Make Costas King

Maybe we need sportscasters to ask informed, incisive questions of our pundits and politicians? It certainly was refreshing to watch Bob Costas sub for Larry King the night of Bush's Iraq speech. I happened to flick on CNN's premier talk show, expecting the usual vapid questions and platitudinous replies, and found the veteran sportscaster asking some smart and (relatively) tough questions. (Click here to read the transcript.)

Costas: ...There were no weapons of mass destruction. There has been no contact or connection between Iraq and al Qaeda or 9/11 established. Vice President Cheney says the insurgency is in its final throes. Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld says the insurgency could last a decade or more. Does the the Bush Administration now face a credibility gap?" (Both Time's Jay Carney and Newsweek's Richard Wolffe said yes.)

I sat up and started listening.

Then, Senator Kerry came on.

Costas: In the aftermath of 9/11, did Democrats, yourself included, do a poor job of playing the role of the loyal opposition? Were they too docile and too compliant, and did they fail to ask the skeptical questions and raise the objections they should have in the run-up to war?

Now I was sitting straight up and listening carefully.

Kerry mumbled, "I plead guilty. And I think a lot of people in the party would. But I think a lot of Americans would."

Senator McCain came on.

Costas: You are, no doubt, familiar with what your Senate colleague, Chuck Hagel, Republican of Nebraska, said recently. But to refresh the memories of our audience, I 'll read it. 'Things are getting worse. The White is completely disconnected from reality. It's like they're just making it up as they go along. The reality is, we are losing in Iraq.' What say you to that?"

Even the usually unflappable McCain looked a little shaken, as if he missed Larry King's softball questions.

Costas continued: "Senator McCain, I hope this question doesn't seem impertinent, but we often hear that if these terrorists are not confronted in Iraq, they'll be in New York or wherever. What is to stop them from being in New York simultaneously, if they could get here?"

I was rooting for more impertinent, informed questions.

Costas: Are we up against a situation here that maybe we should take a big-picture look at? Iraq isn't really a natural country. It was cobbled together by force after World War I. There are different regional and religious factions. It was always held together by brutal central governments. And might it not naturally go the way of the Soviet Union or Yugoslavia, where these factions just naturally break off once that central force is removed? ..Are we trying to hold together a country that has no democratic tradition and is not really, in the true sense, a country?

McCain looked like he wanted to throttle Costas.

Costas: Senator McCain, we now find that more than 60 percent of Americans recently polled think that President Bush has no clear plan for victory in Iraq, and now more than fifty percent believe it was a mistake to go there in the first place. What would you say to a mother or father whose son or daughter is being recruited--there is no draft--is being recruited to join the military under these circumstances?

Congressman Christopher Shays (R, CT) came on.

Costas: Congressman Shays, you're aware that Lindsey Graham, Republican from South Carolina, recently said: 'Public support in my state is turning.' Congressman Walter Jones of North Carolina, Republican congressman, is among those who have submitted a bipartisan resolution that would call upon the US to begin troop withdrawals from Iraq no later than 2006. This isn't the Michael Moore wing of the Democratic Party. These are solid Republicans, and they and their constituents are increasingly concerned about where we're doing here.

By this time, I was ready to launch a bye-bye Larry (King) campaign.

Last month, CNN President Jonathan Klein made Costas a regular substitute anchor for the show. (The odious Nancy "You're Guilty Before You're Innocent" Grace was also named a regular sub.)

Maybe Costas towered that night because of the barrenness of the landscape around him, but he certainly was a refreshing antidote to the info-tainment featured on prime cable talk/ news programs these days. If CNN wants to become a news outlet again, one step would be devise an exit strategy for Larry and install Costas as King.

Comments (19)

1. All hail Costas! Holy cow. I haven't heard any reporter ask questions like these since Bush stole office. When all we see is party line this, party line that, garbage on TV, hearing someone, anyone, ask pointed (and accurate) questions is refreshing. I am even tempted to get cable TV again...well...I'll wait a little bit longer.

   Posted by Daniel Rubin at 07/06/2005 @ 4:49pm

2. I have often thought that a grassroots "return to news" campaign was what was needed in this country. A mobilization like the one witnessed against Sinclair when they scheduled the "John Kerry is no hero "fake-u-mentary" could work in the case of CNN. A mass mobilization has worked in the past for other reasons and with small drips of proverbial gas being poured on the fire like Costas', perhaps now is the time!!

   Posted by tcohan0117 at 07/06/2005 @ 5:02pm

3. *****For FrankGRits*****

   Hi FrankGrits, I appreciate your response. What Rove said wasn't anti-American, it was the TRUTH!!! Now I am not saying every liberal was against the Afghanistan war, but David Corn, Katrina Vanden Heuvel, Eric Alterman, Michael Moore, Molly Ivins, MOVEON.org and many other far leftists were.

   Now, FrankGrits, be honest, did you support the war in Afghanistan, b/c if you didn't then what Rove said was true. FrankGrits, how do you think the typical American feels about the Left whining over the religious expression rights of ISLAMIC TERRORISTS, but at the same time wanting to take down the Ten Commandments?? That says to most Americans, "Gee, the Left seems more concerned with the religious rights of Islamic terrorists, than they do their own fellow Christian Americans." You don't have to take my word for it, but that is how many Americans feel.

   There is a HUGE difference between Al Franken and Michael Moore and Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. Moore and Franken are PROPAGANDISTS, Limbaugh and Hannity are IDEOLOGUES. Propagandists lie and distort information about their opponents so they can get people to believe their views. Ideologues are truthful, BUT are not fair. They only tell the story from their point of view. I can list a 20 some lies by Moore; you might be able to find 1 lie by Limbaugh. No conservative talk radio host ever claims to be fair; on the contrary, Hannity has admitted several times that he isn't fair. And isn't it funny that the Left ALWAYS brings up Fox News as a right-wing channel, but fail to mention, NBC, CBS, ABC, MSNBC, CNN and PBS. So by not listing those channels, are you implying they are left-wing?? As a conservative, I can admit Fox News leans to the right, but you as a liberal can't admit those shows lean to the left. (And they do!).

   According to the Army Times poll taken in November IIRC, soldiers serving in Iraq voted for Bush 3 to 1 over Kerry.

   The ACLU is trying to change the constitution, not following it!

   I don't look at dissent as anti-American; I look at giving comfort and aid to the enemy in a time of war as anti-American re: Durbin or Moore. Michael Moore makes a fictional movie about a sitting President and claims it as fact. That is treason my friend. But you shouldn't be surprised, Moore is anti-American. After 9/11 happened, he said America was culpable in the attacks. Now if that isn't blaming America, then I don't know what is!

   In the unfortunate circumstance of a mother whose life is at risk for giving birth, then yes, extenuating circumstances do warrant such measures as partial-birth abortion. But how come most democrats in congress voted AGAINST the ban on partial-birth abortion when it specifically states that it can only be used if the mother's life is at risk??

   Most Americans do understand the enemy, there are cold-blooded killers who CAN'T be reasoned with, and the only way to stop them is to kill them!!! Yes, the Democratic Party needs to move to the center. Democrats like Even Bayh and Ben Nelson are democrats that can win the Presidency without compromising their views. Why do you think Hillary is moving to the center?? B/c she knows she is too far to the left to be accepted by most mainstream Americans.

   Posted by UCS1923 at 07/06/2005 @ 5:21pm

4. If Bob Costas can continue to get work, then I think we can safely surmise that the tide really is beginning to turn. In the very recent past, questions as impertinent as those he posed would have cost the purveyor his job - IF they'd ever been heard in the first place. Maybe it's time to let the sportwriters - Costas, Keith Obermann - take their best shot. Because the so-called "real" journalists sure as hell aren't stepping up to the plate!

   Posted by mewsician at 07/06/2005 @ 6:05pm

5. Frankgrits, are you "preparing for the war" over the supreme court, as Senator Schumer stated over a cell phone for the public can hear on a train ride? SMART!!!

   Posted by dancall at 07/06/2005 @ 6:07pm

6. Costas would be great. But most politicians will not go on air without first seeing the questions that will be asked of them. that is a pre requeset for hillary Clinton before being interviewed...she will not go on air in "unfriendly" turf.

   Costas is great because he is used to dealing with overpaid babies playing sports making millions of dollars. Some of the athletes he talks to make more money than most of the Fortune 500 CEO's.

   Posted by dancall at 07/06/2005 @ 6:14pm

7. What we need is someone like Costas who really doesn't care about politics and just wants to get to the point. Everyone here is gleeful because he slammed republicans and the question he asked Kerry was a softball question to make Kerry say exactly what he said. The majority believed Sadam had WMDs as well as Clinton. So, if you are going to have someone like Costas on air, it has to GO BOTH WAYS!!!

   Posted by dancall at 07/06/2005 @ 6:20pm

8. Just making a comment about going to WAR on the supreme court. If it was a Republican saying that, all heck would have been all over the front pages.

   I honestly beleive that some of the right talk tough on these matters but know full well they need moderates in the SC. Just my opinion...but you must agree that there has to be a balance and not just one sided views on the SC. The SC is being used as a political arm of government which could be the downfall of govt.

   Posted by dancall at 07/06/2005 @ 6:23pm

9. Man Katrina is hot. I almost never agree with a word she says, but you have to admit, she is hot.

   Posted by whyme at 07/06/2005 @ 8:22pm

10. Whyme:

    Let's see Katrina or Anne (I'm a Nazi love-doll) Coulter...hands down, Katrina.

    USC1923 puts up the old claptrap of the right-wing, and is probably rash airbag in drag.

    I supported the war in Afghanistan, I do not support the crime that is Iraq. bush's lack of concern toward OBL speaks volumes about what his goals are. He has helped me see one thing clearly, though. This country has 15% of the electorate that are politically savvy and hang to the left. Another 15% are savvy and hang to the right. The vast middle of 70% no nothing of politics or the great issues of the day. It is the goal of both right and left to move this 70% in their direction. Unfortunately, currently, the right is more successful than the left. Part of the reason is because we have traitors like Biden, Pelosi, Feinstein, and, yes, Hillary who act as if they are shocked by Howard Dean and his message. Howard Dean is saying what needs to be said; when this group speak out and say Howard Dean doesn't speak for them, they play into the right's hands. We should not run away from our progressiveness in the mistaken belief that it will cause people to vote left. It will only show a schism on our side that geniuses, evil to be sure, but genius nonetheless, like carl rove will exploit.

    Posted by hamblett at 07/06/2005 @ 9:04pm

11. Hey kid, your the greatest! Who lying? Before anyone goes balistic I strongly suggest a documentry "The World according to Bush". I'd roll-on but the documentry sums it up. I also enjoyed your peice on recruiting. I spent 7 yrs as an Army recruiter in the Chicago Recruiting Battalion. I'll leave that for later. Keepup the good and important work.

    Posted by JOHN P BOYCE at 07/06/2005 @ 10:25pm

12. I forgot the link for "The World according to Bush". Go to www.neilrogers.com.

    Posted by JOHN P BOYCE at 07/06/2005 @ 10:28pm

13. Like to say thank you to Katrina for doing a great job. Bob Costas is a reality check in these cluster F*** times his guest spot for Larry King shows another facet of his ability to master his trade. To the anally retentive ie UCS1923 get a grip you obviuosly believe those who can't make a case for their retoric unless they sku the facts something I noticed the bushy's doing during the last election state a fact base it on 20 yr old information ( note in the 80's Cheney and the right were in agreement with the those issues) as a rationalization for todays issues. If you really believe "Moore and Franken are PROPAGANDISTS, Limbaugh and Hannity are IDEOLOGUES" then my boy/girl/twit you are you are out there circling Uranus. The media really needs more Costas's today to get to the truth.

    Posted by dycel8r at 07/06/2005 @ 11:09pm

14. DanCall,

    -- Everyone here is gleeful because he slammed republicans and the question he asked Kerry was a softball question to make Kerry say exactly what he said. --

    I'd hardly call that a "softball" question. It made Kerry and a lot of Democrats out to be the gutless ciphers they were during the campaign.

    Posted by Kevin Collins at 07/07/2005 @ 12:16am

15. I fully agree with your comment. It has been my position for 10 years that the British and French, after WWI, carved up the Ottoman Empire among themselves, installed Hashesmite Kings, and betrayed both the Jews and the Arabs in so doing. The Kurds were promised a country called Kurdistan, and instead these old world Empires slapped together three cultures, Kurds, Shias, and Sunnis, created a country called Iraq, and installed a Hashemite King from the Saudi penninsula to boot. None of these cultures had ever known democracy, yet Emperor Bush expects these "Iraqis" to act as one people. This Emperor should be exposed for what he is, an Emperor "with no clothes". See my post on my blog to that effect.

    Martin S. Friedlander http://freedompost.typepad.com/

    Posted by msf31538 at 07/07/2005 @ 01:14am

16. One thing Katrina didn't mention was if you liked what Costas did, email CNN and tell them so. Here is the comment form for the Larry King show: http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5.html?12

    Note: if anyone finds a better email address, please post it.

    Posted by dbooster at 07/07/2005 @ 08:42am

17. Ihave stopped watching the talk shows because the hosts are all establishment clones asking canned questios. Chris Matthews interrupts his guests answers. Costas is a breath of fresh air. Hey USC1923: If you are so gung-ho about this war, stop running your mouth and ENLIST!

    Posted by philbq at 07/07/2005 @ 09:28am

18. typo: questions

    Posted by philbq at 07/07/2005 @ 09:28am

19. News on a news station? Say it isn't so! I wish that I had seen Costas' appearance on Larry King Live. I haven't watched that show in years because it's so news deficient. But as someone pointed out, Costas is used to dealing with difficult characters as a sportscaster. My boyfriend is also a sports reporter. You should hear some of the stories....

    Posted by edwriter at 07/08/2005 @ 12:57am