Did Tom Cruise Pave the Way for Lauer/Bush?

Reviews are already in for Lauer/Bush: Get ready for a snooze fest.

Yesterday, The New York Times published an article detailing how George W. Bush‘s first post-presidential prime-time interview landed at the feet of Matt Lauer, the journalistic equivalent of a slobbering St. Bernard.

The article details how Lauer, the anchor of the “Today Show,” was NBC’s big push, not Brian Williams, who is the nation’s top evening-news anchor (Bush would refer to this as a “decision point” for NBC). One of the reasons for NBC’s decision is that morning news shows (the “Today Show” is the highest-rated morning show) are becoming more important than evening news, as Americans experience an I.V. news drip all day long on the web.

Also, there is the “comfort factor.” Anyone have any idea why Bush might feel comfortable around Lauer? Well, he seems like a perfectly pleasant person. He seems modest, having allowed himself to go bald in the public eye of a society obsessed with youth. He also let Tom Cruise steam roll him on air a few years ago with arguments that would cause even the most staunchly anti-psychotropic drug advocates to crawl underneath a table.

It’s been about four years since this interview occurred, where the two debated the efficacy of prescription drugs, and it’s still every bit as bonkers to watch. Lauer looks like a pack of firecrackers went off in his pocket mostly because his argument, the simple and correct position that different drugs have different effects on different people, was met with Cruise’s senseless hyperbole on the evils of pharmaceuticals. (Cruise’s failure here was equating the actual products with the practices of the companies, which can, in fact, be quite evil.)

Can’t you just imagine how Bush can spin hardballs?

Lauer: So you believe that the use of torture was necessary?

Bush: Matt [or whatever nickname he's come up with], do you even know what torture is? Have you ever tortured someone? Have you ever been tortured? If you haven’t, why are you even talking about it?

Lauer: You know what? You’re right.

If there is anything I’ve learned from George W. Bush, it’s that you probably shouldn’t use the excuse that in the future you’ll be dead, in hopes of taking pressure off the decisions you make today. Something tells me Lauer won’t hold his feet to the fire on this. Any vindication for the presidency of George W. Bush should put a pit in your stomach, and Lauer should be judged for that.

[NYT]