Elite Lauer to Russert: Keg and a Noisemaker for New Year's?

Photo of Mark Finkelstein.

Was it just good-natured joshing, or did some MSM elitism creep into Matt Lauer's interview-ending question to Tim Russert on this morning's "Today"?

"What's up for the New Year for you? Same thing as usual: keg of Old Milwaukee and a noise-maker?"

What's this? Condescension to Russert's blue-collar image leavened with a dab of drunken-Irishman humor? The camera crew burst into guffaws, but check the video - was Russert's laugh a bit more strained?

Matt and Dutch-born wife, former-model Annette Roque, might be well be staying in for New Year's, the couple recently having welcomed son Thijs into the world. But apparently nothing so plebeian as an American brew will pass Matt's lips. And those noisemakers. So . . . déclassé.

What will you be drinking for New Year's, NB readers?

Contact Mark, who truth be told will probably quaff a glass or two of good wine on New Year's, at mark@gunhill.


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Looking tofind some Three Sto

Looking tofind some Three Stooges brew, ((http://www.ratebeer.com/beerimages/2394.jpg ))  but will settle for Sam, or best if I could find some Sternbrau - very very smooth lager from the Swiss, even germans will search it out. As of yet, don't know what the host is serving, but it will be cold and pleantyful.

There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad

Well, Pleb that I am, I have

Well, Pleb that I am, I have to ask.. how do you pronounce Thijs?

For me, it'll depend on where we go for dinner. Probably start out with a Scotch.. then some wine with dinner.

Happy New Year NBr's!

From SFGate: "The baby

From SFGate: "The baby's unusual name -- pronounced 'Tice' -- is a shortened form of Matthijs, which is Dutch for Matthew."

Thanks, Mark. Now I'm not su

Thanks, Mark. Now I'm not such a Pleb.

BTW thanks again for your excellent reporting from Iraq. Happy New Year, Mr Finkelstein!

Same to you, rimsky - glad

Same to you, rimsky - glad you enjoyed the reports from Iraq!

I don't know what Matt and hi

I don't know what Matt and his wife use to celebrate New Year's Eve, but I think it's safe to assume the elements aren't hops-based or made of shiny paper and none of it is purchased at WalMart...

The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

- Arabian Proverb

Wonder what Matt's wife rea

Wonder what Matt's wife reaction would be if a Real Man ever took her to bed?

"What did you do with m

"Who are you and what did you do with my husband?" :)

The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

- Arabian Proverb

smug

 Smug, elitist bastards. What fools!

NEVER,NEVER trust liberal 

Matt Lauer is a complete putz

Matt Lauer is a complete putz......

A non-graduate of The University of Ohio (not Harvard or Yale or Princeton) leaving school 4 credits shy of his requirement to attain a diploma, he has absolutely NO leg to stand on when it comes to his "champagne" personna on television.....

Now don't get me wrong....anything ANYONE can say to put down Tim Russert will garner kudos from me.....but not from a bottom crawling swamp rat like Mr. Lauer........who resides several circles below Russert in Dantes' DEM Inferno.....

Nowhere to Run....Nowhere To Hide.....

I will be drinking Jameson'

I will be drinking Jameson's irish whiskey from the small of Matt's Dutch-born wife's back.

Well, maybe a few Bell's Hopslams or some Rogue IPAs instead if she's busy.

Good natured joshin'. That's

Good natured joshin'. That's all.

Easy to say when you're not

Easy to say when you're not on the receiving end. Surely you'd agree the joshing came from an elitist perspective.

What elitist perspective is t

What elitist perspective is that? It came from one colleague at a network directed to another. I think you're trying to read way more into this than is necessary.

Bal, you remind me of Jimmy D

Bal, you remind me of Jimmy Durante in Jumbo. While trying to sneak Jumbo, the Elephant out of the circus tent,  he's stopped by the police who ask him, "Where're you going with that elephant?". He replies, "What elephant?".

The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

- Arabian Proverb

Like this? http://www.filmref

Like this? http://www.filmreference.com/images/sjff_03_img1066.jpg

There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad

Ed,Yeah, that one! Is there a

Ed,

Yeah, that one! Is there a topic with which you don't have a link? I sit in awe...

The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

- Arabian Proverb

Well, sometimes you guys remi

Well, sometimes you guys remind me of the boy who cried wolf, constantly trying to create a story where there isn't one.

Sometimes? Really?The dogs ba

Sometimes? Really?

The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

- Arabian Proverb

Mark, you seem a bit petty on

Mark, you seem a bit petty on this one.  I guess you're trying to belabor the "liberal elite" label. 

Seriously, who really makes up the elite in this country?  Would you rather belong to an intellectual elite or the moneyed elite?  Not that you can't be both, you could get published in the WSJ!

And this demonstrates a media

And this demonstrates a media bias how?  I believe the traditional drink on New Years is champagne.  What will you be drinking, Mark?

Maybe Mark was trying to sh

Maybe Mark was trying to show "media pius" rather than "media bias" in this case. :-)

"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...

LOL I learned in a previous p

LOL I learned in a previous post on this site that piety is bad.   Too bad false piety isn't limited to the MSM.

Wine recommendations for 31 Dec/1 Jan

I personally prefer spätlese or lambrusco.  Much cheaper and tastier.  :-)

"Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy."  -Sir Winston Churchill, British statesman (1874-1965)

Socialism is alive, Winston

Socialism is alive, Winston is dead, ha ha.

If socialism is alive, please

If socialism is alive, please explain the rotting EU, and the Second World. 

"Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy."  -Sir Winston Churchill, British statesman (1874-1965)