I adore Mika’s dad but Mika- not so much.  I was disappointed at her use of republican talking points such as attacks on the stimulus package  in the area of what refers to as welfare.   Mika needs to be sure and challenge misiniformation.

Mika is quite refreshing in the news arena.  I found myself grinning as she simply stood her ground, matter of factly, unswerving, as she shared her thoughts on any particular subject.

I found myself smiling because Mika was not at all inimitidated by Joe Scarborough, who I have seen come off rather vehemently on some issues, and she just went about stating her opinion.

It occurred to me, Mika is of a different mind set than Joe, and just states her opinions without making a fuss or argument.  It is humorous to me, and delightful to watch.

She is great!

Morning Joe has a great format. and good guests. I like the freewheeling conversation and the more relaxed style. I hate the standard MSNBC/CNN fare of pitting one or more commentator from the right against one (or more) from the left and giving them three minutes to duke it out. Morning Joe allows for a more natural conversational style.  

However, Joe takes his cues from the RNC and spouts off on the latest talking memo that pops up on his blackberry. He can be funny and self deprecating but more often than not he is loud and badgering and annoyingly negative. He is often rude to Mika and she takes it because she is afraid of losing her job. I notice her currying favor with him more and more by spouting off nonsense about the stimulus package with misrepresented or just plain wrong responses (see  Media Matters).  I find it very difficult to watch the show any more because Joe is such a boor. I like Barnacle and Willy and most of the guests. I even respect Pat while disagreeing with almost everything he says. He is capable of debating in a call and response situation and he is very smart.  Joe reminds me of one of those Americans who finding themselves in a lingusitic bind in a foreign country, just speak louder in the hope of being understood.

I loved the show the week he was on vacation.

I say watch Andrea Mitchell at 1. Andrea knows her stuff and has good guests. David Shuster is coming along nicely as well and does a good job at 6, streets ahead of David Gregory, who was one big yawn. Rachel Maddow is the best, by far, as she is so knowledgeable and pleasant. Don’t like Keith, too bombastic and Chris Matthews is entertaining but all over the place.

mika,

I have to say for much of 08 I started my morning with your show. However, increasingly i find myself either watching someone else or not at all. In fact last week when you were on a well deserved vacation, or elsewhere, I did not watch at all.  I agree that Joe is condesending, not only have i seen him be that way towards you, I have seen him be pretty nasty to other women guests on the show.  I cannot recall her name, but the recent subject of Gitmo and torture, Joe totally beat her up, i had to leave the room!

enough about the show. As a woman who owned her own business in NYC for 11 years, i shut it down in Jan of 2008, i whole heartedly agree about being honest with ones children!  They have an inate abilty to undersatnd that work makes me happy! 

You are amazing!  i think you should have the 1600 show!!!

Linda C

ps Lesley, great interview, much rather read this than some of the other "uninteresting" stories you have on line!  We see and hear most of that eveywhere!!

Living in SoCal, where Morning Joe comes on at 3 am, I wake up to watch and be entertained by the show.  Also, happy to have Joe and Mica on KABC radio from 10 am to noon.

Used to watch Imus until he got into trouble and was relieved of his show on MSNBC. 

 At first, when Morning Joe were getting its footing, it was decidedly boring to watch as all the participants did was talk amongst themselves about themselves. 

I abandoned it and went back to Imus, who is way too politically correct now for my taste… so gradually watched more of Mica and Joe. 

Theirs is the only show worth watching at 3 am in the morning.  I like Joe and Mica and the rest of the crew… so human and enjoyable, even though they talk over each other and sometimes you don’t have a clue who said what.

 Thanks, Mica… don’t let the negative commentaries here stop you from continuing to do your outstanding job on Morning Joe.

Morning Joe comes on at 4 am in Arizona. I’m up with my first cup of coffee watching the show every morning. I like the way the show has evolved and the way the personalities have meshed together. Willie Geist adds a wonderful contrast to some of the intensity. By the way, I’m in complete agreement with Mika about "The Bachelor" show. What a piece of trash!!! Keep up the good work, Mika.

I want to like Mika, but on "Morning Joe" I can’t. We really need someone stronger to sit next to joe. I know it is his show but he need someone to put him in his place. She really needs to slap him sometimes.

Leslie,

I just saw you on the "Morning Joe" show.  It tickled me that you mentioned the wowOwow, website.  I feel almost celebrity now, since I am an active participant, here.  Thanks   -  big grin.

Ro

I love this interview, I love Morning Joe, and I love Mika! But I find parts of this interview incredibly frustrating, especially after reading the other excellent piece here on Phyllis Schafly.  Mika Brezinski seems like she’s caught up with being a good mother, good co-host, and just all around good girl!  I love how Leslie Stahl contradicts Mika about how hard it really is to be objective and once again Mika the good girl splits it down the middle and says that even though they have said the opposite thing, Mika says that they’re really talking about the same thing! Huh?  This is at the heart of my frustration with her as co-host.  Mika’s journalistic adherence prevents her from getting past the the fake objectivity that she seems so proud of!  Why on earth in a show about opinions would she hesitate to come down for Obama over McCain if that’s the case? If it isn’t then why not declare so?  Why play it as though it’s some great mystery or brag that there are both ardent Democrats or Republicans in her family and people might be surprised at her actual views.  Isn’t that the point of the show? 

Her daughter knew she was faking it when she lost her job and we viewers can tell when she’s faking it also.  For God’s sake, at 42 can’t you just unabashedly state your opinion and stop trying to be all things to all people?  Some people might not like your position, but we’ll certainly respect your honesty!  Just ask Joe!  I never hear him apologize for or downplay what he supports.  Why do you, Mika? I suggest you read the piece on Ms. Schafly and understand that women don’t have to play by anyone else’s script, or are you still hiding behind that canard of trying to find your voice?