Russert is tough on guests that are not in the Clinton family syndicate.He's doing Hillary's work.
Nahhh, I'm not so sure. Look, it would be in Hillary's long term interest to make someone like Dean the Democratic nominee. McGovern '72 redux, if you get my drift. Just as the collapse of McGovern's candidacy opened the door for a Southern liberal, the collapse of a Dean candidacy could open the door for a "moderate, pro-defense" Hillary Clinton in 2008.
If, otoh, a John Kerry ran a strong race and events conspired to weaken Bush, Kerry could be elected in 2004. Okay, suppose Kerry does passably well as President and gets reelected in 2008.
By 2012 Hillary is going to be looking really ripe, and she will be Yesterday's News. How ripe will Hillary be in 2012? This ripe....
Nope, Russert isn't doing Hillary's work, because Hillary wants Dean to win. Russert is doing the work of the Congressional Democrats and the East Coast Media (centered around the Editorial Room of the New York Times) who want Kerry to be President and who, I might add, blame the Clinton pair for the collapse of the Democratic Party in the Congress.
Be Seeing You,
Chris