Daily Howler: Russert plays dead for Dubya

[StlMo]

THE LAST BULLDOG DIES


Bob Somerby was right - There are two Tim Russerts:

(An attack dog that slanders Democrats and a lap dog that coddles his Republican masters. - StlMo)


The Last Bulldog Dies Part 1


Can you find any hint of an answer to Russert’s question? Bush was asked why he dragged his feet on setting up a probe. His answer? Terrorists are people who hide in caves. Bush’s languorous “answer,” by the way, lasted a minute and 32 seconds. That was 92 seconds the slow-talking guest had managed to take off the clock.

But readers, you know that ol’ bulldog, Tim Russert! Surely he got in Bush’s face with a tough-talking follow-up question, a question designed to force his guest to get himself back on the mark! After all, Russert is the toughest pundit in all punditdom, pundits say. He’s just “like a prosecutor,” they like to say. You can run—but you can’t hide from Russert.

But no, Russert didn’t follow up when Bush gave a speech to avoid his first question. As he did throughout the hour, he simply moved on to Question 2 when Bush failed to answer Question 1. What happened to that frightening bulldog—the one the press has talked up for years? You saw it—that bulldog turned to a puddy-tat, coughed a hairball and died. What became of Bulldog Tim? That “dog” didn’t bark, hunt or slobber.

Irrelevant “answers” went without follow-up. Blatant misstatements by Bush went unchallenged. Bush was allowed to give long, windy speeches—speeches so long and so slow that it sometimes seemed that Russert must have left the building. And where, on where were those film clips Tim loves—the clips where he highlights his target’s past statements? Such clips had been sent down the memory-hole, along with the “bulldog” your fake pundits love. “No no no no no no no?” Russert loved lecturing Dean last June. This Sunday, the phrase wasn’t heard.

But don’t worry—pundits immediately began pretending that Russert really put Bush through the hoops. They know the script, and they love to recite. We’ll examine the clowning all week.

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http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh020904.shtml


The Last Bulldog Dies Part 2


Did Bush and his aides overstate the intelligence? The question was asked—and avoided by Bush. Toothlessly, Russert moved on.

So where was that bulldog—that fearsome inquisitor whom Tom Shales politely described in the Post? That dog disappeared when this topic arose. And needless to say, Russert never asked about the most egregious examples of alleged exaggeration. For example, did Condi Rice (and others) misstate the intel on aluminum tubes, trying to create the impression that Saddam was chasing nukes very hard? Eight months ago, Judis and Ackerman laid out the problem in The New Republic (links below):

JUDIS AND ACKERMAN (6/30/03): The administration used the anniversary of September 11, 2001, to launch its public campaign for a congressional resolution endorsing war, with or without U.N. support, against Saddam. The opening salvo came on the Sunday before the anniversary in the form of a leak to Judith Miller and Michael R. Gordon of The New York Times regarding the aluminum tubes. Miller and Gordon reported that, according to administration officials, Iraq had been trying to buy tubes specifically designed as “components of centrifuges to enrich uranium” for nuclear weapons. That same day, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice appeared on the political talk shows to trumpet the discovery of the tubes and the Iraqi nuclear threat. Explained Rice, “There will always be some uncertainty about how quickly can acquire nuclear weapons. But we don’t want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud.” Rumsfeld added, “Imagine a September eleventh with weapons of mass destruction. It’s not three thousand—it’s tens of thousands of innocent men, women, and children.”

Many of the intelligence analysts who had participated in the aluminum-tubes debate were appalled. One described the feeling to TNR: “You had senior American officials like Condoleezza Rice saying the only use of this aluminum really is uranium centrifuges. She said that on television. And that's just a lie.” (David) Albright, of the Institute for Science and International Security, recalled, “I became dismayed when a knowledgeable government scientist told me that the administration could say anything it wanted about the tubes while government scientists who disagreed were expected to remain quiet.” As Thielmann puts it, “There was a lot of evidence about the Iraqi chemical and biological weapons programs to be concerned about. Why couldn’t we just be honest about that without hyping the nuclear account?”

Was Rice’s statement “just a lie?” Don’t expect Russert to ask, even in a nicely couched way. Indeed, he didn’t even dare ask his guest to respond to his first, general question.

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http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh021004.shtml


The Last Bulldog Dies Part 3


Indeed, was there anything Bush could have said this day that would have provoked a follow-up question? Russert is praised as a junkyard dog—a host who chomps down hard on his prey. But when he sat with Bush last weekend, the bulldog became a poofed poodle. Repeatedly, Bush’s statements cried out for challenge. But guess what? That bulldog wouldn’t hunt!

How tame was Russert’s performance this day? Let’s consider a string of instances where the bulldog refused to follow up.

First, consider the tenure of Tenet. Early on, Bush volunteered some surprising news. George Tenet is doing great work!

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What a surprising statement! We had a major intelligence shortfall before 9/11, and we’ve now found another big problem in the intelligence about Iraq. Why isn’t Tenet’s job in jeopardy? Bush may have a very good answer—but Russert didn’t bother to ask. But then, this was just the first of many timers that an obvious follow-up question was skipped. A bulldog had joined the stenographer’s pool. It was the role that he’d play this whole day.

Indeed, it soon became clear: There was nothing Bush could say that would lead to a challenge from Russert.

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http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh021104.shtml


The Last Bulldog Dies Part 4


THE REASON THAT DOG WOULDN’T HUNT: Has President Bush dragged his heels when it comes to exploring intelligence failures? Russert began with that topic last weekend, and it might have provided a good discussion—if the topic had been pursued. But a bulldog was missing in action this day, and we saw the disappointing result. Bush completely avoided Russert’s first question—and Russert let the evasion stand. Moments later, Bush boasted about his cooperation with the 9/11 commission—a commission which has routinely complained about the president’s lack of cooperation. But Russert ignored this odd statement too. What would Bush have said if challenged? The public will never find out.

No, that was hardly a bulldog in the Oval last weekend. Follow-up questions were toothless and few. Those trademark film clips were missing in action. Several times, Bush apologized for “repetitive” answers, but it was Russert’s vague and repetitive questions that defined the meandering, softball discussion. Missing was the lecturing scold who rebuked Howard Dean and falsely accused Gore (see below). The bulldog had left his teeth in a jar. But why in the world had he done that?

For what it’s worth, Russert offered an explanation during his victory tour this week. After the interview, the self-impressed pundit accepted applause for the brilliant work he had done. How brilliant, how great had Russert been? Why, when he went to the dentist on Monday, rubber-gloved workers burst into applause! We know that because Russert told us:

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Russert’s explanation to Johnson is sad—the mark of a failed celebrity newsman. The double standard which Russert acknowledges makes him an abject failure. He can hide behind Big Russ all he likes. But when Russert shows “respect” to Bush—having ripped Gore and Dean—the public is quite poorly served.

A grown man doesn’t hide behind Dad—nor does he cower when he goes in the Oval. Last weekend, a ballyhooed bulldog curled up and died. A fearsome bulldog is finally gone. Long live that fearsome press bulldog!

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http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh021204.shtml

[donhakman]

1. My editorial - pulled after 6 hours