Promoting Prosperity Path

 

Larry Kudlow
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Last Friday, CNBC announced The Kudlow Report, hosted by Larry Kudlow, will end its run this month after over a decade of producing top notch analysis of the financial markets in its 7PM EST time slot.

CNBC president Mark Hoffman said "Larry expressed his love of the network and personal pride in what had been accomplished on his program over the years but now wanted to slow down just a bit."

I certainly hope Hoffman was being truthful when discussing the end of The Kudlow Report, as Kudlow well deserves the opportunity to exit on his own terms.

Ratings at CNBC have been in freefall, and although shows on all networks discussing financial topics are in decline (have folks just thrown in the towel?), CNBC is on the wrong side of the relative strength in this matter.

The dismal ratings are no fault of Kudlow, whose show and analysis are tops on the network.  There are other outstanding individual hosts and reporters on the network, most notably Joe Kernen, Bill Griffeth and Rick Santelli, so the decline really has nothing to do with the talent on board.

Unlike Hoffman, I know why the decline at CNBC has been deeper.  It comes from what can only be a dictation from the news division of parent company NBC to season the broadcasts with a left leaning agenda mindlessly supportive of President Obama and his agenda, with global climate change a prime example.

Those of us in disagreement with Obama who have been longtime viewers of the network, have grown tired of being relentlessly "nudged" on the progressive agenda.  Each night on The Kudlow Report, we have to get a dose of John Harwood on Capitol Hill, who may win the Obama ass-kisser of the decade award.  His blatantly bias, and incorrect, observations detract from the insightful analysis Kudlow, with guests from both sides, presents.

If indeed Kudlow is being forced out, it will be yet another mistake by CNBC and we can all witness the 7PM time slot ratings continue in decline.  I suspect, if she were so inclined, this would be a golden opportunity for Maria Bartiromo, newly hired away from CNBC by FOX Business Network, to own the time slot from a financial perspective.

Rather than worry about the inside baseball at CNBC, I know that I will really miss joining Kudlow for analysis of the activities of the day, political and financial. As a former associate director of the Office of Management and Budget in the Reagan administration and chief economist at Bear Stearns, Kudlow was very knowledgeable and a true professional all the way around.

If Kudlow was shoved out, I hope to perhaps see him turn up over at The Blaze. If not, I hope Larry enjoys the extra time with his family and hitting balls out on the tennis court. 

Although Kudlow's tenure at CNBC has produced many memorable moments and exchanges, if we remember Larry for one thing, perhaps it will be his spot on mantra that "FREE MARKET CAPITALISM IS THE BEST PATH TO PROSPERITY.

Don't you forget it.  All the best Larry!