Slate‘s Jack Shafer (5/1/09) has had his fill of NPR senior news analyst Cokie Roberts’ “four minutes of on-air blather about politics, the economy and world events with whichever unlucky Morning Edition host has drawn the short straw” on Mondays. Shafer writes of how, “drained of controversy and conflict, the Cokie minutes provide perfect editorial balance if your idea of balance is zero”:
I can think of no comparably sized media space that’s as void of original insight and information as Roberts’. Her segments, though billed as “analysis” by NPR, do little but speed-graze the headlines and add a few grace notes. If you’re vaguely conversant with current events, you’re already cruising at Roberts’ velocity. Roberts doesn’t just voice the conventional wisdom; she is the conventional wisdom.
Initially wanting to “blame NPR for the segment’s wretchedness or Morning Edition hosts Renee Montagne and Steve Inskeep for pitching her nothing but giant, slo-mo softballs,” Shafer then reconsiders: “No, softball isn’t the right sports analogy, if only because Roberts never puts wood on the questions. The segment really unfolds like a brief set of air tennis, with Roberts and a host play-acting a vigorous volley”–which might in some sense be lucky for listeners, considering what comes out when Roberts actually tries to say something….
Dear Cokie Roberts,
I read your LADIES OF LIBERTY and eagerly checked FOUNDING MOTHERS out of the library. Looking at the index, I find no mention of Ann Rogers Clark. She was the mother of General George Rogers Clark, and William Clark plus 8 other children. She andJohn Clark raised their children to be wise and confident! One of his mottos to his children was “The Clarks don’t spit at nobody” when the British General Hamilton was returned to Virginia as a prisioner of war after his defeat at the hands of George Rogers Clark, therefore securing the Old Northwest Territory for the soon to become United States. Then of course, William Clark explored and secured the land clear to the Pacific Ocean, although President Jefferson offered the Corp leadership first to George, the elder brother of the two.
Even if you haven’t written about her, I hope you know her! She is my favorite founding mother!
Respectfully submitted to you,
Pamela Steele
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