"Feckless and Misdirected": Today of all Days, Why Did Katie Cuff Congress?

Today Show/NewsBusters | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

by Mark Finkelstein

March 10, 2006

If ever Congress might think it was in for some Perky-One praise, it was this morning. After all, the kids on the Hill had just dealt President Bush a humiliating defeat on the ports deal, while safeguarding our terminals from those fanatical furriners.

But - surprise! - Katie came not to praise Congress, but to bury them.

In her interview of Tim Russert, Couric quickly turned the talk to the fact that "only 5% of the cargo coming into this country is checked. It might be one of the biggest national security threats we face as a nation in terms of terrorist attacks."

Katie then unloaded her shot in the guise of a question about Congress:

"Do they look feckless and misdirected by obsessing so much on this [UAE] issue and not perhaps looking at the big picture?"

Russert was happy to agree, noting that "the commission on September 11th said exactly that." When he went on to point out that "we are still at a point where in the District of Columbia, the police and first responders are on a different frequency than in Virginia," Katie responded, with a long, drawn-out, exclamation-point-in-her-voice:

"That's cra-a-a-a-z-z-y!"

To be sure, Katie got the President's defeat on the record, calling it "a big blow," while Russert obligingly upped the ante, labelling it "an enormous blow."

But why, you might ask, did on today of all days did Couric go out of her way to diss Congress? Could it be that Katie realizes that, after all, President Bush isn't running again, whereas there's a Republican congressional majority to take care of in less than eight months?

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Today Show/NewsBusters ping.

[true_blue_texican]

....feckless....

They had to have that on a cue card for her to read.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

"Katie, be sure to pronounce this ver-r-r-r-y carefully!"

[jdm]

"To be sure, Katie got the President's defeat on the record, calling it "a big blow,"

Wrong President. "Big Blow" was agent Slick Willie, but I digress....

[tsmith130]

Prilosec time!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

"Make it a double. Leave the bottle."

[Bahbah]

Here is the first effort I have come across to spin this as the fault of the Administration:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1593612/posts

[silent_jonny]

After all, the kids on the Hill had just dealt President Bush a humiliating defeat on the ports deal, while safeguarding our terminals from those fanatical furriners.

What a mess. This was handled badly by everyone.

[Mo1]

When he went on to point out that "we are still at a point where in the District of Columbia, the police and first responders are on a different frequency than in Virginia," Katie responded, with a long, drawn-out, exclamation-point-in-her-voice: "That's cra-a-a-a-z-z-y!"

Have Timmy or Katie ever listen to a police scanner???

[eeevil conservative]

did you see Kristol on F & F's this morning on the DPW Deal?

WOW! He was GREAT!

[badpacifist]

OH perky one, "Feckless?" Your own personal bias hasn't made you feckless just made your morning show all fecked up and misdirected.

[silent_jonny]

did you see Kristol on F & F's this morning on the DPW Deal?

I missed it.

But your tagline is making me smile and I thank you for that ;)

[Loud Mime]

the use of the term "big blow" must have been intentional.

[Rte66]

Meanwhile, over on Good Morning America, Charles Gibson is talking about Dubai "pulling out from the sale of the ports" and goes on about Americans needing to control our ports.

Who the heck do all these people think the Port Authorities are? Besides owning the ports, they run them! No one is selling any ports, no one ever was. No one is "seizing control of our ports," and no one ever was.

Why, oh why, do we have to hear this junk repeated over and over? Are they just all *terminally* (pun intended) stuck on stupid? I've written emails locally and nationally; no one has corrected themselves. They are *still* talking about the "sale of the ports."

Is everybody that stupid???

[Freee-dame]

They had to have that on a cue card for her to read.

During the Olympics, she actually laughed over something she said, stating "I don't write it, I just read it."

[eeevil conservative]

LOL! anything I can do to brighten your day!

[Wilum]

did you see Kristol on F & F's this morning on the DPW Deal?

WOW! He was GREAT!


Had to leave just before he came on, what did he say?

[Wilum]

did you see Kristol on F & F's this morning on the DPW Deal?

WOW! He was GREAT!


Had to leave just before he came on, what did he say?

[Wilum]

Sorry, shaky fingers this morning!