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Most Shocking Headlines of 2008: Tim Russert's Sudden Death

CitizenSugar — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:30:30 -0800

Tim Russert came into homes on Sunday mornings as host of Meet the Press and night after night during this election and so many before. His sudden and early death shocked us all on June 13.

Even from this side of the screen, Tim's love for his job, politics, and life was palpable, and Americans came to feel like they knew him. His death was a how-can-this-be moment that dominated the news so much that we questioned how much was enough.

Tom Brokaw stepped in as temporary Meet the Press moderator, and David Gregory took over last Sunday — a choice we deemed as boring. David certainly can't replace Tim, so he'll have to put his personal mark on the show to win us over. Until then we miss Tim, making his death one of the biggest and saddest stories of 2008.

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Obama Promises a People's White House

CitizenSugar — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:01:09 -0800

Yesterday on Meet the Press President-elect Barack Obama promised to make the White House a symbol of everyday Americans during his presidency. He explained: "Part of what we want to do is to open up the White House and remind people this is the people's house." Obama plans to invite artists and scientists on a regular basis, in an attempt to inspire national character.

Some other highlights from Obama's interview include:

On culture: [I'm] "thinking about the diversity of our culture and inviting jazz musicians and classical musicians and poetry readings in the White House so that once again we appreciate this incredible tapestry that's America."
On the economy: The recession “is a big problem, and it’s going to get worse. . . The key for us is making sure that we jump-start that economy in a way that doesn't just deal with the short term, doesn't just create jobs immediately, but also puts us on a glide path for long-term sustainable economic growth, and that's why I spoke in my radio address on Saturday about the importance of investing in the largest infrastructure program, in roads and bridges and other traditional infrastructure since the building of the Federal Highway System in the 1950s."

To find out what Obama had to say about education and Iran,

David Gregory to Host Meet the Press — Good Choice?

LibertySugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:00:15 -0800

David Gregory will be the next host of Meet the Press, according to reports. The NBC vet will take over after interim host Tom Brokaw interviews President-elect Barack Obama on this weekend's show. Gregory, 38, has served as NBC's White House correspondent since 2000, and he currently hosts his own show on MSNBC.When we asked last week, Gwen Ifill of PBS was the top choice among CitizenSugar readers. Now that we apparently know the pick, tell me: Will David Gregory help you get up early on Sunday mornings to watch Meet the Press?Source

David Gregory to Host Meet the Press — Good Choice?

Yay! He has the right experience and professional demeanor.

Nay. Even if I set my alarm, this boring pick will put me back to sleep.

Who Should Host Meet the Press?

CitizenSugar — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:00:01 -0800

NBC may soon name the next permanent host of Meet the Press. Whomever succeeds longtime host Tim Russert, who died unexpectedly earlier this year, will surely become one of the most influential journalists in the world. Every president since John F. Kennedy, along with countless prominent national leaders, have appeared on Meet the Press, the longest running TV show in history. Do you think NBC should tap a well-seasoned journalist, or go with a younger anchor who can take the show in a new direction?Source

Who Should Host Meet the Press?

Andrea Mitchell, NBC chief foreign affairs correspondent

Chuck Todd, NBC political director

David Gregory, NBC White House correspondent

Gwen Ifill, PBS anchor

Katie Couric, CBS anchor

Ted Koppel, former ABC anchor

I know the perfect person, and I'll tell you in the comments!

McCain on Meet the Press Today: "I Believe I'm Going to Win"

CitizenSugar — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 09:08:49 -0700

An optimistic and fired up John McCain showed up to Meet the Press this morning where he dispelled the notion that he was hurting in the polls. McCain said, “We are doing fine. We have closed in the last week, and we’re going to continue this close in the next week.” Did you catch that? "The next week" he's referring to is the last week of the campaign. It's almost impossible to believe that there's still an ending to this.

Talk turned to his running mate and McCain stood firm on his Palin-position, “I don’t defend her. I praise her. She needs no defense." And as for that much ballyhooed shopping spree, McCain is very pragmatic about it. “She lives a frugal life, she and her family are not wealthy, she and her family were thrust into this."

Though a Newsweek poll released yesterday shows Obama with a 13-point lead nationally, McCain pressed on assuring voters, "We've closed in the last week. We'll continue to be very competitive in many of the battleground states." In all this morning, he sounded tough, rough, and ready, good-naturedly likening himself to Knute Rockne at half time. Is his optimism right on?

To see what he had to say,

Reactions to Powell's Endorsement: Race, Elitism, & Legacy?

CitizenSugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 07:49:54 -0700

After Colin Powell's thorough endorsement of Barack Obama yesterday on Meet the Press the reactions and analysis flew in the media and your comments. Here are some of the standout reactions:

Michelle Malkin called "Powell’s embrace of Barack Obama is a triumph of hope over reality," but is careful to say she doesn't think it's an issue of race. "It’s Obama’s social liberalism, not his skin color, that attracts Powell most."
Rush Limbaugh and Pat Buchanan didn't come to the same conclusion, saying, "I am now researching his past endorsements to see if I can find all the inexperienced, very liberal, white candidates he has endorsed," and "look would Colin Powell be endorsing Obama if he were a white liberal Democrat..." respectively.
Over on Townhall, they link the endorsement to the importance Powell puts on the opinion of the media elite saying, "But what his endorsement highlights again is that this race isn't just about left vs. right, liberal vs. conservative. It's about elites vs. normal, everyday Americans."

To see what McCain had to say and what happens next,

Gen. Colin Powell Endorses a Candidate on Meet the Press

CitizenSugar — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 08:23:21 -0700

On Meet the Press moments ago, former Secretary of State Colin Powell laid out first his reasons, and then his much-anticipated endorsement. Powell said that Obama had been showing intellectual vigor and displaying concern for all of the country and the issues people care about, while he was concerned by McCain's seeming constant changing of ideas on how to solve problems. He said though Gov. Palin was to be respected she was not ready to be the president, which is "the job of vice president."

Continuing, he expressed dismay over the Ayers tactic and the robocalls happening about him, saying, "this goes too far. It makes the McCain campaign look too narrow." Adding the party has moved too far to the right, something else that he was troubled with. After telling a stunning story about a picture of a mother at her son's headstone in Arlington cemetery who was a 20-year-old soldier of the Muslim faith, and he expressed extreme disappointment that the faith seems to being used in the campaign as a synonym for terrorism or anti-Americanism.

Then he said it. To see who he endorsed,

Will Powell Endorse on Meet the Press on Sunday?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:37:48 -0700

Will Powell Endorse on Meet the Press on Sunday? Gen. Colin Powell will be a guest on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday, but what will he say? Politico's Mike Allen reports some in the McCain camp think Powell will officially endorse Sen. Barack Obama on the program, but those close to Powell are not saying.

Biden Bumps Into Iraq, Abortion, and Palin on Meet the Press

LibertySugar — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:15:45 -0700

Democratic VP nominee Joe Biden made his 42nd appearance yesterday on Meet the Press. Tom Brokaw asked him some tough questions, often reciting previous Biden statements from many years past. Here's a rundown on how Biden met questions about the surge, abortion, religion, and the latest addition to the race, Sarah Palin.

On Sunni/Shia cooperation in Anbar:
It's still — it's a big problem, Tom. . . . We're paying 300 bucks a month to each of those guys. Now the problem has been and the promise was made by Maliki that they (Shia) would be integrated into the overall military. That's a process that is beginning in fits and starts now, but it's far from over.
On a timed withdrawal of American troops:
Whether or not the surge worked is almost irrelevant now. We're in a new deal. What is the administration doing? They're doing what Barack Obama has suggested over 14 months ago, turn responsibility over and draw down our troops. . . . The only guy in America out of step is John McCain. John McCain's saying no timeline.
On Iraq, the surge, and political reconciliation:
The surge helped make that (reduction in sectarian violence) possible. What made it possible in Anbar province is they did what I'd suggested two and a half years ago: gave local control. They turned over and they said to the Sunnis in Anbar province, "We promise you, don't worry, you're not going to have any Shia in here. There's going to be no national forces in here. We're going to train your forces to help you fight al-Qaeda." . . . What you had was the awakening. The awakening was not an awakening by us, it was an awakening of the Sunnis in Anbar province willing to fight.

To see what Biden had to say about his view on abortion as a Catholic, and for his view on Republican counterpart Sarah Palin,

Tom Brokaw Will Host "Meet the Press"

CitizenSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:55:07 -0700

Tom Brokaw Will Host "Meet the Press" NBC moved quickly to stanch speculation about who would succeed Tim Russert as moderator of Meet the Press, announcing Sunday that Tom Brokaw, former anchor of NBC Nightly News, would fill the role for the rest of this election year. The president of NBC News said “when Tom proposed this idea, we jumped at it,” adding: “It was a huge relief. It offers us some time.”

Remembering Tim Russert on Meet the Press

CitizenSugar — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 08:17:25 -0700

I'm at a loss this morning, in the span of time usually devoted to coffee and Tim Russert on Meet the Press, his absence is deafening. This morning, in lieu of the regular show, they're running a tribute to Russert. The long-running show began in 1947, and Russert has helmed the ship since I can remember.

I've been reading some of the poignant tributes to Russert this morning, and pouring through pictures and trivia about Meet the Press — here are some of my favorites.

Every president since John F. Kennedy has appeared on the show during their career. The answers to these next two facts are pictured above: Who is the most frequent guest? And who had the longest span of time between first appearance and most recent appearance?

To find out,

Breaking: Tim Russert of Meet the Press Dies of a Heart Attack

CitizenSugar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:49:32 -0700

I couldn't be more sad to report that Tim Russert of NBC's Meet the Press has died of a heart attack. The New York Times reports they heard the news from Russert's family.

Upon announcing the news, Tom Brokaw said, “this news division will not be the same without his strong, clear voice.” Russert is survived by his wife Maureen Orth and their adult son, Luke. He was 58 years old.

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Who's Watching Obama on Meet the Press?

CitizenSugar — Sun, 04 May 2008 08:07:11 -0700

Barack Obama's full hour on Meet the Press is just starting where I am — are you watching? Did you see it already?

Earlier this week Politico called the appearance "a potentially decisive broadcast." Is it? Did anything strike you?

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To Bill or Not to Bill: Are Hillary's Surrogates Helping?

CitizenSugar — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 23:50:00 -0700

Bill Clinton was in New Orleans over the weekend where he met up for a ground breaking with fellow Katrina activist Brad Pitt, and delivered a speech about the Clinton Global Initiative. Bill grabbed the opportunity to reinforce Hillary's campaign policy on rebuilding New Orleans. Bill called for the need for a full-time Katrina coordinator and said, ""All of this would be better done if there were a federal coordinator. . . and a sustained effort to make sure that government agencies are operating functionally." Bill's appearance made for at least one Hillary surrogate who was on message this weekend.

The pesky reality is that presidential candidates aren't humanly capable of being everywhere at once. Campaigning for years (or so it seems. . .) in a country this big, a candidate will have to outsource a little of the pomp and circumstance once in a while. Ah, the surrogate. Someone who can step in and deliver a message on behalf of the candidate, rally the supporters, and represent the brand. Chelsea's done it, Michelle Obama, even the recent controversial statements by Geraldine Ferraro, all took turns at carrying messages to varying degrees of success.

Bill Clinton might be the most sweet-and-sour bearer of this task. To see what he's been up to, and who he told to "chill out,"

Headline: Ralph Nader Declares Candidacy

CitizenSugar — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:21:24 -0800

On Meet The Press this morning, Ralph Nader, perennial third-party candidate, said he's running for president of the United States. Launching his third bid in as many races, Nader said,

Dissent is the mother of ascent. And in that context, I have decided to run for president.

Shunning the notion that he serves as nothing but a spoiler for a Democratic party victory, Nader shot back,

Not a chance. If the Democrats can’t landslide the Republicans this year, they ought to just pack up, close down, and re-emerge in a different form.

How will this development affect the race? Could Nader's entry bait other third-party runs? Is Bloomberg on Nader's speed dial? Though many nations have political landscapes that support lots of political parties, can our solidly binary system support triangulation by a third — or does the other candidate stand to be a mistress, a spoiler distracting voters from working on their relationship with their party?

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