Avenue G

The Avenue Award goes to Eleanor (left) and Anna...

by blogSpotter
The two ladies hi-lited in today's blog are already recipients of many accolades and honors, not the least of which are Pulitzer prizes and numerous published books. I won't try to enumerate any of that; will just share my own observations of Eleanor and Anna.

Eleanor Clift holds up the liberal end of the set on The McLaughlin Group. There usually is one other liberal, maybe one other woman to 'even' it out. With about six panelists, you'll normally have four conservatives up against two liberals. Depending on the issue, Eleanor may get support from John, the host, and even from Pat Buchanan (most recently on Iraq issues) -- once in a blue moon. But usually, Eleanor is holding down the fort, trying to out shout Tony Blankley or some other conservative male. Her tenacious ability to hold up under pressure, yell back, and maintain intellectual consistency all at the same time is impressive. There should be a new award given for this 'roller derby' skill set -- she does it admirably. In her spare time, Eleanor is a Newseek editor who gives us great observations about our national governance.

Anna Quindlen does a semi-monthly editorial column for Newsweek. She takes up for society's underdogs and shines a light on current issues -- such as the Enron aftermath, the death penalty, post-partum depression. Sometimes, the topics lean toward women's issues but more often the topics are general in nature. Her compassion and caring reach through -- her writing isn't distant and academic. It's up-close and deeply felt. Anna fulfills one of the stated goals of journalism: to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable. What's that you say? How can Newseek, a national news magazine, be so biased toward liberals? Well, Newsweek also gives us the near-Libertarian editorials of Robert Samuelson and the conservative essays of George Will. The magazine does offer balance; this blog however tilts -- it tilts in the direction of Newsweek's leading ladies, Eleanor Clift and Anna Quindlen.

© 2006 blogSpotter.

Labels: Politics