Katie Couric – Still Not Ready for Prime Time
May 2nd, 2007 at 8:02 am by CrankyCBS owned talk radio stations – specifically Philadelphia’s Big Talker 1210 – play a little segment called Katie Couric’s Notebook*.
This little audio turd is dropped on listeners around 5pm every night and is ostensibly an insightful non-partisan comment on a current issue.
Listen as Katie proves that she or the interns who write for her just aren’t ready for prime time.
Listen first, then read on.
Let’s start with the “Mission Accomplished” line. Considering that this was the first “grim milestone” used to flog Bush, it may not be the most balanced way to lead into a story.
“It is an opinion piece, it doen’t have to be ‘balanced’,” you retort.
I agree, but work with me, it comes back into play.
The commentary turns to the “political battle” to pass the war spending bill.
Next mentioned is the fact that Bush will veto the war funding bill because it includes a time table for withdrawl. Katie dutifully notes that this veto will only be Bush’s second.
Suddenly, our 60 seconds are up and we jump to the conclusion. With so many lives being lost, can’t both sides stop playing politics?
Sure. Good point in a “why can’t we all get along” kinda way.
But the way it’s framed, Bush, who will pass anything that comes across his desk and should reasonably accept the timetable, is the combative one. Any reference to the Democrats declaring the war lost or their many other political maneuverings? How about the Democratic attempt to pass the bill with pork purchased votes?
Or is this simply a matter of Bush being pigheaded while the body count mounts?
Until she can come across as more than a second-rate columnist for Slate, I’ll continue to miss CBS news.
By the way, if Katie’s handlers want to shake off the “spunky girl” thing in favor or her new “serious journalist” persona, they might consider not calling the radio segment “Katie Couric’s Notebook”. It conjures up images of a Pee Chee folder with “McSteamy is hot” penned on the cover.
*I’m going to contact the radio station and see if playing the segment is compulsory.
UPDATE: The Radio Station Responds:
WPHT
2 Bala Plaza, Suite 800
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
610-668-5800
www.thebigtalker1210.com
Snarky, no?
May 2nd, 2007 at 9:23 am
They seem to be unable to differentiate a mission and a war. The mission for the aircraft carrier was indeed accomplished.
May 2nd, 2007 at 10:09 am
Thank you Kahuna…I live in San Diego and was listening to the broadcast of the return of the Abraham Lincoln.
That banner NEVER was an indication that the war was over…it was a specific message congratulating the sailors on that aircraft carrier for a job well done. That was made clear on the morning the ship returned to San Diego.
It sickens me that leftards use that banner to attempt to ridicule the president and cheapen the efforts of our military.
Now about Katie…Cranky, she only has 60 seconds to put together her “notebook”…and 5 seconds at the beginning and end are used to remind us that she is Katie Couric and you are listening to her notebook.
Now she’s only left with 50 seconds. Unlike Keith Olbermann, Katie has only been a serious journalist for less than a year. That’s not much time to address such a complicated issue…especially when your Katie Couric.
I am however waiting anxiously for her next “notebook”: Mean People Suck.
May 2nd, 2007 at 10:09 am
your=you’re. My bad.
May 2nd, 2007 at 11:03 am
ha ha! he said mission accomplished and it was not!!
ha ha!
May 2nd, 2007 at 11:05 am
seriously, Kiki Couric is a travesty on the profession of journalism. and i say that having just about as low an opinion of journalists as it is possible to have.
invariably, the journalism students in my undergrad were the stupidest ones in class. also invariably, they seemed not to be aware of their own stupidity.
i got stories.
May 2nd, 2007 at 11:40 am
Annika, are you channeling Rosie’s grammar and capitalization skills today?
May 2nd, 2007 at 3:50 pm
don’t you get it billy? grammar and punctuation are tools of the man!
May 2nd, 2007 at 7:11 pm
Don’t listen to her Billy. After all, women wield the period.
May 3rd, 2007 at 9:28 pm
i would say “testy” rather than snarky. But i’d imagine the person manning that post has to deal with a zillion complaints a day, and can only manage one sentence responses. he or she probably looks forward to the opportunity to slip in a little sarcasm or attitude every now and then because its probably a really sucky minimum wage job and they do have that liberal arts education to pay off.
May 4th, 2007 at 8:45 am
Good point annika. I did try to be respectful.