KITTY COMING UP ON TODAY!

[slor]

tune in now.

[Misunderestimator]

1. Thanks... just tuned in.

[luaneryder]

2. Can you give those of us w/o TV

a little hint of what's said? I know I'd appreciate it immensely!

[Misunderestimator]

3. On now... 7:33am EST

[Misunderestimator]

4. "I know the White House put great pressure on NBC to not have me on"

As she thanks them for having her on. :bounce: And no denial from Matt that there was pressure from the WH!

[in_cog_ni_to]

5. wow. Who's doing the interview? Lauer? n/t

[Misunderestimator]

9. Yep... and giving her a hard time, but she's handling it well.

[Crazy8s]

10. yep

he's really going after her, but she's holding her own: When he asked who are you voting for, she asks back, who are YOU voting for? No answer there.

[Insomnicole]

40. HAW!

Even though she makes my skin crawl, I bought a copy of the book just to kick its sales up a notch and piss off the Bushies. Stories like this one make me feel better about that decision.

[spooky3]

49. I read the Nancy Reagan book and did not find it "trashy".

I think K. Kelley's gotten a bum rap. Yes, she writes gossipy stuff but if it's true, it's true; it's hardly the stuff of which National Enquirer etc. is made. If it exposes people who have gained power, fame, $ by presenting a false image, then there's even more justification for her profitably writing about it.

[LiberalVoice]

6. Lauer seems to be giving her some shit.

interesting.

[JerseygirlCT]

27. It seems the whole point of the interview is for him to savage her -

proving himself loyal or something.

And I notice that he never, ever says "Bush" -- always "the President".

[rocktivity]

67. Now there's a coincidence

I never say "the president" -- always "Bush."

:headbang:
rockantion
(Jersey Girl via NYC)

[Shopaholic]

7. Well Matt--

is practicing his oral skills this morning, isn't he? Can't quite decide if he's sucking, blowing, or kissing, or all three. But damn he's whoring himself out there isn't he?

[JerseygirlCT]

8. What the heck is Matt's problem?

Who are you going to vote for?

Kitty's great comeback: who are YOU going to vote for?

Matt: why release the book NOW? During this highly divisive election season?

Kitty: why not?

He just NEEDS her to say she's hoping to take Bush down, and she won't say it.

Yeesh. Talk about axes to grind. Get over it Matt, and start acting like a journalist.

[Crazy8s]

11. more interrogation

than interview. Didn't see this attitude with the Swift Boat Slobs.

[in_cog_ni_to]

13. Lauer's a WH shill.

He has no shame.

[qanda]

36. I wish he had acted this tough in his interview with Bush*

He acted like a total and complete shill for the White House.

[Cha]

74. Maybe we should write mr GE and ask

him why he didn't interrogate the stupidest president(sic)EVER as much as he did Michael Moore or Kitty Kelly!

[Misunderestimator]

12. Damn, Matt Lauer is a REAL BUSH SHILL!!

He's starting from an opinion that everything she writes is a lie, even though at least they started the segment by saying that she has never been successfully sued.

He's grilling her over Sharon Bush denying that she ever said what Kitty wrote. She's still composed and gracious and answering well. Matt just forced her to say that Sharon is lying now saying that she never said Bush used cocaine. And then he said that Sharon was going to be there live right afterward, as if that was a threat.

God, I hate this guy.

[in_cog_ni_to]

19. Yes indeed.

KKKRove faxed his questions to Matt this morning. Well, now Kitty knows what to expect with ALL of her interviews. This is just a taste of things to come. Air America will be the ONLY place she can get a fair interview. No one on TV ...except MAYBE....Aaron Brown and Olbemann.....will give her a fair interview. No one.

[Junkdrawer]

20. Why do I get the feeling he won't grill Sharon Bush like that?

:think:

[LiberalVoice]

14. Man that went HORRIBLE.

:shrug:

[Misunderestimator]

17. With Matt Liar's questions, it couldn't have gone otherwise...

But SHE at least remained composed and answered his accusations. I'm surprised they didn't hook her up to a lie-detector and shine a bright light in her eyes. Ugh.

[Algorem]

15. Sharon Bush is going to be on next

apparently that's sposed to be a big ambush that was supposed to shock the hell out of Kitty Kelly

[Misunderestimator]

18. Oh yeah... here she is!

And she LOOKS LIKE SHE'S LYING!! (Sharon, that is.)

[in_cog_ni_to]

23. THIS will be a softball interview.

Just watch! :grr:

[Misunderestimator]

26. He's pretending to grill her, but you're right... he's letting her

get away with her lies. She isn't very convincing.

[Sydnie]

38. She looked pertrified.

But hey, she might get some speaking engagements out of it. Perhaps that was the whole purpose since Kitty got her an agent and all. Problem is, the BFEE know where she lives and can brainwash her children against her. She is in a tough spot!

[canuckybee]

16. Kitty held her own. well done.

[Francine Frensky]

21. I loved when she asked Matt who he was voting for... the interview

got really ugly and confrontational, and it was Kelley who seemed more poised.

The truth hurts, folks, and Lauer obviously didn't want to hear the truth and doesn't want anyone else to hear it.

[Misunderestimator]

22. Sharon is saying that she never intended to talk about the Bush family

in her FOUR-HOUR LUNCH with Kitty. She even said that when she met with her, she was having severe financial problems (though she didn't really explain what that had to do with anything.)... Um... THAT explains a lot... financial trouble... payoff, anyone?

SOMEONE needs to check her FINANCIAL RECORDS this past year.

[Bridget Burke]

30. Sharon Bush's "Financial Trouble"

Neil Bush divorced her for a younger woman--who'd worked at Ma Bush's charity. She was given smallish child support & nothing else. Nada. Texas is a community property state & the marriage had lasted over 20 years--but apparently Neil was just too broke. George Sr advised her to get a job.

She finally got enough money to buy the house they'd been living in. And maybe a little more?

[monarch]

24. Kitty sure knows how to handle interviewers.

I thought that she was better than 90% of all politicians in staying on message. She was totally unruffled and got in every one of her talking points. I loved the way she told Matt that the way the White House responds to anything unfavorable is to attack the messenger. "Look what they did to Richard Clarke, look what they did to Paul O'Neill and to Ambassador Wilson!" She was gooooood!!

Edited to change message to messenger.

[Misunderestimator]

25. Matt asks "Will you take legal action since you're considered a source in

the book?" Hemming and hawing from her... (paraphrased) "Uh... I am discussing it with my lawyer." But no admission that she would pursue a case.... COME ON! If I knew that I had NEVER said something, I would DEFINITELY sue.

[PCIntern]

28. Next...

the guy who cut off his own arem with a pocket knife.

How can we be sure? did he video himself doing it? Maybe Clinton did it!

[BuelahWitch]

64. The Clenis strikes again!

:bounce:

[slor]

29. Yep...I hope she does sue...

maybe then she will break down and back down from her lies.

[bklyncowgirl]

31. BFEE will take care of Sharon one way or the other

She's got the Bush mafia targeting her if she screws this up. If she can spin it, she gets taken care of for life. If she doesn't they'll really take care of her.

[qanda]

33. She could have insured herself lifetime protection....

If she told the truth about the Bush Crime Family right there and added that if she so much as caught a cold they should look to the BFEE as being behind it.

[IdaBriggs]

52. Its taped. It would have been edited out. Doing it live is different. nt

[qanda]

55. What's taped?

I'm confused. Sharon Bush was live on the Today Show this morning.

[berner59]

34. Why did she have lunch with Kelley????

Were they just friends...oh please...there's the proof alone!!!

[Insomnicole]

41. Seriously.

Why on earth does she think Kitty f'n Kelley would be calling her up for lunch? Has this woman lived on a deserted island for the last 20 years, or what?

[indyjones1938]

32. Matt Lauer

Wow, I thought Wolf Blitzer was the biggest media whore. Guess I was wrong!

Well you know what this means folks...

[e-mail]

Flood the bastards.

[luaneryder]

35. Thanks for the thread!!

It sounds like Kitty held her own and was prepared. Of course, Sharon is lying! Shit, even your descriptions of her performance makes that clear enough. Oh, yeah sure, she had no idea that Kitty would want to talk to her about BFEE. Lame.

[PCIntern]

37. My note

Mr. Lauer,

Where are your reporter's skills? Instead of faking
your own incredulity with Ms. Kelley, you should have
asked Sharon Bush exactly why she would have a four
hour lunch, down on her luck, her husband apparrently a
whoremonger, with the woman who wrote scathing
gossipy-but-true accounts of the Royals, Sinatra, and
the Reagans. Why didn't you ask her what she talked
about for four hours, the state of the weather, perhaps.

You really got to the bottom of this, sir.

[Sydnie]

44. my email

Matt,

I used to watch the Today show everyday. I would record segments that I still have on video tape from years of being a loyal viewer.

I am appalled at your treatment of Kitty Kelly this morning. You showed that you were not interested in getting to the bottom of any story in that interview, but rather that you had been given your marching orders and were to be militant in your approach to this interview.

I used to watch you when you were in WV and when you were in NE. I used to think you were fair and often told the story of those without a voice with great empathy. You have proven that you no longer deserve my respect as a journalist and you will now be filled in my "lower than tabloid, paid shill" category.

Your treatment of Kitty Kelly was abominable, whether you agree with the content of the book or her motives for writing it. Your blood pressure was visibly rising as you couldn't bully her into saying what you had been instructed to get her to say. You have some nerve asking her who she is going to vote for as a way to discredit her. Shame on you.

I have realized for some time that you, Katie, and the entire staff have sunk to little less than "glorified reality tv" rather than being a "news" operation. You, my friend, have lost all credibility as a journalist and have become no better than a foot soldier for the decline of fair and honest journalism.

When you bring a guest into your home, they should not require a bullet proof vest to participate in the interview. I didn't see anyone at NBC attacking her when she wrote a book about the Royal family. As a matter of fact, I remember the salivating interviews conducted by NBC about that book.

Grow a pair Matt. The tide is turning and it is not in your favor. Before you know it, no one will CARE about Where In The World you are.

[spooky3]

46. Great letter!

[shrub chipper]

53. my email

I realize that Matt Lauer has to return home to the Country Club Republicans of Greenwich, but as a supposed Journalist, he should at least try to present a semblance of fairness.

This whole election cycle he has softballed the Bush representatives and grilled the Democrats until it is now impossible for me to watch the Today show any longer.

Any pretense of being impartial has been proven false due to his treatment of the guests.
IMO, he should move to the Fox News Network where he spiritually belongs.

[lasttrip]

62. nice letter. n/t

[Cha]

75. Excellent letter! Sydnie!

Just so you know...matt was the same way with Michael Moore!

I like that bit at the end.."Before you know it, no one will CARE about Where In The World you are.

I, for one, don't care where he is right now!

[SpiralHawk]

39. Spin-off Spotlight; Neil "Silverado" Bush

Perhaps now that Sharon is out there in the world, the media will take a look at the life of Neil Bush, and bring to light some of the "Family Values" that truly characterize the clan.

[qanda]

42. Exactly...

I was telling my sister, who tries to stay pretty informed, about Neil and the prostitution and all-- she was absolutely shocked! I googled some info for her and she couldn't believe it. She asked me why this wasn't in the mainstream media and I told her that they only cared about Bill Clinton's brother.

[Keirsey]

43. Vanity Fair April

Both Sharon and Neil (who last weekend married Houston socialite Maria Andrews) spoke at length to reporter Vicky Ward about their train wreck of a marriage, the role of the first President Bush in their divorce, and the lawsuit that Andrews' ex-husband, Thomas Andrews, has filed against Sharon for claiming that Maria's young son is actually Neil's. Ward reveals that:

Neil suggested divorce in a May 2002 E-mail: "We're almost out of money and I've lost my patience for being compared to my brothers, for being put down for my inability to make money, and tired of not being loved."

The former President Bush refused Sharon's request for a $467,000 loan to keep her Houston mansion, telling her to find something cheaper. "The divorce is final," the elder Bush wrote, " the best thing for you to do is get on with your life. Close the unhappy chapter with Neil, find a job, and look to the future, not the past."

After Sharon pulled some hair out of Neil's head, his lawyers accused her of practicing voodoo. But Sharon shot back: "I pulled Neil's hair out because I wanted to get it tested for cocaine, not because of voodoo."

Really, there is so much more in the article, it's more than worth the price of the magazine.

http://talkleft.com/new_archives/005727.html

[qanda]

45. "Tested for cocaine"

You have to be kidding me! And she expects us to believe that she never heard of Dubya doing coke-- well, she did add not at "Camp David".

[Keirsey]

47. word was out in 2003

Sharon Bush did not want a divorce, particularly on her husband's terms, which she considered insufficiently generous. She launched a counterattack by hiring New York PR whiz Lou Colasuonno, a man who knows tabloids, having served as the editor of both the New York Post and the New York Daily News.

Colasuonno's opening gambit was a sure-fire attention-getter: In April 2003, he announced that Sharon was seeking a publisher for a tell-all book about the Bush family.

"This is a woman who has had some wonderful times with the Bushes," Colasuonno told the New York Observer. "But she has seen the dark side, too. And she intends to provide a view of the family that everyone will want to read."

Next, Colasuonno arranged -- and publicized -- a lunch date between Sharon and Kitty Kelley, the celebrity biographer from Hell, who is working on a book on the Bush dynasty.

"I learned a great deal about the Bush family from Sharon," Kelley told The Washington Post after the lunch. "She told me he's only offering $1,000 a month in support -- take it or leave it. . . . She said that when she told Neil she needs more to live on, Neil Bush said, 'Just get remarried.' Sharon was sobbing as she told me, 'Kitty, I just won't sell my body!' "

Whew! After that, Colasuonno says, Neil increased his offer considerably, and the final settlement gave Sharon about $30,000 a year in alimony, plus $750 a month for her two minor children, Pierce, 17, and Ashley, 14. (The couple's oldest child, Lauren -- a Princeton student and a fashion model -- is 19.)

By Peter Carlson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, December 28, 2003

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A35297-2003Dec27?language=printer

[spooky3]

51. good catch; everyone should read this.

[chiburb]

48. Matt HAD to play tough guy...

If he had lobbed softballs at her, 90% of the viewers would believe a WH comeback of "liberal media" or NBC's "hidden agenda".
This apparent "attack" actually serves the purpose of Kelley publicity, and a public sympathy for her. This is all good...

My 2 cents.

[spooky3]

50. it's an interesting point, but I also think he has a pattern of revealing

his *own* views in his interviews by the level of soft/hard questions. So I think he did it not because he had to, but because through his biased eyes, that was the "right" thing to do.

[Francine Frensky]

56. True... He ended with "when you come back tomorrow"

And another tipoff was when he explained in detail why the cocaine at camp david was so explosive, he laid out the dates and said 'this occurred AFTER the president says he stopped drinking ....

[Redbear]

61. I totally agree.

Its when they ask softballs that we should complain.

Asking tough questions is what they should do.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

68. HE should have had them both on at the same time

but your analysis is probably spot on :hi:

[Cha]

76. Agree! Same with Michael Moore!

[zulchzulu]

54. Matt "My new hairdo makes me seem legitmate" Lauer

Matt Lauer is the John Tesh of journalism. He does however always seem pissed at the notes his assistant gives him for interviews.

[Papa]

57. Im surprised nobody on this thread mentioned the THREAT that Kelly

said Sharon got from one of the Bush family (maybe it was Neal).

Kitty Kelly said that Sharon Bush got a phone call telling to her to cut this stuff out or she would wind up in a dark alley. I think that's why Sharon looked so uncomfortable.


Matt was talking over her at that point, but I know I heard it.

[Libby2]

59. I heard it too..n/t

[Catherine Vincent]

70. Yes, I heard that too, although Matty was talking over her.

I'll bet the threat started with Barbara.

[ItsMyParty]

58. Did you say he explained the 'timeline" in detail

That's what one of you reported---is that true because THAT is the bombshell to get through to people so they can't blow it off as 'stuff' he did in his youth. If Lauer got that much out, it's on it's way to do damage. That timeline is soooo important to get people mad. Also, it's the time frame of this interview and foremat---they are reaching Mom as she's getting the kids (don't do drugs children) ready for school. In other places--like midwest--it's getting both Mom and Dad as they have the tv on and are getting ready for work and school. The seeds have been planted regardless.

[blue neen]

60. Thanks for this thread. I missed the interviews this a.m. , but this

gave me a good idea of what went on. Now, will the interview be at the same time tomorrow, does anybody know?

Sounds like Kitty held her own!

[lasttrip]

63. hate to admit it but it sounds like kitty

was the only "journalist" in the interview.

[goclark]

69. Kitty was Fabulous!!!!!

He was throwing her hard,hard balls and she got in his face and knocked the balls out of the park!

She kept a relaxed easy smile on her face and was self assured!
She let him blow his cool, she kept hers.

I wrote Matt and told him that I was not going to buy the book before the interview. I thanked him for motivating me to buy two copies, one for me and one for my Republican friend that is "on the fence" right now.

[Cha]

77. Too Cool!

[Democrat 4 Ever]

71. I emailed the Today Show, too

I pretty much said everything that has already been said. I did add that I thought that instead of sending Lauer on another one of those interminable "Where in the World is Matt Laurer" world tours next year they might just want to tell the viewers that Matt is taking a week off and attending a crash course in Journalism 101 - just to learn the basics about objectivity and interviewing skills. I took the opportunity to post the link to Dan Rather's interviews on the Bush AWOL papers and asked Lauer to study them on how to research, conduct an interview, ask follow-up questions and to stand by his story that CBS presented - said Matty could learn a few things.

I, personally, do not want anymore summer "concerts," sit through silly wedding planning that means NOTHING to anyone but the hapless couple, anything about Paris Hilton or if I am a host/hostess look-a-like. Give me news - fair, objective, and complete on the serious issues we are facing today.

---------

FYI - I am now on the hunt for a new refrigerator - won't be buying GE. Any other brands I might want to avoid?

[spooky3]

72. good letter--and on your refrig question

I loved my KitchenAid in my last house and the Maytag in this one has been fine so far (2 years old). Both had icemakers (which Consumer Reports says leads to more repairs than usual.)

I've had lots of problems with other new appliances, but not with refrigerators.

[Cha]

78. Classic, your letter! You should have told

mattie, you were looking for another refridGE that Wasn't GE!!}(

[Neshanic]

65. Sharon got the call. No wonder she looks like meltdown mode.

She looks like she needs medication on air. She know she overplayed her hand on the divorce. She is not in the league of evil that is the Bushes. Go ahead and sue Kitty, Sharon, we will wait.

[Catherine Vincent]

66. Does Matt Lauer not realize how he is coming across on tv?

He sounds like Bush himself trying to belittle Ms. Kelley for writing a book about him.

[GOPAgainstGW]

73. WHO HAS A VIDEO LINK FOR THE KITTY KELLEY INTERVIEW THIS MORNING!!!!!

----------------------------------------------------------------
Beltway and Texas Republicans Against Bush-Cheney ’04, Inc.
----------------------------------------------------------------
"Insider’s News”, Vol 1 - Kerry-Edwards Campaign Doing Well
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x748458
“Insider’s News” Vol 1.1 - Great Anti-Bush Sites
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x756409

Public Sites we are Involved
Democratic Underground: http://www.democraticunderground.com
Media Matters for America: http://mediamatters.org
Kerry-Edwards OnLine Forum: http://forum.johnkerry.com
* Kerry-Edwards Rapid Response Center
.....Official Press Releases on SBVT: http://blog.johnkerry.com/rapidresponse