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.

[Sunshine Sister]

Bravo to FReepers who made their thoughts known. I don't punish myself any more so I didn't see either interview. Well done gang!

[J. L. Chamberlain]

Because Katie can run hot, cold or warm on any given day. She's a lousy political interviewer anyway and never, NEVER asks the tough questions.

Look, I'm not really trying to pee in your punch bowl. I just think it's good to keep things in perspective. I remember back a year ago or so when Carville and Begala were pimping the Media Whores Online website every damn day on Crossfire and the most they ever got out of it was Aaron Brown whining to Howie Kurtz about all the nasty-grams.

Just don't over do it.

J

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Fair enough. Let's move on to more important things. Perhaps some day an NBC insider will do a tell-all similar to Goldberg's revelations about CBS and we'll learn the answer.

[Wait4Truth]

Do you think it's possible that she was less venomous merely because she was interviewing someone from the liberal State Department rather than the hated-by-liberals military? That was my thought, anyway.

[cajungirl]

Your post #33 made my day!1 Laughing hysterically!!

[Lazamataz]

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.

Ah yes. That explains why Showtime then picked it up and ran it. After all, Showtime is not in the business of making money.

;^)

[PJ-Comix]

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

[Sunshine Sister]

Thanks for the chuckle!

[zeaal]

Maybe Miss Katie has an issue with a Hispanic man, General Sanchez(oh and remember Miguel too), and not a White man. Hmmmm?

[Lazamataz]

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.

Well then, Messr. Chamberlain, nothing will be harmed by allowing us our silly fantasy, right?

;^)

[Eagle Eye]

Al-Qaetie Couric

Another good one. I hope that this one sticks.

[PJ-Comix]

I sure hope Rush quotes your Al-Qaetie "quote."

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

[Lazamataz]

"Al-Qaetie Couric"

Another good one.

Curtsey.

[Carolinamom]

If Couric turned red, white, and blue and became a raving BushBot, I still would not watch her.

[PJ-Comix]

I notice they haven't mentioned ANYTHING about Al-Duri being captured yet on the Today Show. I guess they figured that Al-Qaetie Couric couldn't handle the "bad news" after she claimed he was the real mastermind in Iraq yesterday.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I had to turn it off. They don't truly cover the news, but holiday gift ideas and dating habits of older women. YUCK!

[samtheman]

It's enough to read about the alphabet networks here.

Exactly. I willingly read the arguments of the other side (such as they are). But I'm not going to subject myself --- or my innocent houseplants --- to a pummelling of leftist propaganda noise from the establishment TV news media.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Do you think it's possible that she was less venomous merely because she was interviewing someone from the liberal State Department rather than the hated-by-liberals military?

On the one hand, that's a reasonable hypothesis. And her very solicitous inquiry after the health of Colin Powell would support it. On the other hand, I believe Armitage is among the most hawkish of the Foggy Bottom bunch.

And you would normally expect that his very macho personal style would elicit a hostile reaction from Katie. So I'm suspecting something else was at work.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Where is this being reported? Don't see it on FNC.

[J. L. Chamberlain]

Of course not! Why would an internet nobody like me interfere with anyone's right to fantasize...about anything.

J