America's Next Top Pundit
Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 1:29PM
It was October 2004.
The show was CNN's 24-year-old political stalwart, Crossfire, then hosted by Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson.
For shits and giggles they invited Comedy Central's The Daily Show host and comedian Jon Stewart. Stewart started with a smile, but began the most uncomfortable, historic dismantling of a political talk show in the history of TV shark jumping. Stewart verbally tore down the set, particle board for particle board imploring that in the midst of 2004's heated political decision that Begala and Carlson were engaging in nonsensical political hackery for theater that had little to do with informing the American public.
"In many ways, it's funny. And I made a special effort to come on the show today, because I have privately, amongst my friends and also in occasional newspapers and television shows, mentioned this show as being bad ... it's not so much that it's bad, as it's hurting America. So I wanted to come here today and say .... Stop. Stop, stop, stop, stop hurting America." (CNN Transcript)
My favorite moment was when Stewart told Carlson, "You're as big a dick on your show as you are on any show."
It was a blow so devastating a few months later the show was canceled. Although that was not entirely Stewart's fault. The show was terrible and its ratings seem to only weaken as it evolved more and more into a three-ring circus. A far cry from the days when Tom Braden, Michael Kinsley, Pat Buchanan and Bob Novak were the regulars sitting in a dark room around a desk as part of the Mesozoic era of vintage Crossfire and McLaughlin Group.
But Stewart made his point -- the Colosseum of political discourse was more like the WWE of political punditry.
But that didn't stop the networks or the numerous reporters, lobbyists, hacks, former politicians, columnists, radio hosts, shock jocks, historians, politicos, legal experts and news junkies from their chosen profession of prognostication and making-shit-up.
To paraphrase the words of another comedian, "Pundits don't die. They multiply."
These are The Black Snob's candidates for Top Pundit 2008 (many submitted by you). Please vote for your pundit of choice in the selected categories for a later, fancy pants awards piece to run next week! (Only pick one except for in the overall punditry category where you can pick five.) Just vote in the comments below! And please, feel free to make comments why you picked which pundit. I'll be using the best quips for the story.
Top Pundit (Pick 5)
Amy Adams
Rachel Maddow
Jamal Simmons
Andrea Mitchell
Gwen Ifil
Donna Brazille
Harold Ford Jr.
James Carville
Patrick J. Buchanan
Michelle Bernard
Ron Christie
John McWhorter
Juan Williams
Glenn Beck
Michele Malkin
Keith Olbermann
Dan Abrams
Laura Ingraham
Michael Eric Dyson
Tucker Carlson
Paul Begala
Ed Schultz
Tavis Smiley
Maureen Dowd
Peggy Noonan
Andrew Sullivan
Christopher Hitchens
Leslie Sanchez
Joe Scarborough
Jeffery Toobin
Roland Martin
Lou Dobbs
Jack Cafferty
Most Insane
Mary Matalin and James Carville
Patrick J. Buchanan
Bill O'Reilly
Michele Malkin
Sean Hannity
Rush Limbaugh
Chris Matthews
Keith Olbermann
Glenn Beck
Lou Dobbs
Jim McLaughlin
Best Looking
Jamal Simmons
Amy Adams
Harold Ford Jr.
Michelle Malkin
Michelle D. Bernard
Kelly Ann Conway
I Hate You
Bill O'Reilly
Patrick J. Buchanan
Amy Holmes
Michelle Malkin
Sean Hannity
Rush Limbaugh
Ann Coulter
Please Shut Up Award
James Carville
Michael Eric Dyson
Tucker Carlson
Tavis Smiley
Ed Schultz
Paul Begala
Al Sharpton
Glenn Beck
Jesse Jackson
Best Lefties
Michael Eric Dyson
Paul Begala
Donna Brazille
Eugene Robinson
Cynthia Tucker
Keith Olbermann
Arianna Huffington
Rachel Maddow
Alan Combs
Mark Lamont Hill
Dan Abrams
Worst Lefties
Bob Shrum
Juan Williams
Dick Morris
Maureen Dowd
Keith Olbermann
Ed Schultz
Harold Ford Jr.
Best Righties
Michelle Bernard
Jim McLaughlin
Alex Castellanos
Andrew Sullivan
Peggy Noonan
Amy Holmes
Worst Righties
George Will
Bob Novak
Armstrong Williams
William Bennett
Tucker Carlson
Leslie Sanchez
Monica Crawley
Joe Scarborough
Amy Holmes
Laurence Kudlow
The Center, Really?
Roland Martin
Michelle Bernard
Juan Williams
John McWhorter
Jeffery Toobin
Christopher Hitchens
Best People Who Will Tell You What You Don't Want to Hear
Christopher Hitchens
John McWhorter
Patrick J. Buchanan
Jeffery Toobin
Jack Cafferty
Bill Maher
Best Satirist
Bill Maher
Jon Stewart
Stephen Colbert
Lewis Black
Best Blonde Conservative Fembot
Laura Ingraham
Ann Coulter
Kelly Anne (Fitzpatrick) Conway
Biggest Bleeding Liberal
Keith Olbermann
Paul Krugman
Rachel Maddow
Alan Combs
Dan Abrams
Best Trainwreck
Michele Malkin
James Carville and Mary Matalin
Glen Beck
Ed Shultz
Lou Dobbs
Bill O'Reilly
Chris Matthews
Laura Ingraham
Ron Christie
Keith Olbermann
Patrick J. Buchanan
On the bubble
Harold Ford Jr.
Gloria Berger
Jonathan Alter
Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson
Star Parker
Paula Zahn
David Gregory
Larry Elder
Andrea Mitchell
Tavis Smiley
Vote early and vote often! You have until next Wednesday to make your opinion known! You can also email me your views at blacksnob@gmail.com.
Danielle Belton | 31 Comments | Share Article | Email Article | Print Article | tagged Politics, commentary, media, news, pundits 
Reader Comments (31)
Oo procrastination just in time!:
Top Pundit (Pick 5)
Rachel Maddow
Gwen Ifil
Donna Brazille
Keith Olbermann
Paul Begala
Most Insane:
Bill O'
Best Looking:
Jamal Simmons (Okay I hate the eyebrows too -- but come on now -- he is pretty fly for a political pundit)
I Hate You:
Ann Coulter (but I thank her for saying batsh*t things that I was able to quote in my published law note --)
Please Shut Up Award:
Jesse Jackson
Best Lefties:
Arianna Huffington
Worst Lefties:
Maureen Dowud (with Ed Schultz a close second -- this was a hard pick)
Best Righties:
Alex Castellanos
Worst Righties:
Leslie Sanchez (with Tucker a close second)
The Center, Really?:
John McWhorter
Best People Who Will Tell You What You Don't Want to Hear:
Bill Maher (with a honorary posthumous nomination of George Carlin)
Best Satirist:
Jon Stewart
Best Blonde Conservative Fembot:
Ann Coulter (like duh)
Biggest Bleeding Liberal:
Rachel Maddow
Best Trainwreck:
Michele Malkin (with Chris Matthews a very close second)
On the bubble:
Harold Ford Jr.
Above all else, Michael Eric Dyson should shut up.
End of demo.
Top 5
Michelle Bernard
John McWhorter
Roland Martin
Cynthia Tucker
Donna Brazille
Most Insane - Ann Coulter
Best Looking - Michelle Bernard
I Hate You - Sean Hannity
Please Shut Up - Glenn Beck
Best Leftie - Donna Brazille
Worst Leftie - Juan Williams (Juan is a leftie?)
Best Rightie - Michelle Bernard
Worst Rightie - George Will
The Center - Michelle Bernard
Best People Who Will Tell You What You Don't Want to Hear - John McWhorter
Best Satirist - Jon Stewart
Best Blonde Conservative - Are any of them really blonde?
Biggest Bleeding Liberal - Keith Olbermann
Best Trainwreck - Laura Ingraham
On the bubble - Tavis Smiley
Snob,
Isn't Cynthia Tucker a centrist Liberal? You have her listed as a rightie.
Good looking out, Monie. I'll fix that.
Favorite
Keith Olbermann- a little bonkers, but I like bonkers
Rachel Maddow
Donna Brazille
Dan Abrams
Eugene Robinson
Insane
Bill O The Clown and Michele Malkin!- there are no words..
Best Looking
Amy Adams
I Hate You
Sean Hannity
Please Shut Up
Michael Eric Dyson and Tavis Smiley
Sorry snob I can’t choose! I tried..
Best Lefties
Rachel Maddow- I would have picked Olbermann but shes a little more levelheaded
Worst Lefties
Harold Ford Jr.- whose team is this dude on..really?
Best Righties
Michelle Bernard
Worst Righties
Tucker Carlson
Center Really?
Juan Williams
Best People to..
John McWhorter- the controversial McWhorter. A few months ago I saw an interview he gave to Cspan and he won me over.
Satirist
Colbert- obvious choice
Bleeding Liberal
Keith Olbermann- all day, everyday!
Trainwreck
LOL @ Chris Matthews on the list..i like him!
Lou Dobbs- he’s painful to watch
On the bubble - Tavis Smiley
Top Five:
Gwen Ifill
Joe Scarborough
Jeffery Toobin
Jamal Simmons
Keith Olbermann
Most Insane:Rush Limbaugh
Best Looking:Jamal Simmons (HOLLA...lol)
I hate you: Ann Coulter
Please Shut Up: Micheal Eric Dyson (and I like the man but its times)
Best Lefties: Eugene Robinson (love him don't agree with him alot of the time)
Worst Lefties:Juan Williams
Best Righties:Michelle Bernard
Worst Righty: Amy Holmes
The Center, Really?:Roland Martin (what a stooge!)
Best People Who Will Tell You What You Don't Want to Hear: Bill Maher( Pat Buchanan a close second)
Best Satirist:Bill Maher
Best Blonde Conservative Fembot:Laura Ingraham
Biggest Bleeding Liberal:Keith Olbermann
Best Trainwreck:Michele Malkin
On the bubble: star Parker
Top 5: Rachal Maddow, Jamal Simmons, Peggy Noonan, Jeff Toobin, Jack Cafferty
Most Insane: Chris Matthews
Best Looking: Michelle Malkin
I Hate You: Hannity!
Please Shut Up Award: Jesse Jackson
Best Lefties: Olbermann
Worst Lefties: Harold Ford, Jr.
Best Righties: Andrew Sullivan
Worst Righties: Scarborough
The Center, Really?: Michelle Bernard
Best People Who Will Tell You What You Don't Want to Hear:
- I nominate Rev. Wright
Best Satirist: Colbert
Biggest Bleeding Liberal: Olbermann
Best Trainwreck: Carville/Matalin
Forgive me, I will vote later--I'm just in commentary mode right now.
My friend showed me the that WHOLE Tucker Carlson, Paul Begala, Jon Stewart bit and what got to me was that Carlson for some reason played dumb the WHOLE time Stewart was playing him ALL the way to left, and for a fool. Begala kinda got it after the first commercial break, that wait, Stewart is serious and finally realised that Tucker really wasn't all that intelligent of a newsperson.
Just as an aside, when are the evening cable news programs going to start adding some color to the monochromatic proceedings. Or least some estrogen? I mean, it's all white men...
If you haven't already done a post on it, I'd love to see a post about that its all about Anderson Cooper, Lou Dobbs, Larry King for CNN, Hannity and Colmes and Bill O'Reilly for FoxNews and clearly Keith Olbermann is the lefty loony for MSNBC--but it's all men, and their WHITE!!!
**gasp**
I'll be back with my votes--promise!!!
Donna Brazile. Love her she is such a straight shooter. The smartest in the business
Top Pundit: Jamal Simmons, Donna Brazille, Roland Martin, Jack Cafferty, and Keith Oberman (mostly people from CNN. I only see the other people online when bloggers write about what they say and post clips)
Most Insane: Rush Limbaugh (drug addict)
Best Looking: Jamal Simmons (good looking brotha and educated, and polite)
I Hate: Pat Buchanan (racist bitch)
Shut Up: James Carville (can't understand what he's saying)
Best Lefty: Donna Brazille (I feel warm when she speaks, its like listening to your mom)
Worst Lefty: Juan Williams
Worst Right: Tucker Carlson
Best Center: Jeffery Tubin
Don't Want to Hear: Pat Buchanan
Best Satirist: John Stewart (hands down I love that dude)
Biggest Bleeding Liberal: Keith Oberman (I loved his smack downs on Hillary Clinton)
Best Trainwreck: Pat Buchanan
Can you add Tim Wise to one of those lists?
Where is Chuck Todd?!?!
heartsandflowers and austinite: I can't believe I forgot them! Tell me what categories you think they should be under and I'll add them.
all: You can also "write-in" nomination for your fav pundits that didn't make the list.
Top Pundit:
1. Keith Olbermann, crazy in a good way
2. Rachel Maddow, she's awesome
3. Donna Brazille -- i love her, she's so cute! And did u see her on Colbert? LOL
4. Paul Begala... the nicest most fair Clinton supporter during the primaries
5. Jamal Simmons ... yum
Most Insane:
Bill O'Reilly
Best Looking:
Jamal Simmons ...meOWWW
I Hate You:
Ann Coulter
Please Shut Up Award:
Jesse Jackson, for REAL. You too, Al Sharpton. And James carville too.
Best Lefty:
Donna Brazille ... I love
Worst Lefty:
Maureen Dowd
Best Righty:
Peggy Noonan... she just seems like a grandma. An evil Republican grandma.
Worst Righty:
Bob Novak
The Center, Really?:
Roland Martin
Best People who will tell you what you don't want to hear:
Jack Cafferty
Best Satirist:
Stephen COlbert... this was a HARD ONE... I still love JS to death.
Best Blonde Conservative Fembot:
Ann Coulter... if by "best" you mean "most nauseating"
Biggest Bleeding Liberal:
Keith Olbermann :) And I quote:
"This, Senator, is too much.
Because a senator - a politician - a person - who can let hang in mid-air the prospect that she might just be sticking around in part, just in case the other guy gets shot - has no business being, and no capacity to be, the President of the United States!
Good night and good luck."
Best Trainwreck:
Bill O'Reilly, with Chrissy Matthews in a close second.
On the bubble:
Tavis Smiley
Top 5
Jamal Simmons
Donna Brazile
Roland Martin
Tavis Smiley
Harold Ford Jr.
Most Insane
Rush Limb*tch he's been spouting ignorance before alot of us were born so hands down he wins
Best Looking
Jamal "let me tweeze those brows" Simmons
I Hate
HANNITY
Please Shut Up
Michael Eric Dyson because If I wanted a rapping preacher I would have supported Reverend Mason Betha or Mc Reverend Hammer Dont Hurt Em! Stop spitting rapid fire 16's in efforts to line your pockets! It's sickening
Best Leftie
Arianna Huffington
{minus her accent}
Worst Leftie
Juan Willams (leftie?)
Best Rightie
Amy Holmes I'd like to see her converted back to reality one day; Because she's a young lady I secretly like
Worst Rightie
Armstrong Willams
or as I lovingly refer to him
"My Favorite Uncle TOM!!!"
The Center
?
Tell You...
Bill Maher hands down!
Satire
Jon Stewart
and I could not legitmately vote for any other awards!
This is my first POST on any blog site and I do it all for Madame Snob because I'm HER #1 Stan & think she's the coolest =)
Top 5
Donna Brazille (She's a bad mother... SHUT YO MOUTH!)
Jamal Simmons (He's cute and generally non-offensive. LoL)
Keith Olbermann (I like nutjobs, OKAY)
Gwen Ifill
Dan Abrams (My favorite member of the lollipop guild. Plus, I like oranges.)
Most Insane
Chris Matthews (I'm sure most people will say Bill O'Reilly or Glen Beck but I think Chris Matthew's lunacy is ignored far too often. I mean, he's considered crazy in general but I think he might be certifiable. He also comes across as emotionally unstable.
Best Looking
Jamal Simmons (I don't understand why there are other names on the list.)
I Hate You
Bill O'Reilly (EASY... If for no other reason than MoveOn.org is the new Klan. Uhh... WHUT?)
Please Shut Up Award
Michael Eric Dyson (I can't stand him. I literally want to punch him. "Barack Obama is a politician, Jesse Jackson is a prophet." That statement alone is enough reason for him to never speak in a public forum again. I can't believe I didn't pick Al Sharpton and where is Sean Hannity?)
Best Lefties
Donna Brazille (Because she's awesome, THAT'S WHY.)
Worst Lefties
Juan Williams (For ever agreeing with Bill O'Reilly over anything involving race.)
Best Righties
Amy Holmes (Just because... I see her often. IDK, I don't like any of them... LoL.)
Worst Righties
Armstrong Williams (Just Eww.)
The Center, Really?
Michelle Bernard (All my women who idependent, THROW YO HANDS UP AT ME!)
Best People Who Will Tell You What You Don't Want to Hear
Bill Maher (Isn't this what his career is based on?)
Best Satirist
Stephen Colbert (Obviously. He will pop the truth in your ass!)
Best Blonde Conservative Fembot
Ann Coulter (No contest.)
Biggest Bleeding Liberal
Keith Olbermann (Clearly.)
Best Trainwreck
Chris Matthews (Batshit crazy, I tell you.)
On the bubble
Larry Elder (What does on the bubble mean? I picked Larry Elder because I have a fascination with him. I can't stand him. I think he has serious issues. In high school when I'd stay home sick I'd watch his show, get pissed off, and call my mom at work. I was a glutton for his punishment. It is so crazy to hear him talk about black people as if he weren't one so I keep watching. It's probably all a clever trick.
Top 5 1. Keith Olbermann -watch him everyday
2. Rachel Maddow
3. Andrea Michell
4. Michelle Bernard
5. Tucker Carlson. I feel bad for him.
Most Insane
O'Reilly, duh
Best Looking Harold Ford, Jr.
I Hate You
Ann Coulter, ugh
Please Shut Up Award
Al Sharpton. Sorry, Al
Best Lefties
Eugene Robinson. Why isnt he on other lists? He is the uncle I never had.
Worst Lefties Harold Ford, Jr. He's actually on the left?!
Best Righties Michelle Bernard
Worst Righties Tucker Carlson.
The Center, Really? Michelle Bernard
Best People Who Will Tell You What You Don't Want to Hear
Pat Buchanan
Best Satirist Stephen Colbert!!!!!
Best Blonde Conservative Fembot
Ann Coulter
Biggest Bleeding Liberal
Keith Olbermann
Best Trainwreck
Keith Olbermann. I vote for him with love.
On the bubble
Harold Ford, Jr
Oh! I change my vote:
On the Bubble: Chuck Todd!!
Top Pundit:
Keith Olbermann
Most Insane:
Sean Hannity (No Diggity, No Doubt)
Best Looking:
Harold Ford Jr.
I Hate(Strong Dislike)You:
Sean Hannity
Please Shut Up:
Glen Beck - Not intelligent enough to be taken seriously, but kinda funny
Best Lefties:
Rachel Maddow
Worst Lefties:
Juan Williams
Best Righties:
Amy Holmes
Worst Righties:
Tucker carlson (Dur, Dur, Dur, Dur)
Best People Telling You What You Don't Wanna Hear:
Jack Cafferty
Best Satirist:
Jon Stewart
Best Bleeding Liberal:
Chris Matthews
Best Train Wreck:
Bill O'Reilly
Top 5:
Rachel Maddow
Donna Brazile
Roland Martin
Jeffery Toobin
Jamal Simmons
Most Insane:
Glenn Beck
Best Looking:
Amy Adams
I Hate You:
Ann Coulter
Please Shut Up:
Tucker Carlson
Best Lefties:
Rachel M.
Worst Lefties:
Maureen D.
Best Righties:
Michelle B. (sometimes she makes sense)
Worst Righties:
Joe S.
The Center:
Jeffery T.
Best People Who Will Tell You What You Don't Want to Hear:
Jack Cafferty
Best Satirist:
Jon S.
Conservative Fembot:
Ann C.
Bleeding Lib:
Keith O.
Best Trainwreck:
Bill O.
Bubble:
Harold F, Jr.
I love it when I'm asked my opinion, just like the pundits!
Top Pundit
Keith Olbermann
Rachel Maddow
Jack Cafferty
Michael Eric Dyson
Roland Martin
Most Insane
Rush Limbaugh
Best Looking
Jamal Simmons - with those sexy bushy brows!
I Hate You
Pat Buchanan
Please Shut Up
Tucker Carlson
Best Lefty
Arianna Huffington
Worst Lefty
Harold Ford, Jr.
Best Righty
Alex Castellanos - he will die for the cause!
Worst Righty
Bob Novak - obviously doesn't believe in the transparency of the media. Takes his talking points str8 from the Bushies.
The Center, Really?
Roland Martin(???)
Best People Who...
Bill Maher - would die without him!
Best Satirist
Stephen Colbert - Wrist Strong!
Best Bleeding Liberal
Keith Olbermann
Best Trainwreck
Chris Matthews
Top Pundits
Keith Olbermann
Rachel Maddow
Donna Brazille
Michelle Bernard
Gwen Ifil
Most Insane
Rush Limbugh
Best looking
Michelle Bernard
I hate you
Bill O Really
Please shut up award
Glen Beck
Best Leftie
Keith Olbermann
worst leftie
Maureen Dowd
worst right
Bob Novak
the center really
Harold, Jr
best people who tell you what you don't want to hear
Bill Maher
Best satirist
Bill Maher
biggest bleeding liberal
Keith Olbermann
best trainwreck
Chris Matthews
on the bubble
Tavis Smiley
Top Pundit:
Rachel Maddow
Gwen Ifel
Roland Martin
Jamal Simmons
Dan Abrams
Most Insane:
Bill O
Best Looking:
Jamal Simmons
I Hate You:
Coultergeist
Please Shut Up:
Jesse Jackson
Best Lefties:
Dr. Maddow
Worst Lefties:
Dick Morris
Best Righties:
Andrew Sullivan
Worst Righties:
Tucker Carlson
BPWWTYWYDWTH:
Bill Maher
Best Satirst:
Bill Maher
Blonde Fembot:
Laura Ingraham
Best Bleeding Liberal:
Keith O.
Best Trainwreck:
Glen Beck
On the Bubble:
David Gregory
Hey Ms. Snob! I'm a new reader and I must say I love you...yes, I truly do. All the best!
As for my votes:
Top Pundit (Pick 5)
John McWhorter
Jeffery Toobin
Jack Cafferty
Roland Martin
Donna Brazille
Most Insane: Sean Hannity
(What a serious unadulterated douchebag...)
Best Looking: Amy Holmes (I'm liberal, she's conservative...but I forgive her)
I Hate You: Sean Hannity (notice a pattern here?)
Please Shut Up: Tavis Smiley (Hater on Aisle #1, Hater on Aisle #1)
Best Lefty: Alan Combs (Look what the guy has to put up with...he deserves the Medal of Honor...seriously)
Worst Lefties: Juan Williams
(Are you sure he's a lefty???)
Best Righties: Amy Holmes (So sheltered, so innocent...LOL)
Worst Righties: Tucker Carlson (Supreme Lord Dickhead...can I say dickhead on the blogosphere?)
The Center, Really: Jeffery Toobin (I think he's part brotha too)
Best to tell what I don't wanna hear: Bill Maher
Best Satirist: Jon Stewart
Best Blonde Conservative Fembot: Ann Coulter (I love strawberries!...hold the cocaine though)
Biggest Bleeding Liberal: Keith Olbermann (His anti-Bush speeches are classic)
Best Trainwreck: Lou Dobbs
(Independent my ASS)
On the Bubble: Harold Ford Jr.
(POTUS 2016????)
[quote]I Hate You
Bill O'Reilly
Patrick J. Buchanan
Amy Holmes
Michelle Malkin
Sean Hannity
Rush Limbaugh
Ann Coulter[/quote]
Interesting that KEITH OLBERMANN was not listed as an option.
As a NON-PROGRESSIVE Black man - I watch Link TV, look forward to reading the monthly edition of "International Socialist Review" and record "Democracy Now" with Amy Goodwin. All of these are LEFT WING news sources.
My Tivo records "Link TV" second only to "C-SPAN"
When I listen to the FAKE Keith Olbermann I can't bear to listen to his over the top LEFTIST propaganda.
If O'Reilly is to be hated.....what about his LEFTIST mirror image in Olbermann?
I can appreciate a leftist with real convictions. I can't STAND a fake propagandist.