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.

[J. L. Chamberlain]

You can believe that if you want, Laz but I read the actual script and it was a barfer. The whole affair was nothing more than damage control and had nothing to do with the wailing and screaming of the masses.

J

[governsleastgovernsbest]

So your theory is that the public outcry was irrelevant and the CBS honchos would have pulled The Reagans in any case, because it didn't meet their elevated artistic standards?

[PJ-Comix]

I'm not so sure. Particularly when contrasted with the much more supportive coverage from her counterparts on the ABC and CBS morning show, I believe that the NBC chiefs could have been concerned about the impact on ratings, and had a word with Katie.

I'm 100% sure that is what happened.

[FreedomPoster]

LOL

[PJ-Comix]

You can believe that if you want, Laz but I read the actual script and it was a barfer. The whole affair was nothing more than damage control and had nothing to do with the wailing and screaming of the masses.

Bull! The CBS execs saw the script MONTHS ago and had NO PLANS to pull the plug on The Reagans. They did so only AFTER the protests.

[J. L. Chamberlain]

Yes, that's what I'm saying. The thing stunk no matter how it was sliced.

J

[J. L. Chamberlain]

They did so only AFTER the protests.

Of course this really only reenforces your need to feel important, shouting from the internet. Sorry PJ but the world ain't all that simple.

J

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Reality shows like ''Big Brother,'' in which one contestant pulled a knife on another, are risky but represent an effort to try something different, CBS executives said Tuesday.

Story URL: http://www.realitytvworld.com/index/articles/story.php?s=216

So those shrinking violets at CBS have no problems with reality shows in which contestants pull knives on each other, but get the vapors because The Reagans script wasn't of "Citizen Kane" quality?

[StriperSniper]

It really did seem to set her back.

Katies nothing, he can do that to an entire Senate Committee. ;-)

[J. L. Chamberlain]

You don't really mean to imply that a silly reality show is on the same level as a docu-drama about a president, do you?

J

[PJ-Comix]

Of course this really only reenforces your need to feel important, shouting from the internet. Sorry PJ but the world ain't all that simple.

Sorry but even the Lefties acknowledge that it was the PROTESTS that caused that series to be pulled. You need a refresher course in the events that caused this. No way in hell that CBS would pull a series they produced for sweeps week just because the script (which they were already completely familiar with) sucked. You actually think Les Moonves didn't know about the script until AFTER the protests?

[PJ-Comix]

You can believe that if you want, Laz but I read the actual script and it was a barfer.

And so did Les Moonves months BEFORE the protests and nary a word from him about pulling the series until AFTER the protests. You need to take a timeline refresher course on the events leading to the pulling of this series. Or do you actually believe that Moonves suddenly developed some sort of superior artistic sensibilities only AFTER the protests? If so, then you must believe the Tooth Fairy will be leaving gold coins underneath your pillow tonight.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Since you're convinced the public outcry doesn't explain why Couric toned down her act this morning, why not reveal the real reason?

[Taliesan]

Something must explain it.

Ah, there you have it. The impulse to haruspicate, or scry.

No, nothing has to explain "it".

[aculeus]

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

I've long suspected that many lefties lurk here, including some media heavy weights.

So ... a "Here's looking at you, lurkers" bump.

[FreedomPoster]

>>Perkie hardly describes what I think of when faced with pictures or mention of miss couric.

OK, I'll start using my neighbor Laz's "Al-Qaetie Couric".

[BluH2o]

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.

Today show ratings are going south, ABC's GMA is beating them consistantly. Further, Diane Sawyer had has an interview today with GWB, last week Diane was given a Xmas tour of the WH by Laura Bush. Katie hasn't seen the inside of the WH since the Clinton era and as long as the Bush administration is around ... won't.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Hmm, an effect with no cause. Paging Issac Newton for a re-write!

[PJ-Comix]

Chamberlain probably believes that Saddam's capture this past weekend has NOTHING to do with Al-Duri's capture today. Totally unrelated events according to the world of Chamberlain-Land.

[maryz]

I read somewhere an interview with a network type (it was several years ago); I do recall that he said, as a rule of thumb, the networks estimate that every letter received probably represents 10,000 viewers with the same opinion who didn't bother to write. The scale may different for e-mail, since it's so much easier, but I don't think networks with steadily dropping ratings can afford to ignore their mail or e-mail.