Democratic Primaries

I agree, she is at her best in stuff like the impeachment hearings. Also she's very good at researching and dissecting the past.

Rachel is always at her worst during election years. She has lousy handicapping instincts and therefore is dependably baffled by actual results. It's obvious she doesn't expose herself to counter opinion nearly enough, not to the point she can actually think as they think. That is the breakthrough moment, when you can change shoes and sense accurately what the other side is thinking, and how they weigh certain variables, even if you don't agree with any of it. It's like learning another language when you realize you suddenly can think silently in that language also. If you never reach that point then you don't truly know the language.

I'm amazed nobody truly exceptional has come along for a role like that. If so, Rachel would be easily downplayed and people would wonder what they ever saw in her. I always think of it as a failed litmus test for MSNBC that Rachel Maddow is the best they can come up with.