Fraters Libertas

C-Span Meets MST3K?

Last night I tuned in to the Hugh Hewitt show, in the expectation of hearing Hugh spread some new lie about us around the country. It seems that if anyone in Minnesota does something exceptionally boneheaded these days, Hugh will link it to us in some manner. Beats getting Hummels in the mail I guess.

But instead of the familiar, cheerful voice of Hugh, I heard the doddering, grating voice of Senator Robert Byrd. What the heck? Had the Patriot dropped Hugh in favor of gavel to gavel Senate coverage? While listening to one of Senator Mark Dayton's incoherent jumbles (he calls them speeches) might be more enjoyable than another attempt by Hugh to interview Michael Caine, the thought that we might have lost the Voice of Reason from coast to coast was disconcerting to say the least. And how would I live without my daily dose of 'Canned Heat' and those Dylan bumps? (Quite well actually.)

Thankfully my fears were allayed moments later, when Hugh's silky smooth voice piped up, and he started talking over one of the debating Dems (Diane Feinstein I believe). Soon Hugh was interjecting wise acred comments in and around Feinstein's remarks and the effect was highly entertaining. That's when it hit me. Something like this would make C-Span watchable.

Right now C-Span is watched by about .00000032% of the population (.00000031% if Saint Paul is napping). Most of the time it's interminably dull and only the wonkiest of wonks (The Beltway Boys & Saint Paul) are paying attention. But if you added a running sarcastic commentary it could be hilarious. Mystery Science Theater 3000 goes to Washington if you will.

I believe that Comedy Central tried to do something like with the State of the Union a few years ago, but these days the SOTU is now longer a laughing matter. But 99.78% of what Congress does still is. Image the possibilities. If you took everyone who watched MST3K and everyone who obsessively follows politics you....you could fit in a very small room. But it still would result in a doubling of the current C-Span ratings.

And if C-Span isn't interested, maybe the place for it is on the radio. Hugh's got the voice but he might need some help in the comedy department (repeat after me: Minne-so-cold is not funny). That's where we come in. With our poisonous pens providing the material and Hugh's prestigious pipes belting out the lines, how could it not succeed? Just remember where the idea came from Hugh. We'll go sixty-forty with you. And don't forget that you still owe us that ride in the Jaguar too.