Another example of why Tim Russert is a GOP stooge.

[Bullshot]

On the Today show, Tim Russert and Matt Lauer were going back and forth on the presidential race. Russert asserted that the Swift Boat ads damaged Kerry's perception with the voters. Then, when Lauer asked if last week's 60 Minutes report on Bush and his National Guard defection would impact his perception with the voters, Russert responded by saying that voters want to move to issues other than the Vietnam War.

Well, what is it, Russert? Why is the Swift Boat debacle, which has been proven to be based on lies, a relevant issue in the race, but when it comes to Bush's questionable service in the National Guard, you steer the conversation away by saying people don't want to dwell on that war?

[DeepModem Mom]

1. They're both stooges -- nt

[Justice]

2. That is the situation in a nutshell

What is so funny (in a sad way) is this is acceptable behavior in politics. No one takes the other point of view to say, well, wait a minute, that is not right.... Instead they all just agree.

[IdaBriggs]

3. Urk. I hate to say this, but they are right.

The Smear Boats got their shots in BEFORE the public was sick of the topic. Didn't matter whether they were true or not because the talking point is "Vets mad at Kerry." Now the AWOL stuff comes up, but everyone is like, "well, so what? That was 35 years ago."

The talking point is Vets Mad at Kerry NOW. AWOL is Old News. :(

[Dawgs]

4. "people don't want to dwell on that war"

If that's what he said then he most definitely is a shill, because more than half of us do want to dwell on this subject.

Utterly disgusting!!!!

[Mistress Quickly]

8. You are exactly right

Since there was no real response from Kerry to the SBLiars when they first attacked, by the time people's attention span expired in regards to Vietnam, it was too late to throw anything out there about *.

Attention span is very short in this what was that? Was that a celebrity rape?

[Mr Blond]

9. Tim Russert is the best there is.

He is the definition of "Unbiased". Credibility is lost on those who bash Russert.

[Bridget Burke]

11. A truly Fair & Balanced statement.

I love the smell of satire in the morning.

[Mr Blond]

12. You don't agree?

I like Russert. The man gives it to both sides. He's an old-school journalist, IMO.

I see both sides bashing him...That's usually a good indicator.

[qanda]

18. Tweety.... Is that you?

eom

[Mr Blond]

25. I can't voice an opinon on Tim Russert...

...without being called names?

OK...

[qanda]

26. It was a joke...

Sorry to offend. It was in reference to your name, Mr Blond and we call Chris Matthews, Tweety. I honestly didn't mean to offend you and I welcome you to DU. :hi:

[spooky3]

28. It's NOT a good indicator. The RW will bash anyone who does not agree

with their point of view or push for their objectives. Some lefties may do this also, but in general what DUers want is for journalists to practice good and fair journalism and to seek and tell the TRUTH. So you have to look at the nature and content of the criticism (along the lines of F.A.I.R.) as well as the process of it, rather than simply count the criticisms.

Bill Maher made this point very clear tonight in reference to a question on banning all 527s. When Larry King tried to say that MoveOn was essentially the same thing as the Swift Boaties, IIRC, Bill agreed only to the extent that too much money is involved, but was very quick to point out that they are different in the MoveOn tells the truth rather than distortion and lies. (I'm not aware that ANYTHING MoveOn has produced has been found to be defamatory or dishonest; the Swift Boat liars have been clearly revealed to be liars.) He added that it is not necessary for MoveOn to lie since Bush has such an awful record that they can describe truthfully.

[AmerDem]

15. LOL

I'm glad you set your sights so low. Russert is a biased, clueless piece of shit!

[Mr Blond]

17. I didn't say Russert is biased in our favor.

I just said he plays it down the middle as well as anyone on television.

Yeah, I'd love to have Carville or Begala in his place, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. Of course Crossfire is a treat to watch (Record and watch).

[AmerDem]

19. What you said is,

"Russert is the best there is", "He is the definition of Unbiased". To which I responded with a much deserved, LOL.

Being biased isn't "playing it down the middle". In my opinion you are sadly misinformed. I suggest you take up other offers here and get to know this beacon of American Journalism you so passionately support!

[Mr Blond]

22. Not misinformed.

I just don't spread propaganda around those with whom I agree.

Now...On the Yahoo boards? I'll bash ANYONE this side of Phil Donahue...Lead the sheeple, and all that good stuff!! :)

I respect Russert. I go to him for information that's not politically skewed.

[AmerDem]

23. propaganda?

Everything, everyone here has been telling you about Russert is fact! Start off by checking out The Daily Howler, then a few searches thru Google to see how many others know the true side of Russert!

Let me ask you, what is your take on Chris Matthews. Is he another great name of journalistic integrity?

[Mr Blond]

24. Not that this has anything to do with the discussion at hand, but...

...Mathews is a harpie only interested in ratings.

He's a screamer and I don't like that. He gives it to both sides depending on how the wind is blowing. That's both good and bad...Mostly bad.

I don't care too much for him. I don't respect him like I do Russert.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on Russert...But what's stated here is certainly not "Fact", as you've claimed. Opinion, yes. Fact, no. But my views are only opinion as well.

[gratuitous]

16. I'd suggest you go to The Daily Howler

Put "Tim Russert" into their incomparable search engine, and learn a little more about Mr. Old School Journalist.

[John_H]

5. Another example: he tried to spin chenery's statement about

a vote for Kerry is a vote for osama. Albright let it go. Here's how it should have gone.

Russert: Dick Cheney said this week that now matter who got elected the US would be attacked---

Albright: Tim, why are you spinning the vice president's statement? There's no need to sugarcoat it for him. What he said was....

[deutsey]

6. Wasn't he one who intereviewed Bush in the White House

not too long ago?

How anyone could come away from that softball toss and think Russert is anything by a glorified infomercial spokesperson is beyond me.

[JimmyJazz]

7. also on Chris Matthews's Sunday night show

he had 4 people, three of whom predicted Bush in a landside! This was after an hour of discussing how Kerry could not possibly win the election. These people are entitled to their opinion, but how do we ensure Kerry supporters won't stay home on November 2, thinking they are wasting their time since Bush is going to win in a landside. This issue is of particular importance to those of us living in purple states.

[Mr Blond]

10. Stay positive...Keep working!

We can't control the assumptions of others. All we can do is keep working.

[bushwakker]

13. On his weekend program he said...

that the AWOL story only plays to the Dem base who are angry that Bush only served in the TANG while Kerry was in combat. Again he gets it totally wrong. I have no problem with anyone serving in the TANG. what I have a problem with is someone who bails out on their committment to serve after they got special treatment to get in.

[bushwakker]

14. Bush lied to Russert's face in the Oval Office

and Russert doesn't give a shit. Bush said they'd release or had released all docs pertaining to his militarty servivce.

[Supersedeas]

20. Russert, Tweety, Blitzer, Mor-a Lie-than-sound, where to turn for truth

When recommending honest coverage of the campaigns where do you send friends and family other than the internet?

[AmerDem]

21. There is no where to recommend them

when it comes to the television corporate media. What I do is tell them how corrupt the corporate media is. Until most people understand that what they are watching is spoonfed directly from the white house, these corrupt bastards are going to get away with it.

If we keeping getting the word out on the media it's only a matter of time before their game is up.

[mbali]

27. I've noticed this, too . . .

Whenever the pundits talk about the Swift Boat story, they always put it into the context of how it's hurting Kerry. But when they get around to talking about Bush's National Guard "service," they also talk about it in terms of how it's not helping or is even hurting Kerry. As soon as they get to that topic, they suddenly want to move on to something else and complain about how this is distracting voters from the "real issues."

"Tonight: flashback to the never-ending Vietnam war. New documents show President Bush failed to carry out a direct order in the Texas National Guard back in 1972. And a new documentary, "Stolen Honor," takes a critical look at Senator John Kerry through the eyes of former prisoners of war. The big question: Isn't it time for the presidential election to move out of past and focus on the future?" Chris Matthews, HARDBALL, September 9, 2004

(And then he launched right into an interview with veterans who participated in the new documentary and ads attacking Kerry's 1971 testimony against the war).

[Awsi Dooger]

29. That asswipe Russert is worse than anything on FOX

Not literally, but in outcome. You get almost all the slantboard treatment of a Hannity or O'Reilly, but none of the "yeah, but consider the questioner."

The Dems who allow Russert to moderate their debate(s) this cycle are masochistic dunces who better have a double digit lead going in.