Russert: I'll go on Imus' show ... if NBC doesn't say no

Last April, as Don Imus's career seemed to be going down in flames, his high-powered friends suddenly fell mute. But Chris "Mad Dog" Russo, from Imus's home port of WFAN Radio, had his back. Russo went on the air and named names that should go into the "Imus Hall of Shame" because they had profited immensely from hours of free air time to plug their books on "Imus in the Morning," yet refused to defend him in his time of need.

Number one on his list: "Meet the Press" moderator Tim Russert.

This month "Meet the Press" is marking 60 years on television. I spoke with Russert on Wednesday about that, and in the process I asked him about the return of the I-man to Citadel Broadcasting Dec. 3 (with a simulcast on RFD-TV). Would Russert go on the show if asked?

Listen to Russert's reply (MP3)

There was a follow-up question that should've been asked here, and I didn't ask it. I guess that's why Tim Russert makes the big bucks and I don't. (In my defense, Russert called about three hours before I was expecting him to.)

Comments

[ned racine]

wow ... so many people who feel exactly as i do! russert was a huge traitor ... but the worst was chris dodd. think that could be a reason he is polling at zero? i thought of peter and the denying christ three times before the cock crows parable and kept waiting for a rooster call when sen dodd speaks at these debates!!

[tom joad]

I like what Mel wrote.

Russert and the rest did their Brutus routines. What a bunch of "flaming" weenies.

I listened to Imus a lot. I know who those folks are. Harold Ford was the biggest weenie of the bunch.

When the I-man returns I hope he lays waste to the whole bunch of them. And I hope Bernie returns too.

And I hope he goes after Sharpton and Jackson too.

Lastly, I can not wait. December 3rd with be like Christmas morning to many.

Bring it, I-Man, bring it on...

tj

[Tom in East Longmeadow, MA]

I realize that there are 300 million people in this country, clearly half of which that are literate enough to understand what's being posted here, so to have nearly 100% negative feedback about Russert is a fairly substantial groundswell.

I hope that Don DOES have a list, and I hope that he sticks to it. I'd really enjoy having him rip all of the phonies that deserted him. Because of the settlement, he won't be able to skewer CBS Radio and the empty suits over there, but there will be plenty of deserving targets.

God luck, Don. Hear you soon.

[ron antolik]

Welcome back Mr. Imus. Get national and televised soonest. With friends like yours,though,who needs enemas!

[Karen]

I'd like to see Imus gather on his show ONLY ONCE all of those who turned their backs on him. I'd like to hear what he has to say to them. I learned to respect so many people, read their magazines and buy their books because of the exposure Don Imus gave them. I don't want to hear anything they have to say now. They have no defense, and my respect for them is gone. They simply wimped out, which is something I've never seen Don Imus do. He can't come back too soon!

[TennFan]

Welcome back, I Man.. lots of fans down here in Tennessee who have missed you. We will not forget what Harold Ford did to you,, he is thinking about running for governor. He can hang it up,, I have voted all over the map and voted for Harold for senator. But I will work tirelessly against him for anything now. He will NEVER get elected to anything else in Tennessee. As far as Tim Russert, I too thought about Wyatt. I have never watched the Today show or Tim Russerts show since then. George Step????? has a great show on opposite Tim Russert on ABC and I hope to enjoy it for a long, long time. He is better than Tim anyhow.

[christy]

Being a Tennessean, Harold Ford is my biggest disappointment in the whole "who weenied out on Imus the most" debate. Because of Don Imus' support of Harold, I actually got involved in politics, and did volunteer work at my local Democratic party's offices. I have always exercised my freedom of speech, by voting, but, it wasn't until Imus started talking about race issues concerning Harold Ford and the shameful debacle in New Orleans after Katrina, that I really felt the need to get actively involved, to bring about change. Harold, as a fellow Tennessean, a fellow Democrat...as a former supporter of you...I am now ashamed to say I voted for you. Actually, I thank you, for giving me a wake up call, not to trust ANYMORE politicians! I am totally disgusted with ALL of you! You live completely different lives from us, the people that elect you, you don't have a clue what reality is for "real" people. Shame on you!

[Jerry]

Wow!! This is great news. I have missed Imus. I just hope RFD doesn't try to make his simulcast one that fifth graders can listen to. I didn't realize that Russert and Ford had turned on Imus. I had been watching Russert periodically since Imus was fired but will no longer and I hope Tenn flushes Ford.