<p>cartera45–I also really like Rachel Maddow, and see her as a rising star in political broadcasting. But I doubt she’ll be considered for Russert’s seat because she’s young, liberal, and gay.</p>
<p>I don’t think Russert can be replaced-one of a kind; but my vote would be for Gwen Ifel (?sp); Rachel Maddow or John Harwood.</p>
<p>Candy Crowley would be my pick to take the mantel.</p>
<p>That’s my thought, too. I think she’d be great.</p>
<p>Maybe she’d have someone to do her hair for her, then.</p>
<p>(I know, I’m bad).</p>
<p>You are! …</p>
<p>I’ve admired Candy Crowley’s reporting for many years and feel a little bit badly that I didn’t think of her for Meet the Press until she was mentioned here. Great suggestion. </p>
<p>I don’t know if Judy Woodruff would be interested since she already switched out of network/cable into NPR, but she would be terrific.</p>
<p>John King could perhaps step up. I like David Gregory but his demeanor on his current show would have to change to work on Meet the Press.</p>
<p>Maddow is quite articulate but unfortunately has shown her partisanship on occasion…</p>
<p>Ooooo, I never thought of Candy Crowley although she has been around a long time and I love her. She would be excellent. It seems like she dropped out of sight for awhile but has been on air quite a bit more recently.</p>
<p>My vote would be for Gwen Ifill. Candy Crowley lost credibility during the early W days…she seemed flustered, flattered, self-conscious with his teasing/nicknames. Rachel Maddow is frequently on evening MSNBC shows, which have unfortunately have had a decided slant this political season…the network itself has lost credibility for unbiased coverage…and this taints her. Katie Couric is an interesting idea, but it is doubtful CBS would release her to strengthen NBC! Christine Amanpour is an excellent journalist but more international in scope and experience that MTP typically is, and she is CNN, as is Crowley. David Gregory is good, one of the team, but probably lacks stature. Keith Obermann is adolescent in his exuberance, as well as very partisan, and Chris Matthews cannot resist his own cleverness, too many smart remarks. The pickings are slim.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t be surprised if David Gregory is chosen because he’s already with the network and hosts “Race for the White House” on MSNBC. But I agree with Lorelei2702 that Gwen Ifill would be the best choicen to take over Meet The Press.</p>
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<p>lorelei–I agree with just about everything you said in post #49, except your point on Crowley. I don’t recall her being flustered by Bush’s teasing/nicknames, but if she was, remember two things–it was a long time ago and she was dealing with an imbecile. … My impression of her in recent years is that she has the gravitas and non-partisan aura needed to occupy the revered seat on Meet the Press. … I really like David Gregory, but mentioned in an earlier post that I prefer him on the radio–because sometimes he looks like he’s smiling when he shouldn’t be. Petty, I know, but something to consider. I enjoy Olbermann and Matthews, but you’re right about them. They’re better off where they are. … I’m not a Katie Couric fan in terms of hard news. Loved her on the Today Show. …</p>
<p>There was some interview through her early in the W administration, and I remember her all but blushing when someone asked her what he had nicknamed her…I was embarrassed for her, she had the look of a somewhat unstylish adolescent to whom the captain of the football team had just spoken. Every time I see her I think of that look and feel bad for her. In the whole performance picture, much of it is about not being distracting with something personal, inappropriate for the character or the situation, and that was a distraction. </p>
<p>Re David Gregory’s smiling…I think it is the cheekbones…when they are high, and the look is intense, it looks like smiling. Regardless, it is a distraction. I have seen Katie Couric really get to the heart of things in an interview…she can be a pit bull, in a way not dissimilar to Russert, but for lots of reasons, she will not be in the mix. </p>
<p>Of course, it may be someone out of the woodwork, which Russert apparently was. His talent at finding and developing talent may mean that someone very special is already in the wings. We will stay tuned.</p>
<p>I feel guilty that I’m not more supportive of Katie Couric. … I wonder if she went by Katherine Couric or even Kate Couric, if it would be any different? (I have a young niece we call “Katie.”) … The thing I’ve grown to really like about Candy Crowley is that she’s well-respected and successful in her field, without looking like Kate Moss or Jessica Simpson. She’s simply wonderful at what she does. One might have said the same about Tim Russert. A week or so before his passing, my daughter and I were watching him on one of the MSNBC programs. My daughter commented that he was a “funny-looking” guy, and I said “maybe, but he’s wonderful.” I truly loved Tim Russert, and didn’t realize how much until he was gone. … I’d be OK with David Gregory. He used to be a frequent guest on the Don Imus radio show (before the big Rutgers debacle!) and I thought he was wonderful. Then, when I saw him on TV, I wasn’t quite as smitten. But I could learn to love him.</p>
<p>For those who might be interested, right now Tim Russert’s memorial service just started being re-aired on C-SPAN.</p>
<p>Thanks! …</p>
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<p>When she was a reporter on our local TV news station in Miami way back in the '80s, she did go by Katherine Couric. I think she changed it to Katie when she hit the big time!</p>
<p>NBC has announced that Tom Brokaw will fill the role of moderator through the election. IMO, they are so lucky he was willing to do it as he is the most approrpriate interim moderator they could tap during this high profile time. I loved Tim Russert, but I think Tom Brokaw may be my all-time favorite network news journalist.</p>
<p>I love Tom Brokaw too–he really is the perfect person to carry Meet the Press through the election season. I grew up near Los Angeles and I remember when he was a young news anchor for our NBC affiliate. He stumbled over his words quite a bit in those early days, and my Dad fondly referred to him as Tom Broken-Mouth. Fortunately, he got better! … I like Brian Williams as an anchor, but thought he was pretty weak this morning as Meet the Press moderator.</p>
<p>Brian Williams has not worn so well. His Virginia Tech anchoring did not go well, showed his lack of stature, tendency toward more syrupy rather than profound. </p>
<p>This does give a time lag to watch the others, and other network contracts may wind down.</p>
<p>I’m so glad Tom Brokaw is stepping in.</p>
<p>And 1,000 times yes for Gwen Ifill!</p>