Fred became the uncle of calm that Russert ain’t got....it slow,clear and controlled by Fred Dalton..........Russert’s voice would raise and Fred would answer slowly, “Well Tim, no......
You know, that's absolutely true, though I didn't notice it at the time maybe because I so rarely watch Russert. But toward the end of it, I found myself puzzling over why Russert was going so easy on him.
Could it have been ... fear? Because it's true -- Thompson, not Russert, controlled the exchange. Usually, no matter whether the guest is liberal or conservative, Russert lords it and the guest is like a performing seal. Thompson's simile to trained seals earlier this year is pointedly apt.