I haven’t watched Oprah in many years.  But I remember how she came on the
scene when Phil Donohue was moving out of the spotlight on television, as she
is, now.  I loved Phil Donohue at that time - he was a trailblazer - and she was
an obnoxious, self-centered upstart talking about how, what she appreciated
about him, was that he paved a trail “for persons like MOI.”  My god, I thought,
is that all she can appreciate about Phil Donohue?  Does she think about anyone
else besides herself? 

I watched her show, however, and I saw her mature as a television, over time. 
Eventually, she was genuine, in ways, and articulating a truth that existed in
many Americans, and especially, in many women.  She touched my life, too, and
I appreciated that.

She even went on to have a major impact on a major presidential election. 
Yeah, I don’t know that Obama could have won without her stepping in at the
moment she did.  God, that was a confusing moment for many Americans. 
Oprah - taking a position on the First Woman vs. the First African American. 
From trust to betrayal.. people were furious at her for taking a position at all ..
given the stakes all around .. she would not survive this ... but she did survive
this.. too.

By that time, I noticed her impact on the presidential election, though I had
stopped watching television, thanks to Bill O’Reilly, and therefore, Oprah too,
for many years.

Imagine some of the guest she could have had on her show, by then,
considering her draw on national politics.  But most likely, before she exited,
the greatest likelihood, if she had remained, following Maria, was Arnold,
Arnold’s mistress, Arnold’s Other Son, and Arnold’s Real Children.

I wish we could see someone like Oprah - if she is now going on to Fox-Like
Network Power - make something like an improved Medicare for the entire
country a reality - or an end to these endless oil wars.  Surely she has so much
fame, so much power, so much money—what does she have to lose by really
putting her guns behind something that important?