The Post-Debate Analysis Analysis

Everyone's spinning the debate, but who's giving you what really matters: the reviews of the post-debate analysis? That's why I'm here for you folks.

Let's get it on:
FoxNews: Full-bodied and rich up front with a weak finish. A panel of four in the studio with a fox anchor (sorry, I don't remember who, it was late and I was tired), they really weighed in heavy with the insightful analysis of things like "Who Filled Up The Screen" and the qualities of the individual lecterns. Wow. At some point, Tommy Franks came on and droned about some lake in Afghanistan and Preperation H, or something. I didn't quite get it. Extra points to them for reminding me every few seconds that the Terror Alert Level is: Elevated.

ABC News: Weak and bland. I only took a few sips before I left in search of something more interesting, like my cat sleeping. Oh look, he rolled over. Wasn't that exciting? Wow he did it again. Oh, did Peter Jennings say somethin...oh look, shiny object.

CNN: Fruity and brash, but with only a hint of body. I'm not sure what they thought with having their analysts sit in front of the crowd leaving the debates, which meant that Wolf Blitzer, in an effort to be heard, was practically SCREAMING! IN! MY! LIVING! ROOM! 10.30pm, the last thing you want is him hollering at you. It's also hard to focus on what's being said when the most interesting thing is how it's being delivered. That's why no one watches The Naked News for their content. Aside from the that, there was nothing of note to see here. Moving along...

CBS News: Exotic and exciting. I enjoyed the fact that CBS was able to give us the real story about what was happening after the debates, namely, the full-scale riot in the streets of Coral Gables, FL. Getting to see Democrats and Republicans rumble like the Jets and the Sharks was fantastic. "When you're a dem, you're a dem all the way, from your first welfare check to your dying day". Problem was, after a few minutes, the whole thing felt manufactured, not authentic. I can't quite place my finger on the problem, but it was there.

Also, it was great to see CBS trying to restore some of it's credibility by having Edward R. Murrow reporting again. I had heard he'd died in 1965, but doctors these days can do wonderful things.

The Daily Show: Bright, sparkly, amusing. This was the analysis that had it all. It was funny, insightful, interesting, and entertaining. It had some depth to it, without being too heavy. I find it interesting that what's supposed to be the equivalent of a $2 cooking wine comes out ahead of the other contenders. It wasn't much of a contest folks, but I declare the Daily Show the winner!

Special Notes: Wesley Clark's plan to clone himself is going apparently very well as he was on everyone's show. The bad news is the Mayor Giuliani must have snuck into the cloning chamber too, since I couldn't get him of off my TV either. It got so bad that when I turned off the TV, the images of Clark and Giuliani were burned into the tube on my TV. The ghostly melded faces looks frighteningly like an old Eddie Munster.

Thanks for coming, and have a good day!