Pair of political analysts talk about upcoming election during program at Southeast

Sharp humor and well-delivered barbs peppered a verbal sparring match between political news correspondent Tucker Carlson and political columnist and author Arianna Huffington on Wednesday night as the pair hosted a program at Southeast Missouri State University.

An audience that filled three-quarters of Academic Auditorium listened to both guest speakers inject their viewpoints into this year's election.

Carlson, the host of the now-canceled MSNBC news show "Tucker," spoke at his characteristically rapid clip. He lamented that the 2008 election will likely be a barrage of losses suffered by "people who have no business losing."

The tide has turned so heavily in the Democratic favor, Carlson said, that it has set the election on an "inevitable course."

"That's the kind of year it is," he said.

Huffington, a nationally syndicated columnist, founder of the Huffington Post and author of 11 books, countered Carlson with her faith in American voters that the election was not "predetermined."

"I'm not actually celebrating until the votes are counted," Huffington said.

The center of politics, Huffington said, has shifted to the point that right vs. left has become an obsolete way of looking at issues.

Carlson referred to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's campaign as a "movement," rather than a political campaign.

"By their nature, movements are difficult to control, and they vest unrealistic hopes in their leaders," Carlson said.

Carlson also reduced Obama's buzz word "change," to the less disruptive "incremental improvements" America is actually seeking, he said.

Huffington criticized Republican presidential candidate John McCain in his choice of running mate Sarah Palin, because it was a decision that showed he was not serious about running the country.

Carlson fired back with criticism of Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden's statement that it was "unpatriotic" to want to pay higher taxes.

Carlson went on to say America is moving further toward socialism and called that a "sellout."

"A huge portion of American industry was nationalized last month and nobody said anything," Carlson said.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

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