A ratings coup.

Byline: The Register-Guard

SADDAM Hussein's interview with Dan Rather of CBS News CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. Its current president is Sean McManus who is also head of CBS Sports. Current productions
Current television shows

CBS Morning News
The Early Show

brought forth the Iraqi dictator's surprising suggestion that he and President Bush hold a debate on live television. Much that was said during the interview could not be believed, but least credible of all was Rather's statement that he wouldn't act as moderator because he had other things to do.

Like what, Mardi Gras Mardi Gras (mär`dē grä), last day before the fasting season of Lent. It is the French name for Shrove Tuesday. Literally translated, the term means "fat Tuesday" and was so called because it represented the last opportunity for ? If Rather thought there was a ghost of a chance that Saddam and Bush would debate, the last thing he'd do is stand aside and let Peter Jennings or Tom Brokaw Thomas John Brokaw (born February 6, 1940 in Webster, South Dakota) is a popular American television journalist, Previously working on regularly scheduled news documentaries for the NBC television network, and is the former NBC News anchorman and managing editor of the program take the spotlight.

Of course, Rather knew a debate would never happen. Diplomacy can't be conducted on live television. Still, the world was at least momentarily tantalized by the surreal prospect of a pre-war debate. And Rather would have jumped at the chance to beat Joe Millionaire Joe Millionaire was an American reality television show broadcast on Fox beginning in January 2003. It was broadcast in the UK that same year. A sequel, The Next Joe Millionaire, followed in October 2003. in the ratings.

COPYRIGHT 2003 The Register Guard
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.

Reader Opinion

Article Details
Printer friendly Cite/link Email Feedback
Title Annotation:	Editorials
Publication:	The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR)
Article Type:	Editorial
Date:	Mar 1, 2003
Words:	147
Previous Article:	Taste of things to come.(Editorials)(Portland crisis reveals dilemma facing schools)(Editorial)
Next Article:	LETTERS LOG.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)

Related Articles
If the coup fits. (popularity of Boris Yeltsin in the U.S.) (Editorial)
Have life support ready to keep editorials alive.
Try to seek out and encourage broadcasters.
Who we are and what we do. (results of survey of editorial writers)
Pardoning Pinochet's Pals.(United States role in dictator's rise to power)
Meet some new members.(Brief Article)
NYT vs. WSJ - Editorial face-off on Bill Clinton.(Brief Article)
EDITORIAL HILLSIDE COUP FIRST TAXES, THEN ACCOUNTABILITY.(Editorial)(Editorial)
Greenberg advises students to look for original expression.(Foster Conference of Distinguished Writers)
Turning over editorial pages to the bloggers is a terrible idea: who should be the teacher here, anyway? Not the chatterers on the...