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merrily

(45,251 posts)

13. Russert once worked for a Democratic pol. (Moynihan, wasn't it?)

Mon Apr 21, 2014, 02:19 PM

Apr 2014

I think that led many on both the right and the left to assume that Russert was a Democrat as well. I've seen both sides react to Russert accordingly.

I don't know what Russert was when a kid working for a Democratic politician, but I knew what he was when I watched him on Meet the Press.

Russert liked to say that he asked the tough questions of everyone. What he really did was ask tough questions of Democrats, not infrequently hammering at them again and again and again. Sometimes, his questions were ludicrous, as when he spent a lot of his interview time with then Presidential hopeful Obama, trying to hold Obama to account for something Harry Belafonte had said the day before or something. (Was that the most interesting thing to ask Senator Obama? And why is Obama supposed to be accountable for what Harry Belafonte says anyway?)

Of Republicans, he asked the tough questions that allowed them to give their answer to negative things that were being said about them or their policies, gave them lots of opportunity to respond as they wished, then he asked either no follow ups or lobbed his Republican subject a meatball.

I am very, very sorry for his untimely death. Among many other more important things, like the loss to his loved ones, I (too) would rather still be watching a show hosted by Russert than one hosted by Gregory. But, I have described Russert's mo accurately. Moreover, he was more than smart enough to know exactly what he was doing, so when he preened about his even handed objectivity, he also knew that was lying through his teeth.

I remember one of the first times I saw Luke as a "youth correspondent." It was during the 2008 primary or election season. Luke was gushing over how much college kids loved McCain because McCain is "just so authentic."

Did Luke, too, know he was lying? I don't know, but the college vote sure wasn't going McCain's way that year.

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Highlight:

NBC analyzing poor David Gregory to see what makes his show so bad [View all] DonViejo Apr 2014 OP

Simple, he sucks. That's why the show is bad. SummerSnow Apr 2014 #1

Gregory is a right wing bore. BillZBubb Apr 2014 #2

Also, Gregory is a lot less clever about hiding his rw bias than was Russert the Elder. merrily Apr 2014 #3

Exactly right. I don't know what all the fawning about Tim Russert was all about. He was a W hack BlueStreak Apr 2014 #8

Russert once worked for a Democratic pol. (Moynihan, wasn't it?) merrily Apr 2014 #13

R or D? It barely mattters inside the Beltway. The beltway media all work for the same people. BlueStreak Apr 2014 #15

It sure mattered to the way that Russert interviewed them. merrily Apr 2014 #18

A minor quibble BlueStreak Apr 2014 #24

They even live in the same neighborhoods as the politicos Cirque du So-What Apr 2014 #22

Indeed Jesus Malverde Apr 2014 #31

it's pretty damned simple. people don't like partisans posing as journalists. spanone Apr 2014 #4

Yep libodem Apr 2014 #6

That there is no journalism is obvious to anyone. Jesus Malverde Apr 2014 #32

Bet they'll conclude that he should be replace with a thinly-disguised spokesmodel, winter is coming Apr 2014 #5

Easy. The viewers want journalism, not propaganda. backscatter712 Apr 2014 #7

In a nutshell: "He is incurious. He asks predictable questions and is not informed enough..." Hekate Apr 2014 #9

Allowing Wingers to claim the Earth is flat and ask questions as if the position is viable is what uponit7771 Apr 2014 #10

LOL, even without out a psychology degree I can say with certainty.... Spazito Apr 2014 #11

Change the name of the show. Call it what it actually is. The Midway Rebel Apr 2014 #12

I always preferred Depress the Meet or Meet the Depressed. kairos12 Apr 2014 #14

Or "Press the Meat". KamaAina Apr 2014 #19

"Meet the Republicans". pacalo Apr 2014 #23

"Meet the 'Pubbies". nt Jamaal510 Apr 2014 #25

I don't know enough about David Gregory to have anything against him. Shoulders of Giants Apr 2014 #16

No more shallow than David Gregory. Boomerproud Apr 2014 #20

As long as shallowness is allowed notadmblnd Apr 2014 #29

Google Karl roves dancing monkey boy...nt Jesus Malverde Apr 2014 #33

Corporate mangement is famous for making decisions and then fixing the facts around them KurtNYC Apr 2014 #17

That is funny! BillZBubb Apr 2014 #21

They don't sound to bright at nbc.. Wondering why MTP isn't a success like it use to be?.. Cha Apr 2014 #26

And conservatives have the audacity to claim this shill has a liberal bias! tarheelsunc Apr 2014 #27

I can save them a lot of time and sum it up with one image: Marr Apr 2014 #28

So backward looking....only forward my friend, like a workhorse with blinders Jesus Malverde Apr 2014 #34

Meet the Press and Gregory are nothing more Enthusiast Apr 2014 #30

To see why your show doesn't go over well with the public, you don't ask the public and instead Squinch Apr 2014 #35

It's his voice, monotone, no hint of anger, joy, ho hum, whatever. CK_John Apr 2014 #36

Because Gregory is a weak-kneed hack and a suck-up Arkana Apr 2014 #37