Russert: Is it appropriate for John Kerry to criticize Bush...

[coloradodem2005]

....over not capturing Bin Laden?

What the hell kind of question is that Tim? That has to be one of the stupidest questions I have ever heard. Of course it is appropriate. Bush fucked up.

[still_one]

1. you don't understand

what he is saying is that he and his associates have refused to question anything this administration has done, and why should his opponents?

[coloradodem2005]

3. Oh Please.

[Tactical Progressive]

16. That's exactly correct

Russert's question, ostensibly about political decorum, betrays US journalism's attitude towards questioning Bush, and I believe Republicans in general, on anything of import. Yet they rabidly questioned everything and nothing the last Democratic President ever did in his entire life.

Stolen elections, discredited and destructive economics, energy rape of California, lies to start wars, secrecy, coverups, CIA outings, and on and on. None of it is grist for the journalism mills that were voracious for anything they could even vaguely imply was scandal by Democrats. They certainly don't ever question who left America open to terrorist attack throughout 2001. That, above all, is stunning.

Russert et al are the real horror of how corrupt American journalism has become over the last fifteen to twenty years. It's not O'Reilly and Fox, it's the mainstream media that has betrayed America and journalism itself. I don't see how they can ever be seen as trustworthy again. They've destroyed journalism as an institution, I believe permanently.

[KlatooBNikto]

25. As you correctly state, the degradation of the profession predates

the rise of shills like Rush, Hannity and O'Reilly.One of the best evidence I have seen of this degradation is a comparison between Tim Russert and Jeremy Paxman of the BBC. Russert is supposedly the feared interrogator all politicians dread.Yet he intimidates only those who wield no power and gives free pass to Bush and his cronies, at times on his bended knees.Jeremy Paxman, on the other hand, grilled Tony Blair for nearly an hour reducing Tony to, what else, a poodle. The contrast to an American used to seeing servility as though it is the norm, was very jarring.That is the very essence of inquisitive journalism, to ensure that those in power are held accountable.If you don't ask uncomfortable questions, how do you accomplish that?

[elehhhhna]

2. No its' lese majesty, and a capitol crime, monsiuer

[Mz Pip]

4. Well gee Timmy

When the biggest mass murderer in the history of the United States turns up alive after our fearless leader backs off going after him full tilt then, yeah, I guess some criticism is due. :crazy:

Heaven forbid that Kerry make a few points during an election year.

MzPip
:dem:

[greyfox]

7. Mass murderer?

Bush is getting real close to being among the biggest of them all.

[marew]

9. Greyfox, you are right on!

[greyfox]

13. Yes

I think so. What is it now... 1,120 of OUR OWN people plus literally hundreds of thousands of their people - and THEY didn't cause 9/11!!! My God, what have we allowed Bush to do?!

[EGisJUICE]

19. I

I wasn't aware Osama had stood trial in court and been found guilty of commiting mass murder in regards to 9/11.

[greyfox]

20. NO sir

but IF that tape is real (BIG if)... he admitted it.

[Mz Pip]

21. Then I guess

Kerry should qualify his criticism of Bush. Maybe say something like, "We need to catch bin Laden so we can determine whether or not he was behind 9/11 since accusing him, despite his confessions, is just speculation."

Yeah, that'll go over well.

MzPip
:dem:

[alittlelark]

27. uh, yeah........

guess I wasn't aware either. But I am now aware of you.;-)

[ogradda]

30. you don't mind if he's charged do you?

<sarcasm>

[Bandit]

43. Of course not..He has not been apprehended

Bush* decided he was no longer important, that he was marginalized and instead decided to attack another country with no ties what-so-ever to those we believe attacked the WTC. It would be nice if we could have a trial about the largest mass murder in US history. bush* doesn't want that to happen and as long as he is in power it won't.

[Redleg]

44. We don't need no stinking courts.

Seriousy, OBL so much as admitted his complicity in 9-11.

[skordane]

5. Imagine a Police Chief

Who let a mass murderer escape from a neighborhood and then said what a great job he was doing. What Crap.

[Palacsinta]

6. and how about Rudy Guiliani on MTP

H?e was allowed to speak without barely a PEEP out of Tim Russert. I couldn't BELIEVE the difference between his treatment of Rudy and Bob Kerrey (for the Dems.) Rudy made outrageous and debunked assertions about John Kerry and repeated 9/11, 9/11 ad nauseaum. He also (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) implied that Osama Bin laden and John Kerry are on the same page. SICKENING!

[OneTwentyoNine]

37. Can this be said enough...FUCK YOU GUILIANI !!

In many ways I think Guiliani tramps on the bodies of 3,000 dead more than ANYONE including Bush and his Nazi's. Imagine waking up every morning and thanking the lucky stars and 3,000 dead for advancing your political ambitions. Thats what Rudy does daily....

David

[fugue]

8. It is always appropriate for any American to criticize the president

To steal a line from Walt Whitman, he's there for us, not us here for him.

That's why I've never bought this "respect the office" thing I hear from all sides, even Jon Stewart. Respect the office? He's my employee! If he doesn't do his job, I'm gonna let him know in no uncertain terms!

[marew]

10. No one has direspected the office like Bush!!!!

[Gyre]

11. That fucking guy needs to get a lil hitler moustache

What a traitorous douchebag!

Gyre

[BamaLefty]

12. ???

:wtf:

[Vickers]

14. It would be *inappropriate* for ANY American to *not* criticize Bush* over

his numerous failings in office.

That is the foundation of our whole society...our right, our RESPONSIBILITY to question our government.

Jesus, did any of these motherfuckers ever take a civics class?

[Snotcicles]

15. Bin Laden is the right bower to the republican

political mind control game. You don't think they are going to spend that if they don't have to do you?

[flordehinojos]

17. The question for Timmy Russert is, is it appropriate for a FREE media to

accept and spew out bush propaganda, or to refuse to inform the public with verifiable facts?

One could also ask the question, is it appropriate for Timmy Russert to love POWER more than he loves Democracy in America?

Or the question could be, what would BIG RUSS have to say about the America that gave him the chance to push the broom and send his kid to college to get an education, vs. the America that's taking the same chance away from current day broom pushers and is creating the kind of America that is based on privilege, greed and elitism?

Or the question could be, ONCE THE SON OF A BROOM PUSHER, ALWAYS THE SON OF A BROOM PUSHER ... does Timmy Russert think that were it not for his pro-bush slant and spin the privileged, elitist class that he likes to rub elbows with would be downing drinks with him at the country club?

Big questions for timmy russert..it might be well his time to ponder them!

[SillyGoose]

40. Well said, flordehinojos! n/t

[vxd_vcache]

18. I watched that too

I agree with you the answer is yes of course it's appropriate.

No question about it Bush would do the same if the shoe were on the other foot.

[coloradodem2005]

24. Could he BE any more Repuke?

n/t

[SOS]

22. Was Timmy

wearing his Cheney/bush campaign pin?
Like he did when attending the Alf Landon dinner with Jack Welch?
Just curious.

[StupidFOX]

23. GAWD wants us to submit to Bush's will

[SoCalDem]

26. Did he wonder if it was "appropriate" to question Clinton over a PRIVATE

matter, that had NOTHING TO DO WITH THE GOVERNMENT??

I seem to remember a daily wallowing that lasted about 24/7, and no one questioned the appropriateness of the whole thing.. They revelled in it.

and no one DIED from any of it.. (of course the freeps contend that the suicide was not)..

[flygal]

28. No!!

It's hard work ;)

[ogradda]

29. ok i just read this post

and thought the top of my head would pop off. what the hell is that supposed to mean? * is the biggest fuck up to ever be in the white house the jerk can't even ride a bike or say a sentence without screwing it up i wouldn't hire him to run a cash rgister and we can't say gee asshole ever think about doing your job??:mad:

[Technowitch]

31. I have a question...

"Is it inappropriate in this day and age for a so-called 'journalist' to be tarred and feathered and ridden out of town on a rail?"

Russert is such a tool of the GOP, it isn't even funny.

[VOX]

32. Russert = NBC = GE = Major defense contractor and war profiteer.

That's the sad truth, in a nutshell.

[orpupilofnature57]

34. Good math skills,russert in the end, just walking the dog G E

[donheld]

33. It's not just appropriate

It's essential. What is Kerry or any sane person suppose to do? It's far past time that somebody gives Bushie hell for this. Osama's the one who attacked us. Yet he's free to plan more attacks.

If Russert had been doing his job correctly he himself would have dogged Bush and Cabal about this the last 3 1/2 years. Russert sometimes is an idiot.

[cmutt]

35. Abusurdity!

You've got to be kidding me, right? This is wrong on sooo many levels:

(1) It's an election year. Every decision the incumbent president has made in the previous four years is fair game. Any competant challenging candidate should challenge voters on the incumbents record!
(2) The OBL masterminded the attack on American citizens - and here we are 2 years later watching a video of him taunting us. At what point would it be appropriate to question the Presidents effectiveness?

(3) Isn't this still America? You know Tim, the land of the FREE? Memo to Tim: The TRUE PATRIOTS are the ones that actively monitor their government's actions, questions their policies, and demand the absolute best of their country! So, according to Timmy, we are supposed to sit on our hands, keep our mouths shut until the administration let's us know it's okay to speak again? <- This mentality disturbs me more than anything.

(4) I don't seem to recall this sentiment when President Clinton was in office. I seem to recall healthy disent when our troops were in Somalia and Kosovo on peace-keeping missions. If my memory serves me right, the right criticized Clinton on darn near every decision he made. Even though I disagree whole-heartedly with their opinion, I respect our great country that allows such criticism to be voiced!

[donheld]

41. that was my point

BTW welcome to DU :hi:

[OneTwentyoNine]

36. Thank God Clinton was never criticized over ANYTHING eh..Tim??

SOAB,how in the fuck does this guy call himself a reporter?? He's nothing but a RW shill in a position to carve up news they way they want it.

David

[peekaloo]

38. Fuck him. Fuck him hard. On Wednesday let him ask

President-elect Kerry that question.

[erpowers]

39. How About This One

Tom Brokaw asked Bush if not capturing OBL was a failure of his presidency. Of course it is a failure. Tom should think of how the Republicans would have reacted if Clinton had not captured someone who had attacked us on our soil. In addition, Tom should think of how the Republicans reacted toward Clinton after we were attacked. That should be enough evidence that not capturing OBL is a failure for Bush.

[Democracy Died 2004]

42. No Tim, I think he should have charged him with treason. n/t

[goforit]

45. AHhhhhhhHhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!........Tim......You have always sucked!!!!