In the Crossfire

I hadn't realized that Jon Stewart spurred the demise of Crossfire when he appeared on the CNN show in 2004.  It was at the height of the general election that year between Bush and Kerry.  During the roughly 15-minute segment, Stewart skewered Tucker Carlson left and right.  Paul Begala was smart enough to steer clear of Stewart's many barbs. Jon had obviously rehearsed his appearance, as he was well prepared for everything Tucker had to dish out.  It was so ugly CNN cancelled the show the following year with the producer agreeing with Jon's toxic assessment. 

The feud between Jon and Tucker lives on, at least in Tucker's mind, as the Fox news pundit was vicious in reporting on Stewart's push to get a veterans bill through the Senate this past week.  Tucker never liked Jon's activism, especially on the behalf of veterans and firemen, which he thinks is the domain of Republicans, not radical leftist comics.  

Tucker Carlson was never more than a fill-in for Pat Buchanan, who left the show to join the presidential race in 2000. Pat didn't care for the Bush family and couldn't stand the idea of Boy George being president.  Pat thought Pere Bush had tarnished Reagan's legacy.  There was a brief moment where it looked like Pat had captured the radical Republican spirit, especially on immigration, but in the end George Bush's "compassionate conservatism" won out and Pat needed a couple years to lick his wounds before joining MSNBC.

Crossfire was a pale imitation of Point/Counterpoint from the old days off 60 Minutes.  Buchanan had some creds.  He served as a communications director for Reagan between 1985-87.  Tucker was just a kid trying to fill Pat's shoes in his absence before given a permanent slot.  Tucker is a product of The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, so to speak, that has been churning out young conservatives for years.  Tucker eventually came to dominate Fox News, which no one could have imagined, having failed everywhere else.  

I never understood the appeal of Tucker and his little bow tie.  He seems to be the very anathema of what blue-collar conservatives like, but a lot of my conservative friends on facebook love Tucker.  He speaks to them in a muted White Nationalist language that allows them to retain a tiny air of tolerance toward others.  However, the racism, misogyny and homophobia lurks just below the surface.  You get a taste of it in Tucker's continued attacks of Kamala's name.  I suppose he is trying to be funny in the same way Jon Stewart would often play with names on The Daily Show, but it just comes across as nasty and mean-spirited and blatantly racist.  "Carmela?"

In Jon's case, Tucker attacked his height repeatedly in a voice that barely disguised his contempt.  We all know where Jon has been the last seven years, a reference to Jon's departure from The Daily Show. Stewart has been actively campaigning for legislation to address the long term health issues of 911 first responders and veterans of George Bush's infamous wars.  This Pact Bill that finally cleared the Senate, after a feeble attempt by 18 Republicans to stall it, had been one of his tireless causes.  Tucker knows that full well, he just can't stand that Jon Stewart is getting all this credit for it. 

The funny part is that Tucker considers himself a newsman when he has never been anything more than a partisan hack for The Heritage Foundation.  He managed to finally make a name for himself in the worst possible way, earning the approval of White Nationalists like David Duke for actively pitching the "great replacement" theory over the last couple years.  The same theory that has been referenced by mass murderers in the shooting sprees we have seen across the country.  Of course, Tucker distances himself from such associations when it gets violent, but as soon as there is any lull, "there he goes again."

It's too bad we can't do away with Tucker all together.  There is even talk he might run for president in 2024 if the Old Man bows out.  Although it seems he might get some competition from Governor "Rhonda Santis" of Florida, who makes no effort to conceal his homophobia and misogyny, as if he might privately be a cross dresser like J. Edgar Hoover was.  Just when you think it couldn't get any worse in the Republican Party, it does!