This morning on KIRO-AM, Seattle

[Missy Vixen]

Okay, I'm listening to one of the greater talk show hosts in the history of the medium, Dave Ross. Dave has had both Kerry and Clark on this morning.

:::Disclaimer::: I am a Dean supporter.

A shout out for the Clark supporters -- he's tremendous. He is answering Dave's questions about the war and about the Bush administration with fact, a little humor, and plain talk. He is now stating that the administration is "raising the fear of the American people," and that they "owe us an explanation." I'm not sure when the arrangement was made for General Clark to call the station, but he is doing a masterful job.

Yay for Clark; nice interview!

I wish I could say the same for Senator Kerry. I understand that he is a very busy man. At the same time, the station had been touting his interview for the past 24 hours on all broadcasts and on their website at 9:10 AM. The interview didn't happen until almost 10:15 AM. (For those of us who learned to love "Bill Clinton time", this may not seem like a flaw.) Dave is filling, filling, filling till the Senator is available. He's now waited over an hour. When the Senator was on the telephone, the first question Dave asked was "Let's clear up the rumors right now. Have you ever had Botox injections?" Dave has quite a sense of humor; I think he was trying to joke, but it didn't work. This seemed to anger Senator Kerry; the rest of the eight minute interview was clipped answers and obvious irritation on his part.

The callers responding to the interview had nothing positive to say about it.

Our caucus is tomorrow. There have been several callers already this morning (and multiple since the interview ended a short time ago,) stating that they're making up their minds, and they weren't impressed with Kerry's demeanor during that eight minutes.

Was anyone else here listening? What did you think?

Julie

[maddezmom]

1. good to hear Clark did well

thanks for the report :)

[montanacowboy]

2. JulieRB

I did not hear it, but I am not supporting Kerry. I don't care for him one bit. I am a Dean supporter and will go to the caucus tomorrow loaded for bear!

I am not surprised about the interview -

[Anwen]

22. Yay!

Way to go! :toast: I hope Dean does well in Washington tomorrow!

[WI_DEM]

3. has Dean been interviewed on the show?

and what is your estimation of who is the best organized for the caucus tomorrow? do you see lots of Dean yard signs, ect? I think we need to do really well there tomorrow.

Thanks for your report.

[Missy Vixen]

5. Okay, here are my observations on the caucus

>and what is your estimation of who is the best organized for the caucus tomorrow? do you see lots of Dean yard signs, ect? I think we need to do really well there tomorrow.<

We live in a small town that is primarily Republican. Our Dean yard sign is out, but we haven't seen many signs in town at all. Seattle, however, is papered with Dean signs and Dean bumper stickers.

Dean organizers have been here for a while. There are Dean signs and bumper stickers all over Seattle, especially Capitol Hill. Kerry didn't start showing up here till about a week ago; prior to that, the only big Kerry boosters here were a few elected officials who are DLC. Kucinich was interviewed by one of the more annoying right-wing radio personalities on KIRO-AM the other day; the guy came away from the interview actually complimenting Kucinich. I almost fell off my chair.

Kerry has come on strong, but I still believe that Western Washington Dean people are well-organized. It's all about getting people to the caucus. Eastern Washington is a crapshoot. The voters over there are very conservative, so I am thinking it's going to be Kerry or Clark for them.

Let's cross our fingers and hope for the best.

Julie

p.s. BTW, I'm sorry, I didn't answer your original question. I know that Dave Ross has interviewed Dean previously. I wasn't able to listen that morning. Dean has been all over KIRO lately, and the snippets I have heard have been positive.

[WI_DEM]

8. thanks for a great report

I agree it has been closing due to Kerry being front runner--it is the bandwagon effect meaning that his support may be wide but not very deep with lots of people. I'm hoping that Dean supporters will turn out in droves to prove the media wrong and that Kerry supporters will begin to believe the media and decide that instead of caucusing on a Saturday they will do something fun--John Kerry is going to win anyway.

[Mile Hi]

13. Let me ask you this......

Based on your experiences in Washington. You seeing a lot of Dean support and supporters and little Kerry supporters.

If Kerry wins by a big margin in the Caucus what would you think of the results?

[maryallen]

23. On a personal level,

people seem to respond favorably to Clark, Dean, and Kucinich, and find Kerry aloof and rather cool. How is it then, that Kerry is the frontrunner?

[Missy Vixen]

26. Washington caucus results

>If Kerry wins by a big margin in the Caucus what would you think of the results?<

I will think that Eastern Washington managed to get more people out and voting.

Western Washington is typically heavily liberal. Dean has a lot of support here. At the same time, there are folks who will vote for Kucinich, because we were also a hotbed of anti-war protests.

I think it's a crapshoot. I will caucus for Dean tomorrow, and I hope to see more Dean supporters in our small town as well.

Julie

[StClone]

4. Kerry is good but Clark is Great

Too bad my man didn't put more time in his run. The guy is a national asset and more than a military man. He came from humble roots. I wish there more that us Clark supporters could do, but the die seems cast. I am not saying Kerry is for the worse, but Clark would be for the best.

[SahaleArm]

6. Kerry's support is softer than Charmin...

A mile-wide and an inch-deep. If you can scratch the surface 90% of the voters are undecided. The caucus system allows time for persuading voters, take advantage.

[Missy Vixen]

7. Now we're on the Drudge Report!

Dave's interview with John Kerry is now on the Drudge Report -- Kerry denied using Botox at any time...

I'm just plain amazed.

Julie

[lancdem]

10. Typical Drudge

nothing about issues, of course.

[oasis]

9. Kerry is a no nonsense kind of a guy. After 9/11, it's important for a

candidate to display a serious and sober demeanor. The botox "thing" apparently had been milked enough.

[abburdlen]

11. serious and sober demeanor

See also "Puff the Magic Dragon"

[oasis]

14. In a serious setting it's important to address issues and not perpetuate

media b.s.sideshows. Kerry will not play that game.

[Missy Vixen]

19. He kept the interviewer waiting an hour

Dave had to "fill" and jockey other guests around waiting for this interview.

One of his guests today was the woman who heads the organization assisting women in the military that have suffered sexual assault at the hands of other enlistees. I would have liked to have heard more of her besides what he could cram into the time he was waiting for Senator Kerry to appear (any minute) on the phone (any minute). His other guest (after the Clark interview, which went very well,) was Ambassador Wilson, who is speaking in Seattle tonight.

You wrote:
>media b.s.sideshows. Kerry will not play that game.<

It's better to laugh it off and change the subject than to let listeners think that first of all, one is perceived as less than gracious to not even acknowledge that one made someone else wait quite some time. Secondly, Dave Ross is one of the better-known interviewers in talk radio; I think he asked the question for a reason. If Senator Kerry is so easily irritated by one question, what will he do when he's facing an angry electorate?

Julie

[oasis]

28. "An angry electorate" is presently GWB's problem. Kerry will not

tolorate anymore of the media created botox story. It was debunked and put to rest as far as he is concerned. Why would Kerry take part in the revival of a Rove concocted fairy tale?

[lancdem]

12. That was probably not the best way for the interviewer to begin

[oasis]

15. The word will get around that Kerry will not put up with nonsense.

[mikehiggins]

16. The word will get out that

he is a humorless stiff.

Oh, wait, we allready knew that

[oasis]

31. We "already knew that" Bush was the guy Joe Sixpack would like to have

a beer with. Tired, stiff and stodgy Gore was too "Kerrylike". These are far more serious times, my friend.

[Eloriel]

17. And that he's ready to show his ass at the slightest provocation

But, gee, I guess that was real "Presidential" of him, wasn't it? I keep seeing more and more and more lessons Kerry has learned from George W. Bush.

Too bad that won't make him electable.

[oasis]

29. No-nonsense Johnny. The press will be forced to adjust and address issues

for a living.

[TheWebHead]

18. interview has been posted

right sidebar:
http://710kiro.com

[TheWebHead]

20. what I think

I don't have a problem with Kerry's tone during the interview. It's consistent with how he always reacts during interviews. It was stupid of Dave to start off with the botox question and it's something the right is trying to shove into the zeitgeist with zero evidence. If you have ever heard John Kerry do an interview before, the tone should be nothing to be surprised at. He was appreciative at the end for being interviewed, and forceful when necessary to correct the record.

[Casablanca]

21. Kerry was a little miffed about the Botox line?

I wonder why. Dave Ross must have rocks for brains to alienate the candidate he's lined up to interview with a line like that right out of the starting gate. Regardless of what he thinks passes for a sense of humor, many Seattle listeners were probably very interested in clarifying their support by what Kerry had to say, and Ross really screwed their opportunity to get meaningful information from him.

I'm a Dean supporter, and I know that if Ross fired a line like that at Dean he would have stopped the interview right there. And I'd have supported Dean in doing it. I'd have seen it as a desirable Presidential quality.

Both Ross and Kerry lost in that exchange.

[Missy Vixen]

25. Uh, nope

>Dave Ross must have rocks for brains to alienate the candidate he's lined up to interview with a line like that right out of the starting gate.<

Dave Ross didn't seek out the interview. He said several times that Kerry's people were interested in a "PR opportunity" and contacted KIRO-AM.

Do you listen to Dave? He's one of the more intelligent and literate talk show hosts there is. He was irritated with Kerry and his people for basically keeping him hanging for over an hour. Dave is a nationally broadcast commentator for CBS and works for the number 1 rated station in the Pacific Northwest. In a two-hour span this morning, he talked to Senator Kerry, General Clark, and Ambassador Wilson. If you want to be heard, you get on Dave Ross' show.

>I'm a Dean supporter, and I know that if Ross fired a line like that at Dean he would have stopped the interview right there. And I'd have supported Dean in doing it. I'd have seen it as a desirable Presidential quality.<

I disagree. I saw Dean handle Tim Russert's questions about "the scream" on Sunday with aplomb. He simply changed the subject after a brief acknowledgement.

Julie

[Casablanca]

32. Yep.

"Do you listen to Dave? He's one of the more intelligent and literate talk show hosts there is."

No. And if he is intelligent, he didn't show it this morning with Kerry.

"was irritated with Kerry and his people for basically keeping him hanging for over an hour."

So he responds right away with a juvenile dig at Kerry's looks. That's something I'd expect from Drudge or Limbaugh or a 10th grader, not an intelligent radio icon concerned about giving candidates a fair hearing.

"If you want to be heard, you get on Dave Ross' show."

Sounds like, if you want your stands on real issues to be marginalized by jokes about the candidate's looks (i.e, _not_ get heard), you get on Ross' show. If he redeemed himself later in the interview, that's fine, but if I want to laugh to bad Botox jokes, I'll switch on Jay Leno. If I want to hear about the candidates, I'll be disinclined to tune in Ross. There are many more and better sources.

"I disagree. I saw Dean handle Tim Russert's questions about "the scream" on Sunday with aplomb."

After "The Scream", he was probably hesitant to get hardcore with Russert on the subject - which was the purpose of "The Scream" coverage in the first place.

It may have been politically inexpedient for Kerry to get miffed, but if he were miffed, I would understand it as a completely justified response.

[Missy Vixen]

35. Oh, an expert

>No. And if he is intelligent, he didn't show it this morning with Kerry.<

I thought it was actually an interesting move. Dave's smart enough to know that first impressions are lasting ones, and Kerry didn't do well this morning.

General Clark's interview went extremely well, even though the phone he was speaking on had a glitch in the midst of it. Clark wasn't flustered, and they concluded the interview on a positive note.

>So he responds right away with a juvenile dig at Kerry's looks. That's something I'd expect from Drudge or Limbaugh or a 10th grader, not an intelligent radio icon concerned about giving candidates a fair hearing.<

What was said, if you bothered to go to KIRO's website and listen to the interview, was "Okay, would you like to clear up that Botox controversy once and for all? Have you ever used Botox?" in a jovial tone. After waiting an hour for an eight-minute interview, I think it was nice of him to even pick up the line the senator was on.

>Sounds like, if you want your stands on real issues to be marginalized by jokes about the candidate's looks (i.e, _not_ get heard), you get on Ross' show. If he redeemed himself later in the interview, that's fine, but if I want to laugh to bad Botox jokes, I'll switch on Jay Leno. If I want to hear about the candidates, I'll be disinclined to tune in Ross. There are many more and better sources.<

Yawn.
As I said, those who can specify any outlet they'd like to appear on choose Dave Ross' show. He has a huge listener base, and is known for thoughtful, interesting interviews with a wide range of people on a wide range of subjects.

If Dave was so "juvenile", he couldn't get interviews with the local paperboy. His three hours daily are packed full of those I'm sure other interviewers would love to speak with. (Maybe we should ask William Rivers Pitt; Will's been on his show several times now with Scott Ritter.)

By the way, Dave Ross is a moderate Democrat.

Julie

[Casablanca]

38. Doesn't take a PhD.

>Dave's smart enough to know that first impressions are lasting ones, and Kerry didn't do well this morning.

I'm sure Kerry would say the same thing about first impressions being lasting ones. That just might be the reason he was miffed at that first comment of Ross's.

A more _intelligent_ move for our Intelligent Radio Icon Dave would have been to set a less antagonistic tone at the outset by not mentioning the Botox non-issue at all (and asking maybe an *important* question?), and then _maybe_ later bringing it up after Dave's intentions were more clear. It would have been best to have never mentioned it at all.

>What was said, if you bothered to go to KIRO's website and listen to the interview, was "Okay, would you like to clear up that Botox controversy once and for all? Have you ever used Botox?" in a jovial tone.

Whatever Ross's tone was, the fact is that the Botox line is a non-issue in this campaign, and is generally used to distract people from the real qualities of Kerry. If Ross wanted to be taken more seriously than the Kerry-bashers, then maybe he shouldn't have used their rhetoric.

It's like Clinton being asked about sex. Kerry shouldn't have to field ludicrous questions like that, legitimizing them by doing so. He owes that to the serious voters.

>If Dave was so "juvenile", he couldn't get interviews with the local paperboy.

Morning shock jock radio personalities build careers on juvenile wisecracks. And people who have a high regard for juvenile wisecracks tend to be their listeners. Maybe that accounts for Ross's "success".

Maybe not too, but Ross's comments this morning doesn't exactly disprove that theory. As you say, first impressions go a long way.

Namedropping William Rivers Pitt does nothing for your defense of Ross's comment, as I wouldn't look to Pitt to tell me what I should think about Ross, or Kerry, or Dean, or ...

[Toucano]

24. Thank you for that report.

It's inspirational.

[Uzybone]

27. More of the same

Kerry baaaaad...Clark ok (becasue hopefully he will pick Dean as VP)...Dean GOD.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

30. So should interviewers ask Dean: Is it true you are unstable?

[wiggle-room]

33. Nah, the media's already TOLD us he's unstable

why should they show any interest in fact at this point?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

34. I guess I wasn't clear enough, since you seemed to have missed my point.

Asking Kerry "Have you ever had Botox injections?"

Is the equivalent of asking Dean: "Are you really too unstable to be President?"

[Missy Vixen]

36. And Dean's response would have been

>Is the equivalent of asking Dean: "Are you really too unstable to be President?"<

"I'm glad you asked that question. Before I decided to run for President, my wife and I ran a medical practice for several years. It was part of my job to listen to my patients and make decisions about their diagnoses and care. They had the faith in me and my decisions to continue under my care. My wife sees them now. If I were truly as unstable as some in the media would like the average American to believe, I could not run a successful medical practice, let alone go on to be reelected repeatedly to the governorship of Vermont. Let me talk a bit about what I learned while governor of Vermont, and what I learned from my medical practice. Did you know that 44 million Americans do not have health insurance? Do you also know how much it would cost to cover every man, woman and child in the United States with health insurance? Eighty-seven billion dollars. That's right. For the same amount we sent to Iraq, all Americans could have medical coverage..."

Julie

[Feanorcurufinwe]

39. I don't think that would be Dean's answer

but you are welcome to believe that.

[TexasSissy]

37. Hmmmm. Interesting. I'm in Texas so didn't hear it. But that's interest

ing in that it might show that Kerry has a bit of a temper? Everyone does, of course, and most certainly * does, but I wouldn't have thought he'd let it show.

But then, I guess the Botox thing is getting run into the ground.