On tonight's episode of Sharp Practice:

Scott McClellan states that Bush is urging himself to cooperate in the grand jury's investigation into the Plame leaks. In response, Bush has consulted his attorney to determine whether he should follow Bush's advice.

Blogger/Democratic Convention Update

TBogg is waiting for his invitation from the DNC. Frankly, the Dems should pony up and send him to New York, undercover. (I'd pay to have him move next door to Lileks.)

Jeralyn Merritt, who has offered her blogging services to some media organizations, is also waiting for her credentials. (Hell, if I was the other Roger Ailes, Ms. Merritt would be filling Greta Van Sustern's host chair, and not just during the convention.)

Me, I'll just pay my cable bill in July.

White Man's Franchise

Is there anything the Republicans won't blame on Native Americans?

"Republicans downplayed Diedrich's 2,981-vote loss, their second consecutive special-election defeat this year, and said they looked forward to watching Herseth defend her six-month voting record before the November rematch.

"'If you take out the Indian reservation, we would have won,' said Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.), former chairman of the NRCC."

Yes, Tom, had you disenfranchised American citizens, you would have won.

You tried that shit two years ago, Tom, but it didn't fly.

And it's not going to happen this year either.

Especially not in November.

Oh, and if your boy hadn't killed a man whilst joyriding, you'd still have the seat too.

Update: I see that Nicholas Confessore at TAPped covered the same ground a few hours ago, and even links to an entry in the same week from the TPM archives. A coincidence, but nevertheless sort of embarassing for yours truly.

(Via Buzzflash.)

Uriah Kaus Strokes Again

A Republican midget writes:

3. "We shook the tree," a reporter for The Hill tells Polier. "A bunch of names fell out, and yours had the most flesh to it." A bunch of names? Hmmm. Had Polier heard such names? Doe she think the hopes for a good Kerry sex scandal are completely unfounded? She's remarkably reticent about Kerry's behavior with others. ...

What the fuck?

Someone tells Polier that the story that she fucked Kerry was the most credible of the Kerry-fucking rumors -- a story she knows is completely false -- and she's supposed to ask who the others are and offer an opinion as to the credibility of the other stories? Did it ever occur to the Republican runt that the reporter was blowing smoke to justify asking an obnoxious and totally unfounded question of Polier? The reporter obviously knew nothing. Haven't you ever heard of a bluff, you dimwit?

And if, as Polier said, she hardly knew Kerry and never worked for him, how the hell would she know about "Kerry's behavior with others?" If you want to spend your days sniffing out a "good Kerry sex scandal," Kaus, do it yourself instead of expecting others to do it for you.

p.s. -- At least Kaus acknowledges that women loathe him and, apparently, the loathing keeps him up all night. (See 6/3, 3:36 a.m.) If there was ever a statistic that supports the existence of superior gender, that's the one.

Nooners Flashback

While some of us spent our Memorial Day weekend hiking, enjoying the sun and spending time with friends, others just spent time with their many personalities. To wit:

"In New York right now we are planning our Memorial Day weekends. We know we are in a difficult historical time, but we do not dwell on it. We don't always even think. We free-associate, like this: I should get a new dress for the graduation at the Saks sale. They could blow up the Lincoln Tunnel. Meg would love one of those little Chanel knockoffs from the street vender. If New York is bombed while we're in Boston, where will we stay? If Boston is bombed while we're at the graduation, how will we get home? Bring cousin Holly's number in northern Connecticut. Pick up mascara.

"From the dire to the banal. No, not from one to another but both interweaved. Having the jits and planning the party. People are dieting because summer's coming and wondering if an al Qaeda hit on New York would trigger a food shortage."

In the next sentence, the Good Peggy responds that most New Yorkers disagree with the Bad Peggys:

My general sense is that New Yorkers don't really think anything bad is going to happen right now.

"And so goes the eternal internal battle for control of Peg's brain."

Someone should write a play based on Nooners' to-do list: Shopping and Fucking Lunatic.

Deep Thoughts, By Jack Daniels

Or, There'll Always Be An Idiot.

But they do remind me of something that occurred to me one day about 30 years ago. I was watching on TV one of the great movies of the British new wave of the 1960s. I think it was "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner." I thought to myself: British acting is simply the best in the world, England is drenched in great acting now. Then I realized it had been for generations -- Gielgud, Redgrave, et al. Then I thought: Hmmmm. The rise of England's acting class the past century seems to coincide perfectly with the fall of its power as a wealthy and powerful nation that made a difference in the world -- an exploring nation, a conquering one.

This has been the second in Nooners' series on her most recent delusion, "If It's Not On Film, It Didn't Happen." Don't miss Part I: "Abu Ghraib: I'm Not Listening, La-La-LA, Just Shut Up, SHUT UP, SHUT UP."

(Via TBogg.)

Elvis, Nixon Vindicated

I always suspected Junior's farm housed a meth lab.

Bush Gardens

James Wolcott, author of the forthcoming Attack Poodles and Other Media Mutants, has an article of the female side of the Bush family and staff in this month's Vanity Fair. According to Lloyd "Grovel" Grove:

Wolcott concludes with a backhanded compliment for daughters Jenna and Barbara: "I've come to have a grudging regard for the Bush twins. Jenna and Barbara may be spoiled brats - tarty party girls - but at least they're not perpetuating false pretenses, being used as attractive props and tweeting noises they don't believe."

"After graduation, the sisters plan to travel with friends, then help with their father's re-election campaign, said Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for Laura Bush.

"Both plan to get jobs or attend graduate school, he said. A visit to Africa has inspired Barbara to work with AIDS sufferers, he said, while Jenna is interested in education."

The public service angle is reminiscent of Dubya's brief career inspiring the inner-city youth of Houston with the force of his presence and personality. And I'll believe it when I see it.

Lawyered Up

As the freepers would say, Geo. W. Bush has got hisself lawyered up.

His mouthpiece is a protege of runty shyster Joey DiGs.

The Republican Party is about to rediscover the presumption of innocence.

What's next, Ahmed Chalabi banged up with Jose Padilla?

Update (6/3): As John Dillinger points out in comments, Joey DiGs was Sharp's protege, not the other way around.

Nuclear Transfer

Following is an e-mail I received from Richard Silverstein, a fellow blogger, in response to my In Vitro Veritas post. The science (like most science) is beyond me, but I can't see the ethical objection to the procedure described.

"I have a 3 yr. old son conceived through egg donation (a slight variant of in-vitro) & 2 twins on the way conceived the same way. It's a terrific advance of medicine enabling tens of thousands of couples to conceive who wouldn't otherwise be able to do it.

On a related subject, our fertility specialist has conceived a new procedure which would allow a woman (like my wife) who cannot otherwise conceive using her own eggs to contribute some of her DNA to create an embryo. This involves taking the nucleus from the viable egg of a younger woman (I may be misstating the science here) and transferring it into an egg of the infertile woman. This would enable such a woman to conceive a baby that would have some of her DNA.

The problem? This procedure uses some techniques involved in cloning & therefore is equated in the minds of right wingers with it. Doesn't matter that the outcome isn't the same; doesn't matter that nuclear transfer produces a baby with the same genetic diversity of naturally conceived babies; doesn't matter that nuclear transfer is a tremendous boon to so many families who want children.

As a result of all this, our doctor has been notified that neither he nor his clinic can pursue this research using any federal funds. This has forced him to use doctors in China to pursue his research. While this is cutting edge medical research, researchers from China & other countries will garner the credit when they succeed & our researchers will be sitting on their hands, twiddling their thumbs because our government decided that ersatz morality trumped the advancement of knowledge.

For my post on this subject, I welcome you to visit Infertility Nightmare, Nuclear Transfer Dream."

Best wishes to Richard and his wife.

Crime, Necrophilia Network

It's nice to see that CNN has resumed its Nancy Grace Freak Show format through this fall.

I can't wait to see the identical shouting match about polygraph tests 500 more times.

Keller on Ethics

My favorite Keller quote:

"It's a little galling to watch her pursued by some of these armchair media ethicists who have never ventured into a war zone or earned the right to carry Judy's laptop."

Shorter Bill Keller: IOKIYARIAWZ.

Jack Kelley is kicking himself right now for having picked the wrong editor to work for.

The Okrent Wimpy Show

Stand back, Danny boy, and watch a real ombudsman show you how it's done.

Michael Getler, in the Sunday WaPo:

Referring to the Sunday story, especially, one reader said: "It was PR puffery for the president based entirely on anonymous sources. I thought The Post had rules against that, especially when the officials quoted are not disclosing anything that could get them in trouble. If the White House wants to launch what Robin Wright calls a 'tightly orchestrated public relations effort' make them do it on the record." I'll vote for that.

Then, the administration hit the daily double. On Wednesday, a front-page story by reporters Susan Schmidt and Dana Priest was headlined, "U.S. Warns of Al Qaeda Threat This Summer; Agents in Country Said to Be Planning Attack." The headline and first paragraph of this quite detailed story suggested that al Qaeda has people in the United States. The second paragraph said "Attorney General John D. Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III intend to hold a joint news conference this afternoon to discuss the threat" and to ask Americans to watch out for al Qaeda operatives who "may be in the country."

The actual news conference was then the lead story in the next day's paper, Thursday, with many of the same details, including indications that terrorists want to mount an attack that would affect the upcoming election. That story, by Schmidt and John Mintz, reported the naming by the FBI of seven suspected agents -- all but one of whom have been sought for several months -- and reported that "officials said they do not know whether any of the seven is in the United States." (Emphasis added.)

That was no daily double. That was the trifecta.

But Getler knows how to name and shame, while Okrent just blows cold and cold. The reader quoted by Getler makes the same point I made here, that the Wright piece was source free and substance free.

Democracy Now! also had some good coverage of the Times' Chalabi Seconds in this interview today with Rick MacArthur and Scott Ritter.

Thanks

To everyone who e-mailed offering to help with my computer glitch. I've sent replies to all who offered assistance.

And thanks to everyone who resisted the urge to compare me to Rich "Pocket Pool" Lowry, who wrote today:

Would anyone out there know how to get data from my old Palm Pilot to my new Blackberry? Between carrying my Costanza-sized wallet, my cell phone, my Palm Pilot, and my Blackberry, I'm running out of pockets and room on my belt. Any help would be appreciated.

Yeah, very impressive, Opie. But where do you keep your keys?

On second thought, I don't want to know.

Urgent

As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I believe everyone's computer will die someday.

I am having a minor technical problem with Windows, in the form of an "Explore[r]" warning message. It hasn't affected my internet access or other functions of the computer (that I know of), but it is a nuisance and recurring problem. If anyone thinks they can assist me with this (and wants to), please send me an e-mail to the fastmail.fm address and I will describe the message/problem in boring, but concise, detail.

In any event, regular insipid commentary will resume this evening.

p.s. The "Urgent" is meant ironically (or is it sarcastically?)

Memorial Day

Roger Ailes will be spending the next four days devoting zero seconds of his time to thoughts of Howie the Putz, Sully Joe, Wankette, Big Pharma and their ilk.

I will be reflecting on those who have sacrificed for others, sleeping a lot and, I hope, getting too much sun.

My daily page views will go into the toilet... and I feel fine.

I hope everyone has a safe and pleasant weekend. If you stumble across this site in my absence, please check out the fine blogs listed to your right.

See you in June.

Make Tim Cry

Those tuning in to C-SPAN's Washington Journal tomorrow a.m. might want to put these quotes up on the screen (like this) for Pumpkinhead Russert:

Quote:

Reliable sources have informed MWO that Jack Welch and Tim Russert attended last autumn's Al Smith Dinner in New York together - and that Russert, on the back of his lapel, was cleverly wearing a Bush for President button.

Russert has reportedly tried to shrug off the incident in private, but has failed to discuss it publicly.

MWO has also been told that either during or after the campaign, Republican Welch chewed out his employee, NBC News correspondent Claire Shipman, for being too favorable to Gore in her reporting on the Vice President's campaign. And Shipman's bureau chief - Tim Russert - reportedly did not lift a finger to protect her or to protest Welch's outrageous partisan interference.

Quote:

Imus himself has referred to one African-American journalist as "a cleaning lady," another as a "quota hire," and tennis player Amelie Mauresmo as "a big old lesbo." Imus taunted another reporter as a "beanie-wearing little Jewboy," called a disabled colleague "the cripple," and has said that he picked one of his producers to do "nigger jokes." (60 Minutes, 7/19/98)

National politicians and beltway journalists have brought the "Imus in the Morning" show to nationwide prominence--the show is now carried by cable network MSNBC--by making "Imus" a regular stop on their media rounds.

One such reporter is NBC's Tim Russert--the same Tim Russert who, on his own NBC show, was unsparing in questioning George W. Bush about the candidate's appearance at Bob Jones University in South Carolina (Meet the Press, 2/13/00).

Russert wondered if Bush's appearance at a school with a history of anti-Catholic bigotry and racial discrimination was "giving affirmation to that institution." ....

ACTION: Ask Tim Russert whether his appearances on the "Imus in the Morning" show give "affirmation" to the kind of obvious racism that is featured on the program. Ask him whether the line of questioning he had for Bush applies to his own appearances on the "Imus in the Morning" show.

And, of course, "Who leaked Valerie Plame's name to Novak (and others), and why are you refusing to cooperate in the investigation of a felony which jeopardized the life of a U.S. agent engaged in the War Against Terror?"

Quote:

Two journalists, one from NBC News [Tim Russert], have received federal subpoenas to face questioning about the alleged leak of an undercover CIA weapons expert's identity, but both news
...

NBC News had said Friday night that it would oppose the subpoena issued to Russert, the first journalist known to have been subpoenaed in the investigation.

Disclosing the identity of an undercover U.S. agent is a felony.

Grand Old Police Blotter: Pardon My Molestations! Edition

Eh, what the fuck is a "secret pardon"!?!

Sexual contact with a child, indecent molestation of a child, rape and manslaughter are among the crimes secretly pardoned by former Gov. Bill Janklow, according to documents released today.

Janklow also secretly pardoned his son-in-law's drunken driving and drug crimes, records show.

Secretary of State Chris Nelson today released 218 pardons dating to 1984. Until today, the pardons were sealed from public view.

Janklow said today that he has taken worrisome phone calls from some of those who had been pardoned.

"I'm just heartsick of the hurt that I've caused people that got pardons," Janklow told the Associated Press this afternoon.

"I've been a lawyer since 1966, and I had never, ever looked at the (pardon) statutes," he said.

"All the processing and paperwork was done administratively by others," he said. "That doesn't excuse me. I bear the responsibility. I never looked at the mechanics. I looked at the substance ... on whether or not a pardon should be granted."

Kaus Flop

In an April 30 Fulton, Mo., speech Kerry said that if U.S. commanders in Iraq need more troops then "they should get them."

Yet last September in a debate with other Democratic contenders in Albuquerque, N.M, Kerry emphatically opposed sending more American troops to Iraq. "We should not send more American troops," he said on Sept 4. "That would be the worst thing. We do not want to have more Americanization, we do not want a greater sense of American occupation."

Shocking!

And the inconsistency is all the more inexplicable because absolutely nothing at all happened in Iraq in the intervening eight months.

And let's compare:

As part of the briefing [on November 20, 2003], Bush startled many by indicating that he could send more troops to Iraq, raising questions about Pentagon statements that the number would be reduced rather than increased in the coming year. He said he would do "whatever is necessary to secure Iraq," whether that means fewer troops or more troops.

His comment appeared to take even top aides by surprise. As the president spoke, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice glanced pointedly toward the press corps assembled inside Britain's Foreign Office, as if to suggest that there might be some clarification coming.

Later a top aide to Bush, who briefed reporters on condition that the aide not be identified, said that Bush was not announcing a change in policy and that expectations remained that troop levels would be reduced. "There is simply nothing to suggest that the number of American forces would need to increase," the aide said. "In fact, the conversations with the commanders have gone the other way."

...

Asked if he would keep a fixed number of troops in Iraq for a longer time, Bush replied: "We could have less troops in Iraq, we could have the same number of troops, we could have more troops in Iraq -- whatever is necessary to secure Iraq."

Flip to flop in 15 seconds!

Amazing Non-Discoveries

Query: Is Pumpkinhead Russert more like Jan Muller or Billy Mays?

Now that the New York Times has presumably been candid with its readers about shortcomings in its reporting on weapons of mass destruction and related issues concerning the Iraq war, will Tim Russert be candid with his viewers about accepting at face value Vice President Cheney's repeated assertions about weapons of mass destruction, Saddam Hussein's supposed links to al-Qaida and 9/11, and Iraq's "imminent threat" to the United States?

In a handful of exclusive, one-on-one interviews on "Meet the Press" starting Sept. 16, 2001, and continuing into 2002 and 2003 (during a period when the vice president was doing no other television interviews), such assertions were made unchallenged and skepticism-free in what amounted to a series of infomercials for Bush administration war policy.

Perhaps we could be shown some video clips, a "Meet the Press" trademark, of the vice president's statements in this regard being embraced as gospel. -- Gene Kryzyznski, at Romenesko Letters

Sometimes soaking the country is the solution!

Smellin' Keller

Bill "Helen" Keller, ex.ed. of the New New York Times, is not only blind to the truth, he's tone-deaf as well. Imagine the spontaneous multiple Os from Sully, Wankette, and a certain hillbilly perfesser if this humble statement had escaped the lips of one H. Raines.

"I don't see this as an apology," he said. "I see this as an explanation. It's not a note that's going to satisfy our most bloodthirsty critics."

We published lies, and we don't care. Now fuck off.

Wankette

Midget Mickey Kaus, who couldn't get a woman to move 10 feet for him without hitting her with his Ford Focus, once again reminds us why he hasn't found that special someone.

"The end of Wonkette? 'Mr. Wonkette' is about to get a job with New York magazine. Presumably his wife will move to New York with him, leaving a gaping void in the nation's capital."

He's got all of the amino acids of Arnold Schwarzenegger, but none of charm, wit or looks.

A subtle reminder to our Attorney General

Hey, Crisco!

I got your terrorist who can portray himself as European right here.

A Critical Eye On A Whore

This Sunday's interview of Pumpkinhead Russert by H.K. Puff'nRuss was so important that the Washington Post devoted a second online chat just to that piece, in addition to H.K.'s usual weekly softsoap.

Howie was in less than top form for the second chat. Watch what happens when he can't simply dodge a vague claim with his standard "I haven't seen any evidence of conservative bias" macro (CTRL-ALT-HK):

Nashville, Tenn.: In the transcript of NBC Meet the Press on May 6, 2001, an interview on Defense Strategy with Secretary Rumsfeld, there wasn't a single question put to the secretary concerning terrorism, by Tim Russert. Later, on that program, when Senator Kerry stated, "North Korea to lob a missile at us has far more consequence than it would by attacking our subways with anthrax, by blowing up buildings in this country, by using a cruise missile they could buy on the market illegally and put a warhead on and fire from a rusty tanker in New York Harbor. ", Mr. Russert seemed surprised that their was a terrorist threat to the homeland. Russert: "And there's no defense against that?"

Apparently NBC News headquarters did not share with its field office in Washington, headed by Mr. Russert, the exclusive report on terrorism by Andrea Mitchell that had aired two days earlier on NBC Nightly News.

"It's a job former President Bill Clinton gave the Justice Department. But President Bush will put the new office under the jurisdiction of FEMA, and put Vice President Cheney in charge of planning the nation's new response to terror at home." ?. "The timing couldn't be better - terror at home is a growing threat, say counter-terrorism experts like the CIA's Paul Pillar."

Howard Kurtz: Who sent this? Al Gore?

Very pithy. And I don't mean Howie's non-response.

Does the Postie who let that question through still have a job? Kudos to Nashville.

How The Whitey Has Fallen

Pity Trent Lott. He now has to go halfway round the world to watch Americans use dogs to terrorize dark-skinned people.

Weak As Water

The New York Times refuses to hold its reporters responsible for the Chalabification of its Iraq coverage.

But click on the links, and let the bylines speak for themselves.

It appears the Times isn't interested in credibility any more.

P.S. Don't forget the continuing fantasies of the Dipshit of Prague, whose mantra is "True? Who cares?"

In Vitro Veritas

Dear Bishop Sheridan, The Cornerites, et al.:

Please condemn Dana Rohrbacher and his wife to Hell.

That is all.

"Awww, Screw It... We're Going Right to Step 6"

Is anyone really surprised by this:

(CNN) -- Several U.S. officials said Tuesday that unnamed terrorists, possibly al Qaeda operatives, are in the United States and planning a "major attack" on U.S. soil this summer.

Officials said the attacks might take place before the November presidential election in an attempt to affect the outcome, similar to the way the Madrid train bombings influenced Spanish elections.

The FBI is likely to issue several alerts for several individuals the bureau would like to locate in the coming days, two counterterrorism sources told CNN.

Very subtle! I particularly enjoy how the officials restrained themselves from saying "...to affect the outcome in favor of Senator John Kerry."

Also please note that although the unnamed officials claim to have no idea who the terrorists are, they know that the motive of the terrorists is to influence the November elections. Nice! Oh, and even though the summer, by definition, ends well before November, these unnamed officials felt compelled to state both that the attacks are planned for the summer and that they "might take place" before the November elections.

The Miller's Tale

Whilom ther was dwellynge at baghendad
A riche lout, that tolde tales of fearsome armaments,
And of his craft he was a swindler.
With hym ther was dwellynge a poure reporter,
Withoute truthe, named Judy...

Oops. I mean:

Jack Shafer reports:

Sources inside and close to the New York Times say that the newspaper is preparing an "Editors' Note" that will reassess its pre-Iraq War coverage, particularly its coverage of weapons of mass destruction. The note is said to address the reporting failures of Times staffers, including Judith Miller, and could be published as early as tomorrow (Wednesday, May 26).

On a separate track, Times Public Editor Daniel Okrent has been calling Times staffers to discuss the WMD issue, fueling speculations that he, too, will write about the subject in his Sunday column.

Let me be the first to say it: Miller must go, and Keller too.

This will be the blogosphere's finest hour.

Opinions For Dummies

"Two years from now -- give or take -- Elizabeth Spiers, the founding editor of the gossip Web sites Gawker and The Kicker, will publish her first novel. Around the same time, Glenn Reynolds, who writes the political Web log Instapundit, will also have a book in stores."

2020 Democrats

A group called the 2020 Democrats is holding an essay contest to select a young voter aged 18-24 to speak at the Democratic National Convention in Beantown this July. Here's the skinny:

2020 Democrats is collaborating with the Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) and MTV's Choose or Lose to select a young person to speak during primetime at the Democratic National Convention. Utilizing their national network of organizations and individuals, 2020 Democrats will select the top ten finalists for Speak Out for the Future and will also select the winners of the Gavel in the Future contest. A panel of young decision-makers and influential leaders will be created to aid in the selection.

Essays from the ten Speak Out for the Future finalists selected by our panel will be posted online at MTV.com this summer, and users will have a chance to vote and determine who will get to read their essay at the Democratic National Convention.

Young leaders and politicos are encouraged to visit the DNC convention site at www.dems2004.org and submit an essay on the specific roles young people can play in the Democratic Party.

Sadly, although Roger could pass for 18-24 (in a 90210/The O.C. kind of way), he doesn't strictly meet the chronological requirements of this endeavor. I am confident, however, that this blog is huge in the 18-24 demographic, and that the winner of the contest will give a big "shout out" to rogerailes.blogspot.com from the convention podium.

Entries must be recieved by Friday, May 28, so don't delay.

Note: Contest is not open to Hipublicans or other fictional characters.

Putzapalooza

Featuring the worst of Howard Kurtz's idiotic statements in his weekly online chat, Media Jackoff.

Err Howie

Washigton [sic], D.C.: Will Air America ever get to DC? I hear Al Franken is very funny on the radio.

Howard Kurtz: That's one of their goals, but not at the present rate. They're having trouble staying on in the half-dozen cities that already carry Air America.

And by "half-dozen," Putzbag obviously means fourteen.

Tim Job

Pomona, N.Y.: Howard, just want to tell you I've been watching your Sunday show and reading your daily columns for a very long time and I was very proud of the tough questions you asked Russert Sunday. Nobody else has, and while I like him I think you did Russert and the rest of us a service. Thanks.

washingtonpost.com: In the Hot Seat (Post Magazine, May 23)

Howard Kurtz: Many thanks. I figured that Tim Russert, of all people, would understand that an interview with a major public figure is supposed to be tough.

Right. Some of the tough questions Howie failed to ask Pumpkinhead were: Why were you subpoenaed by the grand jury in the Plame investigation, and what do you know about the leaks? Why did you throw a tantrum when you ran overtime in the Powell interview? Why haven't you, in your coverage of the Iraq War, ever mentioned the NBC stringer who claims he was physically beaten by American soldiers? How do you justify NBC promoting your lame-ass book in its news programs? And why I am allowing you to use me to promote your lame-ass book?

Intrepid Howie did manage to get to the bottom of how Russert chalked the word "shit" on the sidewalk as a lad, and how he buys his own bottled water, just like the common folk do.

About A Hack

Philadelphia, Pa.: What's with all the attention to Tim Russert's book? Does anyone outside the incestuous media/pundit circle even care about "Big Russ"? There are so many important (and interesting) things to talk about -- doesn't the media have better things to do than interview one of their own?

Howard Kurtz: Well, the book is on the best-seller list, so somebody much care. It's the first book written by NBC's Washington bureau chief and the host of the top-rated Sunday talk show, which draws an audience of 5 million and which recently scored an Oval Office interview with Bush. And it's not really about Big Russ (though Father's Day is approaching). It's about the younger Russ's upbringing in Buffalo, his work for Moynihan and Cuomo, his jump to NBC, his handling of Meet the Press and so on. I'm not surprised that would get a lot of publicity. (Emphasis added)

[Howard Kurtz, May 23:] "Now the anchor has written a book, Big Russ & Me, about his father's role in his life."