Judy Miller, the accidental hero

[WilliamPitt]

Say what you want about Judy, folks, and there is plenty to say. Many of us, to steal a phrase from Hunter S. Thompson, would like to see her stuffed in a bottle and let out with the Japanese tide for her calamitous and deadly reporting on WMD in Iraq. Many don't sympathize with her 'protecting sources' rap, because the source she is protecting committed a crime.

Fine and good.

But for those of you who have enjoyed watching the Washington press corps deliver a rash of fresh bite marks on the ankles and ass of one Scott McLellan, understand:

The only reason the press have suddenly transmogrified from tamed lapdogs to unrestrained wolverines maddened with bloodlust is the simple fact that one of their own is in the bucket because of this thing.

Repeat: One of their own is in the bucket because this thing.

That's it. That's all. That's what it took.

Thanks, Judy. You've dumbassed your way into becoming Joan of Arc for these press guys. Sure, it wasn't God talking to you but Chalabi. Sure, you give the business a bad name. But if your time in that Alexandria jail cell is what it took to get the press out of their terminal stupor, then it is time well spent.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Judging from the frothing and ranting coming from many

of the ink-stained wretches who populate the Washington Press Corpse, I suspected that might be at least part of it. I'm also wondering whether the recent unveiling of Deep Throat and Bob Woodward's appearances on all the talk shows reminded them that Mr. Woodward parlayed his Watergate stories into a very successful career. Maybe some of those guys started thinking they're much more likely to get a Pulitzer and a movie deal if they stop kissing McClelland's heinie and do some actual reporting.

[NewJeffCT]

2. They've had a few moments of bloodlust previously

But, they quickly got back in line... it remains to be seen if this transformation into "wolverines" will last beyond this week. I hope it does, but i will believe it when I see it.

[napi21]

3. Good point. I do think that was part of what pushed them, but

it's not the only thing. They were already starting to get more agressive with their questions prior to her jail time.

I think it has a lot to do with the poll #'s of Shrub. When his #'s were high, the MSM didn't want to do any criticizing because it appeared that the majority liked him and they didn't want to rock the boat. When his #'s started to fall, they felt safer in questioning and criticizing.

If some event causes Shrubs #'s to rise again, I bet you'd see the press clam up again in a heartbeat.

[KansDem]

7. It appears that Shrub isn't the only one who "doesn't" read the polls

It's such a warm and fuzzy feeling to know that we have a "free press" who's raison d'etre is in an inverse proportion to the POTUS's public approval ratings.

[Booster]

15. I think they're salivating over the idea of getting rid of Rove, who

is the one with the wicked whip. Scotty is just in way over his head and it shows, but with Rove out of the picture I think they could ask anything they wanted to cause their bosses are scared shitless of Rove. I'll bet they all know who sent the Anthrax.

[kentuck]

4. Maybe they're thinking...."it could happen to me..." ?

and their eyes are now wide open? Let's hope so...

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. Or maybe the story is making money for the conservatives at the top

so now the editors, owners, and shareholders are all saying, "Go! Keep it up!"

[WilliamPitt]

6. How would it be making money for them?

[Norquist Nemesis]

10. People paying attention

and wanting to get "the story" sells more, increases exposure for advertisers.

[WilliamPitt]

11. Shark attacks and terra! terra! terra! and the war

sells better.

[CWebster]

8. Any self respecting journalist wouldn't view Judy

as one of their own.

[bigtree]

9. In addition, it could be that they see their chance to finally get Rove

immasculate him. They must have nothing but contempt for the way Rove has played them as head of Bush PR. And, they know they'll have a softer target if they manage to get him out of the way.

"Working as a White House reporter during the War on Terrorism has been a bit like actually being at war," journalistically speaking, according to Elisabeth Bumiller of The New York Times.

Bumiller calls the Bush White House the most secretive in modern times.

[Chichiri]

12. Bump for the evening crowd.

[Jacobin]

13. An alternative theory

Rove has been the Enforcer, handing out trinkets to reporters who toed the Bush line, and punishment to those who didn't....bad seats at press conferences, calls to their bosses when an 'inappropriate' question was asked.

Rove has been the press corps' nemesis and they have (at least some of them) been chafing under the reins of his control.

Now that Rove is bloodied and looks vulnerable, the chance to knock him off (figuratively of course) is now and they are taking advantage of it, almost sounding like investigative journalists, not afraid to ask and re-ask the tough questions.

If they think Judy is a hero, they are delusional. She is in so tight with the PNAC crowd and has been pushing their agenda so hard, lying outright repeatedly to help start a war, that it would be hard to believe that even our media is naive enough to think that she is claiming this privilege for reasons other than to avoid having to take the Fifth in the grand jury.

[Zorra]

14. kick