Leno may be the ratings winner. Stewart is the critics’ darling. But, day in and day out, Letterman is the hands-down leader when it comes to unabashed Bush bashing. One reason is that his Late Show has the brass balls to go where the cowardly White House news corps and corporate suck-up Leno fear to tread: presenting Dubya in all his dumb-ass glory.
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These undoctored snippets show Bush being Bush: a stumbling and fumbling orator, a why-can’t-I-just-take-the-money-and-run campaigner, or worse. This, of course, is in stark contrast to what happens to the footage once it’s been edited by the news media. Miraculously, Bush’s actual inarticulate ramblings or arrogant posturing are prettied up to the point where he’s made virtually coherent and semi-mature.
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Burnett claims his show operates in a completely apolitical atmosphere even though Letterman introduces the Bush-bashing segments with obvious glee. Says Burnett: “As close as I am to Dave, I honestly have no idea what his politics is. I know he votes religiously, but I don’t know who he votes for.” As for the Bush bashing, the executive producer shrugs it off: “There’s no agenda. We’re not a news show and don’t have the need to convey information.”
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http://www.laweekly.com/ink/04/23/deadline-finke.php