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Edited on Mon Feb-09-04 11:20 AM by SpiralHawk
Ailes has long coached the repubs -- and anyone else who cared to pay attention -- in this strategy for controlling an interview.
Russert was very weak, very tame. He must know this "let me finish dominating the interview" technique, because it is standard playbook stuff.
Russert's technique was to broach hot -- but obvious -- topics with the Smirk (and he did do a lot of smirking if you check the tape), and then to jab with a couple of weak followups. Bush would then give the predictable response, and keep talking to fill the air time with his "extra' points." That's another standard Ailes technique, and should come as no surprise to any broadcast professional.
Russert did not drag out any of a long list of facts and reports -- all widely available -- to contradict the obvious BS Smirky was spewing. He would just open up a can of worms, and then let Bush wriggle on out. Nice teamwork, if you ask me.
if I had a chance to jump into Russert's chair, i would have hit Chimpy with a jab from left field about the "family values" that he and he cronies keep "touting" with such piety - and then rattled off the names of his brothers Marvin and Neil, his neice Noelle Bush, and his daughter's underage drinking. How does this reality square up with your preaching Mr. President?
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