Let Luke Russert Take His Dad’s Chair on Meet the Press

[DeepModem Mom]

U.S. News: Washington Whispers
Let Luke Russert Take His Dad’s Chair on Meet the Press
June 17, 2008

We're starting the bandwagon today for Luke Russert to take over Meet the Press for his dad, Tim Russert. Ever since his eloquent and buoyant chat with the Today Show's Matt Lauer about his dad on Monday, the talk around town has been that he might outshine any of those on NBC's bench: Andrea Mitchell, Chris Matthews, David Gregory, Brian Williams, Chuck Todd, or Tom Brokaw.

Is he too young, being just out of college? Sure, we hear, but with his age group being the target audience for a show that comes as the youth vote appears to be getting serious about actually voting, it could provide the MTV-ing of the network that NBC needs. And unlike if NBC hires Katie Couric or Gwen Ifill, the expectations won't be so high. And given his performance on the Today Show, he could easily meet and beat them.

Just consider: As the rest of NBC was talking grimly and sadly about Tim Russert's passing last Friday at the age of 58, nothing Lauer tried to do could get son Luke to tear up. Just the opposite. He took every bad pass and ran for a touchdown. It probably helps that he cohosts his 60/20 sports show on XM Satellite Radio with James Carville, who raves about Luke. Talk about hands-on training for dueling with Vice President Cheney.

http://www.usnews.com:80/blogs/washington-whispers/2008/6/17/let-luke-russert-take-his-dads-chair-on-meet-the-press.html

[Malloy63]

1. Huh?

I would guess NOT...

just my 2cents.

p.s. but he did take the chair home, forever.

[DeepModem Mom]

3. Hi, Malloy63 -- welcome to DU!

I was sent this item by a friend about the same age as Luke.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

5. Yes, they did give him the chair.

[Kutjara]

2. Just the sort of political heavyweight needed for the job.

I mean, if cohosting a sports show on "hello, is anyone out there?" radio isn't enough to demonstrate his gravitas, surely his de-facto membership in the "MTV generation" clinches the deal. Who needs actual experience reporting on politics, when a winning smile and the ability not to cry on air are what really matter?

Does Luke have a child? Maybe they could get him/her to host the show, targeting the vitally important "my diaper is stinky" demographic.

[rocktivity]

4. He just finished a cushy internship at ESPN

Let him compete for the job like everybody else.

:headbang:
rocknation

[DeepModem Mom]

6. On-air at ESPN or off-air? nt

[Berry Cool]

8. Well, Lord knows working at ESPN is NO qualification

for working a news gig at NBC. I mean, you'd never see, say, the likes of Keith Olbermann there.

[DeepModem Mom]

9. Hi, Berry! I didn't think of that! nt

[rocktivity]

11. I doubt Olbermann got his gigs just because of his last name.

:headbang:
rocknation

[AlCzervik]

22. my nephew has an unpaid internship there this summer, doesn't sound too cushy to me.

[NCDem60]

7. After all he's had 16 years of experience. Oops, that was someone else.(NT)

[spanone]

10. why not rotate his family members....big russ one week....the ms the next....luke

[Window]

12. I think Luke Russert if a fine young man who has a lot of living yet to do.

It seems to be a demanding job and Luke doesn't have the political clout nor the experience. I wonder what his plans were/are now that he has graduated college -- graduate school, etc.

I'm sure he'll be outstanding in whatever he chooses to do.

Tim and Maureen did a wonderful job rearing Luke.

[bagimin]

13. He was incredibly poised and composed

under the circumstances.I would have been a basket case...but I'd be shocked if he got the gig.

[misanthrope]

14. Here's a novel idea...

...Why don't they bring back the format that carried Meet the Press for decades and once made it one of the hardest gauntlets for politicos to run.

Get rid of the ego-driven version we now have. Bring back the panel of true journalists to grill the guest of focus. Let the moderator step back into the shadows as they once were before Russert turned into his personal vehicle to power and fame.

Give it some meat for its bones once again.

[LBJDemocrat]

15. Seconded. nt

[K Gardner]

20. Thirded. (psst.. do we have that many true journalists left to fill a "panel"?)

[gkhouston]

23. I'm not sure but I'd love to find out. n/t

[arcadian]

16. That would make Timmeh, Darth.

Who's the Emperor? David Gregory?

[live love laugh]

17. He would ideal...for carrying out the cons' agenda. They like them young and malleable. nt

[crickets]

27. My first thought exactly. -nt

[Psyop Samurai]

18. *recommending* ...

...as this is evidence that this has turned into a major psyop.

[tom_paine]

19. This would only be fitting for Imperial Amerika, an Inverted Totalitarianism driven by aristocratic

privilege.

I can therefore think of no one more fitting, in our Empire, to take on the mantle of Tim Russert as Dick Cheney's "go to guy" than a scion of the Russert Family, insuring the superior genes don't go to waste.

[Psyop Samurai]

26. Here, here!... that's the spirit!...

:party: :bounce: :nopity: :bounce: :dunce:

...amazing, isn't it?

[Algorem]

21. Meet the Fratboy

[SoCalDem]

24. Hey.. Make it a SEANCE..with everyone holding hands

and then a voice in the darkness says......
"I am your father, Luke"

[Gidney N Cloyd]

25. I think all this Russert coverage is making people punchy. nt