'Today' Blames McCain Implosion on War Support; Rollins Tells It Like

If I hear one more MSM outlet ascribe the implosion of John McCain's candidacy to his support for the war in Iraq, I'm going to scream . . Let's see. Why don't we check out this morning's "Today"?NBC REPORTER CHIP REID: He's been falling steadily in the NBC/Wall Street Journal poll from 29% in December to 24 in March and last month just 14%. His unwavering support of the Iraq war is unpopular…

On Troop Withdrawal, Matt Lauer Demands: 'If Not Now, When

McCain About to Punt on Iraq? Lauer Question Raises Possibility

Does NBC have some inside dope? Is John McCain, till now one of the staunchest supporters of the Bush administration's Iraq policy, about to bug out? An unusual question from Matt Lauer to Tony Snow this morning raised that possibility.Here's the exchange that came on this morning's "Today" at 7:08 A.M. EDT, toward the end of Lauer's interview of White House press secretary Snow:TODAY CO-HOST…

Ann Curry and Sting Send A Global 'Message In A Bottle' to NBC’s Vie

Al Gore Thanks NBC For Its 'Live Earth' Coverage

'Morning Joe' Jokes at Ann Curry's Touchy-Feely Gore Interview

Live Earth's TV ratings might have been dismal, and the extravaganza took heat for the liberal use of profanity by its performers. But at least the concert series served some purpose: providing comedic fodder for today's "Morning Joe." Host Joe Scarborough and sidekick John Ridley had considerable fun at the expense of Ann Curry, a host of NBC's coverage of the event (see related NB item),…

NBC Anchor Nags Gore to Run for President

Meredith Vieira might as well have been cheerleading “G-O-R-E: He’s the candidate we want to see” in her July 5 interview with the former vice president.After Gore said he did not “have any plans or intentions to be a candidate,” the NBC “Today” anchor pressured him to reconsider.

In Wake of Gore Son Arrest, 'Today' Highlights Foibles of GOP Kids, Pr

H/t NB reader PawpawN.As noted here, MSNBC's John Ridley went off on Al Gore this morning, suggesting he should hug his kid rather than the planet, save his son, not ice caps. But NBC's "Today" offered up a more predictable MSM response, as the show sought to downplay the Gore incident by pointing to Republican politicians whose kids have caused trouble, while praising Chelsea Clinton as…

Meredith Vieira: Presidential 'Pardon' of Libby

AM Wrap: CBS Displays 'Libby Pardon,' ABC: 'Above the Law?', Vieira Sn

The Tuesday broadcast network morning shows all led with President Bush's commutation of the 30-month prison sentence for Lewis "Scooter" Libby, but CBS displayed "Libby Pardon" on screen throughout a report from Bill Plante; over video of Bush and then Libby ABC put "Above the Law?" on screen to frame its coverage; and both CBS and NBC featured Hillary Clinton's slam at Bush's "cronyism" -- yet…

Meredith Vieira Plugs Al Gore-athon For the Earth With Singer Paolo Nu

Lester's Leading Libby Questions; Vieira Rides to Wilson's Defense

Writing about Lester Holt, I've more than once praised the NBC host for his level-headed professionalism. I may have to re-evaluate after his performance on this morning's "Today." Interviewing Joe Wilson about the Libby commutation, Holt seemed to seek to throw gasoline on the fire with leading questions, while obfuscating an important fact. Later, Meredith Vieira interrupted Bill Kristol to…

NBC's Myers: Terror Suspects 'Kind of People UK Encourages to Come

The wicket has gotten sticky for those who, in the wake of terror attacks, seek to blame the West for the disaffection of a few Islamist youths gone wrong.  The profile of those involved in the latest rash of terror incidents in the U.K. has stood that theory on its head.Consider the dialogue on this morning's "Today" at 7:06 a.m. EDT between NBC's Lester Holt and Lisa Myers, both reporting from…

NBC's Queen of Green Hosts Al Gore's 'Live Earth' Party