Posted on 05/31/2006 7:54:23 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
May 31, 2006
You have to admire the consistency of Katie Couric and her Today show crew. In her final appearance as Today show host, we were treated to a litany of parting shots at Republicans and bouquets tossed to Democrats. In the first half-hour, the emphasis was on Katie-the-hard-nosed-reporter, asking the tough questions. But . . . surprise! the only objects of pointed inquiries were non-Democrats.
First was her famous ambush interview of Pres. George H.W. Bush when the ostensible purpose of her White House visit was a tour with Barbara Bush on the occasion of the building's 200th anniversary:
Couric to Bush: "Some Democrats say you have not leveled about your knowledge of Iran-Contra."
Next was this question/snipe for Ross Perot: "Some people are left with the impression that you're vindictive, that you're ruthless. a sore loser, and they don't feel comfortable with that."
She was seen interviewing Kofi Annan and Bill Clinton, but there were no questions, no context.
But when Bob Dole appeared, in an interview from some campaign past , Tough Katie suddenly re-appeared: "Some people think from your comments that you've made of late that you're being an apologist for the tobacco industry, that somehow they have you in their pocket."
Question for Patrick Buchanan: "Is this a big ego trip for you?"
Couric, seeking to put the reportedly pro-choice Laura Bush on the spot: "Do you believe women in this country should have the right to an abortion?"
To Dan Quayle, presumably on the eve of his VP debate with Al Gore: "Some people think Al Gore is going to eat you alive in the debate."
Note the 'some people' trope, used four times here and on countless occasions during Couric's interviewing career to put in the mouths of other, unidentified, people, what would seem to be in Couric's own heart and mind.
Couric to David Duke: "I'd like to repeat something you said in 1985, quote 'I think the Jewish people have been a blight and they probably deserve to go into the ash bin of history . . . that's a direct quote Mr. Duke."
She was showing in a warm 'n fuzzy moment with two public figures. First, Al Gore of all people. Ending an interview, she pats him on the arm, adds "we want to thank you and we've got some fun footage to show as we head to a commercial break" as a clip rolls of Al and Katie in light-heartedly dancing together! Given the megawatt smile she flashed at Al during an interview just last week, it makes you wonder if Couric might have a thing for Ozone Man.
Finally, in what apparently turned out to be JFK, Jr.'s last public interview, he was shown mentioning to Katie that several times a day "people come up to say 'your father was a great man.'"
Katie Couric: liberal to the last drop.
At first the ratings will go up with Couric at CBS just out of curiosity. Evening news is different than perky mornings. I don't see her hitting one out of the park.
Katie Couric ought to have that lead in engraved on her headstone. It's her favorite ...
does Katie's "some people" equal Rita Cosby's "sources" ??
cheap cop out "some people" when all the while it means "I"
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.
I have to be completely honest...I have NEVER watched even ONE Today Show with Katie Couric...
I don't know if I have ever seen her talk, LIVE...just in news reports.
"Some people" is most certainly up towards the top of my list. Which people? Your friends? My friends?
"Vast majority" is another. How much is a vast majority? 66.6%? 90%? 50.000001%?
"It stands to reason that..." No, you believe that. Don't tell me what I am supposed to infer from statements, facts, data, etc..
Okay...end rant. Sorry for hijacking the thread!
I would think Matt was sooooooooooo ready to kick her off the show, she is a media whore, just like Oprah. Look at us we are so great and over paid!!!!
Katie Couric: "Some people think"....
Eleanor Clift: "LET ME FINISH"!!!
CBS will promote her to the hilt and she will do OK for about 3 weeks. Then CBS will be in the basement again. I've always wondered what it would take for an affiliate to dump the national evening news.
But then it came time to leave the Alzheimer's wing at the Kennedy family reunion and go back to the real world.
I have a feeling her replacement is going to be even worse. She's going to have to prove herself early too. I wonder if she'll use Katie's source, "some people."
Oh well, so long, to the "affable Eva Braun"!
I caught a bit of an interview with Katie on "Access Hollywood." (caveat: I was getting a Sam Adams and a shot of Jameson; it was on the bar TV) and I couldn't believe how seriously Ms. Couric took herself. She really thinks she's something and that important.
The whole show was entirely over-the-top. I'm surprised that I sat to watch it and if I hadn't been busy with other things in the same vacinity as the TV, I would have turned it off. She is notoriously liberal and lets her views be known but... she has "charisma" - so anything she does is okay.
Gag.
FReeper governsleastgovernsbest will be on the Lars Larson show this evening at about 6:30 PM EDT to discuss Katie's finale.
Bump and Good Luck!!
I think the answer should be, "Other people say the opposite. Next question."
Many thanks, BlueAngel - should be fun!
That's a keeper.
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