For the record: Russert's explanation of October Surprise

[grasswire]

From Larry King Live, Thursday, with much hemming and hawing.

CALLER: Hello. For four months President Carter was unsuccessful in negotiating a hostage release with Iran, and it probably cost him the election. Yet on the same day President Reagan took office, Iran released the hostages and the weapons embargo against Iran was lifted. I've always wondered, how did President Reagan accomplish in just one day of office what Carter couldn't achieve in four months?

RUSSERT: I think that was largely the Iranian decision, Larry. The President-Elect Reagan did not have a negotiating team. Those people who are active supporters of President Reagan will say the Iranians did it because they knew Ronald Reagan was coming to office and they were afraid of paying any consequences. But, it's largely seen by historians as the Iranians trying to give a final insult to President Carter.


Pfffffffffft. Liar. Goddam liar.

[mike1963]

1. I have just one word for that, and it rhymes with bullshit.

:eyes:

[CharlesGroce]

5. what word is that?

I'm just wondering what word rhymes with bullshit that justly encompasses this situation.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

10. Gullshit.

[burythehatchet]

2. Right Timmy

and the fucking TOW missles that showed up at the Ayatollah's mailbox were just delivered to the wrong address. Asshole

[sallyseven]

3. I don't think timmy

has any morals. He never seems to have any shame for his unwavering kiss ass to gwb. I cannot stand him. When Kerry wins I hope he gets that sob good.

[Vickers]

4. Bingo

:thumbsup:

[1monster]

6. Both of them are wrong.... It was Jimmy Carter who negotiated the

release of the hostages. However, the Iranians, in an effort to further humiliate Carter, refused to release them until Ronald Reagan took the Oath of Office. The hostages were released immediately following the Oath.

Word is that the Iranians had a deal with Carter until GHWBush did a secret end run to Paris and talked them into delaying that deal until after the election. The hold out on release until after Reagan was officially in office has the earmark of GHWB also. Nasty guy that he is.

Former President BaniSadr of Iran has stated that he met with GHWB in Paris, but GHWB has always denied it. There was something about keeping two sets of daily journals in order to have "plausible deniablity"...

[Vickers]

9. Yeah, but wasn't Carter just freeing up financial assets and spare parts

for stuff they already had, and not sending new missiles like GHWBush?

[1monster]

12. Carter didn't give them anything except that on the release of the

hostages, the Iranian assests that had been frozen would be thawed out.

[maggrwaggr]

7. Timmy should google "arms for hostages"

and see what pops up.

What an ass.

[Eloriel]

8. I just started on thread on How Reagan Got Elected

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1773894

[spanone]

11. It didn't hurt that his Veep was former HEAD OF THE CI-FUCKING-A

[Eric J in MN]

13. "President-Elect Reagan did not have a negotiating team"-liar!

Tim Russert is a liar in saying, "President-Elect Reagan did not have a negotiating team."

Reagan himself admitted he did, but claimed that his negotiating team was trying to get the hostages released as soon as possible.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

14. And he KNEW he was bullshitting us!

I watched that live and saw Russert blinking like a madman during the entire answer -- rapid blinking, a classic sign of someone lying.

[Joanne98]

15. I heard that too.

What a liar. Hey Tim F your dad...........

[buycitgo]

16. what? you don't believe mr. potato head?

cmon, what's wrong with you?

of all of them, pugs and mediathugs, is he the worst, or what?

reason: he has, for whatever reason, cred on both sides of the political aisle, even among the likes of Begala. Therefore, he's more dangerous to freedom than anybody I can think of....or am I overestimating his influence? and...... doesn't anybody outside an inside few, ever read Bob Somerby?

btw, I just talked to bitchkitty.

will do so shortly.

any messages?

you should email her....something's up, sorta

[grasswire]

17. and a big shout out...

...to that caller, who was from Middletown, CT (a town settled by my ancestors).