Has David Gregory jumped the shark? Has he been turned? Is he, maybe, just possessed by the devil?

[Stinky The Clown]

Not very long ago, he was one of the more 'darling' of the media (il)luminaries. Asking hard(ish) questions at pressers. Going toe to toe with Tony Snow. Speaking French in France in Il Dunce's presence.

But the last two .... three weeks ....... I dunno. Maybe its just me, but he seems to be fellating the First Member.

Am I the only one who's noticed this?

[valerief]

1. He's no Helen Thomas, that's for sure. He's more like a Matt Lauer now. nt

[AX10]

3. I know, but what caused this sudden change with David?

[valerief]

4. I keep going back to Godfather stuff. Maybe he was made an offer he couldn't refuse.

Or maybe it was just one he didn't want to refuse.

It isn't like we have a fairness act in place in this country.

[asjr]

8. The only thing I can think of

is that the WH must have given him a bonus or raised his salary. It's not just Gregory--it's Campbell Brown, S. Malveaux, Brian Williams, Tweety and the list goes on. I had hopes for a while that the media had awakened, but they were just playing possum for a while. It is stunning, and comical at times, the things they say. The media are part of the reason I feel the administration will get by with just what they want.

[dennis4868]

10. The so called media....

was lost during the 2000 election when they focused more on what Al Gore wa wearing and things he never really said tan on the substance of the candidates. I am sure the MSM will be back doing their job when a Dem is in the WH....

[Morgana LaFey]

18. It hasn't been sudden, and it hasn't been a change

Unlike others here, I have always viewed his scrappier, hold 'em accountable moments as the aberrations.

[babylonsister]

2. He's doing a fine job of fellating, as is Tweety. Talking about how

'experienced' dimson is because of all the grieving he's done with families, makes me want to hurl.

[jean]

5. no - it's happening before our eyes. Perhaps he's trying for some close up time

with the Occupant, maybe an interview that could be put on the internets.

Maybe someone will put a David Gregory Devolving video up on youTube. (pretty please :web: )

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

6. Job Interview???

Perhaps he's about to be offered Tony Snow's position. That Dana chick is not too good at lying with a straight face. But she is nice on the eyes, fwiw.

[TwilightGardener]

28. She's got the most beautiful hair. I have hair envy.

[Loge23]

7. Clearly, he's been "spoken to"

He was one of the only mad dogs in the PC's. Now, he's Barney.

[calimary]

13. Perhaps with chris matthews out so much (diabetes - and it won't be

getting any better any time soon), the brass is "auditioning" him for a job upgrade - as matthews' replacement on "Hardball." But to be granted such a plum job, perhaps he's been "advised" to soften his hard questions to the White House. After all, we can only afford one watchdog in the company, and Keith Olbermann's already cornered that market. So everybody else still has to kow-tow. Perhaps they wrapped an ari fleischer in a newspaper and sent it to him - he got the order from upstairs to watch what he says and does.

[Loge23]

15. good point - could be (eom)

[Stinky The Clown]

20. That seems like a good possibility ...... at least a reasonable guess.

Whether he was 'told' or whether he decided on his own to change, the end result is that he's trying to appear less partisan ...... as if asking honest questions is partisan.

[Laurab]

24. I think that's possible, and it's really too bad

I always thought of Gregory as one of the few decent ones, but somehow the rap dance with Rove changed my opinion a little.

Is there ANYONE aside from Helen Thomas? I can't think of a one.

[Auntie Bush]

25. Was Chris Matthews on vacation last week or was he sick with a

diabetes problem?

[calimary]

27. Not sure, but he has been out sick before. A couple of times, I believe.

And he isn't getting any younger. I'm just speculating here. I don't know for certain. I watched diabetes slowly snuff out my dad. Once you get on the downward slope, it just gets worse and worse. He certainly might also have been on vacation. Easter break, you know. Did David Gregory make any mention of sitting in "...for the vacationing chris matthews"? Usually they do that in such cases.

[C_U_L8R]

9. Maybe he got some tax relief

goodness knows I'd do probably do anything for some tax relief too :-)

[soothsayer]

11. WH correspondent's dinner was his jump the shark moment.

or revealed his true character or the new david.

[Supersedeas]

32. he can Karl got their grove on

[Polly Hennessey]

12. Toe Tappin Gregory

He was the winner of the Dancing with Rove contest.

[Berry Cool]

14. Perhaps he was secretly killed and replaced

with a Stepford Reporter.

It's a secret Karl Rove program, don't you know?

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

16. He's had the little implant in the back of the neck

a la the original Invaders From Mars.

He's quite similar to the old David Gregory. But less vivid and lacking that joie de vivre that he once seemed to possess.

He's had "the talk". Maybe Russert is the one who has to pass on the "integrity is for paupers" spiel. He knows that he too will have the prime time show and the house in the Hamptons or Nantucket. And he knows what he needs to do to get those things.

Ah, David, and we hardly knew ye.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

17. A shadow of the man he was and could have been. n/t

MKJ

[fooj]

19. Good cop/ Bad cop

He's full of crap. Seriously. We ALL know how Little Lord Pissypants would NEVER continually call on Gregory if he thought he was even a remote threat. IMO, Gregory plays both sides. Push comes to shove? LLP's corner every round. He's a sell-out.

[Disturbed]

22. Maybe his boss told him to start kissin' Busholini's ass if he wants

to take Tweety's place?

[Straight Shooter]

21. It started at the press conference when bush called him beautiful.

This was the press conference where Gregory got tangled up in his wires, but before that happened, bush called on him and said -- and this is almost a direct quote -- "I must say, you're looking particularly beautiful today."

So, you tell me, what was it about that comment that turned Gregory from a halfway-decent member of the press corps to bush's new poodle?

I agree, Husb2Sparkly, there has been a marked difference in Gregory's modus operandi. He wants to be the new Bob Woodward, with access to the halls of power.

[Robson]

23. Gregory has Imus's job.?

Maybe they offered him Imus's job as he is filling in on that time slot on MSNBC. Part of the agreement was he must not be irreverent to network media and institutional big wigs as Imus was. DG knows better than to pick on the little people and Imus should have too.

[Pachamama]

26. I thought it was just me....

Yeah, there has been a marked difference in his questions and has seemed to become a kiss ass lately - far different than the challenger we saw before.

Maybe he was given a choice and he realized that he better make the choice that has a future....

[Hissyspit]

29. I've noticed it, too.

It's very strange.

[Rene]

30. Fallout from the media power people and * admin being able to take out Imus

If Gregory wants to keep his job.....he has to toe the administration's line.
That's the message that was sent with Imus' firing. I don't believe it was the comments(not FCC violations).....but the administration's ability to pull his sponsors that took out Imus.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

31. Just another Corporate Whore Media critter driven by greed and ambition a.k.a. sellout, hit mute