Couric on Better Behavior in Interview with Dep. Sec. State Armitage (Impact of FR Outcry?)

The Today Show

[governsleastgovernsbest]

In a just-completed interview with Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, the Katie Couric on display was a far cry from the bitter, clenched-jawed woman of yesterday.

Couric's interview of Gen. Ricardo Sanchez yesterday was a festival of attempts to downplay the significance of Saddam's capture and to highlight perceived shortcomings in US policy and accomplishments.

No one would confuse the Couric of today with a cheerleader for US policy. But while she turned no handstands on behalf of Pres. Bush, neither did she second-guess or undermine in the same way she attempted yesterday.

It could be that Katie was reacting to the tone and the physical presence of the guest himself. The shaved, bullet-headed Armitage is an imposing figure.

And from the beginning of the interview, he set a very brisk, no-nonsense tone with Katie, pointedly addressing her as "Miss Couric."

She was most solicitous in inquiring after the health of Sec. of State Colin Powell, following his surgery yesterday for prostate cancer. That would be expected since the moderate Powell has always been on the liberals' "good" list.

But in her questions on other issues, from the information gleaned in interrogations of Saddam, the possible capture of Ibrahim Al-Duri, James Baker's diplomatic mission with the French and others, the carping and second-guessing was largely gone, and the questions were essentially straightforward.

Even on the most controversial issue, a leaked memo by Dep. Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz in which he set forth in stark terms opposition to the awarding of rebuilding contracts to countries who hadn't helped us in Iraq, Couric kept her venom in check.

As is well known, there is a rift between the warm and fuzzy types at State and the harder-liners at Defense. To Armitage's credit, he defended Wolfowitz strongly and expressed support for the views expressed in the memo.

So striking was the change in Couric's demeanor, that I could only conclude that the outpouring of criticism in the wake of her contemptible performance of yesterday had an impact. Neither she nor her NBC bosses could have ignored the avalanche of messages from FReepers and no doubt many others across the country condemning Couric's negative, carping interview of Gen. Sanchez.

It was a chastened Katie Couric on display today. To my fellow FReepers, I say "bravo." I sincerely feel you have made a difference.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Thanks

[an amused spectator]

Some might consider this post a story about a dog that didn't bite. But given Couric's disgraceful display of yesterday, I found her very different demeanor of today noteworthy.

She was a snotty little piece of work yesterday, for sure.

[samtheman]

I never watch NBC, CBS or ABC. Ever.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I certainly respect that decision. I watch out of a combination of masochism and the conviction that it's useful to keep an eye on what the liberal media are up to.

[syriacus]

O'Reilly was denying that Couric was being a nay saying jerk yesterday

I caught that, too.

In that moment O'Reilly completely lost almost any claim to being "realistic."

"Prankin' Al" Franken should cut some slack for O'Reilly's lying, since the biggest whoppers are told to defend liberals.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

In contrast, Brit Hume on Special Report read highlights of the negative coverage of Saddam's capture by a variety of liberal media types. Brit is the man!

[tioga]

I NEVER watch abc, cbs, nbc, cnn, or msnbc.........only FOXNews here and the internet. I do not suffer fools... It's enough to read about the alphabet networks here.

[syriacus]

Brit is the man!

He is great.

[FreedomPoster]

>>It could be that Katie was reacting to the tone and the physical presence of the guest himself. The shaved, bullet-headed Armitage is an imposing figure.

Armitage is a serious avocational weightlifter. He probably has a 54" chest. Between that and the deadly-serious demeanor he can assume, he is darn sure "imposing".

I'm glad Perkie Katie got the full dose.

[PGalt]

Thanks for the briefing. Saddam was willing to negotiate also.

[J. L. Chamberlain]

I sincerely feel you have made a difference.

Ah, baloney. A few dozen moaning and groaning letters do nothing. And Uncle Fester Armitage is a loon anyway.

J

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Thanks for the interesting information on Armitage. He certainly looks like a weightlifter, and the "subliminable" message he was sending to Katie was unmistakeable: "don't tread on me!"

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Saddam was willing to negotiate also.

LOL. "I am Katie Couric. I am the co-host of The Today Show. I am willing to negotiate."

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I understand your skepticism, but there's no questioning that Katie had markedly changed her tone today. I wouldn't be surprised if in light of all the messages received after yesterday's despicable performance an NBC honcho didn't take her aside and advise her to cool her anti-American act.

[Mo1]

Is she wearing black again today? Bet she is still in mourning.

She is wearing a black turtleneck with a tan jacket

[Taliesan]

Neither she nor her NBC bosses could have ignored the avalanche of messages from FReepers and no doubt many others across the country

You folks really do need to get out more.

[MacArthur]

I know that she is difficult to work with in "real life." She needs to be put in her place. Regards,

[FreedomPoster]

I think I read that in the Vanity Fair issue that had the great Annie Leibovitz Bush Team picture on the cover.

[MEG33]

It has improved my whole outlook on watching TV news to watch Brit.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

You folks really do need to get out more.

There is no doubt that Couric displayed a much more diffident tone today.

Something must explain it. Since you are obviously much more wordly and astute than us shut-ins, perhaps you would be kind enough to enlighten us.