Why doesn't Hannity find some other liberal to come up with good counter arguments?

Question

I sometimes catch Hannity and Combs, and I can't figure out how Combs even got on the show. Since watching, Combs doesn't seem to be able to come up with a decent counter argument to any issue they discuss. He uses child like arguments to try and make his point and it doesn't work! It's just irritating because I like to see healthy debate between dems and reps. Combs is horrible, but good for the republican cause; he can make them look good no matter what. Am I alone on this?

Answer 1

I think he is a pretty serious weenie on the show. I once (accidentally) tuned into his radio show and was surprised at how competent he sounds there, to give him some credit. But most of H&C's regular guests (Karl Rove, d**k Morris, Rich Lowry) overshadow Colmes in both intellect and speaking ability.

I agree, there is little good liberal argument with conservatives. Juan Williams will do a decent job on Fox, too sometimes. Someone like Tom Oliphant might be good (he fills in for Mark Shields sometimes on the NewsHour). They could get the former first lady of San Francisco, she's not necessarily a great debater but she's kind of fiery and she already works for Fox.  I think Bob Beckel might be very interesting sitting across the aisle from Sean Hannity, or Chris Matthews. Gosh, maybe even Susan Estrich!

I think your question reveals a big problem in general between debating in the liberal and conservative factions. Liberals just don't know how to debate. They know how to attack the argument by calling it unfair in the first place or make ad-hominem attacks, obfuscate and use snarkiness, but they can't have a real, substantive debate. They tend to see all people in terms of labels/identity politics. They seem to think that because there is much consensus between their positions and the positions of many in academia that there can be no more debate. They have too many sacred cows. Frankly, the more substantive debates take place between members of the Republican party.

Then again, there are no liberals that I can think of that are in the same league with most conservative commentators/writers out there. There are too many to even name, who are completely unrivalled (Limbaugh, Hannity, Lowry, Malkin, Schlafly, Miller, Coulter, Blankley, Krauthammer, Will, the list is almost endless!)

Answer 2

Part of the plan

FOX doesn't want a worthy opponent for Hannity because it wants to stress Hannity's side of the story.   I couldn't agree with you more about Combs.   He is an idiot.   He must be an Idiot because Hannity should be easy pickins.   He's not that intelligent.

Answer 3

first off, it's colmes, and there are other liberals that host for colmes sometimes, like bob beckel, a longtime democrat. who would you suggest they have in his place? I don't think you want a debate. You want a liberal hack piece every night. watch that loser olbermann for that type of garbage.

Answer 4

Colmes does the best he can with what he's got to work with upstairs and that ain't much. He's a typical far left liberal who's beliefs break down immediately under scrutiny. They can't get any better because there are none any better. They bring in stupid Bob Beckle and he can only come up with old historical stuff to hurl that don't amount to nothing, those strategist for dems are no better than Colmes. But that's what libs are. They are the drive bys who hurl their remarks in public then run and hide to avoid scrutiny. Liberals are a lowly class. Like Ted Kennedy the drunk or Rev Wright. Libs are the play it by ear crew. If it sounds good it must be right and it becomes a core belief to them. Much like this Al boring Gore climate stuff. Gore couldn't even get by with stealing from the Whitehouse why would anybody believe any other strategy of his.

Answer 5

It's a show, it's all staged for their key demographic, which is republicans. Why would they put a smart liberal on it??? That would ruin the fun for them. I work in marketing and research, if I worked for Fox I would have made this show EXACTLY as they did because this formula has proven success for them. While it will never attract many left wing viewers... they could care less, that's not their key demographic. The news essentially is creating alternate, "realities" where Republicans and Democrats feel comfortable, Fox for the Right, CNN for the left. In order to boost their ratings.

Answer 6

I would love to see Hannity go against Olberman.  Hannity would chew him up and spit him out.  

Could it be the liberals have weaker arguments that won't stand up to cross-examination?  No, couldn't be that now could it?

Answer 7

then hannity would look like the fool he is that's why. a chimp could do a better job than combs(he is as stupid as bush and that's very stupid)

Answer 8

CNN does the same thing on their  dual political show (Crossfire?)  They have a strong Liberal personality and a weaker Neo-Con personality on the show.  It's all in the media slant/bias.  I've often complained of the same thing.

I will say that Liberal views tend to be based a lot more in emotion and circular logic than the Reblican view points, so it's a bit harder to express in that kinda format.  That's one of the reasons Conservative Talk Radio is so successful and Liberal Talk Radio fails.

Answer 9

i just watched hannity and 2 other male republicans chew up and spit out combs and another little cute blond haired girl today.  it was like watching wolves devour a cute little rabbit.  he wouldn't let her speak and when he did he yelled at her for an answer.  combs tried to come to her rescue and they all jumped him too.  that show is as screwed up as the most dysfunctional family.  it was a massacre.  i can't stand hannity.  combs needs to find another job somewhere where he won't be made to look like an idiot.  he makes democrats look stupid.