Politico: Chuck Todd Will Probably Be The Next 'Meet The Press' Host

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM

By TOM KLUDT Published AUGUST 11, 2014, 9:37 AM EDT

Beltway oracle Mike Allen comes bearing news on this Monday morning.

According to Politico's most famous (and best-connected) reporter, NBC's White House correspondent Chuck Todd has been tapped as the likely replacement for the much-maligned David Gregory on "Meet the Press."

SIREN: Chuck Todd, a political obsessive and rabid sports fan, is the likely successor to David Gregory as moderator of “Meet the Press,” with the change expected to be announced in coming weeks, according to top political sources. The move is an effort by NBC News President Deborah Turness to restore passion and insider cred to a network treasure that has been adrift since the death in 2008 of the irreplaceable Tim Russert. Although Todd is not a classic television performer guaranteed to wow focus groups, his NBC bosses have been impressed by his love of the game, which brings with it authenticity, sources, and a loyal following among newsmakers and political junkies.

Allen crammed several other "Meet"-related nuggets in Monday's edition of "Politico Playbook," his daily newsletter of name-drops and Washington gossip.

-snip-

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/chuck-todd-meet-the-press

[montanacowboy]

1. The race to the bottom continues

and they think this is an improvement

[BlueStreak]

12. From bad to worse - but it is inherent in the format

The shows have no subpoena power. The only way they get guests is by sucking up. The format says you parade a bunch of empty suits and let them each bellow for 6 minutes. The moderator doesn't have much choice. If the moderator asks tough questions, the guests will not come on.

They should change the format. Instead of making it the John McCain Special every week, mix in some reporting. Mix in some guests who are not beltway zombies.

[Rebl]

92. My

thought exactly!

[bigdarryl]

2. He's just as bad

MSNBC has gone down hill

[n2doc]

3. First Guest: Tim Tebow

The Toady will fail as well, people are tired of shit sandwiches being called gourmet.

[underpants]

4. Who cares? No one watches those shows anymore

They blew it with the War on Iraq and the public found something else to do with their Sunday mid-mornings

[EEO]

5. That's like replacing Hitler with Himmler.

[Botany]

6. Why not Rachel? Smart, balanced, and she would get ratings too.

[hrmjustin]

8. never would happen but she would be great tv.

[George II]

24. But she'll spend half the hour drawing kitschy little circles on her script.

[ReRe]

26. ^^^^^

She has seniority, after all.
And she's only about 1000 times more talented than CT.
And Meet The Press ratings would go through the roof.
Even I would start watching Meet The Press again.

[yeoman6987]

28. I don't know

But it is possible that they asked her and she said no.

[ReRe]

35. You're probably right...

... though Rachel could take on the Republicans, I imagine she would not like rubbing elbows with them. I can see her racing to the showers after each show.

[calimary]

49. She might actually bring some fact-based broadcasting in, and some genuine equal time.

If I were running MSNBC, I'd switch her work week from Monday-Friday to Sunday-Thursday. She'd get "Meet the Press." We'd FINALLY have someone who A) gives a damn about LEGITIMATELY-balanced coverage and B) probably wouldn't have the mccain/graham two-headed beast as semi-regulars. She and O'Donnell would get Friday off, and we'd turn those two hours over to John Fugelsang and friends.

[ReRe]

60. Isn't speculation fun?

I like all of your ideas. Especially the part of you running MSNBC.

And John Fugelsang? Anything to get his foot in the door. He's smart.
And he's doggoned 'purdy' too.

[Jack Rabbit]

51. Rachel would take on the Republicans, but the Republicans don't want to fight with her

They don't like being beaten by a girl.

The GOP boycotts TRMS. What makes any one think they wouldn't boycott MTP with RM? As far as Comcast is concerned, if there are no Republican guests, then there is no point to airing MTP. MTP is to Comcast is waht the Howard Beale Show is to Arthur Jensen.

[ReRe]

61. It wouldn't bother me...

... if Republicans boycotted Rachel on MTP. Heck, I wish they would just boycott themselves right out of existence. OK, that's too far. They can just go over to FOX and stay there.

[Jack Rabbit]

68. Ah, but MTP is FoxNews

That's the new reality of American journalism. FoxNews is on all channels.

[ReRe]

70. Well....

.... you're right about that. Don't watch much of it anymore. It makes my BP spike and want to smash the TV.

[Mira]

81. HearHear ReRe

I second your words

[ReRe]

85. Only thing is...

... the people who run these cable channels are like the US Government. If it makes sense, they don't do it. They think and think and think and think and think and think some more. And then

they do the wrong thing.

[Rebl]

93. That

would be my choice. She's so intelligent.

[hrmjustin]

7. That just plain sucks!

[Evergreen Emerald]

9. They want a host who will continue their agenda

I believe the problem is not only the host, but the whole RW-talking-point agenda promulgated by the producers and ultimately the network.

David Gregory is an unlikeable water-carrier for the agenda...and Todd will be the same.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

16. Todd's a little more of a wild card than Gregory. He doesn't always follow the script.

He'll probably be more like Russert-- reliably conservative but with an occasional deviation that creates some illusion of even-handedness.

[BumRushDaShow]

39. "reliably conservative...with an occasional deviation that creates some illusion of even-handedness"

That sounds more like Tweety.

[House of Roberts]

44. Or Chris Wallace.

.

[BumRushDaShow]

47. If you include Faux folks, I would say Juan Williams!

[Botany]

30. MMMMMMM! 3 day old leftover meatloaf

Dig in!

[Cosmocat]

77. They are replacing David Gregory with David Gregory

They really are the same half witted sell outs.

Todd is not as well coiffed, so they actually are downgrading for a hair perspective.

[beerandjesus]

10. Edward R. Murrow has now spun in his grave so many times...

...he's probably halfway to China!

[ReRe]

11. NBC goes further downhill...

... replaces a much-maligned host with a much-more-maligned host.

They just need to go ahead and change the name of the show while they're at it to:

Meet The Republicans

[Vincent Merkel]

13. Well he is no reporter and he is biased as all hell

Chuck Todd is the most biased reporter as well as lazy as all get out. He is the so called reporter that said " It is not my job to expose the lies of the right wing of this country " Then whose job is it Chuck ......Edward R Murrow is spinning in his grave to hear this garbage coming from a so called Reporter ........Todd is nothing more then a two bit hack......he should go back to being what he does well.....a shoe salesman

[calimary]

50. Welcome to DU, Vincent Merkel!

Glad you're here! And YES, you're SPOT-ON about that dude. He's just another wholly-owned subsidiary. AND a two-bit hack. Mr. "It's Not My Job..."

And it could VERY WELL be asked - "whose job is it, then, chuck? And who takes responsibility for the increasing STUPID-ization of America (because so many people in YOUR position don't feel like bothering with exposing lies and naked propaganda anymore)?" The bleat from people like him is - "let the public decide." And they CAN'T! There's NO WAY they can "decide," when they're fed lies and bunk and bullshit and wall-to-wall distortion and misrepresentation of fact - hell, even wholesale DENIAL of fact in too many cases!!!

[Vincent Merkel]

99. MSNBC is not what you think it is ...they are phony

I have a real problem with MSNBC since Olberman ......He was their greatest asset . They fired him over a 250 donation to a candidate.....Look at Martin Bashir ...Palin took a dump out of her mouth and suddenly he is gone . Then Look at Joe Scarboro ...a young girl by the name of Lauri Klausutis was found dead in his office .......very questionable autopsy and he had a reporter banned from the station for brining the story up ..and he gets to keep his show . That new kid Ronan ( satchel) Farrow has libeled Woody Allen at every chance he gets by the way ...Allen and farrow never married , kept seperate apts , never did sleep overs ....and he was cleared by the CT police. Two Nannies were fired by Farrow his mother because they would not lie about Allen they won big bucks in a law suit. Also that girl he married was not his anything...he never married Farrow so she was no daughter , she was Andre Previns kid not Allen.....MSNBC will never let the truth get out on any of these very real things .....I find they cave to any republican they can muster and frankly I need truth ...just gimme some truth...thanks again for the warm welcome

[icymist]

100. Giving this a kick up for viewing.

[DeSwiss]

14. This is a teevee thing, right?

- Dang! They still around!?!?!

[center][font size=3 color=darkgreen]New & Improved - Now With[/font]
[/center]

[Pholus]

15. Good! No way the Toad can turn around that ratings turkey...

And it gets him off the White House beat. Double win for me!

I love realizing what Allen actually wants to say when he uses those awkward phrasings.

"not a classic television performer guaranteed to wow focus groups" ---- UNTELEGENIC LIKE NIXON in the NIXON/KENNEDY DEBATES

"his love of the game" -- ESTABLISHMENT TOOL

"which brings with it authenticity, sources" -- GUARANTEED TO HAVE JOHN MCCAIN BEAT BOB DOLE'S GUEST APPEARANCE NUMBER

"and a loyal following among newsmakers and political junkies" -- YEAH IT SUCKS BUT IMMELT LIKES IT SO THERE YA GO.

[freshwest]

57. Great translationf of the double talk employed!

[katmondoo]

17. Maybe we can get rid of him on the daily MSNBC "news" programs

Then who will replace him, ?? or does he do both shows

[rurallib]

41. SE Cupp maybe?

[abakan]

75. Oh please, do you really mean this?

I am hoping you forgot this

Could you really watch her simpering, holier than though, condescension. I am afraid microseconds are too much for me.

[rurallib]

84. I thought the guy ducking behind the fence would indicate my feelings

Actually, I have never seen her, but she carries quite a reputation around these parts

[abakan]

87. Sorry I mis understood...

They don't call her sippy cup for nothing...my bad

[rurallib]

89. no prob - welcome to DU - hope you are around a long time

[L0oniX]

18. Can't remember the last time I watched Meet The Press.

[George II]

19. GAHHHH!!!!

Why not Mike Huckabee, Rush Limbaugh, Meghan Kelly or even.....Sarah Palin?

[AtlantaBlue]

20. So long

Bye bye Dancin' Dave! Don't let the door hit you on your way out.

[link:http://m.

|

[d_b]

21. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[Cali_Democrat]

65. Best reply so far...

[d_b]

67. i'd rather watch dog shit turn white

[olegramps]

22. Just another reason that I do not watch Meet the Press.

When you think that journalism is at its lowest ebb, it sinks yet even further.

[Renew Deal]

23. He's a terrible choice

[edhopper]

25. Chuck Todd,

the man who said it is not the Media's job to correct the GOP's falsehoods.

Is this an improvement?

[abakan]

73. Chuck Toad..

Is no improvement.

[GeorgeGist]

27. Flunky makes good.

That's all fucked, folks.

[PoutrageFatigue]

29. Obvious they're not interested in improving the brand then...

...

[raindaddy]

31. How much longer do they keep a stinking dead carcass on life support?

The "irreplaceable" Tim Russert lobbed the same fat softballs to the Dick Cheneys of the world as the replaceable David Gregory does. The show is failing because it's the audience has grown tired of the steady stream of mostly republican corporate owned personalities they bring on to sing the same off key irrelevant tune.. if you don't have anything better to do on a Sunday you must either be stuck in a hospital bed or visiting your grandma who keeps the TV on all day to keep her company.

[catbyte]

32. Christ on a cracker.

Dumb replaces dumber, or is it the other way around? What's the point? Chuck Todd is just as much a mouthpiece for the RNC as Gregory is. I still remember how disappointed Chuckie was when Obama was re-elected. You could just tell that Todd was itching for the job of Press Secretary in the anticipated Romney Administration. {{{BARF}}}

[madashelltoo]

33. Is it really "replacing" . . .

When you replace nothing with nothing?

[abakan]

76. replacing a toady....for a toad...nt

[LW1977]

34. So in othdr words David Gregory got an extension..

There is really no difference between the two.

[Cosmocat]

78. That is my reaction, too

they are replacing David Gregory with David Gregory ...

Same half witted sell out, only Todd isn't as "pretty."

[LittleGirl]

36. ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

same same

[VA_Jill]

37. Na nana na na

still can't make me watch it!

[BumRushDaShow]

38. Schmuck Toad.... another shill.

Why don't they break out of the box and let Chris Jansing do it if they think Rachael would be too cerebral?

Am surprised they didn't throw any sense of decency out the window by picking Scumborough.

[rtracey]

40. Just as Bad

Chuck Todd is just as bad as David Gregory...both are right wing shills. Meet the Press has left the world of decent news programming. Once Tim Russert passed away, this show has gone the way of the buggy whip. Try harder NBC, you are only the worst network on TV...

[rurallib]

42. same old, same old - meet the new boss, same as the old boss

and so many more cliches that say nothing changes.

Hey, NBC has propaganda to spread. You don't believe they are in the news biz do you?

[valerief]

43. Makes sense. Anyone with two neurons to rub together already hates him, and

that's the only type person they'd let host Meet the Propaganda.

I wonder how soon it'll be before Jeff Gannon is in line for the job.

[Paladin]

45. Swapping Gregory for Todd? There's a zero-sum transaction.

I haven't wasted my time on "Meet the Republicans" for years now; doesn't look like I'll change my ways.

[Blue Owl]

46. Ground Chuck on Press the Meat

Better get that grill fired up, I smell a BBQ coming on...

[Lochloosa]

48. First Guest....

[onecent]

59. OMG....love this.

[wordpix]

52. NBC should replace Gregory with Luke Russert

I think Luke is ready now. He's articulate and excellent at reporting, and I don't think he'll let the R's that show up on MTP get away with their talking points.

[Rebl]

94. Agreed

[blm]

53. He proved his Toadiness to NWO Republicans and repeats Moonie News propaganda

loyally.

He was a shoe-in.

[savalez]

55. New show title to be "Meet the Prick"

[chillfactor]

56. from the fry pan into the fire....

Todd is as bad or worse than Gregory....the NBC bosses are practising insanity a its finest....

[conservaphobe]

58. Chris Hayes or Rachel Maddow would be more representative of the current political climate. nt

[onecent]

62. Chuck Todd is so DRAB......I can't watch him for long....

[merrily]

63. From one partisan hack to another.

[silvershadow]

64. Does *every single host tapped for the spot *have to be a right-winger? smh. nt.

[geretogo]

66. The Oligarchs just don't get it do they . Baby food in a prettier package is still baby food .

[Samantha]

69. Ezra Kline would be a great host

but I am sure I will never see that.

Sam

[Snotcicles]

95. +1

[winter is coming]

71. Will they be changing the title to "Meet the Fluffer"? n/t

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

88. Fluff The Meat - Chuck Toadie aka Der Fluffer excites me beyond belief

Christmas is coming early this year!

[abakan]

72. Unless he...

brings on Howdy Doody, and Clara Belle, I'm not watching because everything else will be as odious as it has been. Could actually get worse.

[Enrique]

74. shakeup!

the news world is rocked!

[Cleita]

79. They need to rename it to

"Meet the Right Wing".

[tomm2thumbs]

80. "effort by NBC... to restore passion and insider cred"

seems to me they are doing neither if they put Todd on the show. He has never exhibited passion except for one night, every 4 years -- election night -- when he runs around and calls voting districts in Presidential Elections. Other than that, he's a lump.

Insider cred? Really? I think you'd have more insider cred from a ball of tar stuck on the beach in Southern Louisiana.

Is that too harsh?

[davidpdx]

82. Welcome to Beat My Meat my name is Upchuck Toad

Today I will be lighting my head on fire and sticking it up John McCain's ass.

[grasswire]

83. "Beltway Oracle Mike Allen"??

Shame on Media Matters for that.

[Iron Man]

86. That means I can keep not watching MTP.

[KamaAina]

90. Out of the frying pan...

[Uncle Joe]

91. Todd is a perfect fit for that program,

the corporate owners and producers won't have to worry about him getting to or bringing good information or the truth out.

http://www.fair.org/blog/2013/09/18/inform-the-public-not-my-job-says-chuck-todd/

Appearing on MSNBC's Morning Joe today (9/18/13), Todd responded to Ed Rendell's claim that Obamacare opponents are full of misinformation about the program by explaining that this was because Republicans "have successfully messaged against it." But wasn't journalism's job to expose misinformation? No, Todd insisted; if the public was misinformed about the Affordable Care Act, it was the president's fault for not pushing back:

What I always love is people say, "Well, it's you folks' fault in the media." No, it's the president of the United States' fault for not selling it.

It's sad that NBC's White House correspondent thinks his job is merely to convey politicians pronouncements, with no care about whether they are true or false. In fact, scrutinizing claims, particularly those from powerful officials, is an essential part of journalism. It's embarrassing to have to cite elementary principles to one the nation's most influential reporters, but Todd should consider reviewing the Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics, where, under the heading "Seek Truth and Report It," the very first tenet implores journalists to "test the accuracy of information from all sources."

Todd isn't alone among influential journalists claiming that factchecking sources is outside their job purview. In 2004, NPR's Ron Elving declared that journalism was incapable of calling out the lies about John Kerry's military record spread by the Swift Boat Veteran's for Truth, claiming: "There is no way that journalism can satisfy those who think that Kerry is a liar or that Swift Boat Veterans for Truth are liars." Journalists' throwing up their hands when it came to the distortion of Kerry's military record may have determined the outcome of the 2004 election.

(snip)

Thanks for the thread, DonViejo.

[tavernier]

96. Oh boh-y

Well, once they run through all of Joe Scar's buddies, Joe himself will be next in line. He is well practiced from his show at shouting his opinions and telling everyone around him to STFU, so he'll make an ideal MTP moderator. They won't even have to go to the trouble of inviting guests!

[JackRiddler]

97. Who's going to be the next dogcatcher in Podunk?

It's about as important.

The corporate media are a powerful influence, but in the case of these shows the adage is true that they're only as powerful as we make them. There is no more reason to treat this as a newsworthy succession than there would be if some Fox anchor was replaced.

[politicat]

98. The only use for MTP is to keep Driftglass cranking out Sunday Morning Bobbleheads at C&L.

Maybe I'm the wrong demographic (under 40, cable-cutter) but despite being a policy geek, I've never watched MTP. (Sunday mornings are for more interesting activities.) The recaps are more than sufficient, and anything actually important will not be said in that forum.

I can't wait to see the excoriation, though.

[Dawson Leery]

101. Is a continued ratings fall NBC's goal?

Seems so.

[GP6971]

102. A true feather weight.

He's not up to the job unless the producers step up and take over to balance the show. I'm tired of MTP being a right wing bullhorn.

[Peregrine Took]

103. Tweedle Dum for Tweedle Dee? I don't think so! n/t

[Skittles]

104. another f***ing repuke tool

[lonestarnot]

105. Figures, at least I won't have to look at him in the morning any more.

[Rhiannon12866]

106. And I'm no longer watching it now...

[DonCoquixote]

107. reason number 999999999

Why I willnot watch this show. Chuck Toad is not only ignornat, he is proud of it as if it were knwledge. He is the overgrown Frat boy who thinks he got his way into the Ivy leagues on merit.