I am so tired of all these celebrities who are so proud of themselves for being what they consider to be such regular people. Karen Hughes, for example, thought it was really cool that a conductor on the Bush campaign train called out "10 minutes from Normal" because that's what she is! Just a normal girl (and therefore superior to the rest of us). Same deal with John Kasich and that prick from Florida with the talk show on MSNBC (former Congressman, I can't remember his name). They go on and on about how only they understand "the Heartland".

Of all the people who like to establish their own superiority by pointing out how down to earth they are, the most egregious is Tim Russert. Here's a nice piece from a website that right wingers hate, the Daily Howler:
"MORE ON MR. BLUSTER: No, that meaningless glitch on Meet the Press wasn’t ever worth discussing... But a report in yesterday’s New York Daily News seemed to provide a little more info. Lloyd Grove described the way “multimillionaire TV newsman” Tim Russert “worked himself into a lather” about the event, then lowered the boom on Emily Miller, an aide to Colin Powell. According to Grove, Russert went five minutes over his ten-minute allotment with Powell, and just kept going even after Miller phoned NBC to get him to stop. Result? “[A] very unhappy Lebanese television correspondent, Rania Tadieddine, who had flown all the way from Paris for her 10 minutes with Powell, had to make do with five minutes.” But don’t worry. When Russert calms down from his silly rants about “attempted news management gone berserk,” he’ll tell you a string of hackneyed tales about the way his Buffalo childhood taught him to just be himself."

That is right on target.

Couldn't Powell have simply excused himself and walked out? I despise Russett too because I think his unfair treatment of Gore in 2000 was despicable and he likes to ask embarassing questions initially, but his followups usually suck. But the government is not supposed to interfere with the press, period. As a government employee, the women should have kept her hands off the camera.

Her boss told her to continue and she defied her boss. Under those circumstances (on air interview), I'd have reprimanded her in private. Media flack should no better than to argue with the boss in public.

Russert was just doing his job. He has a woody for both sides, though his background was as a Demo operative. I think he's remarkably even-handed for all that. In contrast to Stephanopoulis, who's only somewhat less partisan that Carrville. Funny how so many Demo flacks get media employment and are rarely busted for bias.

Bot

I've never seen the sense of using Stephanopoulis as a newman. It's killed that shows credibility. i'd say the same about Scarborough and whats-his name on MSNBC. If they are going to have some so obviously tainted with bias, they need a counter balance ala Crossfire or H&C

Not even close. Russert's bias is obvious, but I don't think it is a bias for or against a political party. He is biased in whichever direction will help his career.

Ever since Clinton bashing became fashionable, he has been strongly anti-Clinton (Bill and Hill). He gave a shameful performance as moderator of a debate between Hillary Clinton and the guy she beat for Senate. Many of his questions to her were of the "Have you stopped beating your dog?" variety.

In keeping with his bias in favor of his pocketbook, he has avoided attacking people who are effective at attacking back. Case in point, Dick Cheney says that the administration believed that Saddam had "reconstituted nuclear weapons" and Russert moves on to the next question. Did not ask a single followup question in response to that remarkable (and false) comment.

Russert is, by far, the most over-rated interviewer on television.

If he's a dem, its the old with friends like that argument. Russet is a professional attack dog. I don't think party matters.

Does anyone else think Scarborough looks like he has Downs Syndrome? I'm serious, the guy looks like he has Downs.

I also don't understand why he has a show. Not because I disagree with him, which I usually do, but he just adds nothing to the debate. There isn't one original idea or insight on an issue presented. Sean Hannity falls into that catagory. Just sort of parroting the party line.

I usually disagree with O'Reilly, Tucker Carlson and Buchanan but at least they often have a fresh take on issues. It's not the ideaology, its just bad television.

Scarborough needs to learn how to read the cue cards. He's worse than Bush when it comes to reading aloud. And you're right, he is unoriginal.

Russert was on Jeopardy as a celebrity contestant(I think they were all journalists) last week. His general knowledge was awful to say the least Jeopardy already made the questions very much easier for these contestants. I think Tim Russert ended in last place with only $3000. There were some very easy questions and these jounalists just did not know the answers!!! They have a very narrow field of general knowledge. I was quite disappointed with their performance or lack knowledge

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I can take O'reilly, but your right, the others you mention fall under the category of "party operatives", on both sides.

Scarbie is an especial joke. He must have slung some pork MSNBCs way when he was in congress. His partner, what-his-name-that-starts-with a-K, is a simple dope. Take back Joe Piscipo!

Tom Petty
Jammin' Me

You got me in a corner
You got me against the wall
I got nowhere to go
I got nowhere to fall
Take back your insurance
Baby nothin's guaranteed
Take back your acid rain
Baby let your T.V. bleed

You're jammin' me, you're jammin' me ,
Quit jammin' me
Baby you can keep me painted in a corner
You can look away, but it's not over

Take back your angry slander
Take back your pension plan
Take back your ups and downs of your life
In raisin-land

Take back Tim Russet
Take back Joe Scarbie
Take back Stephie Noppy
Giv'em all some place to go

You're jammin' me, you're jammin' me
Quit jammin' me
Baby you can keep me painted in a corner
You can walk away but it's not over

Take back your Iranian torture
And the apple in young Steve's eye
Yeah take back your losing streak
Check your front wheel drive

Take back Pasadena
Take back El Salvador
Take back that country club
They're tryin' to build outside my door

Then there's the faux objectivity syndrome on AM TV. Mosquito brains manipulating for emotional displays.

I don't care if they have a perspective. I think Stephie asks good questions and so does Russert and Matthews. I've never watched Sarborough, but pictures of him don't look like Downes. Maybe FAS a bit. Hannity and Colmes -- so what. Shallow as Crossfire. Real questions and deeper discussion on Matthews, but he has a problem like O'Reilly with shutting-up so th einterviewee can talk.

Anybody who thinks they'e gonna get objectivity out of TV or radio is living a dream life. Forget objectivity and just hope for a bit of fairness to sneak in occasionally. BTW, I rarely watch O'Rielly after he's done with his monologue. He's in denial about conservatism--as though his invented, "traditionalist" is different from "conservative". Gimme a break.

Now lets talk about teh objectivity of Rather, etc.

B

Botnst posted: Now lets talk about teh objectivity of Rather, etc.

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I hope you're not still operating on the assumption that Rather is some sort of lefty. Just as the Iraq war was starting, he appeared on Larry King and practically gushed that, as an American, it was impossible for him to remain neutral when his country went to war. Thus, he announced that he was not a journalist but a cheer leader.

As for Russert--in a recent Harper's, Lewis Lapham has a hilarious accounting of Russert's interview with Bush, in which he (Lapham) likens Russert to the headmaster of an exclusive prep school who is interviewing the son of the richest family who has just burned down the library and gymnasium. Both parties to the interview knew that the rich kid would not get booted out of school, no matter how grievous the offense. After all, the family name was on the hockey rink, the boat dock, etc.

Russert asked no good follow-ups of Bush, and he tolerated Bush's stunningly inarticulate responses as if they were sensible.

Compared to journalism in the rest of the world, the American variety is pathetic. Celebrity journalists like Russert are way too rich, and way too disconnected from the folks in the trenches, to perform the service that is needed in a democratic republic.

Joe B.

Politics aside, I know Tim Russert. I've been the technical director of his program many times. So I can say from personal knowledge that he is a genuinely nice guy. Who cares if he's rich??

But I've just worked with him, what do I know?

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I called him arrogant based on the treatment the Lebanese reporter got when Russert ran over. Now that I think about it, he probably didn't know about that reporter at the time he ran over. I take back my accusation of arrogance. He seems like a nice guy and I have no evidence to the contrary. He is, however, a lousy and unfair interviewer. The reason his wealth gets mentioned is that there is ample reason to wonder whether his inconsistent and often ineffective interviewing approach is financially motivated. Bush/Cheney, et al, are known for retaliating against journalists who get tough with them. Is that why Russert doesn't ask them obvious follow up questions? Dunno, but it makes me wonder. Now that Bush might be weakened, watch and see whether Russert goes on the attack. Will be interesting to watch.