Remember When Steve Kroft Used To Be A Fastball Pitcher?

Poor Steve Kroft, who befouled the 60 Minutes brand (even further) when he had Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton on for a post-election interview, only to offer up "questions" that could be considered softballs at best, and marshmallows at worst.

Roundly mocked and ridiculed for his weak-kneed performance, one should remember that this is not the Steve Kroft many of us have seen in the past.  'Twas a time when the intrepid reporter used to stare down his adversary, and throw inside heat reminiscent of a young Pedro Martinez.  Why, just look at some of the hard stuff he threw at President George W. Bush, back in the day:

Most Americans at this point in time don't believe in this war in Iraq. They want you to get us out of there.

But wasn't it your administration that created the instability in Iraq?

It's much more unstable now, Mr. President.

You mention mistakes having been made in your speech. What mistakes are you talking about?

Fair to say there are not enough American troops on the ground to provide security for Iraq?

Do you think you owe the Iraqi people an apology for not doing a better job?

Final question: How can you escalate the war when so many people in this country seem to be against it.


Poor Steve has just lost his stuff. What other excuse could there be, based on his past performances, for refusing to ask the gruesome twosome of Hillary & Baracky just what the f*ck happened in a little place called Benghazi?

It can't be... political, can it?  No, never, nyet, nein.  For a reporter not to ask tough questions of a political figure embroiled in scandal and crises, due to his affinity with a particular party affiliation, would be like a pitcher throwing a hanging breaking ball to an opposing player because they were pals off the field.  Or even worse, because...he really wanted that opposing player to win, for selfish reasons of his own.

It would be unprofessionalism beyond the pale.

So we'll give Steve Kroft the benefit of the doubt, and just say he's a fastball pitcher who lost his stuff, and tried to hang around the game too long, and paid for it with his reputation.

Let us not mock him, but offer our pity instead....