I haven't watched crossfire in about 3 years

[TransitJohn]

man, this is all so phony. Do people really think this passes for "political debate?" Shouldn't competing campaigns be discussing policy? What the fuck's happened to the Republic? Are we that dumb? Is there a way out?

[Trajan]

1. Explain what is so phony ....

Please elucidate ...

[TransitJohn]

3. It's just that smears

masquerade in the "media" as campaign issues. I'm not so young, and certainly am not naive, but why do we take the trading of smears (lies) as a means of judging candidacies. Don't ideas, policy, etc. matter anymore? I'm just saying that we deserve _*real*_ debate, not drudge/rove style smears.

[BlueEyedSon]

2. "Are we that dumb?" Yup!!!

Public schools suck and the media ain't gonna educate you!

[LittleApple81]

4. I got to be a Crossfire watcher 3 weeks ago. Now I am a NON CROSSFIRE

watcher... Two days ago, I turned it on, saw NOVAK'S face, almost threw up, and turned it off for good.
TELEVISION "NEWS" IS A HORRIBLE JOKE INFLICTED ON OUR SOCIETY. I watch Olbermann, the NewsHour, The Daily Show... and the rest is by accident when flipping channels. And I also turn it on when DUers advise me of something special, like Sibel Edmonds tonight...even if it FORCES me to watch Zahn's face eeeeeeeewwwwwwwww.

[olddem43]

5. Everyone needs to write to CNN to demand that they

get rid of the traitor Novak. If a liberal had been accused of a federal crime, he would be gone instantly. Novak is certainly guilty of the crime of exposing Plame.

[Dookus]

7. Whatever his faults

Novak violated no law by exposing Plame. Somebody in the administration broke the law. Journalists are not responsible for keeping the government's secrets.

[trof]

10. Actually, I think he may have.

Seems to me a law passed under Bush 1 makes it a federal crime for anybody to out a clandestine agent. I think because a reporter/author had done just that and it wasn't clearly against the law at the time.

[olddem43]

12. agree, he was specifically asked by the CIA not to do this.

He did it anyway with full knowledge.

[Dookus]

14. Yes

what he did was wrong, immoral and unethical. But not illegal.

[Dookus]

13. the law in question

ONLY applies to people who use their own security clearance to out others, OR people who engage in a pattern of outing agents.

Novak did not use his own special security clearance to gain this information - somebody in the government did.

Seriously, it will be a very sad day in when journalists are imprisoned for telling the truth.

[trof]

6. You're a wise man.

I haven't watched much in a while, but (unhappily) did today.
It's just a screaming match now.
A circus for the masses.

[spanone]

8. Infotainment......That's the debate you get on Crossfire.

Turn on PBS for insight.

[mediaman007]

9. Just sent this note to CNN...

I was probably way too polite...

I regularly participate in the CNN polls. But today's poll is confusing. Is there some context to the "sensitive" question? Do we mean sensitive to the enemy? to our soldiers? to the civilians (collateral damage)? to the environment? to the U.S. budget?

I know that its tough creating a controversial poll every day, but without a little context, the poll just becomes a "cheap shot." This time at Senator Kerry.

Your organization's tone in the past two years has become more and more partisan. Your product has become less and less important to me. I will tune in for breaking news, but I have little use for the individuals that you select to interpret the news for me.

A suggestion: You will never steal the FOX viewers from the "Fair and Balanced" network. Why not create an honest product? Aren't the other 70% of Americans enough of a viewership to consider. They certainly spend enough money to support your advertisers.

Respectfully,

edit: spelling

[Hamlette]

11. Agree. I can't stand crossfire

or any other program where the participants exchange insults.

It would be nice to have a great interview show like Dick Cavet again, I don't remember this happening then. The only place you really see it now is on The News Hour.