The Hosts Thread: Joe and Mika Know Their Value

[teddysmom]

Don't you all remember, Mika was featured prominently in the movie, Almost Famous? 

I believe she was portrayed by Kate Hudson. 

[neona]

22 hours ago, teddysmom said:

Mika thinks every time she does something, it's the first time anyone thought of it.  She had to get Joe to tell Phil Griffin to give her a raise, so she started Know Your Value.  But does she actually instruct women on how to ask for a raise?  I guess if withholding sex from your boss/boyfriend until you get a raise is what she's going for. 

Right.  To be honest, I don't know. I mean, I think there are so many legitimate criticisms about Mika's competence as a journalist and the usefulness and substantive value of her KYV platform, there's really no need to veer off into misogynistic "sleeping with the boss" territory. We really don't know how all that went down, but it appears to have happened much later, and seems to have been consensual and sorted out relatively amicably with their respective spouses. The book was written in about 2010. I don't mean to sound grumpy, but this is always how I feel about eg discussions about the Middle East. The unnecessary bigotry undermines the strength of the legitimate, carefully considered criticisms. 

[may flowers]

Joe was on a “hit list” found in the home of a white nationalist domestic terrorist arrested earlier today. The suspect, a lieutenant in the Coast Guard, had amassed a large cache of weapons. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/self-proclaimed-white-nationalist-planned-mass-terror-attack-government-says-i-am-dreaming-of-a-way-to-kill-almost-every-last-person-on-earth/2019/02/20/61daf6b8-3544-11e9-af5b-b51b7ff322e9_story.html

[suomi]

Mika slept with her boss while she was married. Known, and admitted, fact. Doing so advanced her professional standing, given the dynamic of her employment. Having watched the show and their evolving situation for over 10 years I find it difficult to posit that the affair began only after Joe's marriage ended. The timeline, when examined, lends an air of intrigue and dishonesty. There is no way for a viewer to know that it was sorted out relatively amicably. It's amazing what NDAs can accomplish these days.

The most recent edition of the KYV book, which she modified last year to encompass the relevance of Me Too, advises female employees even to avoid something as minor as going for drinks after work with male co-workers lest the participation of the females be misconstrued. That in itself endorses misogyny. And, given that she did much more than go out for drinks and gladly benefited financially, it is laughable.

Advising others to "Do as I say not as I do" is the height of hypocrisy and my easiest response in this instance is Maya Angelou's "When someone tells you who they are, believe them."

[Eliot]

Apparently Joe was on the hit list of the would-be mass shooter who was arrested today. 

Creepy and scary.

[suomi]

5 hours ago, may flowers said:

Joe was on a “hit list” found in the home of a white nationalist domestic terrorist arrested earlier today. The suspect, a lieutenant in the Coast Guard, had amassed a large cache of weapons. 

One of these is not like the others: 

Joe Scarborough, Chris Hayes, Don Lemon, Ari Melber, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Richard Blumenthal, Tim Kaine, Maxine Waters, Sheila Jackson Lee, Ilhan Omar, Chris Cuomo, Van Jones, Beto O’Rourke, John Podesta and the Democratic Socialists of America.

Who did Joe (or his publicist) pay (and how much) to get Joe on that hit list? Because he sure as shit is the one who is not like the others, former Repub or not. I mean, that is your basic left-leaning list, especially if you factor in your Democratic Socialists of America. 

(All kidding aside, I'm so thankful they nailed this guy before he was able to act out his delusions. Altho I remain curious as to how Joey made the cut but Mika did not.)

[Chloesmom]

8 hours ago, suomi said:

One of these is not like the others: 

Joe Scarborough, Chris Hayes, Don Lemon, Ari Melber, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Richard Blumenthal, Tim Kaine, Maxine Waters, Sheila Jackson Lee, Ilhan Omar, Chris Cuomo, Van Jones, Beto O’Rourke, John Podesta and the Democratic Socialists of America.

Who did Joe (or his publicist) pay (and how much) to get Joe on that hit list? Because he sure as shit is the one who is not like the others, former Repub or not. I mean, that is your basic left-leaning list, especially if you factor in your Democratic Socialists of America. 

(All kidding aside, I'm so thankful they nailed this guy before he was able to act out his delusions. Altho I remain curious as to how Joey made the cut but Mika did not.)

Speaking of Joey, I first saw this story break on Brett Bair's program.  Jennifer Griffin was reading from notes and she said one of the first names mentioned was "Joey" and they are assuming he meant Scarborough so I guess Joe is in a class by himself and apart from the real journalists.

And yes I agree, thank goodness they caught this nut before he was able to swing into action and I hope they grab all of his little friends too.  Quickly.

[suomi]

22 minutes ago, Chloesmom said:

... she said one of the first names mentioned was "Joey" and they are assuming he meant Scarborough ...

Somehow I missed that angle. OK then, I'm going with criminal defense atty/CNN analyst Joey Jackson because he does "fit" on the list (while JS decidedly does not). If TPTB are merely assuming, I think they goofed when they went with Scarborough.

Edited February 21, 2019 by suomi
typo

[Eliot]

1 hour ago, suomi said:

Somehow I missed that angle. OK then, I'm going with criminal defense atty/CNN analyst Joey Jackson because he does "fit" on the list (while JS decidedly does not). If TPTB are merely assuming, I think they goofed when they went with Scarborough.

I dunno. Trump's been pretty pointed in calling out Scarborough by name, so I'm inclined to believe it's him. The would-be shooter probably figured he could get Mika at the same time, as a twofer.

[cased]

18 hours ago, suomi said:

Mika slept with her boss while she was married. Known, and admitted, fact. Doing so advanced her professional standing, given the dynamic of her employment. Having watched the show and their evolving situation for over 10 years I find it difficult to posit that the affair began only after Joe's marriage ended. The timeline, when examined, lends an air of intrigue and dishonesty. There is no way for a viewer to know that it was sorted out relatively amicably. It's amazing what NDAs can accomplish these days.

While I do believe that their relationship began while they were both married (ie before 2012), I do believe that they legitimately fell in love. I don't think it was something that Mika did to further her professional career, and I think she was more conflicted about the situation than Joe which is why it took her several years longer to go through with getting a divorce.

[Chloesmom]

I deleted this post as it was poorly thought out.  Thanks to those that called me out on my stupidity as it truly wasn't my intent.  

Edited February 21, 2019 by Chloesmom

[xaxat]

Deleted after update.

Edited February 21, 2019 by xaxat

[XOQueens]

I’m honestly a bit surprised Joe is still playing his concert this week, given just last week he was on a hit list. On the one hand I get not giving in to terror, but on the other I’d be spooked and not wanting to advertise my locations for a good while.

[Chloesmom]

[cased]

49 minutes ago, Chloesmom said:

On today's show, right after they had been talking about David Ignatious's (sp) mom, Mika said something along the lines of "We all appreciate moms, especially with what we are going through at the moment". At the time I didn't know what she was talking about, but I guess it was this.

Prayers to the Scarborough family.

[oakville]

2 hours ago, cased said:

On today's show, right after they had been talking about David Ignatious's (sp) mom, Mika said something along the lines of "We all appreciate moms, especially with what we are going through at the moment". At the time I didn't know what she was talking about, but I guess it was this.

Prayers to the Scarborough family.

This is very sad news. Thoughts with Mika & Joe.

[Eliot]

That’s sad. I know how hard that is.

[xaxat]

Joe has had a rough couple of weeks. I wish him the best.

[Chloesmom]

Well I have to admit I did not see this coming.  Interesting article about Brian Williams -vs- Chris Matthews -vs- the wildly successful Morning Joe tee vee extravaganza:

https://pagesix.com/2019/02/28/brian-williams-may-score-top-time-slot-after-late-night-rating-success/?utm_source=twitter_sitebuttons&utm_medium=site buttons&utm_campaign=site buttons

Edited March 1, 2019 by Chloesmom

[teddysmom]

Kornacki has been hosting Hardball A LOT lately, like every other week. I was wondering if they were going to give that time slot to him. Matthews is awful. 

I would love to see Brian Williams back in a prime time slot, I know he screwed up but I really like him and he does a great job hosting 11th Hour. There's no drama, a little snark, humor, but he is straight up professional. 

I think he and Nicole could handle the 6-9 am slot and do a fantastic job.

Just this morning, Joe & Mika showed once again how un professional and pathetic they are. SHe can't read a teleprompter if her life depends on it, and all Joe wants to talk about is 25 years ago and trying to defend Mark Meadows while making it seem like he's not defending him. 

It's pretty sad when Noah Rothman is more reasonable than Joe.  Yes it is better for people to cut back on red meat, from a health stand point, and the fact that the beef industry does a LOT of pollutting. 

[xaxat]

2 hours ago, teddysmom said:

It's pretty sad when Noah Rothman is more reasonable than Joe.  Yes it is better for people to cut back on red meat, from a health stand point, and the fact that the beef industry does a LOT of pollutting. 

Joe had no idea what he was talking about. He started ripping Gorka  for his cows and Stalin comment without realizing that Gorka was ripping the Green New Deal.

[Chloesmom]

Looks like Meek's MSNBC crush is back in town:

[stormy]

It's odd.  He must have gotten nervous that the show's better with Steve Kornacki.

Edited March 3, 2019 by stormy

[Eliot]

Joe’s mom passed away over the weekend. He’s speaking about it right now. She had dementia. I’m going through something similar with my dad, so I sympathize with him.

[Jaded]

I know when my Mom died after prolonged illnesses I was more relieved that her suffering had ended then I was upset. I felt guilty for not crying for over a year or more over it besides the night it happened. Dementia and other illnesses that cause mental impairment really do make it feel like it's a long goodbye even before they leave earth. Joe may be in shock too which can also last longer then people think. At least he has enough money so the costs of care for his Mom weren't as much of a burden.

[Kemper]

I am surprised Joe is doing the show today; and I am sorry about his mom... it happened to mine, too.  However,  Sweet Jesus, make him stop.  I turned on about 7:20, just in time for a Barnicle subdued rant about all of us.  Then Joe took over, blaming Trump's victory on the media saying Hillary had it in the bag and people being so angry they didn't vote.  That may be true up to a point; but correct me if I'm wrong.  Didn't MJ give Trump a huge platform?  Joe was so smug and rantful (made up a word!)that I switched it off.  Switched it back on to see Nick Confessori interviewing a man from Forbes (in a red-ish hat) who were at least having a 2-way discussion. Give Joe the Hardball slot...it would suit him (a more obnoxious version of Chris Matthews).  I already don't watch that hour.

[Kemper]

Sorry...meant to put my comments in the "Discussion" thread.  

[cased]

7 hours ago, Jaded said:

I know when my Mom died after prolonged illnesses I was more relieved that her suffering had ended then I was upset. 

Me too. I think that's a fairly common reaction.

[teddysmom]

24 minutes ago, cased said:

I know when my Mom died after prolonged illnesses I was more relieved that her suffering had ended then I was upset. 

Felt the same when my Dad died after years of early on set dementia. I was so glad it was over. He died in January and I didn't cry til I was watching Lonesome Dove one night in July, we had watched it together when it originally aired. 

My mom died 20 years ago & I was telling a friend that the mother of another friend had died and my Mom knew her, and for a second I thought "I need to call Mom and tell her Jeff's mother died". .  She said, I'm so glad you said that, it's like they'll never leave us.

[teddysmom]

At least they didn't have to meet with Mika

[SunnyBeBe]

Can someone tell me why Joe and Mika are aired from two separate locations at times? Has this been due to his mother's illness? Just curious. I tune in at times, but, couldn't figure it out? Do they live in separate cities? 

[Kemper]

On 3/8/2019 at 12:33 PM, SunnyBeBe said:

Can someone tell me why Joe and Mika are aired from two separate locations at times? Has this been due to his mother's illness? Just curious. I tune in at times, but, couldn't figure it out? Do they live in separate cities? 

I can't figure the locations out, either.  

[cased]

35 minutes ago, Kemper said:

I can't figure the locations out, either.  

They are broadcasting out of their house in Florida. There was a twitter thread a while ago.

They look like they are in different locations because they each have a single camera on them in their primitive studio. 

[millennium]

My mom believed I could do anything. That was better than any participation trophy.

By Joe Scarborough

My mother’s memory slowly slipped away over the past decade. Bit by bit, darkness blotted out the names, faces and celebrations that had filled her extraordinary life. By the time she died a week ago, the scraps of Mom’s memories had narrowed to an old address in Rome, Ga., the phone number of her 89-year-old sister and the faces of her three children.

Watching dementia slowly chew away at a loved one’s mind is a particularly painful way to lose them. For those who loved my mother, the journey was so difficult because Mary Jo Scarborough was such a fierce, focused presence for 86 years, whether she was directing the “Hallelujah Chorus” during Christmas Eve services, talking Republican politics over the dinner table or cheering on her children during sporting events.

Despite her intensity, my first memory of Mom is her comforting appearance at my side as a midnight thunderstorm roared above our neighborhood in suburban Atlanta. She sweetly sang “Where Is Love?” from the musical “Oliver!” and then told me how reciting the 23rd Psalm aloud would bring me peace. It didn’t at age 4, but the presence of my mother always did.

The youngest of three children, I had Mom to myself after my older siblings left for school in the morning. My earliest memories revolve around her teaching me to throw a football, hit a baseball and play a guitar. She had me take piano classes she taught to older students, compete in Bible drills with older competitors and play football lined up against boys three years older than me.

But regardless of the challenge, Mom always supplied the blessed assurance that I could outrun, outthink and outhustle anyone I came up against. Somehow, she convinced me that her belief in my abilities was unique, and it wasn’t until her funeral that I learned that Mom’s remarkable confidence was directed in the same way at her older children. My brother and sister both confirmed during the memorial service that Mom told them they could succeed in anything they tried, and that this assurance continued even in the moments they came up short.

But that was not quite my experience.

One of my favorite memories of Mary Jo Scarborough would make most child psychiatrists twitch nervously. It happened in the middle of a baseball season when I was leading the league with a .450 batting average. On this particular day, however, I ingloriously struck out with the bases loaded to lose the game for my team. After slamming a helmet to the ground and huffing back to my parents’ car, I announced that I was going to quit baseball for good. My mother’s response? “Well, if you can’t do any better than that, I wish you would. At this point, you’re just embarrassing your family.”

When I told that story years later to a horrified friend who also happened to be a child psychiatrist, he shouted incredulously, “Dear God!” and asked how it made me feel.

“It made me feel like I needed to strike out less,” I replied with a laugh.

Mom didn’t hand out participation trophies. She believed that to whom much was given, much was expected. Whining was never allowed, and “good enough” was never good enough. Even after my first reelection as a young congressman, my parents were flabbergasted to find that I had won with only 73 percent of the vote.

“Who the hell were the other 27 percent?” they kept asking over coming months.

That drive for success was passed along to me, and without the emotional baggage one might expect, I think, because I could also fill a hundred of these columns with stories of how intensely my mother loved her husband and her children. We always knew we were her top priority.

Mom and I were emotionally inseparable for 55 years, and as she lay dying, I knew that her life should end the same way my memories of her began. I whispered blessed assurances into her ear as she struggled, during her last week on Earth, for her final breaths. I knew that she could hear the quiet words I spoke, just as I knew what she would whisper back if she could respond: “Joey, be more careful with your words. If you keep talking down Republicans, you just might elect a Democrat.”

[suomi]

Hmmm. Given the way his mother's personality, parenting style, values and the incident itself were presented, when she said "you're embarrassing your family" my take was that she was referring to his public tantrum and his poor sportsmanship as being embarrassing rather than his striking out at bat. I could be way off-base with that. (LOL, didja see what I did there?)

At certain stages in life we are the sum of our environment - and as a grown man it appears that he still sees the world as a place where the sun doesn't shine until he makes his entrance and everyone (Mom) hangs on his every word. Mary Jo Scarborough has a lot to answer for! (And I say that in a lighthearted way. My intention is not to slam her).

[xaxat]

I have no doubt this was heartfelt, but some things are more appropriate in private or amongst friends and family.

[Kemper]

He was leading the league with a 450 batting average...it is always about him because he has an ego the size of Alaska.  The hand basket awaits.

It sounds like he had a great mom; and he wrote a heartfelt tribute.  I cannot snark on him when he is waxing poetic about his mother; everything else, yes.  But I have a feeling his mother would have loved this - so good on him.

Millennium - thanks for posting this. Like someone else mentioned, I have reached my quota of free articles from the Washington POst.

[stormy]

42 minutes ago, xaxat said:

I have no doubt this was heartfelt, but some things are more appropriate in private or amongst friends and family.

My problem here is that Joe's mom was not a public figure so this ode to his mom does not belong in the WaPo.

JMO

[XOQueens]

10 minutes ago, stormy said:

My problem here is that Joe's mom was not a public figure so this ode to his mom does not belong in the WaPo.

JMO

It’s interesting how Joe has written about his father as a man who had a career and interests in things that didn’t involve Joe, but he writes about his mother as if Mary Jo had nothing going on in her life outside of her son. It wasn’t even an ode to her, if it was he wouldn’t humble brag about his little league batting average.

[suomi]

This photo was taken 2 years ago this week. It looks like it was taken 5 years ago. His hair and his face are the same color now: Florida tan. Was it a mistake to ditch the glasses? I don't think Mika's makeover did him any favors. 

[suomi]

Just now, suomi said:

A few minutes of Morning Drunk. Enjoy!

Edited March 14, 2019 by suomi

[Landsnark]

"he found a book that will forever make him more sure of himself at work, home and in life. Wallflower no more!!!"
Wow.  Mika Brzezinski wrote that about her own book.

https://www.amazon.com/Know-Your-Value-Getting-Revised/product-reviews/1602865949

[The Solution]

4 hours ago, suomi said:

This photo was taken 2 years ago this week. It looks like it was taken 5 years ago. His hair and his face are the same color now: Florida tan. Was it a mistake to ditch the glasses? I don't think Mika's makeover did him any favors. 

It's hard to improve if your starting material is a face like an ass crack. /snark

[teddysmom]

 You guys!! Donnie was on Billions last night!!  Only 2 short scenes but his ego is going to be Joe level of insanity. 

[Kemper]

I am watching Katie Tur (subbing - thankfully - for Chuck Todd).  She has on a black blouse and it looks way different than the black shroud that Meeka wears.  Katie's hair and makeup are perfect...understated and elegant.  And she is very very pregnant.  Meeka should take some fashion tips and advice from either Katie or Katie's hair and makeup person.  Katie knows her value!

[millennium]

Joey wrote a pretty good piece in the Washington Post on the bitter cost of hindsight: 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/obamas-presidency-will-be-hailed-as-transformative-trumps-will-be-viewed-with-scorn/2019/03/19/c4ba3742-4a7c-11e9-9663-00ac73f49662_story.html?utm_term=.1428d2bc4089

On 2/20/2019 at 9:13 AM, teddysmom said:

Don't you all remember, Mika was featured prominently in the movie, Almost Famous? 

I believe she was portrayed by Kate Hudson. 

Please don't do that to one of my favorite movies.

[oakville]

13 minutes ago, millennium said:

Joey wrote a pretty good piece in the Washington Post on the bitter cost of hindsight: 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/obamas-presidency-will-be-hailed-as-transformative-trumps-will-be-viewed-with-scorn/2019/03/19/c4ba3742-4a7c-11e9-9663-00ac73f49662_story.html?utm_term=.1428d2bc4089

Please don't do that to one of my favorite movies.

I am surprised that it took Joe over 2 years after President Obama left office to write a positive column about him. He was very critical of Obama throughout his time in office & even prior to that during the 2008 primary process.

[millennium]

1 hour ago, oakville said:

I am surprised that it took Joe over 2 years after President Obama left office to write a positive column about him. He was very critical of Obama throughout his time in office & even prior to that during the 2008 primary process.

It's all a matter of perspective.    I have despised certain presidents in the past, but they seem like paragons of virtue and stability in the grim light of today.

Edited March 20, 2019 by millennium

[XOQueens]

10 hours ago, millennium said:

Joey wrote a pretty good piece in the Washington Post on the bitter cost of hindsight: 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/obamas-presidency-will-be-hailed-as-transformative-trumps-will-be-viewed-with-scorn/2019/03/19/c4ba3742-4a7c-11e9-9663-00ac73f49662_story.html?utm_term=.1428d2bc4089

Please don't do that to one of my favorite movies.

That’s not what I was hoping he finally admitted in hindsight. Lol

[cased]

Mika did a Facebook Live today from joe's band rehersal. I haven't been able to watch it since I'm at work (maybe that's a good thing).