Stakes Are High for Both Bush and Interviewer

[Robbien]

By Elizabeth Jensen and Johanna Neuman, Times Staff Writers

The president, facing dropping approval ratings and a drumbeat of criticism from the Democratic presidential candidates, could get a boost if he can hold his own against a journalist who is not easily intimidated. And Russert, who often has a subject's past words put on screen to back up his questions, will be in the tricky position of trying to get his questions answered while displaying the respect expected to be shown to the office of the president.

"Half of Washington is going to be mad at Russert," said Chuck Todd, editor of the Hotline, an online daily political briefing. "Either he's not going to be able to satisfy the critics of the president … or he's going to make the administration mad by being too tough on Bush. Then again, he's the best in the business; if anybody can handle this, it's got to be him."

Finding the right tone has proved tricky for those posing questions to the president on TV. At a March 6 news conference, shortly before the war with Iraq began, reporters were criticized for showing too much deference to Bush.


The president, meanwhile, has shown no compunction about pushing back if he doesn't like the questions. During an October news conference from the White House's Rose Garden, Bush joked with reporters about how they were dressed and their looks, but he wouldn't answer a query about Iraq troop reductions, calling it a "trick," and passed over another reporter who had interrupted him.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-russert7feb07,1,3680729.story?coll=la-headlines-nation

[lastknowngood]

1. NOt really that hard all he needs to do is ask the shrub to

turn around and drop his pants so he can kiss his A**

[saigon68]

34. Russert is a BOOT LICK and a LAP DOG

he will throw some large slow DAY GLOW orange soft balls, for the CHIMPANZEE to smack out of the park.

[Vickers]

2. "a journalist who is not easily intimidated"

Russert? Ummmmmmm....OK.

[Turbineguy]

3. Welcome Aboard!

[AlinPA]

18. "Journalist"??

[rhino47]

48. Hiya Vickers Welcome to DU

:hi:

[calimary]

51. Welcome to you, Vickers, AND to rhino47!!

Glad to have both of you here! Welcome to the March toward Critical Mass. We are Weapons of CRITICAL MASS Destruction!!! (Just made that up! - you guys inspire me!)

[arwalden]

49. Welcome To DU, Vickers!!

[arwalden]

50. Isn't "Russet" A POTATO(E)??

[BuckeFushe]

55. I think it's already been taped

On WCBS news radio they were reading "quotes" from tomorrow's show.

Another snow job just got past the press.

[Skittles]

57. yes . . . the best in the business??

I wonder exactly what business that might be. :o

[SOS]

58. Re: Russert "best in the business"

A helpful example may be drawn from the Simpsons.
Montgomery Burns = Jack Welch
Waylon Smithers = Tim Russert

[Politicub]

4. Could make or break his career

I agree that the stakes are high for this interview. People are getting turned off by Bush and his lies. If Russert throws softballs, it will be obvious and his credibility will fall like a stone with a large part of his audience (well, me at least).

[colonel odis]

5. the stakes are high for the interviewer

if he asks tough questions or questions karl rove doesn't approve of, he's probably screwed.

russert works for nbc. nbc is owned by general electric, a very large defense contractor, mfr of turbines for power plants, and a very large depositor or pcb's into rivers and streams. they need to stay on the good side of the govt.

i look for russert to smooch w's butt till it's whiter than a soda cracker.

[cubsfan6969]

6. Bill o'reilly

This interview should be as hard hitting as Tim Russert's interview of Bill O'Reilly.:o

[Robbien]

7. Ha! Love the soda cracker imagery

But yes, he will lose viewers either way this goes.

[oneighty]

8. A recorded interview

is not an interview at all. It is a sit com. This one is indeed laughable.

180

[Vitruvius]

35. And both Russert and Bu$h will be working from a prepared SCRIPT.

And it will be a slickly done script; optimized to boost Bu$h while protecting Russert's ass.

See also flpoljunkie's thread: "Will Tim Russert try to rehabilitate Bush like he did Bill Bennett?" at http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1094603 .

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

9. "respect expected to be shown to the office of the president"

And when did they ever show this to Clinton, who was ELECTED, unlike Bush?

[susu369]

32. Touché, CalamityJane

Of course, Mr. G.E. Russert will show the same respect as he did to his neighbor and friend, Dick Cheney - both iive in the exclusive Kalorama suburb of D.C. where Mr. G.E. joked about seeing his chum on the Segway scooter. Wow, what a journalist!

[TheBlob]

10. If they just did their JOBS instead of being

cowardly WHORES, it wouldn't be 'tricky' at all.

"Finding the right tone has proved tricky for those posing questions to the president on TV."

I don't think I've ever heard about "stakes being high" for a fricken INTERVIEWER.

[Vitruvius]

36. But Russert's job is to BE a WHORE. And he does it very well.

n/t

[calimary]

52. Right tone, my ass. You question him. If he flubs or sidesteps,

you press harder. He's nothing but just another interview subject. You show the same general respect to him that you do to anyone you interview. And you're as tough on him as you'd be to any other felon. I just hope people who see it tomorrow will recognize a hose job when they see one. And if so, that Tim Russert's career is dealt a serious credibility blow.

And it wouldn't surprise me if this happened, mainly because EVERYBODY and EVERYTHING that bush touches turns to shit. Why should Russert be any different?

[Terran]

11. Russert is the best in the business?

Okaaaay, riiiight.

[KeepItReal]

56. You caught that, huh? They're spinning before the thing is aired...

<EOM>

[tabasco]

12. This is not journalism.

It will be the corporate media attempting to place Bush in a positive light. There is intent to make Bush look good. This will not be journalism. It will be propaganda. The corporate media is the enemy of progress and democracy. We must implement changes in our system to ensure the viability of truly objective and independent news outlets. Bush may as well be interviewed by Fox News. Russert is one and the same.

[Bok_Tukalo]

13. Lowball

The expectations game is being played yet again with Bush. All Russert has to do is ask a few tough questions, maybe follow up twice on AWOL and WMD, and if Bush doesn't piss his pants, he's Churchill.

The key is not the interview; the key is the Media reaction to the interview.

[teryang]

17. Right!

No matter what the chimp does or says he is lauded by the mainstream media. Odds are overwhelming this is the pattern that will be followed. The program will be carefully edited to remove all dumb expressions, pauses and statements. Afterwards, chimp will be hailed as demonstrating great leadership traits in trying times.

If it doesn't happen this way, it means that the power structure has decided its agenda is virtually complete anyway and will take generations to undo and that bozo needs to be dumped. As a major creditor, exporter of capital goods and producer of armaments, I don't expect GE to take this approach.

[Journeyman]

21. Very astute, Bok_Tukalo. . .

or to mangle Marshall McLuhan, "The media is the message."

[rhino91063]

14. Respect?!?!

Chimp boy does not deserve any respect. He deserves impeachment and imprisonment!

[MaineDem]

15. Is this live or taped? (nt)

[Norquist Nemesis]

27. They're taping it today

That way they can stop when needed so Bush can be given the answers and edit out any misenunciations.

I want to see Russert ask a question that makes Bush invoke National Security! LOL

[Mr.Green93]

29. live with a 14 hour delay

[Rex]

16. Oh please, this is going to be a media whore giving fellatio to

the Unelected Fraud. The L.A. Times should know better! :eyes:

[Lostmessage]

19. C-Span host said that it will be pre-taped

Do you honestly think that * could do a live interview without messing up.

[truthisfreedom]

40. EDITED IN THE INTEREST OF NATIONAL SECURITY

because the 'Merikun people would feel insecure if they knew what bush really said.

[pinniped]

20. Only at the debates...

will pres. ASSHOLE have a "real" chance to f*ck up onstage.

But I wouldn't put it past his scumbag handlers to stick a wireless earpiece in his rat ear and feed him the answers.

[Virginian]

22. Stalking, GWB style.

MTP will ask tough questions,

GWB will answer with rehersed official answers.

MTP will NOT followup on the question and let the smooth replies pass.

GWB will come out with no challenges and no "misunderstandings" because this is just a big campaign spot he doesn't have to pay for.

The candidates go to the primary states, GWB follows the primary by a day or two to try to get in the last word. The Democrat candidates are on MTP, GWB has to go on MTP, too. He can't let them have any media attention or any audience that he doesn't get, too. He is stalking the Democrat candidates. Following whereever they go so that he has the last say.

[Robb]

23. Exactly.

"What do you say to critics who are concerned that no WMD were found in Iraq?"

"Well, I think the American people know that this is going to be a long, important struggle for freedom around the globe, and that our troops are the best in the world."

"Great answer! Moving on to football..." :eyes:

[Catt04]

37. I agree that it will play out per your script

I also agree that Russert is in a no win situation. He would have to play hardball with Bush to get the answers and that will infuriate the Republicans They might even censure NBC like they did CBS in re the Reagans tv movie.

If Russert does his Cheney bit with Bush, then it's deeper into the MW pool he goes.

I am sure Rusert is well aware of both partisan consequences and what will appear to be partisan. Intersting to watch it unforld.

[rocktivity]

24. Tim has already lost the "high stakes" game

if it's standard procedure of Meet The Press to be done live; if he submitted questions beforehand; if he received questions from the Bush Regime, or if Bush is allowed to use video or audio prompting. Is Russert willing to answer questions in that regard?


rocknation

[Hotler]

25. Tough questions????

"At a March 6 news conference, shortly before the war with Iraq began, reporters were criticized for showing too much deference to Bush." No president should be immune to tough questions from the press. Shrub is lucky he doesn't have to face a system like in the UK Parliament. Those guys can chew some ass.

[Magleetis]

26. Total BS

no need to watch. Why will this be any different than the usual deceit and lies we have come to expect. Smoke and mirrors. I would watch if Al Franken were asking the questions. I can dream anyway. Was it MTP were Rummy said "we know where they are" referring to WMDs, to me that has been the biggest lie of them all, but has anyone called him on it? I really used to like this country!

[Hailtothechimp]

28. The groundwork is being laid with stories like these.

The plan is to build Russert up (which is wholly without merit) so that bu$h's performance looks better than it really is. The scripts are already in the hands of the enablers in the administration, Congress, and the press. The question is will the people fall for it? Let's hope not.

[Beetwasher]

30. Best in The Business?!? Standards Have Gotten Extremely Low

He's the biggest shill on the planet.

This whole thing is going to be an abomination.

[Alpharetta]

31. Helen Thomas should ask him for an interview

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kskiska]

33. Where do they get off even calling it "Meet the Press"

Back in the old days, the guest would be subject to tough questioning from four members of "the press," the real press. I don't know what Russert's background is, but I doubt he's "the press."

[LiberalFighter]

39. If Russert had any guts he would do it live

Dan Rather interviewed/grilled George H W Bush back on January 25, 1988

[truthisfreedom]

41. if bush had any guts he'd force rove to let him do it live.

but bush is feeling a lot of insecurity since the polls have had him LOSING to an UNNAMED DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE.

it makes the little schnook think... "anyone but bush?"

[peterh]

42. After it’s all said and done….

I suspect that one will be hard pressed to see any difference between this one and the one done by Diane Sawyer. Russert will start out with the fluff stuff that will consume the first half hour, i.e.:

Sawyer: asked whether he had bought Laura Bush a Christmas present
Russert: can we ask what type of Valentine you got for Laura


The second half could provide some soundbites to play with, but like Sawyer, Russert will back away from follow up questions for further elaboration, i.e.:

SAWYER: But stated as a hard fact, that there were weapons of mass destruction, as opposed to the possibility that he could move to acquire those weapons still --
BUSH: So what's the difference?

Sawyer: <soooo….moving along>

If Russert does anything different, it’ll be to steer the twit to answer in a fashion that will have the least probability of opening a door for further elaboration.

Bottom line though….the twit being the twit, he is going to fuckup and provide an opening that even careful editing will be hard pressed to cover and timmy will again be exposed for being the partisan POS that he is…

[Yavin4]

43. Bush Will Come Out Ahead

If he talks without drooling, the media will spin this as a huge victory for Bush.

[hellbound-liberal]

44. I've always considered "Meet the Press-titute" to be a joke

I'd like to see Duh-bya answer one question from a real reporter like Amy Goodman or even Bill Moyers. This farce like the rest of Bush's pResidency is only intended for the slight of mind. Unfortunately, I'm afraid their numbers are growing.

[daleo]

45. Clinton probably had tougher interviews from Monica Lewinsky

Russert will be tough on Bush - it is to laugh.

[dusty64]

46. Respect to the office,

yeah like Clinton got any and he was actually ELECTED twice.

[Snappy]

47. Not gonna watch it.

I am not a masochist so I won't subject myself to this farce. I will read the after comments here. :)

[thinkingwoman]

53. I'm with you Snappy

Watching either one of them makes me want to wretch. Watching both would send me right over the edge.

Luckily we can count on DU for an accurate play-by-lay.

[LiberalFighter]

54. PR from Meet the Press

MTP
The exclusive interview will originate from the Oval Office at the
White House and will be recorded live to tape on Saturday.

How can it be recorded live to tape on Saturday?????

Is it live or Memorex?

It is on at 9AM here in Ft Wayne. Awfully early.