Shark Bytes

Spreading lies and smears against Sarah Palin's family, Govenor of Alaska, candidate for Vice-President of the United States. Stop the smears and maybe someone will watch you!

russert potato: Hummm . . . never even thought of that. And today, absolutely anything is possible. Wonder if he had a thorough autopsy.

First of all, I am saddened about the untimely death of this Joe Everyman Irish Catholic who made it in the elitist white-collar world of mainstream network television. That being said, Russert was, like most establishment journalists/interviewers/analysts/moderators, a tool of his corporate paymasters, picking and choosing who to skewer based on the prevailing political winds. In theory, the media should always be adversarial; it was disturbing to see so many members of the ruling class attending his memorial service. Of course, we are ruled by two political parties who are nothing more than two peas of the same pod, water carriers for the super rich and well connected. Russert, like most of his colleagues, had little choice but to coddle these people since he needed access to remain on the air. I know, based on what he looked like and what is now in the public record, that Russert was grossly unhealthy and worked to the point of exhaustion, but would it be beyond reason to believe that Russert could have been the victim of foul play? He did appear at the deposition of sleazy attorney Louis Libby, henchman for Vice President Richard Cheney, perhaps the biggest gangster on planet earth, a creature so vile that he makes John Gotti look like a boy scout.

The Colin Powell interview, during which one of Powell's aides shut down the camera after the taped interview had exceeded the allotted ten minutes. Russert took this simple (and quickly corrected) mix-up as an affront to journalism, later histrionically describing it as un-American media control. In his display of extraordinary arrogance and egomania, Russert poisoned his reputation for objectivity and respectfulness

He was biased against Hillary Clinton. That's something a newsman should never reveal. RIP

I'm one who is now old enough to be genuinely cynical of news sources and the media in general to care personally about all those who report the "facts" to further enlighten the Great Unwashed like myself. But, if there is such a thing as the Real Deal, an honest Everyman who tells it like it is wihtout patronizing the little guy then Russert was it. I was genuinely heartbroken when I heard about his death, though I think Brokaw is a respectable enough replacement in the interim (he promised through the 2008 election) to keep it credible.

June 15 Meet The Press was very classy and professional: during this time of transition, NBC may do well to ask Brokaw to serve as interim host.

rest in peace, Tim Russert. it is very sad that he is no longer with us. it will be very interesting to find out who replaces him. or even if they can find anyone who can!

Tim Russert died on many happy notes:

He got to be with his family and attend his son’s graduation in Italy; he got to see Barack Obama win the Democratic nomination; and for one last time, among many, he got to show all of Hillary’s embarrassing sound bites after the fact.

On that show last Sunday, he included everything except liquor and confetti because Hillary lost her bid. The audience always knew where news correspondent Tim Russert stood politically.

R.I.P. Tim Russert. However, this may not be a jump the shark. Meet The Press can still survive as long as Tom Brokaw hosts the show. He is the only one at NBC that even Remotely resembles the professionalism Tim Russert had.

R.I.P. Tim

When Tim Russert died.

Jumped back May 4, but only part-way. The Obama interview was basically good- maybe because Barack is really going to be the Democratic nominee. The b.s. questions lasted approximately 15 minutes- i.e Rev ( reverse-racist lunatic) Wright, where is your flag pin,etc. Russert got into the serious questions and allowed Obama to state his case-which he can do eloquently. However, as the previous poster nailed correctly, Russert's handling of Hillary Clinton still raises questions about his sexism, no matter how much baggage this candidate bring with her. Russert canb do well as long as he stays on issue instead of bs sound-bite questions. I hope Nothing But Crap (NBC) makes him keep his act clean.

To El Coke: I agree with every word. I'm so sick and tired of blatant misogynists, such as Tim Russert and Jay Leno. It's time to throw the ball hard, knock these good old boys off their pedestals, and elect either Hillary or Barak. And I hope that whichever one is nominated, the other runs along as VP. Tim Russert is a Neanderthal whose time has passed.

Hands down, jumped the shark Sunday January 13, with his simply unprofessional interview of Hillary Clinton. This interview sucked on SO many levels! He kept after the fake issue of the Clintons playing the race card after a gaffe by Hillary last week (LBJ was important to the Civil Rights Act of 1964). Also Timbo kept equating Hil's bid with an extension of Bill's administration. They might be married but they are two very different people, something Russert should be smart enough to surmise. To Hillary's everlasting credit, she didn't let Russert get away with his bullying, controlled her temper, eventually controlled the conversation, and stayed on message-a feat of great discipline for any politician. Russert finally got to the issues late in the inrterview.

After the interview ended, I thought that Tim is the essential inside-the-beltway media hack trying to make this crucial presidential race a Washington version of American Idol. He is like the rest-he got a book deal, gets on other talk shows, and think he is the most important political pundit on the planet. After the dope-slapping the media got after predicting the New Hampshire vote, you thing they would have gotten the lesson.

Later I remembered his creampuff interview of Tom DeLay, who was flogging his book, soft pedalling the fact that Delay was the most venal, arrogant, corrupt and evil national politician in a generation. Was there something in it for you, Tim? Also, his gutting of Bill Richardson in a previous interview had the cynical feeling,"Hey, I can roll this guy, he is just the governor of New Mexico" What a fat, pompous jerk.

No, I am not a big fan of Hillary. My money goes to Barack and my vote just might go to Mc Cain. Her expert handling of this dork, though, will make me give her a closer look if she is the Democrats' nominee.

Bob Sheiffer may run a quieter, less incisive show at CBS's "Face the Nation". SHeiffer has 10 times more class than Tim's version of a cleaned-up barroom redneck.