The White House's favorite whipping boy

[question everything]

The White House's favorite whipping boy - San Diego Union Tribune op-ed

July 13, 2006

When President Bush told the country that he doesn't read newspapers, it would seem to me he forfeited his right to comment on their contents. Or certainly the right to any credibility for his views.

But remember, too, the president's explanation for why he avoids the print media. He derives all he needs to know from trusted advisers who keep him posted on matters of importance. Thus we must assume that Bush's recent assault on The New York Times (a serious journal without comics) reflects the thinking of high-level associates. These folk do indeed peruse the papers – and often, of late, have disliked what they find there.

It was Thomas Jefferson, I believe, who wrote that given the choice of a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, he would feel no hesitation in choosing the latter. I'm not sure I go that far. But as between believing The New York Times or accepting the collective wisdom of Karl Rove, Tony Snow and even Vice President Cheney, I'll stick with the news professionals. You see, they don't have a succession of administration missteps to defend. Nor an ox to gore, whatever that means.

The current brouhaha was touched off by revelation of an intelligence system the government has employed to trace international monetary transfers – including those by potential terrorists. The accuracy of these articles or the propriety of printing them are not my immediate concern. I wonder instead why the revelations have triggered such concentrated fire against The New York Times. It happens that virtually identical information was carried the same day by the highly conservative Wall Street Journal as well as the Los Angeles Times, and subsequently by daily newspapers everywhere.

(snip)

For rank irresponsibility, consider this utterance by a Northern California radio performer, Melanie Morgan – that the editor of The New York Times should be tried for espionage and possibly go to the gas chamber. Or this, from the more familiar personage of Pat Buchanan: “If Bush believes what he is saying, why does he not do his duty as the chief law enforcement officer of the United States?” Yes, why doesn't he press charges?

(snip)

Van Deerlin represented a San Diego County district in Congress for 18 years.


Find this article at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060713/news_lz1e13vandeer.html

[Lindacooks]

1. First Repuke rule: NEVER let them get you under oath.

Chimpy isn't suing because he'd have to testify. And since he lies every time he opens his mouth, well, you can see the problem.

[Sherman A1]

2. Well Said

[yellowcanine]

3. Buchanan has a point. Bush should put up or shut up. If the NY Times

broke the law, they should be prosecuted. Otherwise, he should shut up.