Question. How many fault Tim Russert for Hillary's performance at last night's debate?

[FlaxieB]

[Evergreen Emerald]

1. That is the wrong Question: Hillary shined despite the attacks by Cheney's mouthpiece

[geek tragedy]

2. It's his fault that Hillary quadrangulated on immigration. n/t

[FlaxieB]

3. Russert is a reporter. He was just doing his job.

Hillary wasn't prepared.

[truebrit71]

6. Russturd is NOT a reporter, but you are right he was doing his job...bashing the Dems...

...I really despise that chubby piece of shit...

[FlaxieB]

10. Russert is a news reporter, plain and simple.

No matter what the format (Talk show Host, News Anchor, Correspondent etc) they have, they are basically news reporters. They all are.

[Cassandra]

14. Russert is NOT a news reporter...

plain and simple. He's an interviewer who specializes in "gotcha" questions that he thinks makes him look like he knows something. He's considered by the RNC to be a safe harbor for repukes, on whom he is much easier.

[AlCzervik]

17. he is not a reporter, what part of that do you not understand?

[ccpup]

4. I don't fault Tim

but it was clear he was out to "get" Hillary and, really, I wonder how any of the other candidates would have done if the "Moderator" had been gunnin' relentlessly with both barrels blasting for them?

[Pirate Smile]

5. I've noticed the spin machine has kicked in this morning.

[jmp]

9. The Clinton's have a very aggressive ...

PR team. They are wasting their time here though.

[peace13]

7. The candidates are responsible for themselves.

If Kucinich can field a bogus UFO question I think that Hillary can stand behind her stated position. He, on the other hand, had little time to defend himself.

[flvegan]

8. Did he write her script?

:shrug:

[FlaxieB]

12. No. She wasn't prepared. She she never is.

[flvegan]

15. Then no, it's not his fault.

[AndyA]

11. Russert is what he is. And so is Hillary.

Russert is a riecht wing enabler, a mouthpiece for the Bush Administration. He's a lousy journalist, if you want to call him that. He is beginning to look more and more like Rush Limpballs every day.

NBC would be well advised to dump his sorry ass, he's a discredit to his profession, unless that profession is spreading propaganda, in which case he's pretty good.

Hillary got caught on two sides of the issues, and did it in front of the same audience, with the same witnesses. Makes it hard to say someone misunderstood her, or that she didn't say something when there are people there who can state that she did, in fact, do or say what she did.

Hillary has long, deep ties with all the things that make government a deep, dark, viscious entity that no longer works for the American people. A vote for Hillary is a vote for more of the same.

I will vote for her if she gets the nomination. I will also vote for Dodd, Biden, or Kucinich if they get the nomination. I hope Edwards gets it because I think he's the one who will bring about the most change.

I will not vote for Barack until he addresses the anti-gay issues that are surrounding him. He can say whatever he wants, but his campaign is endorsing anti-gay values, and I cannot tolerate that.

[FlaxieB]

16. You're faulting Russert because he asked questions that a Prez candidate should answer?

This is for the Presidency of the US., not city council. If you can't handle debate questions, how ar you going to deal with world issues? The war in Iraq? Iran? North Korea? foreign policy, domestic issues. I'm sorry, but this debate last night is nothing compared to those realities and if a candidate can't cut it move over and let someone else take lead. Hillary is unfit

[AndyA]

24. I'm faulting Russert for so much more than just this debate.

His involvement in the Valerie Plame affair.

His failure to address the lies of Dick Cheney, when Cheney was on his program denying that certain things had been said. Russert knew better, and didn't call him on it.

No, I'm not basing my comments about Russert on this one debate, nor am I faulting him for asking tough questions. I agree, this is an important position and tough questions should be asked.

But he consistently asks tough questions to Dems, and then lobs softballs to the Repugs, which I think is unprofessional and Russert should be called on the carpet because of it. He should report the news, not create it.

[BootinUp]

13. Tim has never been a strong intelligent personality

I don't think he could rub that off on anybody.

[MissDeeds]

18. Hillary is responsible for Hillary's performance

If she gets thrown by questions asked during a debate, how will she handle really challenging issues? Furthermore, each and every candidate was responsible for his/her performance Tuesday evening.

[illinoisprogressive]

19. Russert was doing his job of trying to make her answer the questions but,

I do fault the press in general. they have given her a free pass for over a year and this gave her a sense of false security. they helped to push her numbers up and crown her queen and it caused her to take her eye off the ball.
Sometimes having nothing but, glowing press can hurt a person in a critical situation.
She is focusing on her administration because they built her to this inevitable aura and gave her soft coverage and daily cheers.
They praised her ducking and dodging and over rehearsed style all summer in the debates. this left her vunerable for the unknown.

[FlaxieB]

21. True, but wouldn't an experienced /savvy politician understand that the media is not your friend?

She allowed this build up to happen and it bit her last night.

[ellenfl]

23. the press hasn't given her a 'free pass'.

the 'liberal' media has pushed her as our candidate. and apparently, according to the polls (which are also prolly controlled by the rw) we have fallen for it. jmo

ellen fl

[FlaxieB]

26. Up to this point the news media (CNN, MSNBC, FOX, ABC, NBC. CBS)

along with the major polling agencies, have on a consistent basis since the beginning of this campaign, have given her full exposure all day, everyday with unequal time for the other candidates. That includes Obama, who has had more negative press mid way through his process. The media isn't fooling anyone They wanted to burn into your brain (the people who don't follow politics) that she is the electable one. Last night, the media called in a marker and it backfired on Hillary.

[Catherine Vincent]

20. No.

Tim Russert sucked period. He's a mouth piece for the republican party.

But a lot of the Hillary bashers loved him last night.

[ElizabethDC]

22. Of course not. n/t

[bigwillq]

25. No

Russert did the job I expected him to do...never liked him...but I don't think you can blame him for Hill's performance, which I thought was her worst in a debate so far.

[Zavulon]

27. Not at all.

Her answers on immigration were pathetic and pissed me off no end. Edwards and Obama were right to point that out. I don't see them acting too scared to answer a direct question.