LITTLE RUSS, TINY TIM RUSSERT

NBC'S TIM RUSSERT will go under the microscope in any examination of the PlameOut prosecution and Scooter Libby’s role in it.  The Fourth Estate, occasionally still referred to nostalgically as the free press, will face the fifth degree in unprecedented manner for how the storytellers are so often part of story, but untelling of their role. [story]

In a telephone interview on Sunday afternoon, Mr. Russert acknowledged some discomfort with his unusual role in the case, in which Matthew Cooper of Time magazine and Judith Miller of The New York Times have also contradicted Mr. Libby's account under subpoena. "We hate being in the middle of what we're reporting on," he said. "But it is what it is."

IT IS WHAT it is and what it was before that is quite a bit of bullsh*t from the boy on the major Sunday morning bully pulpit. “Reporters” these days don’t hate being n the middle of what they are reporting on, they revel in it. [October 30 Meet The Press transcript]

GOD BLESS US, EVERYONE Jeralyn Merritt dishes up some just desserts for Russert [Talk Left] Tom Maguire at Just One Minute calls Russert "The Manchurian Reporter." . . . Eric Boehlert also criticizes Russert for not being more forthcoming earlier about his role.

The curious part to me always has been why Fitzgerald allowed Russert to be questioned only about what he said to Libby and not what Libby said to him during the conversation. The New York Times reported on July 16, 2005 (quoted here)

AND MORE FROM MAGUIRE [Just One Minute] Mr. Russert hewed almost perfectly to the script, so we are back at square one - did Tim Russert mention Wilson's wife, on a no-name basis, as working at the CIA, without any job description?

But let's add a bit to the story, even if NBC does not want to.  Since Mr. Russert passed on the complaint to the president of NBC News, one might think that NBC News has some notes as to Mr. Libby's specific complaint.  Did they share that information with the Special Counsel, and would they care to share that with their viewers?

Pending their response, we will rely on the very fine work of Michael Crowley at The New Republic and Jeralyn Merritt of TalkLeft, both of whom took it upon themselves to ask the tough question that eluded Mr. Williams - what, specifically, did Lewis Libby call to complain about?

Working independently, these two came to the same conclusion - Mr. Libby's ire was *probably* raised by a Chris Matthews rant from July 8 on - have you guessed? - Lewis Libby, Joe Wilson, and Niger.

THE HERETIK HEARS loud and clear that “the reporter” Tim Russert who often barely lets guests get a word in edgewise loudly calls out from the center of this story



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