Tim Russert DID NOT have his ass handed to him by Aaron Broussard ...

[HamdenRice]

because the interview was a setup, in my opinion. My reading of the interview was that Russert heard/read the "swiftboat" criticism of Broussard and offered him a chance to rebut them on national tv, which he really did not have to do.

He asked a softball question disguised as a hardball. Broussard who genuinely broke down the first time, had his quivering voice queued up (hadn't heard the earlier tape before? was shocked to go back to "that emotional place"?) and his answers prepared, which, BTW, were masterful.

Mission accomplished. Russert proves he and his fact checkers were not hoodwinked or blindsided by Broussard the first time, and Broussard quashes the swiftboating of his reputation before they even get out of the dock.

They probably had a beer together afterward.

Just a guess, so don't ask for evidence.

<edited>

[jobycom]

1. Why is Russert handling Broussard's ass in the first place.

I mean, that's just an image I'd rather not have to sleep on, you know?
:wow:

BTW, excellent analysis. No matter Russert's leanings, he'll defend his job performance. Anyone would. Except McCain, who has no integrity as a human being.

[CatWoman]

2. what the fuck are you talking about????

http://karenas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2005/09/disgusting_tim_.html

[Bridget Burke]

3. He said it was just a guess....

Don't try to make sense.

[HamdenRice]

6. here's the tip off ...

Russert said to Broussard that "bloggers" had questioned his account. But by Friday, NBC and MSNBC were trying to swiftboat Broussard.

Russert saying that his accusers were "bloggers" was the equivalent for Russert's audience, of saying "people camped outside area 51 accuse you of lying".

Also, while I agree with the DU consensus that Russert is as dumb as a russet, I don't agree that he takes dictation from Karl Rove.

[RandomKoolzip]

4. I seriously doubt this reading of the events.

Broussard is NOt a "career" politician, like the national stage clowns who usually make appearances on MTP. He's not in the pocket of any lobbying group. He's a local level leader who has been dealing with a massive catastophe, and having to work every hour of the day in order to provide basic necessities for the people of his parish.

What Russert did was pure fucking evil. As another poster pointed out, what Timmy did was akin to inviting the parent of a child killed by a drunk driver onto his show and dispute the parent's claim of how high the blood alcohol content of the driver was. Sleazy, slimy, and disgraceful...and the only reason he did it was because some obscure think tank-funded RW blog happened to be sufficiently sleazy enough to do some "fact-checking," which is ANOTHER cause for concern here: are outright lying billionaire-funded RW blogs a legitimate source of news now?

[itzamirakul]

17. What you said, Random Kool Zip....and furthermore

I work with professional actors everyday and it is not that easy to have one's "quivering voice qued up," especially on a tv appearance.

If the original poster is a Russert fan, then that is his/her privilege, but your explanation ranks along with Bush trying to make connection between 911 and Katrina/Rita.

[WA98296]

18. Exactly...but Rove likely hiding behnd "bloggers" reference

Broussard's first appearance on MTP was likely one of the most memorable events of this entire disaster...and boy did he ever leave the administration with egg on their face and a LOT of EXPLAINING to do. Rove likely got Russert to try to corner Brousard into placing the blame elsewhere so that they could discredit his first statements.

The "some bloggers" was such total bullshit, had to be Rove. Since when do we accept a source given like that?

[TahitiNut]

22. Yep. Russert BUSHWHACKED Broussard, pure and simple.

:shrug:

[Spazito]

5. LOL, yeah, right

Russert ambushed Broussard, it's as simple as that. It only takes one look at Russert's face after Broussard handed him his ass on a platter to know that the only set-up was Russert's attempt to marginalize Broussard and his utter failure to succeed at doing that. The only one marginalized was Russert, his agenda to further the bush agenda became even clearer.

[Benhurst]

7. I think you are right. Timmy Boy is still a team player, and Sunday's

attempt to ambush Broussard was an attempt to protect the Bush Crime Family.

On the other hand, I think the Pig Man of MSNBC is getting a bit nervous about his treason.

[librarycard]

8. Russert has been emphatic about Bush lying inre: ignorance of the levees

Bush did lie. There is no way around it. Broussard added fuel to that fire. In order to put out Broussard's fire, he had to be smeared--pure Rovian.

On Sunday, Russert laid out all the RW's criticism of Broussard's first "Meet the Press" (and I hope Russert replayed the part about cutting that totem pole, starting at the TOP), with Broussard having the opportunity to meet it head-on--in a man's man fashion. End of criticism.

Whether Russert had intended or not, he did Broussard and the travails of the Gulf States a favor, by sending the message: Bush lied, and his cronyism is killing America.

[Spazito]

9. Russert has been determined from the git go to put the 'blame'

primarily on the state and local officials, it has been his goal with every interview. The only reason he pointed out bush's 'error' re the levees, imo, is because even he couldn't spin that one so he got it out of the way immediately and moved on to continue in his attempts to blame everyone but the bush admin for the disaster.

[librarycard]

12. For a reporter to call Bush a liar--it's a big step, especially for Timmy

And I still feel Tim did Broussard a favor. Rove knows how well- spoken Broussard is, and Tim surely does. Why give him the stage again? Did Tim actually think he was going to embarrass Broussard? He's interviewed enough people to know that Broussard has his poop in one pile. "GET OUT OF MY FACE!" Pure Americana, and it plays well to the public.

PS I am, by no means, a Russert fan.

[Spazito]

13. If Russert was, as you say, doing Broussard a favour, why did he

not give Broussard a heads-up that he was going to play the clip of his previous appearance? Why did he lead Broussard to believe he was coming on to talk about the damage Rita caused in his already devastated parish?

Why didn't he begin his into by saying Broussard was invited to refute the 'bloggers' contention?

There is NO way that Russert was doing anything but trying to ambush Broussard and he got his ass handed to him for his attempt, imo.

[librarycard]

26. Then Russert, after x # of years in his job, is no judge of character

Broussard had hijacked "Meet the Press" once. If Russert had thought he could get the best of Broussard by ambushing him, he was sorely mistaken--and bitten twice, by a true patriot.

Three times the charm?

[Spazito]

28. LOL, I suspect there will not be a third time, even POS's like Russert

eventually learn not to put their asses out there to be smacked.

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. Here on DU someone quoted something Russert said a few years

back when he "turned." He was a Democrat who suddenly was singing the praises to Republican efficiency. When pressed to his sudden switch, he admitted his paycheck was signed by a Republican. So, that makes Timmy a whore.

[Freddie Stubbs]

11. Can anyone back up that quote?

:shrug:

[The Backlash Cometh]

29. I gave it more attention and got this answer:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4892654

[Kingofalldems]

30. Foiled again, eh?

You have your answer.

[cynatnite]

14. He ambushed him with the replay of the previous appearance...

Which I thought was pretty lowdown of Russert. That was uncalled for and it was obvious Broussard had no idea it was coming.

I used to like Russert and this pretense of journalism was disgusting.

[Mr_Spock]

15. I had the same thought actually. I mostly agree with you...

I'm not sure how much of this was discussed before hand, but Broussard was NOT completely broadsided by the question. He may not have heard the previous broadcast before and was genuinely tearful, but he gathered himself quickly and confidently and his answer was right on (and seemingly practiced)...

[Tomee450]

16. You might be right.

I watched that interview and expected it to be far worse after reading about it here. It was unfortunate that Russert replayed the first interview and I do believe he has acted to support this administration. However, I've seen Russert treat other guests far more harshly than he did Broussard. He gave him a great deal of time to explain and unlike in other cases, did not cut in as often.

[Spazito]

20. I think Russert 'gave him a great deal of time to explain' only because

he is not used to being handed his ass, being called black hearted, etc. The look on Russert's face was not one of listening, it was one of 'holy shit, what did he just call me (black hearted)?'. When Russert finally did get past the shock he went right back to the attack trying to get Broussard to blame local and state officials and excuse the federal role, imo.

[HamdenRice]

21. Broussard was making clear that the blackhearted people were ...

the anonymous swiftboaters, not Russert. That's why russert let him continue.

[Spazito]

24. I disagree, Broussard stated the black-hearted people were the

ones who would use the death of a woman for political purposes and also stated that instead of sitting safe behind a desk and having flushable toilets come to his parish. Who was sitting behind a desk at that time? Russert. He was calling Russert and the bloggers Russert used to ambush Broussard black-hearted people and he was right.

[blogslut]

19. in the words of Mr. Broussard...

"Are you kidding?"

[hippiegranny]

23. you may enjoy this perpective

I know I did!

http://driftglass.blogspot.com/2005/09/sunday-mornin-coming-down.html

excerpt:

Over on Meet The Press – Ivor van Heerden, about whom I have nothing to say good or bad, because he slipped softly and silently away and then came Aaron Broussard...

...and man am I glad I stayed awake for this.

Russert had a typically Punkin’ Haided fusspot focus on the political pedigree of Mr. Broussard. Timmuh heroically took on the task of hectoring an emotionally-flattened man about what he said during a period of peak emotional stress, while he was weeping.

What a shitbag.

Timmuh set his fat chin and many jaunty jowls firmly North by Northwest and went in for the kill. In hot pursuit of the Terrible Truth behind Aaron Broussard’s previous, exhausted emotional outburst and begging for help.

What did you really mean by that, Mr. Broussard?

What was your real agenda?

Come on Mrs. Lincoln: what the fuck did you really think of the play! Quit ducking and answer me, for I am Punkin’ Haid!!!

Like a wheezy little bulldog racing after his usual Sunday Morning bus-full of assorted George Allens', Mary Matlins' and other political jizzpistols, Timmuh leaped ferociously on the nice man who had previously used the Russert Clown Show to beg for help for his dying city as it literally fell apart around him.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

27. Thank you, I DID enjoy that perspective

Mr. Broussard is lucky enough to be an articulate man who can think on his feet. We don't see much of that in national politics so I understand why some would think he was coached and rehearsed. But I didn't see it. I saw the same guy who was on a few weeks ago, when he talked over Russert's efforts to get him to blame everything on the local and state government.

Russert was absolutely disgusting. He has joined the ranks of those whose faces I can't even look at. What a shitbag indeed.

[Catherine Vincent]

25. Russert tries to play devil's advocate but imo, he tries too hard

for the republican side. Regardless, Mr. Broussard's outcry was real Sunday and it was real three weeks ago.