Wide World of Women

For the last few weeks Mika and Joe have been absent more than any government or union worker I know. At first I thought is was the holidays and it continued so I figured it was personal reasons. What gives? Is it just me or am I seeing a pattern that might suggest a new format? Keep in mind that for me, the only reason the show was successfull was because of the combination of the two and the fact that having 2 hosts forced the camera back to get both in frame. Even though lately Mika has been dressing like a church nunn, when Mika is solo, the camera is zoomed and you see a "talking head". When Joe is solo, well is just isn't worth watching especially with Pat Buchanan gone. If it is a new permanent change in format, I am sad to see the change and I would like to know for sure so I can set my DVR on something else for 3 hours. Will the show ever get back to normal?

This is the pattern I have noticed

Monday: Mika solo
Tuesday: Mika solo
Wendsday: Mika and Joe
Thursday: Joe solo
Friday: Joe solo

No need to worry. I've been watching Morning Joe for over 4 years now, and this is normal for the Summer months. I don't know if you remember,but last year both Joe and Mika went missing for three straight weeks. The rumors started to fly about them maybe being fired,or they were moving to CBS etc. But they both were just on very long vacations. So don't worry,the show will be back to normal.

And Mika was there Thursday and Friday. She just arrived on set at 7 am, like she usually does when they're in Washington.

Joe works in NYC but his wife and kids still live in Pensacola Florida

Wouldn't you want to take time off and go see them ?

As a proud union member, I really don't appreciate that gratuitous shot

I have family members that work hard for our government and I know plenty of union members that work hard too, so I don't appreciate that slam either.

I was not aware that they took so much time off during the summer. I am glad to hear the show will be back to normal eventually. I am a fully vested government employee and it is outrageous how much time I get off for vacation and sick time. I MUST take no less then 3 days a month off and a full 2 weeks during holidays to avoid exceding the maximum amount of leave time I can hold on to (use it or lose it). I work 1 full week per month and that is with a state government that is considered to have the worst benifits package in the nation. My brother is a union member and we enjoy fishing together on our extended weekends but sad to say I do not get to go as often as he does. There was no offense intended by my comments.