How Do We Defeat Tim Russert? (from the "what Digby said" files)

[phantom power]

As usual, Digby articulates what I've been trying to say for the last month, in four paragraphs.

The country wants change. They want Washington to stop all the partisan bickering and they want a different tone. They want their government to be serious and deal with real problems.

Can someone please explain to me how that can possibly happen until something is done about the reprehensible political press? From tax returns to Farrakhan to footage shown by "mistake" to the endless, trivial, gotcha bullshit, this debate spectacle tonight was a classic demonstration of what people really hate about politics. It isn't actually the candidates who can at least on occasion be substantive and serious. The problem is Tim Russert and all his petty, shallow acolytes who spend all their time reading Drudge and breathlessly reporting every tabloid tidbit and sexy rumor and seeking out minor inconsistencies from years past in lieu of doing any real work.

Judging by their silly questions tonight, Russert and Williams obviously know nothing about health care policy, Iraq, Islamic terrorism, economics, global trade or any other subject that requires more than five minutes study to come up with some gotcha question or a stupid Jack Bauer fantasy. It's embarrassing.

These people guide the way citizens perceive politics even if the citizens don't know it. It's hard for me to see how anything can truly change until this is dealt with.

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/how-do-we-defeat-tim-russert-by-digby.html

[Little Star]

1. k&r

[Dinger]

2. K & R

:)

[JimGinPA]

3. What I Hate Most About These "Pundits"

Is the way they regurgitate oft-repeated repug talking points as if they're fact.


:puke:

[phantom power]

6. Well, that's the rub. The MSM favors the GOP framing of issues.

This is why I think people who think we are "guaranteed" to win in November, with either Clinton or Obama, are overconfident. The general public is highly influenced by what they see on their TV, and what they see on their TV is highly biased toward keeping the GOP in power.

That is a powerful advantage for the GOP. And it isn't just the election. If we win, the same factors will continue to make life very hard for Democratic politics. An Obama or Clinton in the white house will obviously be a big win, but actually implementing liberal policies will continue to be an uphill battle. People who think "reaching across the isle" is going to break that log-jam are going to be disappointed.

[JimGinPA]

9. I Think There Really Is A Significant Majority Demanding A Change...

In both domestic & foreign policies. I don't think the voices of the people can be stifled this election.

[Swamp Rat]

4. Put him in a microwave and turn it on high for 10 minutes... ding!

:D

[KittyWampus]

5. that's scarier than your usual fare, Swampie :-0

[Dinger]

7. By Sending him Gifts. . .

deep-fried twinkies, butter, bacon, eggs, crisco, brats, ice-cream, salt blocks, etc.

[kid a]

8. Russert seemed to know TONS about the new Russian president elect

Almost like he studied REAL hard on that one, just for the Gotcha!..Don't know his name do you! nanny, nanny boo boo

[housewolf]

10. Wonder if a massive letter-writing blitz to MTP/NBC advertisers

would have an effect on shutting Timmy up?

It worked on Imus. It wouldn't solve the whole problem, but starting with Russert maybe step by step we could affect some changes that way.



:shrug:

[cottonseed]

11. Agree wholeheartedly.

I'm an Obama supporter, and I was incensed at the way Russert was going after Clinton. It's not tough questioning, it's third grade positioning. There is no substantive argument you can move towards from any of his questions. Then the Farrakan thing for me was it.

As the biggest mouthpiece for the White House I have know idea why this guy still gets the best gigs. I wish Abrams and Olberman would get together and try and find a way to take this guy out. He's an embarrassment. And yes, doing away with this garbage is some of the "change" people are talking about.