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.

[Stallone]

All Socialists are Thugs - and Cowards.

They are either at your feet, or at your throat.

My recommendation:

AT YOUR FEET. Especially little Katie, and think how pretty she could be by not talking i.e. something shoved down her throat.

[Hatteras]

Katie is a New Yorker now. She's been there long enough to qualify. Isn't it some kind of law that all NYC women wear black?

[McGruff]

Maybe somebody over there realized her performance
yesterday was out of touch with the american people.

Or maybe not.

[MissAmericanPie]

Talent, your chock full of it, lol.

[Lazamataz]

Ah, baloney. A few dozen moaning and groaning letters do nothing.

Yeah, a few dozen moaning and groaning letters sure didn't change CBS's plans to air the anti-Reagan hit piece on broadcast television, did it?

Oh, wait, it did.

Never mind.

[PJ-Comix]

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.

YUP! Congrats on monitoring the Today Show and keeping us updated with these threads. Thanx to the Internet and folks like you, Al-Qaetie Couric and her ilk can no longer get away with their extreme bias without hearing IMMEDIATE protest. And kudos to all the Freepers for keeping the heat on them!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Some on this thread are expressing skepticism that the reaction from FReepers and others to her disgraceful performance of yesterday had any impact.

I'm not so sure. Particularly when contrasted with the much more supportive coverage from her counterparts on the ABC and CBS morning show, I believe that the NBC chiefs could have been concerned about the impact on ratings, and had a word with Katie.

[Lazamataz]

You folks really do need to get out more.

Join us.

Freep people.

JOIN US.

[Major_Risktaker]

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

Yes, a gentleman's camel hair jacket, you know buttons on the right.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Ladies and gentlemen . . . WE GOT HER!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Cue the rim shot!

[MEG33]

LOL!

[new cruelty]

You folks really do need to get out more.

ROTFLOL... er.. you first. : )

[Conspiracy Guy]

A lot of people say I'm full of it. Thanks.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

"What do we do with Saddam, now that we gottim?
"Have the Republican Guard take turns with his bottom."

[Major_Risktaker]

Al-Qaetie Couric

LOL!

[MinuteGal]

Re: The pic of Armitage at the top of this thread.....haven't I seen this face in a past James Bond movie?

Leni

[wita]

Perkie hardly describes what I think of when faced with pictures or mention of miss couric. She is an unruly child in need of something besides the high dollar job that must certainly validate her role as A$$whole of the year, at least in her own mind.

[PJ-Comix]

Actually it was Lazamataz who came up with the Al-Qaetie Couric moniker. Plus I believe he has a copyright on it pending.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Or could it be . . . Dr. Evil?