Colmes Continues to Require Control

As “House” was a rerun last night, I switched the channel to Hannity and Colmes. Knowing that Hannity is still on vacation, I expected to find the only-Sean-can-control-him Alan Colmes in totally undisciplined mode. I was not disappointed.

When I joined the program, Colmes was beginning a full-court press against former Advisor to VP Cheney Ron Christie. Christie was on camera but, not in-studio. Alan told Christie that the NSA warrantless wiretaps were illegal and asked him to provide an answer as to why they weren’t. In his typical wild-eyed-and-mouth liberal fashion, Colmes allowed Christie only 2-3 sentences to explain the administration’s legal position then cut him off and began to spout his own torrent of somewhat disconnected statements. Each and every time Christie attempted to get even a ‘word in edgewise’, Colmes’ voice became louder and more shrill until he veritably shouted Christie down. Then, instead of allowing Christie to respond—at all—Colmes turned to his in-studio guest leftist civil rights attorney Michael Gross. Totally ignoring Christie’s voice in the background, which continued to ask if he could complete his response, Colmes continued to talk with Gross. As is typical of Gross, the attorney referred to President Bush’s “arrogance” and made some oblique and bizarre references to “concentration camps”. Colmes allowed Gross to meander through a morass of somewhat nonsensical statements.

Guest-host and conservative Mike Gallagher said nothing to reel in the crazed Colmes. I like Mike and, to give him the benefit of the doubt, perhaps he was as shocked as was I by Colmes’ behavior. Even after returning from a commercial break, Colmes would not allow Christie to complete any answer. Instead, he continued to turn to Gross. Then, when Gallagher attempted to question Christie, Colmes continued to interrupt with his own partisan statements.

Is this yet another example of a continuing devolution of the “fair and balanced” network? If Tuesday night is any exemplar, it looks and sounds as if Fox is beginning to emulate the little-watched MSNBC Hardball—except Alan was even ruder than Chris! Then again, perhaps the once alternative-to-biased-news network has decided it needs to attract more from the decided and radical Left. Whatever the reason, Tuesday night’s H&C was an embarrassment to Fox and any rational person who watched. It was also another prime example of a “host” censoring any and all who disagree with the liberal/leftist viewpoint. Colmes clearly showed everyone viewing this debacle that refusing to allow opponents to present their views is the well-established new liberal way of defeating those with an alternative viewpoint.

Note: It appears that not all conservatives have learned the talking-over-ones’-opponent technique. It also appears that they either need training or a refresher course in “How to Disrupt the Leftist Marathon Marauders”.

Considering his antics during last night’s program, it looks as though Colmes took his lead from the leftist radicals at the University of Connecticut, who recently shouted-down conservative Ann Coulter. If the Left can successfully and dictatorially stop any reasoned alternative viewpoint, said viewpoint will never be heard. This is a technique that was used very effectively and consistently by another dictatorial entity, prior to and throughout World War II. However, at least on this television program, Sean is needed back—soon. He seems to be the only one who can discipline the cacophonous Colmes. It strongly seems that no one else is willing to do so.