The classic Drudge headline:

MEET THE DEPRESSED; GREGORY NAMED HOST OF FADING FORMAT... DEVELOPING...

Ben Smith says it's a "safe choice." Sure, but the right won't respect Gregory they way they respected Russert, and this will do nothing to repair the damage Olberman, Shuster, and company have done to the NBC brand in the eyes of conservatives. That word of Gregory's selection broke on the Huffington Post only adds to the sense that this is a news organization that has decided to drop the pretense of objectivity. Of course, it could have been much, much worse.