Couric on Better Behavior in Interview with Dep. Sec. State Armitage (Impact of FR Outcry?)

The Today Show

[governsleastgovernsbest]

In a just-completed interview with Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, the Katie Couric on display was a far cry from the bitter, clenched-jawed woman of yesterday.

Couric's interview of Gen. Ricardo Sanchez yesterday was a festival of attempts to downplay the significance of Saddam's capture and to highlight perceived shortcomings in US policy and accomplishments.

No one would confuse the Couric of today with a cheerleader for US policy. But while she turned no handstands on behalf of Pres. Bush, neither did she second-guess or undermine in the same way she attempted yesterday.

It could be that Katie was reacting to the tone and the physical presence of the guest himself. The shaved, bullet-headed Armitage is an imposing figure.

And from the beginning of the interview, he set a very brisk, no-nonsense tone with Katie, pointedly addressing her as "Miss Couric."

She was most solicitous in inquiring after the health of Sec. of State Colin Powell, following his surgery yesterday for prostate cancer. That would be expected since the moderate Powell has always been on the liberals' "good" list.

But in her questions on other issues, from the information gleaned in interrogations of Saddam, the possible capture of Ibrahim Al-Duri, James Baker's diplomatic mission with the French and others, the carping and second-guessing was largely gone, and the questions were essentially straightforward.

Even on the most controversial issue, a leaked memo by Dep. Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz in which he set forth in stark terms opposition to the awarding of rebuilding contracts to countries who hadn't helped us in Iraq, Couric kept her venom in check.

As is well known, there is a rift between the warm and fuzzy types at State and the harder-liners at Defense. To Armitage's credit, he defended Wolfowitz strongly and expressed support for the views expressed in the memo.

So striking was the change in Couric's demeanor, that I could only conclude that the outpouring of criticism in the wake of her contemptible performance of yesterday had an impact. Neither she nor her NBC bosses could have ignored the avalanche of messages from FReepers and no doubt many others across the country condemning Couric's negative, carping interview of Gen. Sanchez.

It was a chastened Katie Couric on display today. To my fellow FReepers, I say "bravo." I sincerely feel you have made a difference.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Today Show ping.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I wrote this a while back. Still applies of course.

Katie

My TV set is seldom on,
The place called NBC.
I seldom stop to listen to,
The lies they fling at me.
But every now and sometimes then,
I have to cruise on by.
To watch the little evil snit,
And laugh right in her eye.
She wrinkles up her face so tight,
It looks just like a fist.
If something good she must report,
You'll see that she is pissed.
She hates Bush and Arnold too,
America she loathes.
If I was network president,
She couldn’t buy her clothes.
So this I say for all to hear,
I think that she's a slob.
Ms Couric’s insignificant,
I’d love to take her job.

Flurry 10/8/3

[The Mayor]

Mrs Mayor and I wrote a nasty email to them telling them she should step down..

The words weren't so kind.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Looks like your words, and no doubt hundreds if not thousands of fellow Americans, made an impact.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Some might consider this post a story about a dog that didn't bite. But given Couric's disgraceful display of yesterday, I found her very different demeanor of today noteworthy.

[leadpenny]

Good job and, thanks, I can't watch Katie Couric. While she was doing her thing yesterday, Don Imus was doing a live interview with the 4th ID's 1st Bde commander, COL Hickey. It was a beautiful thing. Col Hickey, BTW, is an Imus fan and listens to him when he is home.

[Arrowhead1952]

I'm glad I don't have a TV at work. I forced myself to watch her arrogant behavior yesterday, and couldn't stand to watch another minute of her $#!++y behavior.

Is she wearing black again today? Bet she is still in mourning.

Her famous quote at the start of the war, "I hope Saddam got out alive" still outrages me.

[MEG33]

O'Reilly was denying that Couric was being a nay saying jerk yesterday to someone who was remarking on her performance(I didn't get the name) last night.O'Reilly can be such a pompous know it all....Glad to see she got the message.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

She's wearing black pants and a black sweater, but topped with a camel hair jacket. Slowly emerging from mourning?

[Lazamataz]

I have mixed feelings about Al-Qaetie Couric's improved behavior. On one hand, it's better that Al-Qaetie Couric does not hurt the troops morale and that of their families. On the other hand, it's better to see what really goes on in the heart or Al-Qaetie Couric.

Al-Qaetie Couric.

[MEG33]

Terrific!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I saw that too. O'Reilly can truly be clueless at times. I think he throws in comments like this from time to time to burnish his self-styled "independent" image.

[YaYa123]

I loved Armitage's "Ms Curok".

It was almost dismissive, wasn't it? I think Armitage surprised her. He sure took away Katie's main weapon, her schtick...that happy face, cutesy pie familiarity, which she uses to disarm her guests and sweeten her venom.

[Feckless]

Probably "that time of the month" or, better yet, Rich warned her in the Green Room he'd bitch slap her if she tried that with him. One can only hope.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I thought the same thing - Armitage was letting Katie know from the git-go that he was well aware of the stunt she had pulled yesterday, and that he was having none of the palsy-walsy banter that is a thin veil for her vituperation. It really did seem to set her back.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

...but topped with a camel hair jacket...

Showing solidarity with Saddam's women.

[Arrowhead1952]

She's wearing black pants and a black sweater, but topped with a camel hair jacket. Slowly emerging from mourning?

Wearing black again???? Give it up Miss perky. Any good news for America is bad for the RATs. Wonder how many cyanide pills she has in her pocket??

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Showing solidarity with Saddam's women.

Or perhaps with Saddam's . . . camels.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Same thing.