Me-Thinks that Kerry hit a Grand Slam today on MTP

[trumad]

I've watched hundreds of interviews on MTP and have always been fascinated by "Ho" Russerts style. For those of you who say that Timbo is simply doing his job, then you haven't been paying attention.

Tim midway though an interview starts to lose his objectivity and has flashbacks of his High School debating class. I've seen many many instances where Russert has gone over the top and has clearly showed his true idealogical colors.

He did it today to Kerry and Kerry just chuckled at him. The way Timbo does it is he asks a 3-part question followed immediately with an attack on the guy trying to answer the question. It basically turns into a Timbo rant. Meanwhile the person trying to get a word in edgewise simply can't do it because Timbo won't shut up.

Again...he did this with Kerry today and Kerry chuckled at Timbo as if Tim was frothing at the mouth. Kerry's reaction to Timbo's rant was perfect because it showed the audience how partisan Russert can be.

As far as the interview...Kerry never stuttered,,, hmmmm'ed, hawwwww'ed, or got flustered... He looked fantastic. Grand Salami in my opinion!!!

[David Dunham]

1. Kerry was very good.

[Kahuna]

2. I agree. But, Kerry has always done very well on MTP...

I was very pleased with him today. Go Kerry!

[jbfam4]

3. totally agree

My family gave him a standing ovation.....we were all clapping. How refreshing to hear the next president showing he fully understands issues. Not afraid to admit he made mistakes in the past.

So tired of all the trite moronic phrases the resident uses.

[namvet73]

4. It was, indeed, a home run.

What a contrast.

DUBYA's PC, on the other hand was an out in three consecutive swings.

[MoonRiver]

5. Yes, he completely took over the agenda. Timmy didn't have a chance.

This guy is looking more and more like the very leader we so desperately need!

[Kahuna]

6. I agree. I'm beginning to think that once Kerry gets in office..

and we must believe that he will... he will actually show some "stones" (sorry for the gender specific adj) and take care of business like we need for it to be taken care of.

[MoonRiver]

7. For me it will be heaven on earth!

I can't believe how much I criticized Clinton for not doing enough to promote our agenda when he was in office. Now, looking back on the last 3 years of hell, I would die to have Clinton back. Kerry is to the left of Clinton, so I should be even more joyous when, and we have to think WHEN, he's elected. I really hope he has coattails for the Senate and House though.

[Adelante]

10. My sister is a Republican

Voted for Reagan, Bush I, Bush II -- no matter what I said made no difference. She's not a wing-nut, but she hated every single day of the Clinton presidency. I visited her over Easter and she was telling me about a conversation going on at work, a big financial firm. One of her colleagues was saying they all had to work to get Bush re-elected. She said she listened for a while and then stood up, looked around the group and said, "I wish Bill Clinton back in the White House tomorrow. At least our soldiers would be in the right goddamned country!" Shocked silence at first, but then several nodding heads. I just called her to tell her to watch the rerun of MTP at 4:00 on MSNBC. She's ripe for Kerry.

[less_perfect]

8. unmoved

I watched the full hour of mtp, i have to say Kerry does seem very intellectual, but I thought i was going to fall asleep watching it. I am slightly impressed in stead of going monotone as he usually does he did have some voice inflection today.

I don't understand when Tim gave him the opportunity to deny talking to foreign leaders Kerry passed it up. Is Kerry just being honest?

I think Tim did a fine job. His job is, if I am not mistaken, to challenge the person he is interviewing with questions from both sides of the issues. The job of the mainstream press is to present both sides of the story democratic and Conservative and let the public chose which side they are on. The media is not to force the viewer to chose a side through being partisan.

But then I could very well be mistaken. This is only my opinion and it may change in the future.

[angryinoville]

9. I thought Kerry was more lively than usual...

as well as on point and candid. He held himself accountable for everything Russert potato threw at him and looked very strong.

[papau]

13. "could very well be mistaken" - but we agree on the monotone - but

non-monotone gets put down by the media

and an incompetent poor English spoken from a TelePrompTer with "determined" facial expression person gets called "like Churchill" by our media (see Dean and ignore fact that media hid crowd's noise level from viewers)).

Bush has been on MTP - never once did Tim dig in to a non-answer.

Bush asserts, Tim shows agreement - or at best clarifies a minor point - and Tim moves on.

Tim's walk with Jack Welch election night 2000 and subsequent pleading for a Gore surrender in his post 4am comments show you the respect Tim has for his paycheck.

But that is just my opinion.

[trumad]

17. No...Tim's job is to answer to Karl Rove...

Ya ever wonder why Tim didn't post his usual quotes up on the screen when Bush was interviewed...

[sandnsea]

22. ah yes, ye of two posts

Like we give a shit what someone who pops in here and chooses to bash Kerry and praise Timmy at this most "opportune" time. Shoo. You've made a wrong turn somewhere.

[JI7]

25. yup

just what i was thinking.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

11. Did Kerry say anything about Israel?

I don't get MTP, and a freeper on another board says that Kerry endorsed Sharon's agenda of keeping some settlements and refusing the Palestinian right to return. Is this correct? Thanks for the information!

[leyton]

16. He said he supported the strike on Hamas.

Russert asked whether Kerry thought Israel should have struck Hamas, and Kerry said 'yes.' He said that Hamas has had many opportunities to try a peaceful solution, has declined to do so, and has given Israel good reason to strike back. Kerry also said that should Hamas decide that a peaceful solution is the way to go, Israel would/should be happy to oblige.

He also said (I think) that he supported Bush in his endorsement of Sharon's plan, but I could be mistaken and I haven't been following that story anyway.

[Classical_Liberal]

27. Then he fucked up again.

.

[stevedeshazer]

12. Yes, Trumad

I agree completely. Kerry made Russert look small and petty.

Kerry answered every question. Not all will agree with his answers, but they were answers. That's got to be a refreshing change compared to Bushco for many who are just beginning to pay attention.

[MasonJar]

14. Kerry cannot do it alone. We have to be constantly vigilant and

we have to insist on fair elections. Ohio, for example, will go for Kerry, but will probably be stolen by Diebold. Also Florida DU's, please see that all those poor disenfranchised voters get to vote.

[MasonJar]

15. Another thought. We need to push for legislation that anyone

who is a legitimate voter who is denied his opportunity to vote gets to vote the next day. Also make your reps explain in writing if they vote against paper ballots. How could anyone oppose an election back-up?

[corporatewhore]

18. actually he made my life long dem mom blurt out i am voting for NADER!!

When he said he supported the strike and when he said he agreed with bush on israel .The no right to return stuck out because my friend and mentor who is viewed by mother as a strong positive influence on me is a palestinian who was born in jerusalem.And mind you my mother has volunteered withthe dems since 1968 has volunteered faithfully from Eugene McCarthy to Gore .last summer she said she liked Kerry but i swayed her to the Kucinich Campaign she was happy that kerry was chosen and called me a traitor when i went over to naders campaign.But i swear to the goddess she said i willl vote for nader after the complete and utter disregard kerry had for the palestinians

[mitchum]

19. Pity about your mom

oh well...

[Guaranteed]

23. Yeah, my mother wasn't impressed either.

I didn't see the show, but my mother reported to me that he was as long-winded as ever and seemed to be explaining positions instead of taking them. She said it made her sick to listen to him. She's still voting for him, though, of course.

I trust my mother's judgment.

[Guaranteed]

24. You know what, I don't get it.

If you were going to fall in love with a politician, why the hell did you pick this guy? Doesn't even make any fucking sense. The guy's just so damned...unremarkable in what he does.

Yeah, he may have been great thirty years ago, or even 15, but shit....

[Direckshun]

26. BullGooseLoony

BullGooseLoony,

Let me get this straight, your mother said that Kerry was *explaining* positions, as opposed to *taking* positions? What does that mean? Don't you have to take a position in the first place in order to explain why you took it? Explain to me what "taking a position" means, because if you think Kerry ain't doing it, then we're speaking two different languages because that's all Kerry's done for the past year and a half.

Of COURSE Kerry's going to be long-winded. It's an hour-long interview. Would you rather him answer in a series of "yes" and "no", one-word answers? He used MTP as an introduction for voters, so fully explaining one's stances actually sounds like a good thing, not a bad one.

I'm not saying Kerry is the perfect candidate, nor that I have "fallen in love" with him. But he's a solid candidate, and much better than Bush. And after enduring a crummy President for 4+ years, I think some people are entitled to "love" a solid alternative.

Remarkable? Not really. But a solid pick for President, and a better one than the guy we currently have in office? Yes.

Keep your eyes on what's important, BGL.

[MasonJar]

20. I just watched the 4 o'clock repeat. Kerry was awesome. My

favorite was when he said he wished he could put Tim-boy on the screen and came up with one of his former quips.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

29. LOL! That is great! "Tim Russert said so and so 10 years ago...."

ha ha! and he's still an asshole 10 years later! Kerry ROCKS!

[Zinfandel]

21. A bit too early for a Grand Slam...maybe a two run homer?

[Classical_Liberal]

28. He supports Sharon and the settlers

He is trying to get the vote of right wingers who got us into the war.

This is a failure.

[mrgorth]

30. He's trying to not lose the jewish vote.

.

[Classical_Liberal]

31. Most Jews oppose the settlements

Clinton won without sucking Likud cock.