Fox Tries Funny

Watching 'The ½ Hour News Hour,' Fox's Answer To 'The Daily Show,' Leads To Only One Conclusion: Surely Conservatives Can Do Better Than This.

By Joshua Alston | Newsweek Web Exclusive

Feb 19, 2007

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Back when I lived in Atlanta, I spent my Sunday mornings with Ike Newkirk, host of "Open Line," one of the few liberal talk-radio shows on southern airwaves. Newkirk's format is simple: he opines on all things far-left (Diebold and Carlyle Group are among the frequently-used buzzwords), and callers either agree wholeheartedly or are treated to his wrath. While I didn't always agree with Newkirk's views, I always approved of his verbal pummeling. My favorite Newkirk exchange was with a caller who was fed up with the host's belly-aching over the outcome of the 2004 Presidential election:

Caller: I'm sick and tired of hearing people talk about how Bush cheated. It doesn't matter now. We have to get past it, stop being sore losers and get behind our president.

Newkirk: Sir, let me ask you something, did you vote?

Caller: No, I didn't. I was busy moving.

Newkirk: How long did it take you to move?

Caller: About two weeks.