Who should replace Russert on MTP? One candidate only: Keith Olbermann...

[ReverendDeuce]

My girlfriend and I are absolute political junkers. We are NBC fans and have been for years. We watch Tim Russert religiously every Sunday while I make pancakes.

We were watching the coverage tonight and were thinking amongst ourselves about who will ultimately replace Tim Russert as host of Meet the Press. I was thinking about all the names I saw on here. Shuster, Gregory, Mitchell, Matthews...

Then she looked at me and said "I know who it should be." and I said "Who?" She replied "He's talking right now." I looked up and it was Keith. And she doesn't even like Olbermann that much.

But we both agree that Keith is the one who should pick up the show. He's articulate, asks extremely poignant questions, and is brutally honest. Of course, he'd need to tame his flame a bit on Sunday mornings, and put on the so-called "partisan to the truth" hat. But I think if anyone can do it, he has the charisma and the ability to pull it off in the grand Russert tradition.

Thoughts?

[babylonsister]

1. It'd be okay with me if he could do his show, too. He's too valuable

a voice to lose on cable imo.

[SharonRB]

7. I agree

I also don't think he's middle-of-the-road enough to do MTP. It's going to need someone who's not seen as leaning too far left or too far right. I love, KO, as you know, but I don't think he'd be right for the job. He'd be great at it, but I think he's seen as too far left of center to be credible.

[cynatnite]

2. Give KO MTP and Rachael Maddow can have Countdown n/t

[petwlkr]

59. Actually I would like to see the exact opposite

I know that she hasn't "paid her dues" as far as the tv news goes so there is little chance of this happening BUT...

I honestly think Rachael Maddow would be better as the moderator on MTP then Keith. You should leave him on Countdown, thats where he excels anyway. Maddow is extremely well versed in politics; she is articulate and lightening quick on her feet. Yes she has a Democratic bias but I believe she is the consummate professional and would have no problem keeping that in check and remaining neutral for the most part.

[Connie_Corleone]

3. I like Keith but he's too partisan to do that show.

I would rather have someone who is a real journalist and hard to figure out what their political leanings are. Preferably, someone who isn't on TV with their own show already.

[SharonRB]

9. Oops

I just said basically the same thing before I saw your post. GMTA.

[Berry Cool]

17. Keith IS a real journalist.

But that doesn't mean I think he's right for Meet the Press, or that he'd want to live in DC.

[OzarkDem]

26. To be fair

neither Olberman or Russert are (were) true journalists.

Russert had a law degree and Olberman had and undergrad degree in communications. Any J school grad knows the difference.

[Time for change]

57. Keith is a whole lot less partisan than Russert

He's just a lot more honest about showing whatever partisan leanings he has. If asked to do MTP he could put a damper on that.

But I doubt that NBC would like to have him do MTP, because his honesty would interfere with their own partisan agenda, being much less compliant than Russert.

[ncteechur]

4. I actually think it will be Andrea Mitchell.

[Connie_Corleone]

6. I'll sleep in on Sunday mornings if it's her or David Gregory.

[babylonsister]

11. She's been around awhile, but I think she's horrid on her one-hour-a-

day recently. Maybe if she had a week to prepare she'd be better. Today, speaking from the heart, was the best I've ever seen her.

[goclark]

28. I'm tired of all the DC insiders

They see the world through their eyes only.

[goclark]

42. Wife of the Money Man Alan Greenspan

That is about as corporate shill as you can get IMO.

My thought about Keith is that Morning Joe and all the others are able to say anything they want to say against Democrats and pretend they are fair.

Keith always let's you know where he is coming from but I don't recall him being unfair when interviewing someone that is making sense.


Of all the pundits that I know of, I'm sure that I will get bashed :) he is the best!
He is like the 21st Century Edward R. Marrow.


What were the credentials for Edward R. Marrow and what Credentials does Andrea have other than getting a big boost from being a Greenspan that doesn't go by that name?

Matt Lauer :mad:

Gregory :mad:

Joe :mad: :mad:

Brian Williams ?? maybe

Pat Buchanan :mad:

Rachael :hug: but they would never give it to her because even though she has the best credentials in the bunch and a skilled debater, she is a known Democrat.

We know they would never give her a position but they are willing to give it to all the shills.

[petwlkr]

60. You may be on to something here

It makes perfect sense that they would offer it to Andrea Mitchell.

[mcctatas]

5. I love Keith and all but IMHO it should go to more of a "straight"

journalist type. Keith has made his mark by doing analysis and opinion, the moderator of MTP should be seen as unbiased. Besides, I like Keith right where he is, able to speak truth to power and call people on their BS. :hi:

[ReverendDeuce]

8. That's really the ONLY negative we saw...

Keith is not THAT partisan, but I think he could pull it off.

If given the opportunity, I think he could straighten the act up and really carry on the tradition.

1. Keith IS smart.
2. Keith IS articulate.
3. Keith IS charismatic.
4. He has QUITE a following.

I think it's a no-brainer.

Give the boy a chance.

[SharonRB]

12. Exactly

I hadn't seen your post either before I said about the same thing upthread.

[jasmine621]

10. Keith blew it for me during this campaign with his bias against Hillary.

Ok for him to not support Hillary but a lot of his stuff was just pure unfair, exxagerated, biased and in some cases hateful. I think a lot of women would protest KO replacing Russert.

[Skittles]

19. damn straight

he was absolutely disgusting

[papau]

30. I agree - KO is a no - but Bill Moyers and Gwen Ifill would seem obvious and there are others

[Maureen1322]

47. I like that Idea. They would be terrific.

[tritsofme]

13. It would diminish the appeal of appearing on the show.

Many national and political figures on the right (and even many moderate Democrats) would likely decline to appear on MTP if Keith was in charge.

[ReverendDeuce]

14. I disagree...

I think he can prove himself quickly.

Use the weight of the show to prove himself as a fair journalist.

[canucksawbones]

15. Jon Stewart

the guy is a consummate interviewer, as he has shown abundantly in the past, and when he works "straight" he has shown he has the chops to do it.

[KharmaTrain]

16. Chuck Todd Has My Bet

Russert was the one who recruited him and his star has been on the rise. This job goes to the DC bureau chief and that involves more than just doing the show...it is highly political inside the company and inside the beltway. Russert mastered both...he was Jack Welch's boy when he was handed both the bureau and the show and whoemver is named as his replacement will have to have skills in both areas as well. Tweety's too frantic...and Keith, sad to say, isn't "management" material...he doesn't necessarily play well with others inside the corporate bubble. As we saw in the Plame situation, Russert also played diplomat between government and network...I don't see Keith working comfortably in that world.

Todd has the "political gene" Russert had and has is familiar with the beltway structure through his days as Roll Call. He's also "safe" for the corporates. Another candidate, more on senority, would be David Gregory...but I don't see him as driven and connected as Todd is.

[Berry Cool]

18. I think Keith has learned to play well with others over time

but I don't see him as management material, either. And I'm sure he'd say the same thing.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

62. Interesting....

I like Chuck Todd, but he seems more like a strictly numbers stats guy than someone who'll ask meat and potatoes questions and dig in when they try to brush him off.

I think Andrea Mitchell will get this. Or Gregory. Shuster is still trying to live down the Clinton "pimp" stuff, and KO plays better as a partisan bulldog right where he is.

[NRaleighLiberal]

20. Two outside-the-box ideas....Bill Moyers? Aaron Brown? NT

[Staph]

22. Oooooooooooooh! I like the idea of Aaron Brown.

Bill Moyers would, of course, be heaven, but as I read in another post earlier today, he celebrated his 74th birthday last week. MTP needs gravitas, but it also needs someone who, if successful, can be expected to be around for a decade or two. Aaron Brown is scarcely two years older than Russert.

[YvonneCa]

49. I REALLY like the idea of Aaron Brown. n/t

[goclark]

55. He is not in the in crowd

and kinda boring IMO. :shrug:

[Kokonoe]

21. Keith Olbermann is independent and trustworthy,

so obviously he would never make a good pull the wool over America interviewer.

[brettdale]

23. Keith

Would make a great replacement, but I doubt he would get the job.

[BobbyVan]

24. It would be good for us, but it would ruin MTP

He would never get Republican guests on the show.

Sorry to burst everyone's bubble here, but KO on MTP is pure fantasy.

[OzarkDem]

25. Russert worked for Cheney

Will Olberman do the same? Its probably in the job description.

[goclark]

29. I didn't know that ~

I thought he was middle of the road.

I know James Carville was one of his best friends. They mentioned that today.
Said they talked at least once a day.

I found that interesting.

[OzarkDem]

32. Carville's wife works for Cheney

Its a small, exclusive club inside DC. In many ways its a small, company town.

[Algorem]

44. carville and russert's son have a sports talk radio show,says wikipedia

[goclark]

54. Money stays in the two families

They are close, didn't know that one.

[whistler162]

33. Are you sure???????

He worked for Moynihan and Cuomo but ????CHENEY????

[NNN0LHI]

27. Don't think so

Anyone who watched him trash Bill Clinton every night for a year over a blow job during the impeachment would understand.

Don

[dorkulon]

31. It'll be David Gregory IMO.

Love Keith, but no way are they going to let him do it. He's expressed himself politically way too much to credibly assume a "neutral" moderator's position.

[lonestarnot]

34. Ack Gregory, boring.

[ReverendDeuce]

36. Gregory is a total snoozer... He can't even maintain control over his guests on his B-list show...

I swear, when they show the video graphic of his "panel", it's never clear that he is the leader. He certainly doesn't act like it's his show and he's in charge.

He needs more seasoning before he can take the reigns of MTP.

[lonestarnot]

38. Seasoning? I don't think that will help him either. LOL

[dorkulon]

41. I agree, I just think it'll be him. (nt)

[ReverendDeuce]

35. The gal and I talked about all of these...

Gregory = SNOOZE FEST...

Shuster = too much of a little kid...

Mitchell = SNOOZE FEST...

Matthews = too easily distracted by shiny objects...

The only answer is Keith, honestly.

[davidpdx]

37. I disagree about Olbermann

Though I personally like him, I think he's too partisan. I think Tom Brokaw and Chuck Todd would be the way to go. Bring Brokaw back for six months and then pass the reigns to Todd.

[Common Sense Party]

39. I immediately thought Brokaw, as well.

Olbermann would be awful in that role. If he can't rant and pontificate, what's the point?

[DeepModem Mom]

40. He'd have to grow into it a bit, but I'd go with Chuck Todd as the right fit. nt

[drbtg1]

43. Actually Mr. Olbermann would be a great choice for a reason people ignore.

He's actually a great interviewer. He asks thoughtful, intelligent, well-researched questions and then lets people answer. Yeah, he's partisan, but he's interviewed Pat Buchanon and John Ashcroft on Countdown as well as Republicans on primary nights. They all certainly got a fair shake.

However, the job will go to David Gregory.

[goclark]

46. David Gregory

The one who would ask Bush soft ball questions when other were asking cotton candy questions.

He never followed up,he would only pretend that he was waiting for an answer and Bush would swat him off like a fly.

[drbtg1]

52. True

I'm not saying it's a good choice, just the reality.

I saw that Tom Brokaw is hosting the memorial MTP. Mr. Olbermann would be a good choice to do a special comment on MTP, as he is NBC's best writer.

[CODemocrat]

45. KO is way too slanted.....

I love keith, but he will never host MTP....

It would be like O'Liely hosting "This Week".

never

[ReverendDeuce]

48. DAVID GREGORY == SNOOOOOOZE FEST n/t

I am telling you...

[Wizard777]

50. Jack Cafferty

[goclark]

53. My man Jack Cafferty

Love Jack

[ColbertWatcher]

51. Recommend the thread, disagree with the suggestion.

Meet the Press is only on 1 day a week.

As it stands now, Olbermann is scheduled to be on 5 days, plus whenever else they need him.

I don't think it's a good idea to limit him to one day a week.

[kentuck]

56. Unfortunately, they will not choose KO...

NBC is mainstream. MSNBC is a small cable outlet. We like KO because he is partisan - he is on our side. That would not work at NBC. It will be interesting to see who they choose. I suppose they will try several guest hosts to see who gets the best reviews and ratings. It may be several months before they choose a replacement?

[krkaufman]

58. Wholly agree. I wouldn't have a problem with Olbermann taking-over the show ...

... if he were to be a more objective -- and alert, quick-witted, dogged -- interviewer, but I don't see NBC going in that direction, both because of Olbermann's Countdown ratings and the political bent Olbermann's taken to achieve the ratings. He'd be a tough sell to the Right Wing audience and the most important viewers (see below).

Chuck Todd might have been a great choice a few years from now, but, as things stand today, we're likely going to be stuck with David Gregory or Andrea Mitchell -- a couple faux reporters sufficiently establishment-oriented to be acceptable to GE's corporate lords.

[MNDemNY]

61. Keith is too much of an op-ed guy.

I love him, but no.

[Dukkha]

63. He's better served as a commentator than an independent journalist

Because the so-called "fair and Balanced" M$M is over saturated with right wing blowhard lunatics polluting the airwaves with their filth. He is a sole voice of sanity and opposition to their hate propaganda.