Debate III moderator's brother is an ambassador and business partner of *

[ProfessorPlum]

Today's Daily Howler is a must read for this board.

"During the ’90s, Schieffer also struck up a friendship with George W. Bush when his brother Tom—now the U.S. ambassador to Australia—became partners with the future president in the Texas Rangers. Bob and W. went to ball games together, played golf, attended spring training. “He’s a great guy—that doesn’t mean I agree with him,” says Schieffer, adding that the situation became “a little awkward” when Bush ran for the White House but that he’s never gotten favorable treatment."

I've heard a lot of people expressing their hopes that Schieffer would be a solid moderator, but I don't think we can count on it. With luck, Kerry will run circles around Dr. Zaius again, even if Shrub does have an earful of Rove and his good buddy doing the moderating.

[RummyTheDummy]

1. Scheiffer is a class act

My parents are Repugs. Does that make me a Repug as well?

Schieffer will be fair. He's never shown anything to suggest otherwise.

[ProfessorPlum]

5. Here's a nice quote from him

SCHIEFFER (12/12/03): I think that this thing, this Gore thing, I think is rather interesting in that perhaps it tells us more about Al Gore than it does about this campaign. I find it just remarkable that he would basically stab his old running-mate, Joe Lieberman, in the back in order to get himself back in the game. Because that’s clearly what he’s trying to do here is—now once again, Al Gore, who has either sought public office or held public office all his life, sees a chance, one more chance, to get back in the game. I guess his analysis is that if Dean wins, then he’s a king-maker; if Dean doesn’t win, then he’s serving notice to Hillary Clinton you’re not going to have a free run at this thing in 2008, I’m going to be right there again. It’s very interesting—we’ve seen Al Gore change his story, we’ve seen him change his persona, I remember in the 2000 campaign when he showed up at Face the Nation dressed as a farmer! I remember when he changed his—he was going to get out of the blue suits and stuff. Now it seems he just as easily changes his friends. I don’t know what impact this is going to have on Howard Dean but I suspect it’s not going to have a good impact on Al Gore.

Remeber how Al Gore was always changing his suits and stuff? Good times, good times.

[Catfight]

9. LOL.....good times, yeah, good times is right! If you let the PR

build you up, they also have the power to tear you down! That was Al Gores fatal mistake in life.

[TheFarseer]

2. Have you ever seen his Sunday Morning show?

If you have, I don't see how you could think he would be anything but very professional and impartial. Mr. Schieffer will be a very good moderator.

[liberalpress]

3. I agree..

I don't know Mr. Sheifer personally but our station is a CBS radio affiliate and I have done q & A's with him in the past and know him to be the one of the most fair and impartial reporters out there. IMHO the best choice in moderators of all three!

[HuskerDem]

4. I come from a solid Republican family

That will be voting for Kerry btw, but that's another subject.

The point is, Schieffer is a professional. One of the few left.

[T Wolf]

6. My take on Schieffer is that he is OK.

At least, he seemed that way on Jon Stewart. I have never seen his show (I avaoid all of them) but have no reason to question his impartiality.

That being said, it would be helpful to have him "disclose" his brother's relationship with * before the debate begins, if only to put the idea in viewers' heads that maybe things are tilted toward the puke. After all, perception is reality, at least to many.

[ProfessorPlum]

8. That is an excellent idea

Reporters and anchors should also have to signify how much of a tax break they are getting under Bush before they report as well. That might raise the cynicism level of people enough.

Can you imagine Tom Brokaw saying, "Chris Matthews, before we begin talking about how aloof and patrician Kerry always seems to be, I am required by law to note that Bush's tax plans have benefitted me to the tune of $82,000 a year."

[ProfessorPlum]

7. I agree that Schieffer is a classy guy

But see also a long list of Pundit Pap entries at American Politics Journal concerning his show and what kind of "liberal bias" goes on there. As with C. Gibson, this guy has got to be watched.

[Supersedeas]

10. he's a great guy...and what does policy matter anyways...amoungst friends