Just saw Kitty Kelley on today show.

[abrock]

I don't watch that show usually, so I don't know who that guy who was interviewing her was, but he seemed right pissed that she would write this stuff about a sitting president, and a REPUBLICAN no less. HAR!

Hope this book blows Bush out of the water. It couldn't happen to anyone more deserving.

As for the interview, he basically tried to discredit her, and she was defensive. Nothing really of substance on either side.

[Not Me]

1. I usually have a good sense for being able to spot someone in a lie...

and Sharon Bush was spiking my meter.

[Bunny]

2. Was Sharon on the Today show?

When did you see her?

On edit - never mind. I see she was on the Today show, right after Kitty Kelly.

[berner59]

3. She (Sharon) had a blank look on her face....

and when he asked her about GW's drug use she hesitated and then he led into "at Camp David I'm talking about" and then she went into her "line" about being shocked... She was obviously threatened...she even said that she wouldn't talk bad about the "family of her children"...there's a clue...

Doesn't Kitty have notes or taped her phone call?? Now here's a time to reveal it...she also has a witness who Sharon called had a "weak line"...how is that weak? He said he wouldn't deny it...duh!!!

I need to email Matt...anyone have an address??

[HamdenRice]

18. You spotted how subtle the questions were ...

Matt was really clever in asking the questions. Toward the end, he asked whether Sharon had ever seen W do coke at Camp David, and Sharon, scared out of her wits said no. Then he asked whether Sharon had heard about W's drug use at Camp David, and Sharon started to say that she had heard about W's drug use -- and then Matt cut her off and said "at Camp David."

So Sharon was caught between what she had been coached/threatened to say by the Bush family and the truth -- that W used drugs frequently elsewhere. But Matt asked question in a way that enabled her to give the impression that by denying W used drugs at CD, she was saying he had never used drugs.

Another subtle questioning/cutting off technique was used with KK. When Matt asked her why Sharon had changed her story, KK started to say that the Bush family told her she would end up in some dark alley if she continued to say these things -- but Matt started talking over her, practically shouting, so you could barely hear it and was also changing the subject.

I always thought of the Today Show as being fairly unbiased for major media, if a little to polite. I thought that Couric sometimes could be a real pit bull against Republican bullshit, but Matt was just too dim to ask good questions.

Today, I became convinced that Matt really is biased -- or too scared to contradict the propoganda machine.

[Morning Dew]

26. You caught that too - At Camp David

She's scared, obviously. She was careful... "I didn't tell.. blah blah blah".

Well, Kitty said that Sharon confirmed the allegations and it was Sharon's publicist who confirmed what Sharon told Kitty.

The Q&A was framed to let Sharon off the hook.

[Jack_Dawson]

34. Lauer: [e-mail]

Nuff said.

[arwalden]

7. She Looked Frightened... As Though She Had Just Received ANOTHER Threat...

from the Bush Family reminding her to deny-deny-deny.

-- Allen

[Generic Other]

33. Do I see a dark dark alley in the fututre?

or is that someone lying in bed with a fifth of whiskey and an empty bottle of sleeping pills?

Poor pathetic woman. You marry into the devil's family, you get burned.

[truth2power]

22. Mine too.

There was the slightest bit of quaver in her voice. I'm pretty good at picking up subtleties of body language, voice etc. I think Sharon was scared, and I don't think it's my imagination. Wish I had taped it so I could look at it again.

Also, did anyone hear Kelly say Sharon told her she got a message on her answering machine that if she didn't shut up she would be found "in a back alley." Matt just rolled right over that statement - wouldn't let her finish. I guess he didn't want that info out there.

[HamdenRice]

24. I heard that Sharon would "end up in a back alley" too!!!

I mentioned it in my comment above. KK said that Sharon was threatened by the Bush family that she would end up in a back alley, and Matt just started cutting her off and talking over her

[truth2power]

35. Ya' know, they "out" themselves by the way they respond.

If I were interviewing someone and they dropped that statement in my lap, I'd try to elicit more information. I'd say, "Tell me more about that."

But ML walked right over her statement without the blink of an eye. Do these newsreaders (they don't deserve to be called "journalists") really think some of the more astute viewers won't notice??

Matt's behavior is proof-positive that he got his marching orders from KKarl. :evilfrown:

[madmax]

4. It's not just about W and the drugs.

Other tidbits will come out. I don't know all the details about Sharon Bush's divorce but I understand he committed adultery and some other things.

She said, she felt financially insecure and that the bush's offered her a loaned house to live in for only 4 years. She has 3 children. What kind of Christian family values is that? It's not like anyone in the family couldn't afford to buy her a house.

Kelley also talked about GHW's affair and that he was going to divorce barbara.

[Raven]

5. I wasnt sure who to believe...Kitty or Sharon.

Kitty Kelley has always made my skin crawl but Sharon Bush seemed pretty weak. She said something at the end of the interview about an e-mail from her ex-husband and something about the Bush family offering her a house to live in...I couldn't quite figure that out.

What struck me was how awful the Bush family has been to Sharon Bush but, of course, Matt Lauer didn't follow up on that.

[Warpy]

11. I'd believe Kelly

She's a trashy writer who has never been sued. She couches her stuff in phrases like "people say blah blah" and weasel words like "might" and "maybe" generally get her off the hook. She's never hesitated to take on the powerful (like the Reagans) and spit in their eyes. I'm sure she reported what was told her by Sharon Bush, along with some of the gossip that's been around these parts ever since I've lived here.

Sharon Bush, on the other hand, is vulnerable to threats of being sued for custody while being cut off financially. She's been treated shamefully by that lump she was married to. She should have a place for her and their children that's free and clear, plus enough support to allow her to get back into the workforce (if we ever have any jobs, that is).

I think Sharon Bush told all as part of the inevitable rage after a divorce. Nothing else could possibly have made her brave enough to do it.

[kiahzero]

14. That's because libel is impossible to prove for public figures

You have to prove "malice," which is nigh impossible to do. So the fact that she hasn't been sued isn't evidence that she's telling the truth.

[dmr]

16. You know Warpy what that reminds me of?

Have you seen Outfoxed, yet?

They do a whole segment oh how Fox gets away with 'reporting' inuendos and rumors, by using what you described:

"Some people say ..."
"Some people are saying ..."
"Its been said that ..."
"Its been reported that ..."
"Some Democrats are saying ..."

Its a clever way of planting seeds of disinformation, while pretending their reporting is fair and balanced.

I'm going out first thing in the morning to buy this book before it sells out and I'm going to enjoy it very much!

[Joanne98]

13. The Bush family wasn't going to give her anyway in the divorce

from Neil. i guess they were mad cause she made his "sex with asian women with herpes" part of the divorce. she finally got free rent for 4 years till the kids were 18 if she promised not to write a book. i was always under the impression that KK's book was suppose to be about Sharon Bush's life. Maybe that's how it started out.

[Bridget Burke]

17. Kitty Kelley announced the book years ago.

Back when Sharon thought she was always going to be Mrs. Neil Bush.

No doubt Kitty picked up some interesting info from Sharon, but she's not the only source.

[calimary]

37. From what I've read, evidently Kitty Kelley talked to Sharon primarily

to get confirmation on other stuff she already knew or had obtained from other interviews with other people. She conducted - what was it - about a thousand interviews for the book? That's pretty typical. She's done loads of interviews for every one of her books. Then, I guess her method is "triangulation" of sorts, landing some tidbit and then getting it verified independently. Um - I think that's called (surprisingly enough in a tabloidy-type author like Kelley) investigative journalism and having multiple sources to back things up. Something you don't see very often among the established "journalists" anymore.

I'd bet on Kitty Kelley here. She wouldn't DARE stick her neck out this far, with this bunch, without being sure of her ground. She's a big girl. She knows what's up, here. And it's not like she's a neophyte at this, either, or isn't used to taking on some MIGHTY BIG people.

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. WH shill, KKKRove ass kisser, Lauer did the interview.

There's a thread on GD campaign 2004 which said Kelley held her own and Sharon is lying her ass off.

[dmr]

8. Sharon looked nervous and scared to death

I thought Kitty did very well. Immediately she made a point to let America know that the White House pressured NBC (all the way to the NBC president) not to have her on.

I can't stand Lauer. He is always nasty to anyone who dare say one thing negative regarding Bush* and gang. I think at first he tried to be cool headed and not show it, but as the interview continued, it was obvious.

Lauer definitely tried to save Bush* from drug allegations. He kept honing in to making the point that Bush* did not partake in coke.

Kitty will be on again tomorrow and Wednesday. It'll be interesting to see how it goes.

Sharon was a nervous wreck. I felt sorry for her. Those ex-in-laws of hers are bad news. I imagine she was wishing she could spill the beans, but I suppose she prefers not to end up in that dark alley that she told Kitty that Neil threatened he would put her in.

They are nasty people.

[underpants]

9. Man did she know how to reshape the discussion

Kitty Kelley was smoooooooth.

Lauer couldn't understand that she could make these allegations when W said he gave up drugs when he was 40 it was sad how whole heartedly Lauer took W's word. He looked like an idiot.

[phylny]

32. I'm with you, underpants -

Bush said he stopped drinking and found God. It must be so. Of course, there's *never* recidivism amongst addicts. Lauer is a tool. He must think it's *so* unusual for alcoholics to claim that they've ceasing drinking, but continue or start to use illegal drugs like coke and pot.

No, that's why so many alcoholics and addicts *never* need to go through rehab again and again and again, Matt. How could we *not* believe that SuperPrez is able to find the Lord and is then able to do what so many others struggle with?

I have the utmost respect for people who are striving to overcome addictions. It is a tremendously difficult thing for people to succeed at. Most people I know who are alcoholics or abuse drugs and who are in treatment programs continue to go to AA meetings, and continue to be honest about their shortcomings. People like this are to be respected.

Bush? Fuggedaboutit.

(edited because I rudely said "underwear" instead of "underpants") :)

[Ilsa]

10. I'm glad Lauer leaned on her because it gave her the chance

to rise above it and she did! KK handled Lauer with no problems.

I bet Sharon Bush denied everything she said after the fact because she needs the money to raise the kids and IS scared for her life. I think SB has more dirt on the BFEE than just some lines of coke. And you are right, how unchristian is it of them to treat ehr this way after Neil traded her for a younger wife.

And did you hear KK thank Lauer and NBC for having her on after the White House put so much pressure on NBC to ignore her? Now NBC is helping them do damage control by having Sharon Bush on.

And KK has never lost a libel suit!!!

[Bozita]

12. Didn't Sharon get a financial settlement with Neil AFTER her KK interview?

I seem to remember that.

[kskiska]

27. I remember too,

that she had to agree not to write a book. Poppy agreed to pay for a house only until the oldest kid was 18. Then she was on her own.

[DemonFighterLives]

15. That Lauer is a prime example of a media Whore

He wouldn't answer when Kitty asked him how he was voting. Of course it was more important for her to announce so she could be smeared for smearing B*sh. I can't stand him and he had Sharon discrediting most everything that Kitty wrote about. Yeah, Sharon now knows nothing. She needs to go into witness protection so she can speak her mind.
The truth will hurt this administration every time.

[okieinpain]

19. forget kitty, it was sharon that was the interview. she was scared

shitless. but the great thing about sharon was she kept saying over and over "after 23 years of marriage, the family has cut me off". family values bush style. the gay marriage crowd should be all over this one.

[AnnInLa]

21. Threat from Neal Bush

the part that Matt Lower talked over was kinda difficult to hear, but I think KK said that Sharon had a received a message on her answering machine from Neal, saying that she would be found in a dark alley. That's kinda frightening....in addition to the threat of losing custody of the kids under 18. Anyone know how many kids she has and their ages (Sharon)?

[MsTryska]

20. I thought Kitty did real well....

my favorite part was when lauer said the book was 99% negative.

Kitty said, (and i paraphrase), "i think it's 99% realism. america has been shown this hallmark card view and i think i just peeled it back to show the underside."


awesome.



as for matt lauer, he can kiss my ass. what a shill.

[okieinpain]

23. I agree but he really did her a favor by coming out so hard.

I would love to see her on o'silly. kitty kelly seems like she would be great on his show.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

29. Kitty Kelly is much more respectable than The Today Show.

Maybe should protest outside of their studio and disrupt the show.

[MsTryska]

30. Yeah matt did do her a favor..

I actually am half-worndering wehter he really is a shill, or just that skillful of a reporter that he can disseminate what needs to be said, whilst making it look like he's asking "hard-hitting questions".

[AnnInLa]

25. KK on AAR?

did I imagine it, or will she be on AAR? We should be able to learn much more there, than with Today show.

[Xenus Sister]

28. My favorite part...

Bushboy: Anything coming out of the White House right now surprise you, regarding this book?

Kelley: No. No, look what they tried to do to Richard Clarke, look what they did to Paul O'Neill, look what they did to Ambassador Joe Wilson. If they don't like the message, beat up on the messenger.

Damn lady, you got balls! I love it!

[SiouxJ]

31. Geez, Lauer ought to just go work for Faux already

I can't believe I ever respected him. He's lost me completely now. He's only one step down from O'lielly and the other White House messengers at this point.

[plcdude]

36. Discussed here

and in other threads