Finally!
I'm thrilled to see a smart, cocky, politically savvy woman given a national platform for weighing in on the top issues of the day. Rachel Maddow, a political commentator on the Air America Radio network, has been named by MSNBC as host of her own, prime time political TV show. The show will air weeknights at 9 p.m., beginning Sept. 8th. MSNBC has billed the show "a smart look at politics, pop culture and all the day's top stories." Maddow says she's "open to suggestions for a cool name," but in the meantime it will simply be called "The Rachel Maddow Show."
Congratulations to MSNBC for a step in the right direction. It's a beginning, but hardly enough to counter the bully pulpit that Keith Olbermann and his "good old boy" political cohorts have dominated for too long on the national media opinion-shaping airwaves. I'm an admitted political junkie. However, I've been so teed off at Olbermann and company for the sexist rants that they regularly dished out against Senator Clinton during primary season ("Every time I hear her speak, I want to cross my legs;" She reminds men of their ex-wife on the court house steps;") that I had gone cold turkey from political TV.
Now, along comes Rachel, a Rhodes scholar with her doctorate in political science. Maddow is witty, fun and has no trouble holding her own with the guys. But, she is only one voice and can hardly be expected to speak for 51% of the American population. We need a lot more members of the other half of the human race speaking up and weighing in on the major issues that affect everybody.
How about you? Is your voice actively engaged in the nation-shaping conversation currently underway on the course we're about to set, not only for the U.S. but for the human family, as we prepare to elect the commander-in-chief of the most influential nation in the world?
One of the things that I'm doing is starting a blog. It's my chance to weigh in from the Midwest and Detroit on the forces I see at work that are shaping the world we'll leave for those who follow us. I'm hoping to offer an alternative voice from Detroit where we are sick of being the laughing stock of the nation thanks to our so-called "hip-hop" mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick. If you're not up on the leadership crisis he has triggered, click here: Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.
Who am I? I've worn many hats -- journalist, auto industry exec, sports broadcaster -- and been an insider in fiercely competitive and critical professional arenas. Here's my website. Now, it's my turn to speak up. Hope you'll check in now and then.
Two things I know from my perch in Detroit: Rachel Maddow rocks and Kwame Kilpatrick is about to get hip-hopped out of Motown!
