The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the Media Today: The Bad=Larry King
(This is the third in a series of rants about news media personalities. On Friday I wrote about Judy Miller and her latest assignment and the The Washington Post’s blogger problem.)…
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26 - Scott Butki
You mean Katie or someone else?
27 - sr
Katie, Larry, Ruefes and Duefes, and Observer(Voyeur). Just stay away from FOX. Dont need the contamination.
28 - Scott Butki
Like the energizer bunny he's still going.
29 - Scott Butki
From the New York Times:
Two kinds of celebrities go on "Larry King Live" on CNN: those with something to sell and those with something to hide.
Al Gore and Brandon Routh, the young star of the newly released "Superman Returns," recently appeared on the show to promote their new movies.
The second category includes guests like Star Jones Reynolds, Mary Kay Letourneau, and, right after his indictment in 2004, Kenneth L. Lay of Enron. "Larry King Live" is the first stop in any damage control operation " a chance to explain oneself to the least contentious journalist in the land.
And that is why President Bush invited the CNN talk show host to the White House on his 60th birthday. The standoff with North Korea over its missile tests, the war in Iraq and ever-sliding ratings in the polls have given the president little reason to celebrate. Mr. King gave the president a chance to defend his policies without risk of interruption or follow-up.
At times, Mr. King even provided the president with answers. "You've always had a lot of compassion for the Mexican people," the interviewer interjected in a discussion of the president's immigration bill. Mr. Bush seemed a little surprised, but grateful. "Yes, sir!" he replied.
The hourlong interview was taped Thursday in the Blue Room of the White House with Mr. King crouched in the foreground across a small round table from the president and Laura Bush, dressed in his trademark suspenders and cowboy boots.
After a brief, good-humored exchange about how the president felt about turning 60, Mr. King asked Mr. Bush about North Korea vaguely enough for the president to repeat what he said earlier in the day in an appearance with the Canadian prime minister, Stephen Harper, about the need for a united stand to bring the North Korean president to reason.
Other than the fact that Mr. Bush promised not to lecture President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia before the Group of Eight meeting next week in St. Petersburg, Mr. King did not elicit news or curveballs from the president.
Even when he ventured into areas like the war in Iraq, public opinion polls or the president's past friendship with Mr. Lay, Mr. King looked less like an interrogator than a hotel concierge gently removing lint from a customer's coat. Mr. King's questions rarely rile his guests; instead, his cozy, incurious style encourages them to expose themselves.
And just as Liza Minnelli seemed to come unglued all on her own in her appearance on the show last March, Mr. Bush at times seemed tense and defensive even without needling from his host. "I've been popular before, as president," Mr. Bush said tightly. "And I've been " people have accepted what I've been doing." He added: "Sometimes things go up and down. The best way to lead and the best way to solve problems is to focus on a set of principles. And do what you think is right."
The president appeared on Mr. King's show twice before, in 2000 and in 2004, but those were campaign interviews. On Thursday, the president was fighting to improve his battered image.
When he was at a loss for words, Mrs. Bush stepped in to speak on his behalf, sometimes with more dexterity than her husband. "Well, sure, you know, we worried about it, obviously," Mrs. Bush replied when asked whether she was rattled by the North Korean missile tests. "But what I spent the day doing actually was watching our shuttle take off from Florida."
Mrs. Bush even managed to politely set Mr. King straight when he somewhat puzzlingly described Mr. Putin as "very Western."
"Well, I don't know if I would say that," she said gently. "I think he's very Russian. But I like him a lot."
It wasn't live, but it was classic Larry King: a warm bath, not a hot seat.
30 - DazeyMai
I thought I heard the entire interview, but apparently, I didn't. I did not hear Mr. King question Bush about his friendship with Ken Lay. I am very curious as to what was said during that part of the interview.
Overall, it was a very weak session. Bush's answers were pathetic, and I felt sorry for him at times. For example, when Bush stated that a good leader pays no attention to poll numbers because a leader has to make his decisions without considering what voters think. Also, every time he insists we are winning in Iraq, I cringe...and also when he says he would do the same thing again even knowing what he knows now. It would be so good to hear him say..."I made a terrible mistake, and I apologize to the American people". He is just not big enough to admit he made a mistake no matter how costly and obvious that mistake is to the entire world.
I'm sorry to say I think our President is a man totally without character or any redeeming virtues.
31 - frank
in the current Pres. Bush and and Lady interview,
don't you think it would have been appropriate for Larry King to have worn his suit coat instead of sitting there disrespectful and like a Yokel.....
07/07/06
32 - DazeyMai
Frankly, Frank, I think Larry King showed the President more respect than he deserves. He was very polite and easy on Bush. It was just the same old BS..."I would do it over again"...."polls don't mean anything"...blah, blah, blah. As for Larry's suspenders and cowboy boots...they are his signature. He wears them no matter who he interviews, and George Bush, of all people, deserves no special respect.
33 - DazeyMai
Frankly, Frank, I think Larry King showed the President more respect than he deserves. He was very polite and easy on Bush. It was just the same old BS..."I would do it over again"...."polls don't mean anything"...blah, blah, blah. As for Larry's suspenders and cowboy boots...they are his signature. He wears them no matter who he interviews, and George Bush, of all people, deserves no special respect.
34 - MCH
I've always wondered why Rush Limbaugh was afraid to go on King's show, refusing several invitations...?
35 - sr
Who is this king larry that lays down his sord for frecking suspenders. Must uplift his little liberal titties or something. Only on CNN. The most trusted name in news if you believe in the tooth fairy. Holy Crapola Batman.
36 - Scott Butki
Thanks for all the comments.
37 - A. A. Qudeimat
Larry King is a man found in a time all other men disapeared.
He is the one that we always wish to watch in a tv programme and paid back for our time spent.
Larry go on you are still the best.