NYT/Reuters: Incoming CBS Anchor Couric Lands Bush Interview

[DeepModem Mom]

Incoming CBS Anchor Couric Lands Bush Interview
By REUTERS
Published: August 28, 2006

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - In a high-profile interview coinciding with her debut as CBS Evening News anchor next week, Katie Couric will sit down with President George W. Bush to discuss homeland security for an upcoming special, the network said on Monday

The CBS News special on the aftermath of September 11, titled "Five Years Later: How Safe Are We?,'' will air next Wednesday with reports examining the continuing threat of future attacks, the nation's state of readiness and how Americans are coping with post-9/11 fears and anxiety.

Excerpts from Couric's interview with Bush for the special also will be aired next Tuesday during her first broadcast as anchor of the CBS Evening News, the network said....

***

A CBS News spokeswoman also said on Monday that Walter Cronkite, who served as anchor from 1963 to 1981, had recently taped a voice-over for the opening introduction of the newscast -- "This is the CBS Evening News ...,'' but the network had not decided whether to use it.

She said there were no plans for Cronkite to appear in studio with Couric....

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/arts/entertainment-couric.html

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Whoop-Dee-Fucking-Doo.

EOM

[DainBramaged]

2. Oooohhhh, where is my softball glove?

[Richard Steele]

32. BA-ZING! HeShootsHeSCORES!

Nice one! Here's yer pie:

[DainBramaged]

36. Patriotic pie I hope young man!!!!!

[Richard Steele]

45. I dunno- that feller looks like some kinda HIPPY if y'ask me.

[Joe Bacon]

3. Snore fest

I really don't want to waste my time watching Katie's usual kiss-ass shtick.

How far CBS has fallen :-(

[Eric J in MN]

4. Yuck. What a way to start....

...an interview with one of the most unpopular presidents in American history, where he'll get a chance to say "Terra" and "september the 11th."

I'm LESS interested in watching it with the knowledge that it will have Bush blather.

[Botany]

5. Boy what a surprise

To your knees Katie .... to your knees

Fearless prediction she will ask one or two "tough questions" to
show that the whole thing is not a sham ..... and the media will
eat it up and the "right wing echo chamber," will huff & puff about
Katie being so rude to the President.

Also all questions will have been vetted by Rove & company 1st.

[bettyellen]

11. yep! what botany said....

[Botany]

42. Did I ever tell you that you are my Fav EDV?

Don't tell the others ..... :rofl:

[Webster Green]

6. She "landed" it?........She's a fucking chimp-licker!

Big fucking deal!

The chimp only speaks to chimp-lickers.

[Benhurst]

7. ...

:boring:

[sandrakae]

8. She is a right wing Repukin and will turn CBS into another FOX.

[Steven_S]

9. A total suck-fest

What do you think the odds are that she'll interupt him while he doesn't answer any real questions?

Slim or none.

[Harper_is_Bush]

10. Will the bitch make up for her ignorant interview with Dean?

The one where she insisted Dems had taken money from Jack Abramoff?

[NJCher]

12. woo hoo

ROFLOL. What a coup for Katie. She landed an interview with an extremely unpopular president during an election season when members of his own party who are running for office want him a continent away. Being seen with bush is the kiss of death for a pol trying to get elected.

Consequently, bush has absolutely nothing to do at this time of year other than to dress up in his little macho boy costumes, like the most recent motorcycle getup.

I'm so underwhelmed. That's hittin' the ball out of the park, Katie. You go girl.




Cher

[DeepModem Mom]

14. I'm sure Karl was only to happy to line Bush up with Katie. especially...

given the large numbers of the curious who will probably tune in to CBS to see Couric's first night.

[Demobrat]

13. Oh Yay! I'm sure The Rovester is working hard on the questions as we speak

and he'll be faxing them over to her any minute. :puke:

[JohnyCanuck]

15. Hey Katie, when he cuts the cheese.....

remember to smile politely and pretend the smell really doesn't bother you.

'Bush's disdainful presidency'
Robert Parry

The U.S. news media always makes light of George W. Bush's tendency to put down others through disparaging comments about their personal appearances or by assigning them silly nicknames. It's just the "inner frat boy" coming out, we're told.

So, when U.S. News cited "a top insider" describing how Bush likes to fart in the presence of junior White House staffers as a joke on them, the item was given the boys-will-be-boys title: "Animal House in the West Wing."

According to U.S. News, Bush was just "a funny, earthy guy who, for example, can't get enough of fart jokes. He's also known to cut a few for laughs, especially when greeting new young aides." Bush was described, too, as someone who "loves to cuss gets a jolly when a mountain biker wipes out trying to keep up with him."

But Bush's behavior could be viewed in a less sympathetic light. Given his famous thin skin whenever he feels slighted, his eagerness to demean others could be interpreted as a sign of his dynastic authority, a modern-day droit du seigneur in which he can humiliate others but they can't return the favor.

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/article.php?sid=27487&mode=nested&order=0

[daleo]

16. CBS news will have a record low number of viewers that night. n/t

[wellst0nev0ter]

17. Someone Help Me Make Plans For Next Wednesday

am I better off with watching the taupe paint dry on the wall, or making sure my St. Augustine grass grows?

[Eric J in MN]

18. Visit DU during the Bush interview, with the TV off. NT

NT

[wellst0nev0ter]

35. As Long As There's No "Live Comment" Threads

then it's a deal ;)

[Digit]

19. Hmmm, I think that is the night I clip my toenails

Geez, what will I evah do?

Choices, choices

[Eric J in MN]

20. It would have been more patriotic if she had used the big numbers...

...of her debut to interview Howard Dean, and help lead America toward the light, instead of interviewing Bush, and leading America deeper into the tunnel.

[CoffeeCat]

21. Nope...this will not be an easy interview...

...for Chimpy.

The ratings for the CBS Evening News are very low. They're banking EVERYTHING on Couric.
Her frickin credibility is on the line and they've invested CBS News' future entirely
on Couric.

She specifically cannot do a marshmallow interview with the pResident. Because if she
does spend her time lobbing softballs and asking cute questions--she's total toast
and the CBS News has no credibility. Not only will she tick off at least half of the
country who hates Bush--she will have demonstrated that she's nothing but fluff.

Think about it...why would CBS News begin her career at the network with this interview?
She's doing it to make a mark. She's going to define herself as hard-hitting and serious
with this interview.

I'm not saying that she's going to be mean, or that she'll totally put his feet to the
fire--like Helen Thomas would. However, there's no way this is going to be a fluff
interview. It's going to be more than one or two hard-hitting questions.

The pResident's ratings are in the toilet. 60-65 percent of America has had it with
this guy. Most of America does not agree with his handling of Iraq and he's made scads
of serious mistakes that are on the minds of the MAJORITY of Americans.

Failing to get answers from this guy--or failing to ask tough questions will decimate
her integrity and reputation as a serious news figure. I've read that CBS is concerned
that many men won't feel comfortable with a woman in the anchor chair. Given those
concerns, they're not going to let Couric out of the start gate--batting her eyelashes
at the pResident and asking him about his favorite music.

I will be Tivo-ing this baby. I predict that Junior will look the worst that he
ever has. I don't think that even Junior realizes what he's walking into.

[Eric J in MN]

25. It won't be live. I predict CBS will select

..a clip of Bush saying we're in danger and he needs Congress to give him more tools to fight Terror, and we have to stay in Iraq and adapt-and-win because the Iraqis dream of freedom.

[Eric J in MN]

29. Also, your theory seems to be that CBS wants to prove she's "serious."

Maybe.

My theory is that they want to prove that Katie Couric isn't a liberal. They will have her act subservient to Bush and let him promote his terror agenda (terror being the only issue in which Republicans are currently beating Democrats in the polls) to prove she's not a liberal.

[CoffeeCat]

31. I think they need to position her as "serious"...

...if she's going to succeed in that anchor chair.

I do know this--that CBS is doing this interview to gain publicity
and exposure of Couric. Whatever they're hoping to accomplish
with this interview--they're planning on parlaying the publicity
gained from the interview into the CBS Evening News.

I think it would be a total disaster for the network to purposely position
her as a fluff ball.

You could be right. Maybe the network wants to establish that she's "fair"
and--as you said--not a liberal.

I guess we'll see very soon, right?

[anitar1]

22. Couric and Chimpster.

Bless her little Pug heart.

[TexasLawyer]

23. Perky meets Smirky

I think I'll miss that one. It's a headache waiting to happen.

[frylock]

24. NAVY SEALS ROCK!!!

[onehandle]

26. Slurp slurp slurp. CBS. Last place. Forever. nt

[rocktivity]

27. Brian Williams got an interview with Bush, too.

:boring:
rocknation

[flordehinojos]

28. the bushes love couric--she feeds them softballs.

[dweller]

30. RECOMMENDED!!!!1

not.

:puke:

i'm trimming my nails that nite.
dp

[Vidar]

33. Quel surpris!

[lpbk2713]

34. It'll be fully scripted and rehearsed long before the cameras roll.

And Katie will be glad to oblige.

[w4rma]

37. I'm not holding my breath.

However, *if* Walter Cronkite has taken her under his wing then maybe she won't suck.

[pinniped]

38. Shit sure loves to land on poor Katie.

Shit, meet shit.

[Puglover]

39. OH MY!

What could POSSIBLY be more interesting than watching Katie french kissing Georgies bum for 60 min. I'll be sure to set the Tivo.

[MaineDem]

40. No big deal, Katie; NBC has an "exclusive" interview tonight

Looks like he might be giving all the networks a shot at being "exclusive".

[Tracer]

41. She can ask softball questions, or hard-hitting questions ...

... and it won't make a dime's worth of difference.

The Smirkster will just repeat the collection of talking points that are lodged in his tiny brain.

[jazzjunkysue]

43. Hope there's no close-up of her servicing our War-Lord King.

If you get my drift. I don't usually choose porn for my TV viewing lineup.

[screembloodymurder]

44. Why am I thinking CBS just surrendered to the dark side.

I hope I'm wrong, but if Couric serves softballs, I'll never watch again.

[AnneD]

53. Dan Rather was right...

he was the last shred of credibility they had.

[VegasWolf]

46. Katie, "Why are you such a good man and president Mr. Bush?" PUKE nt

[samsingh]

47. bets that it will be a lovefest?

[ihelpu2see]

48. Watch out for the softballs!! nt

[AngryOldDem]

49. So the ass-kissing begins on her very first day....

Murrow must be up to 500 rpm.

[warrens]

50. She didn't; her producers did

I can already tell I'm going to hate her.

[Anakin Skywalker]

51. Must Be Her Perky Style. Shrub Likes Perkiness.

Our Beloved Holy Emperor does NOT like gloomy people like you libruls. He would never talk to any of you! :P

[Cha]

52. Suspicions confirmed! couric's idea

of valid news and mine are NOT compatible.

I wouldn't watch that shit-show for a million fucking bucks.

[fujiyama]

54. So basically

CBS is going to have a porn special with really ugly people....