Anyone but David Gregory for next Meet the Press host. ANYONE!

[gauguin57]

PLEASE, NBC ... I'm sure that, when the mourning period has passed for Russert, you'll have Davie on your short list. He is silly and smug -- AND ... his prancing around behind Rove at the correspondents' dinner was ridiculous.

PLEASE -- make it someone serious -- someone without a raging ego that would suck up all the air in the room instead of putting energy toward serious grilling of politicos.

How about Chuck Todd??? Or Jeffrey Toobin??

[PCIntern]

1. ...Ok...how's Joey Scarborough?

You said 'anyone'. I'm giving you: anyone.

[gauguin57]

3. Aieeee!

OK, not anyone.

Not Tweety, either.

[hlthe2b]

10. "Scar" is actually being speculated on, (God Help Us!)

See my post downstream...

[kentuck]

34. Joe Scarbro would be the front runner...

in my opinion.

[saltpoint]

2. How about Nancy Grace?

:evilgrin:

[gauguin57]

5. Now STOP that!

I'm mostly a "Sunday Morning With Charles Osgood" watcher, myself -- it has helped settle my stomach to switch from Snuffalupagus, Russert, et al, to nice ole Charles.

My stomach would never stomach Queen Nancy of Shrill.

[saltpoint]

12. LOL! Nancy Grace would be a startling choice to succeed Russert on MTP.

She'd bring her stinging insights and comprehensive command of the issues to the Sunday morning newstalk lineup.

Who wouldn't want to wake up to the sound of her melodic voice grilling Jon Kyle or Jeff Sessions?

[medeak]

26. At least she's a dem! n/t

[havocmom]

18. Or Gracie Jane

;)

[Joe the Revelator]

4. I'm going to keep calling for Aaron Brown...

[gauguin57]

9. Yeah, I always liked Aaron. But I think he's better in a format where he can ruminate aloud.

He's great at urbane, wry commentary -- but weekly commentary isn't something I really wanna see on Meet the Press.

[Faygo Kid]

6. Yeah, let him keep dancing with Karl Rove. David Gregory is more of the same. (Rachel Maddow?)

He's a tool who gets feisty at White House press conferences because of his ego, not out of concern for us.

I know it will never happen, but don't you think Rachel Maddow would be great there?

[gauguin57]

13. Rachel Maddow would be a breath of fresh air in that chair.

I'm thinking of writing a letter to NBC, assuring them I will NEVER watch Meet the Press if Tweety, Gregory or Scarborough is chosen. And I'll mention Rachel along with Chuck Todd and Jeffrey Toobin as some of my suggestions.

Like those sons-of-military-contractors at NBC are gonna listen to me!

[Faygo Kid]

15. I think she would be just great.

It's impossible, I know, but what a sea change that would be.

I guarantee you one thing: She would be tough as nails on libs spouting platitudes as she would be on Cheney selling a war. And good for her.

[global1]

22. I Second Rachel Maddow .......

I think I could tolerate Chuck Todd and I really think I could respect Andrea Mitchell.

[Submariner]

7. I heard this one just became available

[Faygo Kid]

14. AARGH! My eyes! My brain!

E.D. Hill is as low as you can go.

I better go have a glass of wine now to recover.

[hlthe2b]

8. Well, you won't like the speculation: Tweety, Gregory or....

Scarborough!

From the LA Times via C&L:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-et-nbcsider14-2008jun14,0,3289447.story

Speculation on possible successors centers on three on-air personalities already under contract to NBC: David Gregory, the former White House correspondent recently given his own MSNBC show, "Race for the White House"; Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC's long-running "Hardball"; and Joe Scarborough, the former congressman and host of "Morning Joe" on MSNBC, according to talent representatives who declined to speak on the record for fear of jeopardizing relationships with network management.

It's considered less likely that NBC would reach outside for a brand-name talent, such as CBS News anchor Katie Couric or George Stephanopoulos, host of ABC's "This Week," the No. 2 Sunday show. Stephanopoulos is believed to have two more years on his ABC deal; a network spokeswoman would not comment.

Popular MSNBC host Keith Olbermann is likewise considered a long shot, largely because of his open espousal of liberal viewpoints. more at link...

[gauguin57]

11. Thank you for posting that speculative piece ... though it ruined my evening.

Ugh. Neither Gregory nor Tweety nor Joe "Boss of Mysteriously Dead Assistant" S. is fit for the Meet the Press chair.

[Medusa]

16. I say it'll be Gregory

He'd subbed before at MTP. Olbermann's out, Scarborough too I'd think given his right-wing leanings. You need someone middle-of-the-road.

[femmocrat]

17. How about a woman?

Kristina Van Den Heuval
Margaret Carlson
Gwen Ifill

I'm sure there are many others, but these just came to mind as intelligent, articulate people whom I wouldn't mind watching every Sunday.

[hlthe2b]

19. I'm afraid, if they were going female, it would be...

Mrs. Greenspan, aka Andrea Mitchell.

[gauguin57]

21. Though I'm not a big Andrea Mitchell fan, I'd take her over supercilious David Gregory any day!

Gregory is a goofus.

[femmocrat]

23. I have heard her name mentioned,

but I don't think she is "likable" enough. She might do a stint as guest-host though.

Her constant head shaking drives me crazy!

[gauguin57]

20. My friends and I were talking about Gwen Ifill for the MTP chair just this morning ...

... but we all agreed she does such a good job on PBS ... too bad she can't do BOTH Washington Week and MTP, on two different networks.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

24. That's what I was thinking

There are quite a few good female reporters at MSNBC. There's that African American lady who subs for Keith Olbermann on occasion (sorry, I don't remember her name). I'm not sure where their political affiliations lie, but Kelly O'Donnell (not Nora O'Donnell) or Jeannie Ohm are good. I'm not sure I want a pundit talking head interested more in their own self-image instead of facts but a hard-nosed reporter who has experience in the field, asking tough questions. I don't always trust the TV personalities and infotainment types.

[BlooInBloo]

27. Gwen Ifill would be my #1 choice...

Of course, that presupposes we care about *quality*, which is certainly not the main issue in the real world.

[Selatius]

25. Who gives a shit who gets the spot? The next guy likely won't be better than Russert.

If anybody over there is worth watching, it's likely Keith Olbermann, and he's only on the air because of his ratings.

I'd like to see Olbermann do what he is doing now in the run-up to the Iraq War. He'd likely get fired like Phil Donahue.

[hlthe2b]

28. No... but could easily be a lot worse....

Those beating the drums of disdain for Russert, might begin to look back almost fondly. And face it, these shows do have some impact on the general public--promulgating the propaganda.

[Bozita]

29. How about Seymour Hersh, a real investigative journalist?

Sy knows the questions to ask.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

30. Hersh would be great - I also wish someone would give Amy Goodman a shot

She deserves enormous respect for her tireless crusade for truth over the decades. She's a great interviewer. Unfortunately, she's very seldom invited onto commercial teevee and doesn't get much respect.

[Radical Activist]

33. I love Amy Goodman

but her radio show is difficult to listen to sometimes. She's not a natural entertainer and that's important for TV and radio.

[Radical Activist]

31. LOL Hilarious.

Great pick but obviously he wouldn't play the role of gatekeeper and censor that GE wants at the head of their news division.

[gauguin57]

32. Unfortunately, NBC is owned by a military contractor. No way they'd pick Sy.

He SO has their number. And that would be THE MOST INTERESTING PROGRAM every Sunday!!!

[dorkulon]

35. It's going to be Gregory, I'd put money on it.

He's got the proper "this is all a game to me" attitude, and can pretend, with a straight face, that guys like Tom Delay aren't evil scumbags, but really patriots. He's "balanced" and "neutral" and totally boring, and perfect for the job.

[MindMatter]

36. There isn't anybody in that whole damned establishment

who would be any better than Russert. By the time they get to the level where they would even be considered, they have sold their soul a decade earlier..

[stray cat]

37. Chuck Todd would be great!

[riverwalker]

38. Return to the old format, a panel of the press

they can rotate the panel of reporters. Every week a new group of journalists 3 or 4, ask questions of the guest. After all, it's "Meet the PRESS", not "Meet the egocentric host"

[gauguin57]

39. Great idea, Riverwalker!

Meet ALL of the Press, not just one dude.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

40. Gregory sold his soul. In my finest dreams it would be Bill Moyers. eom

[Gabi Hayes]

41. here are my front-runners, STS

[Tutonic]

42. Rita Deep Thriat Crosby just phoned in.

She'll do it for free.

[elliotwayne]

43. how about wolfie