Posted on 12/12/2005 5:11:53 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
December 12, 2005 - 08:06
"Allies Establish Beachhead in Normandy: Could Troops be Home Sooner?"
Somehow, I doubt that was the headline in the wake of D-Day.
Yet this morning, the Today show viewed the impending Iraqi elections largely through the prism of bringing US troops home.
The graphic read "Iraq Votes: What Elections Mean to America", and Matt Lauer set the tone, introducing reporter Richard Engel in Baghdad by asking "what does [the election] mean for the future of US troops there?"
Engel picked up theme: "Sunni participation in this election could reduce violence over time, allowing American troops to be pulled out sooner. But there are very real dangers. If the next government excludes a religious or ethnic group, it could trigger more insurgent attacks, more Iraqi infighting, meaning more time in Iraq for American forces."
Lauer was back at it in a subsequent conversation with Tim Russert: "What's the importance [of the elections] to the American people?"
Russert: "Huge, Matt, if these elections are a catalyst for the Iraqis to step forward and stand up as the President said, so US troops can stand down. The only exit strategy for US troops is that the Iraqis put in place a government and a security force that allow us to leave."
Meanwhile, with all the speculation swirling around the possibility that Katie might be departing Today to take over the anchor chair at CBS Evening News, Couric gave signs that she was trying to polish her 'fair & balanced' credentials.
Katie's catchword of the day was 'controversial,' and she applied it twice, first, and more surprisingly, in reference to Richard Pryor.
After newsreader Natalie Morales reported his death, she spoke admiringly of him being "such a comic great" and tossed it back to the hosts. Lauer and Al Roker were engaging in some predictable praise, when Katie, defying the dual conventions of political correctness and nil nisi bonum, interjected:
"He's pretty controversial. I was reading an article this morning, someone writing that he was no role model, so I think his legacy will continue to be debated."
Later, in an interview of far-left lawyer Ramsey Clark, who is currently defending Saddam Hussein, she described Clark as a man "with such a distinguished record,' then caught herself and added "though controversial."
Clark did a pretty good job this morning of keeping his radical anti-American light hidden under a barrel. He emphasized his support for due process, right to a fair trial, etc., and said little of his own disdain for America, opposition to the war, etc.
While on the one hand Katie took a cautious approach to Clark, on the other she did nothing to expose his extremism by, for example, throwing some of his over-the-top remarks in his face.
I'll betcha alot of people don't know about Clark's impressive resume
Maybe if we are lucky .. a national newspaper will report on it
But ... I won't hold my breath waiting for it
Thanks for that chuckle!
You're welcome .. I got a chuckle also :0)
Ailes wants to soften the FNC criticism. Even read that he wanted a meeting with Aaron Brown, offering praise at his so called on screen personna. UGH!
FNC is trying to be CNN lite.
I'm glad for your reports on Today, because after today I'll have to rely solely on them because I'll not be tuning in any longer.
I could barely watch any of the Ramsey Clark interview. I feel as if this world has been turned totally upsidedown. For Ramsey Clark to get ANY prominent air time, much less a primetime morning interview, to advocate Saddam's mistreatment and defend him at all is beyond shameful. And Katie made sure she gave him the velvet glove treatment, when using the word "controversial". < / barf>
We already know Ramsey Clark is a dictator loving traitor to his country. And now we absolutely know that NBC's Today is a proud mouthpiece for dictator loving traitors. That's it, I'm done with them. Besides, I'm sick of starting out my day yelling at my t.v. while my blood pressure reaches stroke level. It's downright unhealthy to watch Today.
Prior's estate will begin pumpiing like Elvis' He was an enormously well liked person with a rough, but ever present grace. Watch his sales go through the roof.
Oh I dont know...Katie is just so...Oh, yes...PERKY blah blah blah. I stopped watching her yrs ago. CBS won't change my mind.
Ouch! That is harsh, particularly coming from a fellow NBC-er. Wonder if it represents a widespread view of Katie by her colleagues, or more that of one disgruntled guy?
"You know Tim, it seems that Bush has committed another grievous error by not finishing the training and arming of the Iraqi troops so that they could have been a help to us in Iran!!"
"Katie, it seems to me that these massive deaths perpetrated by the Iranians could have been prevented by the presence of a large American strike force in Iraq....it's just inconceivable that the Bush Adminsitration couldn't have seen this coming. No one said he should have withdrawn from Iraq so completely, and so soon".
I agree with your assessment of Couric's competency. Two things annoy the h* out of me about Couric: 1. her liberal bias, which you give as your reason for beefing the Couric and 2. she makes so MUCH money as a liberal shill that she has absolutely NO connection with the "little people" that her and Matt "inform" every day. I suspect that many of her viewers also are riveted by "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous".
A quarter of the crap on the TooGay Show is puff pieces about her equally rich "homies" in the Wealthy Hood. That ain't America - it's the Hamptons. Why people can't smell the talk-down is beyond me.
Of course, I did have to loan La Couric a couple of sawbucks to fill up her minivan during the height of the gas price increases... ;-)
Katie Commie!
Probably the top nickname of al-Qatie Quric. ;-)
And whose appointment as AG was blatently political -- as it forced Ramsey's dad, Tom Clark, to resign from the SCOTUS, thereby opening a seat so that LBJ could appoint...Thurgood Marshall.
And that was the real purpose of the exercise...
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