Tim Russert's uneasy pact with General Electric....

[kentuck]

Watching MTP this morning, I could never get it out of the back of my mind that this guy works for General Electric, one of the nation's and the world's largest defense contractor. And he knows which side his bread is buttered on...

First of all, he had the Mayor of New Orleans on and asked some very pointed questions that the average viewer would interpret as blame toward the Mayor. Not just a share of the blame but most of the blame. In fact, Russert pulled up a couple of polls to frame the new arguments. Only 25% or so thought the Federal Government was to blame but approximately 67% thought the local and state officials were to blame in the failure to evacuate the people of New Orleans.

But the polls were the most disturbing. In the back of my mind, I could see how these polls are used to frame opinions in viewers minds. They don't have to be true. They don't have to be real. But when they say only 25% think the Federal Government is to blame, what are they really saying? That most people do not hold George Bush and the Republicans responsible for their lack of action in this disaster? That may or may not be true. But that was the message that Tim Russert, the employee of General Electric, expertly put forth to the American people.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

1. Psy-Ops. NBC/GE has made it an art. nt

[gratuitous]

2. Russert's not uneasy about cashing GE paychecks

He deposits those with a totally clear conscience, as far as I can tell. Or are you implying that GE may be having second thoughts about employing and paying so much to such an obvious hack?

[kentuck]

4. No. He should be uneasy but he is not...

Because if Bush and the Repubs stay in power, General Electic will make more money from government contracts and Tim Russert will make more money from his bonuses and contracts with his boss, General Electric. Does nayone think that is not true? How could he possibly be independent from such an employee?? Please explain how?

[EST]

3. We've been lied to, so much, by so many,

I am at a total loss to figure out whom to believe. My understanding was that, across the board and sampled in the last five days or so, more than 86% blamed bush and the fed for the delays, no shows, and general incompetence.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

5. I'll never forget...

...how Russert just couldn't contain his glee while reporting the successful Buscho theft of the 2000 presidential election via Supreme Court intervention. He works for corporate war profiteers, knows what they expect of him, and delivers it with a smile. Go Bills!

[UTUSN]

6. Actually, He's Very Consistent, Not Uneasy with G.E.

From your report:

1) He blamed the "DEMOCRATIC" (see below) mayor, not Shrub.

2) He flim-flammed the average viewer with polls, leading the viewer to not-blame Shrub, or rather, not hold Shrub responsible.

He's been shilling for Repukes for years and wore the Srhub political button in 2000 under his lapel.

And he's following the wingnut line of using the mayor's "Democratic" LABEL as the hook for hanging BLAME not responsibility on:

***********QUOTE**********

Before his election, Nagin was a member of the Republican Party and had little political experience; he was a vice president and general manager at Cox Communications, a cable communications company and subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. Nagin did give contributions periodically to candidates, namely President George W. Bush and former Republican U.S. Representative Billy Tauzin in 1999 and 2000, as well as to Democratic U.S. Senators John Breaux and J. Bennett Johnston earlier in the decade.

Days before filing for the New Orleans Mayoral race in February 2002, Nagin switched his party registration to the Democratic Party. Shortly before the primary election, an endorsement praising Nagin as a reformer by Gambit Magazine gave him crucial momentum that would carry through for the primary election and runoff. In the first round of the crowded mayoral election in February 2002, Nagin received first place with 29% of the vote, against such opponents as Police Chief Richard Pennington, State Senator Paulette Irons, City Councilman Troy Carter and others. In the runoff with Pennington in May 2002, Nagin won with 59% of the vote. His campaign was largely self-financed.

Shortly after taking office, Nagin launched an anti-corruption campaign within city government, which included crackdowns on the city's Taxicab Bureau and Utilities Department. Nagin also made a controversial endorsement of current Republican U.S. Representative Bobby Jindal in the 2003 Louisiana Gubernatorial Runoff over current Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco, and only reluctantly endorsed U.S. Senator John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential race.

Nagin received a B.S. degree in accounting from Tuskegee University in 1978 and an M.B.A. degree from Tulane University in 1994. He and his wife, Seletha Smith Nagin, have three children: Jeremy, Jarin, and Tianna.

*************UNQUOTE**********

[kentuck]

7. I never said "Democratic" Mayor ??

But thanks for the info. I had heard he had been a Republican...

[UTUSN]

8. Yeah, I Realize That. My Point; Was that He Was Blaming the Mayor

BECAUSE he's carrying the "Democratic" LABEL. Your o.p. said it all.