08/21/2006 12:39:22 PM EST
Imus and cowboy hats
posted by nick stump
Imus is entertainment first.
Looks like Ben's the only guy on the Young Turks who gets Imus. In the old days, Imus was one of the early shock jocks. The show is a weird mixture of of off-beat political debate, Imus raving about whoever has offended him today and whatever issue Imus is currently obsessed with. He's very committed to helping children with cancer and spends a lot of time and money to help them.
No use trying to figure out his politics--it's all over the place. He's been slamming Bush for years, hated Clinton, and may or may not be a Republican. If he is a Republican, he's supported a hell of bunch of Dems over the years, including Kerry, Ford and others. Unlike Bernard and Charles, Imus has not drank the right wing Kool-Aid--he's had a taste or two, but it didn't take.
All in all--I think of Imus as an irritable old fart who can be very entertaining. He has the ability to cut though the BS in an interview and make people say thing they wish they could take back. It's quite a talent. Young turks who might want to someday get off the internet and have a more visible forum can still learn a lot from that old man in the cowboy hat.
As for the cowboy hat. I'm a lifelong Democrat and I look damned good in one. It's too damned bad George Bush has turned a good-looking hat into a symbol now associated with right wing assholes.
You guys are doing a good job. Hope to see you spread out a bit more.