The Extremism of Tim Russert

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Media
Posted on Sat Jun 16, 2007 at 10:29:59 AM EST
Tags: (all tags)
The Beltway Pundits think they are moderate by virtue of being Beltway Pundits. Joe Klein is one example. Tim Russert is another:

Hannity: I think the Democrats have gone further left than anybody would have anticipated. I think these bloggers have really gotten to them. I think they’re really positioning themselves that they’re gonna have a very difficult time moving center. Do you see that?”

Russert: Absolutely…
The view expressed by Russert is extreme. I could argue that just by virtue of agreeing with Hannity Russert's is an extreme view but instead I'll cite a poll:


"In your opinion, should the United States withdraw troops from Iraq right away, or should the U.S. begin bringing troops home within the next year, or should troops stay in Iraq for as long as it takes to win the war?"
Withdraw Imm. -- Withdraw W/in Year -- Stay

%25 ------------------- 43 -----------------------26
Like Joe Klein, Russert stands with the extreme 26% and Sean Hannity who oppose withdrawal from Iraq within a year. 68% of the country favor withdrawal within a year.

h/t Atrios.

http://www.talkleft.com/story/2007/6/16/112959/513

There's nothing "extreme" about wanting the war to end. I guess the media pendulum, briefly on the side of reason lately after many years of serving BushCo, had its brief fling with the truth and now has to swing back to the neocon right to be "ahead of the curve" and maintain its cachet. Once conventional wisdom becomes, "Chimpy's admin, and his war, were all-out disasters", and the American public believes it, the media now has to invent reasons to buck that wisdom to create interest. Why keep reporting and discussing what we already know to be true? To sell the product, you've got to come up with a novel (if untruthful) line.

Russert commenting on the Democrats' decision not to debate on Faux "News":

"It's a TV show. If you can't handle TV questions, how are you going to stand up to Iran, and North Korea, and the rest of the world?" -- NBC anchor Tim Russert

Was the reason given for not debating on Faux that the Democrats were afraid the questions would be too hard? Ummmmm, no Timmy. That's not what was said. The reason given was that Faux is not a legitimate news organization and that holding a debate there would tend to legitimize the network.

Timmy, you might just be guilty of really bad reporting. I'd call it blatantly bloviating bias ...

acolyte? Is it true you and the late Pope had a sexual relationship?

Oh, gee, awwww...come ON, Timmy--they're JUST TV questions!!! If you can't answer simple questions, how are you going to be able to stand up to all the high-powered politicos and public figures who appear on your show???

Hmmmmmmmmm??????

Fucking tool. Ignorant bastard.

their minds when they hear the world 'journalist'.

Anyone who thinks Russert had or has any credibiity didn't follow his actions in regard to the bush** administration and the Valeria Plame affair.

Russert is a putz.

we knew that Jack Welch had bought him a meal, gotten him drunk, screwed him blue and turned him out like the easily-led, craven prostitute that he is.

He has reaped only what he has sown, really.

And Tommy Chong is correct. Who is he, anyway? He's NUTHIN'.....

Could it be because we're the American People and day by day it's getting easier for them to hear us as your megaphone continues to shrink.?


Thanks for the thread EV_Ares.