The Rachel Maddow Show Set To Premiere As Host "On The Cusp Of Full-Blown Stardom"

Boston Globe:

ST. PAUL - When Rachel Maddow arrived at a local café one morning last week on behalf of the Air America affiliate that broadcasts her three-hour drive-time show in the Twin Cities, she was dressed for radio, with a loose-fitting V-neck T-shirt and thick-rimmed black glasses.

One of the hundreds of listeners who patiently waited in line to meet Maddow came with an offering: a "Give Peace a Chance" lapel pin that she hoped Maddow would sport on her MSNBC television show. "I won't wear jewelry" on the air, Maddow said, apologetically affixing the pin to a corner of her shirt, near her waist. "I don't want to start a cascade of things I can't control."

It may be too late to stop the gush. Maddow was part of the original lineup on Air America, founded in 2004 to counter conservative dominance of talk radio under the market-friendly promise that liberals, too, could be entertaining. More than anyone else, Maddow fulfilled that pledge, with an affable and erudite approach to the day's news and the rhetorical combat that inevitably surrounds it.

Tonight, "The Rachel Maddow Show" debuts on MSNBC, leaving her on the cusp of full-blown stardom in the mainstream media that her most devoted fans see as an enemy.

Read the whole story: Boston Globe

Comments

[jeanrenoir]

Too bad this couldn't have happened to Rachel before Palin. Now everything Maddow stands for is going to be mocked and trashed, very successfully, by Palin, the greatest superstar of American politics since Reagan. I'm an Obama supporter, but I fear he's toast, and both feminism and gay rights with him. Palin is a one-woman counter-reformation for femiinists and gays. Maddow can do a Jon Stewart thing for years, but she'll be just as politically irrelevant as he is. It's no use preaching to the converted, when the converted is a smart, but helpless, political minority completely dominated by the electoral power of the far right majority.

[cheryltalks]

Wow, you have so little faith. Women can change the world and do hold up the sky, but Sarah Palin is not the second coming of Mary the mother of Jesus. Please take it down a notch and stick with Obama/Biden. Biden is just getting warmed up and is really beginning to have fun. Losen up just a little and let's enjoy the remainder of this campaign season.

[mairs]

Why do you say we are a political minority? Gore won in 2000. I believe Kerry actually won in 2004. The exit polls said he won. And Obama and McCain are about even. We are at least half of the country. The power of the Right comes from control of the media, control of the message, but they are no majority of the country.

[maori]

"Obama supporter"...yeah, right.

Concern Trolling for Democracy, it's like, the thing man...really.

[indyleftist]

It is great to finally have a left of center opinion show to balance out all the right wing ones.

We'll see if MSNBC will stick to its guns though
The chorus from the right that MSNBC is far left will be deafening.
Then Joe Scarbarough will quit and try to make a name for himself by supposedly standing up to the liberal media and he'll go on the book selling tour trashing MSNBC

And then the real question will be if they stick by Maddow or whether they will allow themselves to be scared by chants from the right.

[NU81]

Best of luck to you Rachel. I already have my DVR set to record your show each day, although I'll most likely be watching it in person. Can't wait to see you speak to the issues tonight!

[DaOne]

Best of luck Rachel!

[AfricanWahala]

I like this strategy. Keith goes after McSame, while Rachel takes on Palin....

[sunny555]

Go Rachel! We need more like you.

[hjo4]

Good luck Rachel I look forward to seeing you tonight.

[nccp1870]

Thank God for this woman of generous mind and heart; outstanding credentials, and wry creative quips.

[IslandGyal]

and BRAINS!

[bodhibabe]

Congratulations Rachel! You're the best! Good Luck!

[Deparis]

You rock, girl! Can't wait to watch you tonite.

[Veratruth]

Good timing... just when Palin/McCain are blaming the media. Best Wishes, Rachel.

[apoyo]

Rachel is a pioneer, turning the ship around.

[gocatgo]

Rachel you are an educated woman, be careful, education is a dirty word these days. If you can put two sentences together you are ridiculed as some way out liberal media type.

I have listened to your Air America show since you started and your show is brilliant. Stay in creative control and give em hell girrrrrrl.

Olympia WA.

[Mdazes]

GO RACHEL!!!

[cougarrr15]

She, like Obama, is the star of a new generation of politicos. She is awesome bc she can simplfy issues and make them sound-bite worthy while also being substantive. This is what Dems have been lacking for years. We have been accused of being too nuanced. Forgive us for explaining things through rather than repeat lies that are adopted by the unwitting. She has bridged that gap and unlike Repugs, can SUBSTANTIVELY explain her stances when challenged. Repugs just repeat hollow talking points and when they are backed too far into a corner, they raise POW, sexism cards, or question patriotism, Ayers, Rev. Wright, etc. She will actually pursue the answer to the questions asked so I fear that she wont be able to subtantively debate the other side bc they probably wont appear. McCain's camp already shown, with their cxl of CNN, that they do not like to answer tough Qs. If they cant handle Maddow, how or Campbell Brown, how will they handle world leaders?

[iamjoneskeepupwithme]

i. love. rachel.