Speaking of Prime-Time cable news

The top 4 cable news shows between 7 pm and 11 pm.

#1 The O'Reilly Factor Fox (Don't watch it often, and only in small bursts)
#2 Glenn Beck CNN's Headline News (Watch it a lot)
#3 Anderson Cooper 360 CNN (Watching it more now)
#4 Countdown with Keith Olbermann MSNBC (Used to watch it, not any more)

This is a quick look at what you could have watched in Prime-Time last week:

Anderson Cooper:

2 terrific interviews with a British war correspondent that broke down the fall of Iraq, and how Iranian insurgents have taken so much control without the main-stream American media reporting on it. Best and most informative story I've seen in a long time, and a radical departure from CNN's reporting stance. Included constructive criticism and praise [where merited] of the civilian and military policy makers in the U.S. Wonderful use of maps, Google Earth, and pertinent graphics.

Several interesting and introspective pieces about the various U.S. politico's view the entire Middle East issues on both sides of the political fence.

A heart-felt and sensitively handled on-site coverage of the Feb 2nd Tornado's that ripped Central Florida.

Anderson Cooper is a rounded program, with a focus on issues in and out of the country that concern us all.


Glenn Beck:

Iranian nuclear enrichment program and it's global consequences.

A story about Islamic Extremism taking a bolder, more proportional role in European politics.

Stories of the 5 U.S. Soldier's killed in a coordinated attack inside a compound, and the 3 (now 4) helicopter downing's in Iraq that have all the ear-marks and fingerprints of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

A fascinating story about the rift occurring in the U. S. between Shiite and Sunni's living in this country, to include specific notation of acts of violence happening without mention in the media.

In short, Glenn's focus is on the Middle East, it's broader issues, and how it affects the U.S.


Keith Olberman:

3 different monologue's about President Bush and the issues he has failed the country on.

Another monologue about how Newt Gingrich wants freedom of speech limited.

A story about how 9/11 fever has Republicans' criticizing Senator Barak Obama about something to do with Islam.

A monologue about how the President is conning Christians (that makes 4 Bush mono's)

A monologue about how the President doesn't want fair and speedy trials of Gitmo prisoner's to happen (that's 5...but who is counting?)

A criticism of FOX TVs popular show '24', and how it is giving its viewers the impression that car bombs on the streets of this nation are not only possible, but likely. Apparently part of the current administration's "fear tactics."

Keith's broadcasts tend to be about to people, in particular the current republican administration. He talks issues, but mainly concentrates on the people involved in the issues and the mistakes they make.

I can certainly see what makes one show higher than another. Focus. News. Interesting and constantly updating content. Each has the right to their own style and opinion of what is news, and what is not. Some stuff about people, some stuff about broader issues. Very little in the same ole - same ole department.

I don't watch local news because it does the weather 4 times a half hour. I don't watch Hannity and Colmbs, Nancy Grace, or O'Reilly, because they never change, and always have the same basic theme.

H&C is about libs vs concervs in our government. Grace is always about women who have crimes committed against them. O'Reilly spends most of his time defending what he said the night before, but in fairness to him, he does go from topic to topic.

With the exception of O'Reilly, the majority of them spin their wheels in the same spot in the ratings, while Anderson Cooper rises, Glenn Beck rockets towards the top, and Olbermann seems to be falling slightly.

In change, there is often progress. I'm pretty sure that applies to news as well.