Posted on 07/14/2004 4:51:34 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
Do they do it to keep us off balance? Just when you're about to write off The Today Show as hopeless DNC surrogates, they pull something like this morning. In separate interviews, Katie Couric made manifest her skepticism about John Edwards, while (the solid professional, IMHO) Jamie Gangel treated Laura Bush in a reasonable and straightforward manner.
Katie began her interview with Edwards and wife Elizabeth with a shot between the eyes: "Despite a nationwide bump in the polls when you were named to the ticket, a new poll in NC shows Kerry/Edwards down by 15%."
Edwards: "I'm not a poll expert but I've seen other polls showing 'basically a dead heat' [translation: " not down by quite as much"] in NC. I think once they get to know John Kerry, the people of NC will embrace this ticket."
Shot back an arch-eyebrowed Katie: "Really? A liberal Democrat from Massaschuesetts?"
Edwards waxed on about Kerry's volunteering for the military and service in Vietnam.
Couric: "Do you have a Florida strategy?" Edward and Elizabeth dwelled on the fact that his wife was born there and that they have 20 relatives that live there."
This again was met with skepticism by Katie: "Well, that's 20 votes, but doesn't George Bush have the ultimate family tie with the Governor?"
Both Edwards and wife mused darkly about how, yes, the "administraiton" of the state of Florida played an important role as to how the election came out in 2000, and piously hoped that this time "the people" will get to decide.
Katie then quoted Dick Cheney about how Kerry and Edwards voted for the Iraq resolution but now have developed "a convenient case of campaign amnesia."
Edwards: "It was right to vote for the resolution. But that authority has been abused by the President in lives, money, our reputation around the world."
Yet again, Couric put Edwards on the spot: "But you knew the coalition wasn't that strong and that there wasn't a fully-developed exit strategy, and you still voted for the resolution. How can you look back now and say this wasn't happening and that wasn't happening?"
Edwards was forced to retreat: "That's a fair question and I take full responsibility for my vote. But I didn't have control over the coaliton, over the lack of a plan to win peace. Saddam was a serious threat and needed to be dealt with. But ultimately it was the President's responsiblity."
When it came to Kerry and Edwards voting against the $87 billion in Iraq war funding, again Katie put Edwards on the defensive: "There's been a change of tactic on the campaign trail. [Note how the reference to 'campaign trail' implies that this was a purely political maneuver]. Kerry used to say that he supported the $87 billion but objected to the way it was funded [he wanted to raise taxes]. Now he says he's "proud" of voting against it. Which is it? Do you have a problem being one of four senators who voted for the war and against funding?" [Recall that he voted against funding at the point Howard Dean was riding high and it was expedient for Edwards and Kerry to portray themselves as anti-war].
"My view was I had to stand up and say no, this is not working."
Couric: "What would be John Kerry's exit strategy in Iraq?"
Edwards: "John Kerry would make certain that Iraqis were much more quickly and efficently trained to take responsibility for their own security."
With sarcasm normally resolved for Republicans, Katie shot back: "With all due respect [which as we know means: "with no respect at all"] why would Kerry be able to do a better job?" Edwards' answer escapes me.
Couric: "What do you think of Dick Cheney?"
Edwards:"He's always been cordial and polite [guess he hasn't told Edwards to go ---- himself. Yet]. He called me on the day I was nominated. But he is out of touch with ordinary Americans, wiht the struggles people deal with in their daily lives. We have dramatically different views of the world."
Edwards then actually repeated, for the 1,000,007th time, "my father worked in a mill, and I was the first person in my family who went to college."
He continued: "I feel an enormous responsiblity to provide those opportunities to other Americans."
Once again, he was met with Katie's incredulity. "And you don't think Dick Cheney wants to give opportunities to Americans?"
Edwards: "I don't see any signs of it. I get up every morning thinking about giving the same chance to other Americans. I grew up in the bright light of America and I want to give other Americans that same chance" [gag me with a smiley face.]
Then it was on to Jamie Gangel's interview with Laura Bush.
Gangel: "In light of the Senate report highly critical of intelligence on Iraq does your husband have any regrets?"
Laura: "Who can regret Saddam is no longer in power? Is it tough? Absolutely? Have we sacrificed? Absolutely. But we can do tough things in this country."
Gangel: "She [Laura] has become the President's secret weapon, and is ready to play political hardball."
Gangel: "Kerry recently said that "no young Americans will need to go to war unnecessarily if I'm president," implying they have under President Bush.
Laura: "Are they sorry Saddam is no longer in power? They saw the same intelligence. They're stuck because they can't give any credit to Pres. Bush."
On Ron Reagan, Jr. speaking to DNC convention, Gangel asked: "Is it embarrasssing?" "No." "Is he being used?" "I'm not going to say that" [meaning that I'm too polite to say that it is obviously true].
Gangel lobbed a softball on the VP candidates: "What do you think of John Edwards? Do you think he matches up to Dick Cheney." Laura: "Of course not, absolutely not." "Any basis for speculation that he might be replaced by someone like Colin Powell? "No. No."
The interview concluded with some soft questions about daughters Jenna and Barbara's new-found interest and involvement in the campaign.
Neither Gangel's questions nor tone were hostile. A shocking contrast with the blatant skepticism Couric expressed to Edwards.
Everyone has an off day from time to time. She'll snap back into form (whiney socialist/communist) by tomorrow. Maybe she's on drugs.
Hah, hah. John Kerry would train the Iraqis more quickly and efficiently. Not much there there.
It's cable!..Seem to be having local trouble...The rest of locals work but a bit weak, too.ABC has lines. All others OK.
You're right about Gangel. She's interviewed the senior Bushes many times, so I think she must be a family favorite, possibly because she's not really a hard nosed reporter, more celebrity stuff than news.
It's funny that a MSNBC anchorette is talking to IMUS about her cousin being on that Nashville Idol show. Sharon Stone was on Leno last night talking about a close relative of hers being on it too.
Wowsers, I'm shocked that Katie asked tough questions of the annointed.
IIRC, Jamie Gangel has done several interviews with the senior Bushes. They get along very well, she's respectful to the office, and I didn't get a sense of her politics - a good thing.
Laura is a gem. From what I've seen and read about Mrs. Edwards, she seems like a nice person. I don't know how a mother keeps going after losing a child as she did.
Yes, Katie has been treading steadily, slowly rightward so that maybe she can glimpse the political middle lately.
Methinks they know that as The Two Johns are exposed as way out Liberal, this election is over, and they dont want to get caught in the crossfire.
I have to hand it to my fellow FReepers. This possibility didn't occur to me during the course of the interview, but has been raised by a number of posters. I'm not much for conspiracy theories, but even if it's not a conscious motivation for Katie, it could be in the back of her mind that a W win wouldn't be the worst thing so as to keep the coast clear for Hillary.
Blasting Edwards/f'ing in July is one thing let's see her do it in October.
Every once and awhile, the perky one gives her audience a fair and balanced interview, only to claim, IMHO, that she is not biased.....we all know her disdain for the Repubs....
LOL. I'm sure she'll get plenty of criticism from Dems today, and will compensate by being extra-nasty the next time she has a Republican in her talons.
opie is NOT the problem on the rat ticket. He is way too insignificant to mean anything. Zelig is the problem. His endless remakes depending on what group he is with, has domed the Zelig/opie ticket, certainly not the slithering trial liar.
It's right up there with the statement by Richard Holbrooke - foreign policy advisor to Kerry - on Today yesterday that the secret Kerry plan to "put pressure on the North Koreans" is . . . to talk with them.
Wow...just saw it. I've NEVER seen Katie act like this towards a democrat.
Also....it kind of looks like Katie might have just had a facelift. Did she take some time off recently?
There's been a lot of press lately that informs the public that FOX is kicking the other network's butts. And if this is a trend where NBC begins to take a more responsible approach to the news i'd like to think that the guys at Protest Warrior had a small part in it with their FReep of the Today Show a couple of weeks ago:
And that's exactly what the perky one wanted to accomplish,guaranteed.
That is an outstanding picture. Wish I was there to see it or heck, even be a part of it.
I guess Couric doesn't think Edwards is liberal enough. BWA HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
"Do they do it to keep us off balance? Just when you're about to write off The Today Show as hopeless DNC surrogates...Katie Couric made manifest her skepticism about John Edwards"
Naw, little miss nip-tuck simply hates ambulance chasers like Edwards who drive up the cost of her comsetic maintenance.
John Edwards is out of touch with the average American, and has been since he put himself on that elitist pedestal.
Did Teresa see power when she chose F'n? I wonder if they'll remain married after he loses the election.
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