Dylan Ratigan: IMO, he's no day-to-day TV personality but rather should be

[ProgressiveEconomist]

but rather should be doing specials about economic policy issues on cable or broadcast TV. He needs careful management and editing, but he has the deep political, economic, and financial background to make great contributions to public understanding of the most important political issues about the economy on a news magazine program like'60 Minutes', 'Dateline NBC', or '20/20'.

His was unique among cable news commentary programs. IMO Ratigan basically was a poseur who often spoke gibberish himself and frequently hosted guests who made absolutely no sense whatsoever. He was no fun and had absolutely no audience rapport. But Ratigan nonetheless occasionally reported BRILLIANT specials, such as much of his recent "30 million jobs tour". He occasionally had whole stretches of investigative programs with extremely valuable insights every day.

Co-creator and host for years of CNBC's quickest-thinking daily segment, "Fast Money" (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dylan_Ratigan ), Ratigan won an award for his reporting on Enron. But he was famous for over-the-top rants, some of which found their way into his recent book, "Greedy Bastards" (see http://www.amazon.com/Greedy-Bastards-Corporate-Communists-Banksters/dp/1451642229 ).

I liked to watch the first few minutes of his program every day, to find out whether it might offer brilliant reporting rather than the usual double-talk. I'll miss having that unique opportunity after June 22nd (see http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2012/06/dylan-ratigan-to-leave-msnbc-125772.html ).

WHAT's YOUR OPINION?

[Kahuna]

1. Deep? Really? His approach is much too simplistic for my taste. And

he makes far too many excuses for the republicans.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

2. He rarely uses it, but, yes, he has depth IMO. Did you watch him on CNBC's

Fast Markets before he went over to MSNBC?

[Hoyt]

3. I particularly liked his "Greedy Bastards" type stuff.

I always felt like he was talking to worthless bastards like Larry Kudlow.

I've read what he says he plans to do now, but it doesn't make a lot of sense to me -- "Desire to tell the stories of individuals who seize new tools and take cultural risks to resolve our challenges." I certainly think we need a major change in our culture, politics and economy that is ruled by the almighty dollar. Hope that is part of what he plans to do.

I wish him well, and will try to keep up with what he is doing to see where it goes.

I will say that I was highly suspicious of his coming to MSNBC from CNBC. But I think he added something to MSNBC.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

7. 'highly suspicious of his coming ... from CNBC', Why? IMO that made him uniquely versatile

at MSNBC. He knew enough about economics and finance to moderate instant analysis of the day's market events without looking like an idiot, as would just about every other MSNBC host or commentator. He could ask smart questions of people such as technology business innovators at incubators like MIT and Stanford. He knew, cold, important statistics such as x percent of medical costs come from y percent of patients.

I suspect he's a moderate Republican, but he very rarely came at issues from an ideological rather than technocratic perspective.

[ellenfl]

4. where's he going . . . and why? eom

[flamingdem]

5. He wants to foment a third way Republican-Lite party or movement

Don't trust him or his motives, or his republican light buddies

[ProgressiveEconomist]

6. Ratigan's final show will start in a few minutes.

[GarroHorus]

8. I think he'd fit in fine at Faux News. He's a rightwing prick. n/t

[ProgressiveEconomist]

9. Looks as though the final show was just another nothingburger

Ratigan didn't ask a German energy expert any interesting questions.

Then he lost the thread of his own double-talk monologue in an "exit interview" with Ari Melber.

Wisely, he let Toure, Khrystal Ball, SE Cupp, and Steve Kornocki say what they wanted in a segment about his successors on MSNBC.

Then there was the usual final-show thank-you for the usually faceless producers and staff.

If you missed it, you really didn't miss anything IMO.