* on MTP: the belligerent "yeah"

[Bill McBlueState]

As long as we're deconstructing *'s appearance on MTP yesterday, here's my contribution:

Did you notice how, when Russert was halfway through a question, Bush would often interrupt him with a "yeah" or a "yes"? That shows me that first, * is a nervous little SOB who can't wait patiently for the end of a question. Second, it reminds me of a neighborhood bully, along the lines of "Yeah, I started a war. Whatcha gonna do about it?"

This man is either not very smart, not very stable, or an unfortunate combination of the two.

[CatWoman]

1. And also

did you notice how * kept yelling to Russert to "let me finish"??

[molly]

5. Yeah and he just kept rambling

and rambling and rambling and rambling......

[SpiralHawk]

9. That's a standard Roger Ailes interview technique

Ailes has long coached the repubs -- and anyone else who cared to pay attention -- in this strategy for controlling an interview.

Russert was very weak, very tame. He must know this "let me finish dominating the interview" technique, because it is standard playbook stuff.

Russert's technique was to broach hot -- but obvious -- topics with the Smirk (and he did do a lot of smirking if you check the tape), and then to jab with a couple of weak followups. Bush would then give the predictable response, and keep talking to fill the air time with his "extra' points." That's another standard Ailes technique, and should come as no surprise to any broadcast professional.

Russert did not drag out any of a long list of facts and reports -- all widely available -- to contradict the obvious BS Smirky was spewing. He would just open up a can of worms, and then let Bush wriggle on out. Nice teamwork, if you ask me.

if I had a chance to jump into Russert's chair, i would have hit Chimpy with a jab from left field about the "family values" that he and he cronies keep "touting" with such piety - and then rattled off the names of his brothers Marvin and Neil, his neice Noelle
Bush, and his daughter's underage drinking. How does this reality square up with your preaching Mr. President?

[skippysmom]

2. yep, I noticed it

And I noticed his condescending use of Russert's name. "Well, you know, Tim..."

[molly]

3. He's an immature spoiled stupid addicted brat!

[LittleApple81]

4. Do you think it might be because Russert gave him the questions

beforehand and he knew how that particular questions would end?

[lovedems]

6. More like KKKarl gave Russert the questions beforehand

"Here are the questions you are allowed to ask. It is ok if you look like you are being tough, we want the chimp to look like he can handle the pressure"

That is how I envision it.

Edit: if they script NSC meetings, why not a MTP interview? It looks like georgie didn't take the time to memorize his lines!

[sallyseven]

7. Fineman gave his a Yale C

I thought an F would have been in order. No one mentioned that he went into war before the UN inspectors were finished looking. No one mentioned that he stalled and tried to derail the 9/11 commission. No one mentioned a number of things,. If bush can prove his army record he should have had the paper work there. I especially was flabbergasted over his dismissal of the 530 dead and over 2000 injured. By the way you can get an upgrade of your discharge and it is common. With a cong. daddy it was forgone. If he had the questions then I think he did even a poorer job.

[madmom]

8. Gave him the questions hell...........

This free air time was orchestrated right down to every blink of his beady eyes and every smirk of his mealy lying mouth.

[belle]

10. Shocking manners, if nothing else.

I would think that your average old-school conservative--you know, the ones who wanted the "grownups" back in charge; the ones who believe in "please" and "thank you" and deplore how vulgar we've gotten since the hippies ruined everything--think George Will, William Safire--would be disgusted by George; he acts like he was raised in a barn. "Yeah." slouch, smirk. it makes *me* want to grab him by the ear and haul him upright, saying somehing like "wipe that smirk off your face. you're in a *lot* of trouble, young (old) man!"