Why do people hate Tim Russert?

[Clintonista2]

Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I actually think that he's pretty fair. Am I missing something?

[givemebackmycountry]

1. Your kidding me right?

Right?

If he's fair, I'm the Prince of Fucking Wales.

Why don't you ask Valerie Plame if SHE thinks he's fair?

[saltpoint]

2. I don't hate his guts, but I prefer Jim Lehrer's skills at interviewing and don't

care for Russert's "gotcha" style.

He's pointlessly combative on minor subjects and overblows topics of less consequence.

[MidwestTransplant]

7. Exactly. Makes a big deal out of nothing, glances over important stuff

then makes buds with the interviewee at the end by commenting on their sports team.

[saltpoint]

13. LOL! That's exactly what he does. I want $100 for every time he says

"Go, Bills!"

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

3. Me first, me first!

1. He never, ever asks a follow up question.

2. He never, ever asks a question that isn't a read aloud of someone else's words.

3. He only wants to aggravate and intimidate, never educate or eludicate.

4. He admitted under oath he takes instructions directly from the WH.

MKJ

[sellitman]

11. #4 Alone should do it for anyone.

Anyone who isn't a Freeper.

[maddiejoan]

4. For me

It's the fact that Russert treats politics like a Boxing match.

[Evergreen Emerald]

5. he is a shill for the administration.

Look at his history, his show was majority republicans. He vilifies Clinton every chance he gets.

Look at the Philly debate if you want to see his distortions in action.

[Aviation Pro]

6. Because he never asks the right questions....

...and he's passed off as a tough interview. No, he's not, he trades softball for access.

[earthside]

8. Personality?

I wouldn't call him arrogant ... but he exudes smugness and conceit.

HE thinks he is the best interviewer in the world, but he just isn't.

[terisan]

9. He got briefings from Republican Party in 2 past presidential elections to to get their

attack line on the Dem and then used it to extend power of Republican Party propaganda.

[Clintonista2]

10. Alright, I can see why lol.

I geuss I'll toss him into the same category as tweety- the "entertaining" category.

[MADem]

12. He supported George Bush in 2000. COVERTLY.

He wore a BUSH button UNDER his lapel, and would flash it, giggling, to those "in the know."

He was an acolyte of Jack "Greed is Good, but you're still gonna die, you old miserable motherfucker" Welch.

Wedged firmly in the pocket of GE, Fatboy has spent the last eight years fucking Dems and elevating Repubs.

The only reason he is seen as 'fair' lately is because he has his chubby finger in the wind and he sees what way the wind is blowing.

Fuck Russert. He should be fired. And he should be forced to stand for an hour, while those he screwed over toss copies of his hardcover books about his DADDY at his big fat potato head.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

15. Bravo!

Your last two lines, OMG, :rofl:

:applause:

MKJ

[MADem]

29. I'd pay serious money to spend a half minute lobbing books at that bastard's head!

I'd wager a lot of others would, too!

[featherman]

14. What's not to hate? Softball for Republicans, "gotcha" for Dems

Without exception in his "interviews". He is a millionaire, pro-GOP operative masquerading as a journalist.

[asjr]

16. I think he is a fraud. He is in

the game for money and recognition and nothing else.

[Benhurst]

17. Tim Russert is just another pretty face.

[Clintonista2]

20. Well... I wouldn't go that far lol

[Bobbieo]

27. On the contrary - he is not a pretty face at all. He is too ugly to be a TV personality!

[papau]

18. missing something? - well - yes - IMO I find unfair the 2000 3am campaign to get Gore to not

force a recount, the giving Swiftboaters time as if they were legitimate, heck today was dis Hillary day after her win in Nevada with a panel and questions where you knew what would be said before it was said - as in Reagan good, vision all that is needed, Carter did management and was bad, Bill out of control and if Hillary can't control Bill how can she control gov (over a video that showed nothing "out of control" or no "red face" anger - just voice emphasis by Bill), Hillary's VP would not have a job, Bill would run the country and we do not want to remember the "situation" in the 90's (peace and prosperity and jobs are not as important as the time the media gave to the lies and smears by the GOP - we are being threaten by the media with more air time for lies and smears if Hillary is elected - that is not even subtle.

[balantz]

19. His persona embodies an underlying hatred.

[stray cat]

21. I like him as well - I think we are only a minority on DU

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

23. After reading this thread, you still "like" him? What qualities of his are likeable?

:shrug: MKJ

[Astrad]

22. His approach to interviewing supports the idea that everything

in politics is tactical. He is always trying to catch people in contradictions which suggest that their positions shift with the political winds. This is often but not always true but it forms 100% of his approach.

[librechik]

24. he's an inch away from being openly partisan--for the right

WH says MTP is the best venue for their message.

He lies.

He attacks and attacks those on the left--he powders the bottoms of those on the right.

Go to MediaMatters.org and search for Tim Russert. There you will find archived example after example of his abandonment of journalistic principles for the Republicans.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

25. "do you think george bush was installed as president by god?"

he actually asked that question to panel on mtp that included laura bush. laura said no.

[SaveOurDemocracy]

26. Because his partisan agenda is so obvious.

http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/tags/tim_russert

[Dave From Canada]

28. I think he's pretty fair too.

[Kingofalldems]

30. He's palsy-walsy with Pigboy Limbaugh

Does that tell you anything?

[Elspeth]

31. He looks like Mayor McCheese

:)

[Tatiana]

32. Are you serious?

Why do you think Scooter Libby felt he could call Timmy to complain about something he didn't like on Hardball? What did he think Timmy could do? What has Timmy done before?

Hmm....

[CatWoman]

33. here's why:

[Hawaii Hiker]

34. I'm totally serious - Howard Stern is 100x better interviewer than Russert

Yeah, yeah I know some are saying that's crazy, but it's absolutely true....Sure, there are the crazy sex questions (LOL), but I've been listening to him since 1995, the guy knows how to conduct an interview....He's asks tough questions, doesn't kiss ass, he knows when someone is bull-shitting him & call them out for it...Over the years, (besides porn stars, LOL) he's interviewed a fair amount of politicans and/or their staff members...

[proud2BlibKansan]

35. He cheerleaded for the war

and was used by the bush administration. I have had no time for him since.