yes indeed, Ferd. Maddow hijacks the story to preen herself. For a real newscaster, getting across the story is the goal of the reporting (as in the second example). And then there are people like Maddow, for whom the main goal of the reporting is putting across their own personalities: the story is merely a medium by which they can achieve this egotistical goal. MSNBC has several people like this: Matthews, Olbermann, Shuster, to name a few. Once the newscaster takes precedence over the story he/she is covering, it ceases to be news and becomes some kind of performance.

        • tango

          “Preen” is the right word to describe Maddow. In a business full of egos, Maddow still manages to be their equivalent of a peacock spreading her wings, admiring herself and preening with an attitude that says “look at me, aren’t I cute and oh so smart with my snarky flippant personality and sing song voice”. Ewww. By choosing to comment on Hillarys coat as the opening remark, Maddow managed to minimize the SOS and her trip because anything after that obviously had to be trivial since she choose to open talking about Mrs. Clintons wardrobe. You think anyone channel switching would stop to listen when a newscaster is snarking about a coat?

          I did watch her last night to see the supposed big story about the former soldier and the true story behind the guards at Gitmo. What a let down. I was expecting some serious scandal by the lead up (Former guard tells us what REALLY happened at Gitmo!!!!) but that wasn’t the case. There was some inappropriate behavior and unless he chose not to tell the more horrifying stories on TV which wouldn’t make sense if he’s trying to garner sympathy from an audience who already feels Gitmo terrorists are abused, I thought what he did say wasn’t terribly horrible. But good old Rachel managed to put out enought sincerity and seriousness like she was breaking Watergate! But that ended thank goodness and it was back to her snarky smarminess for the next bit of her show.
          Her self-depreciating act grows old really quickly.

  • sheila

    Thanks, Susan for the link to World Focus. I am going to continue watching that. Martin Savage is an old anchor from NE Ohio. I have always liked him.

    Thanks, again.

  • TexasMirth

    Maddow loved pointing out how the media in N. Korea exalts Kim Jong Il as one who “bends nature…controls the weather patterns…and plays golf better than anyone else on earth.” That’s sort of like when the Washington Post described Obama’s exercise routine with: “Sun glinted off [Obama's] chiseled pectorals sculpted during…weightlifting sessions..”

    Gush-Gush. The difference is the North Korean press MUST PRINT THIS HYPERBOLIC ADULATION or suffer some horrible fate. What’s the Washington Post’s excuse?

  • Masha

    I’m so glad I don’t watch Rachel Maddow anymore. How stupid can she get?

  • meileen

    Haven’t seen Maddow in months as I am boycotting MSNBC and CNN. Heck, even PBS slanted during last year’s election. But I did have more hope for Maddow doing her own show. I thought she might bloom being out from under the male club setting she was in. Guess not. And Andrea – she couldn’t politically analyze her way out of her overcoat. Sad reps these women turned out to be.

    The second clip, in just 3 and a half minutes, did a superb job of summarizing HRC’s trip to the east and what it means. What a great comparison of phony journalism to real reporting. Thanks Susan.

  • ROTFG/Rollingonthefloorgagging

    So that is the really hip Rachel Maddow??? What a disappointment. What a sell out. She’s trying to be a more intellectual version of The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart. That’s what all the arrogant uber-ennunciation is all about.

  • http://BREAKINGNEWS.COM Oisafraud

    What are they paying Rachel Maddow for???? Seriously???????????????

  • TeakwoodKite

    The Horns of the Berlin & Vienna Philharmonics

    Horn Players Unite!

    In spirt of Grumpy Old Guy, what was your favorite work?

    Thanks posting the Martin Savage piece. He is consistantly a even handed insightful human being. I did not know Maddow was a Rhodes Scholar and obtained a PHd. Who’da Thunk? (thanks candymarl)

    When you dismiss the class will Maddow stay beind and do penance?

    I can see you having her write on the blackboard,like Bart Simpson, 500 times “I will stop drinking BO Kool-aid.”

  • Carla

    I used to listen to Dr. Rachel Maddow on the radio before she became an Obamamaniac.

    It was good to see how many people here had comments I agree with with respect to Rachel’s piece. As I watched the first minute, I thought: This is demeaning and sexist towards Clinton, Maddow is boring, and she is trying to hard to be like Olbermann. Sensationalism for the masses. It’s acceptable to like Clinton for her clothes, cause then, you know, she is “like..cool…” Not as cool as Obama of course, or as smart as Obama. That is why she is wearing the coat with the magic lining. To deflect attention away from the fact that she doesn’t have a brain. Fortunately, for true Hillary supporters, we see what is underneath the coat, not just the lining.

    I really hope Hillary runs in 2016.

  • danny

    I’d take Sheila Smith and real news over Madcow and corporate propaganda media (CPM) trash any day of the week.

  • Steve1

    What can you expect from a charlatan????? MSNBC Madcow! The blind, non journalist and a fool who has sold her soul for her BF, Kieth Olbermann-the crazies!