Woodward and Bernstein On DAILY SHOW on Plame Leak (in Hindsight)

[McCamy Taylor]

When I watched this episode of the Daily Show I thought Woodward looked VERY uncomfortable compared to Bernstein who was extremely enthusiastic about discussing the PLame Affair. Woodward, in contrast, kept dodging Stewart's questions, attempting to change the topic. At the time, I did not know what the make of Woodward's strange behavior, but now I do.

Everyone who is interested in the Plame Affair should watch this Daily Show episode (again) to see how a real journalist (Berstein) and a media whore (Woodward) react to it. This is a priceless interview by Stewart.

You can get the transcript or the video here:

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/07/20.html#a4047

[MnFats]

1. Berstein describes the administration as...

..."an imploding presidency."
he has a much clearer vision of what's going on. Woodward, sadly, seems eager to avoid upsetting applecarts...

[IndyOp]

2. Woodward (paraphrased): The problem is that the public doesn't trust us.

Thank God that the WP has owners and editors that would protect us from having to reveal our sources -- the very thought of having to reveal a source sends *chills* all through me.

:eyes:

Bernstein on the other hand (again, paraphrased): The public shouldn't trust us, not because of any bias, but because we aren't doing our jobs, we aren't pushing hard enough to discover what some people don't want discovered.

BIG difference, I think.

Interesting clip!

[flpoljunkie]

3. Their concern for "partisan discourse" misplaced, it is patriotic to speak

up, and speak up loud, when you government has become so corrupt and inept that they imperil our democracy, our standing in the world, our economic future, and the future of our children and grandchildren--as these folks would rape our planet for short-term economic gain.

[flpoljunkie]

4. And where was press concern for "partisan discourse" during Clinton years?

[Joe Chi Minh]

5. Both Woodward and Larry King looked very uncomfortable on

the latter's show the other day; Woodward licking his lips with fear and even seeming to choke up as he spoke on one occasion. I don't mean tearfully, but from tension. And Larry seeming somewhat rubicund.

What goes round comes round, as one Grand juror reminded Monica Lewinsky, after she's been hounded and theatened by hireling FBI agents.

[rosesaylavee]

6. The whole story hasn't been disclosed yet but

I have to say that I am sorry that Woodward seemingly has fallen from that pedestal I have had him on all these years. When that story broke - I was fascinated by his and Bernstein's work - I read All the President's Men maybe 5 times since it was published. Their work gave me a faith in a Press that, no matter how crazy things get in Washington, could be relied on to do 'the right thing', to find the Truth and lay it out for us the American people.

If Woodward has clay feet - my hope in a free press has all but faded to a nice warm fuzzy memory from my youth.

When I first saw this video in October - thought Woodward had become a fussy old man but took his reluctance to dig into this administration as an old reporter's reserve who wished to remain neutral. Sheesh, what a fool I was.

[McCamy Taylor]

7. I thought Woodward looked scared but couldnt figure what he was afraid of.

Now I know.

Notice where he interrupts Bernsteins first diatribe about the PLame Affair to tell the anecdote about being accused of being a media whore and then a traitor to the WH by two people almost back to back? Woodward was already preparing his public defense for the incredible pr backlash that he knew he was going to get when it was revealed that he had been sitting on another WH Plame leak source for two years while poo pooing the investigation. He must have been watching the media stoning of Judy Miller with tredipation.

[SpiralHawk]

9. Yes -- Woodward looked as twitchy as Bush's coke jaw

Anyone watching Woodward would have recognized immediately that he was uncomfortable -- afraid -- of discussing the truth of this matter.

Shame on him. He has a responsibility to the citizens of the USA, not to the BushCo Cabal and Culture of Corruption. His guilty demeanor makes it plain where he stands: in the cesspool.

[applegrove]

8. I remember that too. I kept thinking - he has access - he is busy keeping

that access.