The Reliable Source

After a 25-year career as a distinguished editor, feature writer, investigative reporter and war correspondent, Rich Leiby has never, ever won the Pulitzer Prize. Now he's found his life's calling as a gossip columnist. He'll take your tips, chew the fat, discuss the dish and babble in cliche-ridden prose right here once a week.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

________________________________________________

Richard Leiby: Hey, everybody. Thanks for stopping by. Technical announcement: I've been dragooned on to Fox News and told I have to appear at 12:15 or so. My able and delightful assistant, Miss Anne Schroeder, will take questions for me while I'm under the hot lights.

_______________________

Philadelphia, Pa.: Are you the same Richard Leiby who wanted to be a dentist who attended summer session at the University of Pennsylvania in 1974? If so, you left some house plants in the building. Were we supposed to water them or something?

Richard Leiby: No. I wanted to be an oceanographer but aborted my underwater plans after watching the resignation speech of President Nixon in August 1974, the summer after leaving high school. I decided to become a journalist. I ended up in Philadelphia, but at Temple University, the home of the Owls and Bill Cosby.

_______________________

Ithaca, N.Y.: Just curious... I saw the Park Police story yesterday morning in your column. Then, later in the day, I saw it on CNN as "CNN has learned that..." implying they had the scoop.

Did you get hosed by CNN?

Richard Leiby: Yep, we got hosed. They should have put on the crawl: "EXCLUSIVE from The Reliable Source, written by a brilliant new columnist named Richard Leiby." That's why I'm going on Fox News! To punish the CNN scoundrels.

_______________________

One Request: Please keep the tip challenge alive!;!;

Richard Leiby: The Tip Challenge is very likely over. It had a good run but I've heard from many readers who didn't like it. One even said it doesn't meet any logical test (not that we apply such standards) because we get the sum of the tip but we know nothing about the quality of service.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Fox News -- now I'm suspicious. Is the Reliable Source to become a GOP tool?

Richard Leiby: I am a tool only of the public! I did Fox once before when I profiled Gen. William Boykin, whose comments about Islam stirred up a lot of controversy. Hey, they asked.

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: So what are your stats? Age, marital status, where do you live and where are you from?

Richard Leiby: I'll dish: I turn 47 in a couple days. (Capricorn!) I have three children. I have a very lovely and incredibly tolerant wife, who now calls herself "The First Lady of the Reliable Source." We live in Rockville, which has been designated an "All-American City."

_______________________

Center,City: Gene Weingarten said you might get fired today during the discussion for making off-the-cuff, impolitic remarks. So, what're your thoughts on the Ombudsman?

Richard Leiby: Gene Weingarten is a part of the secret cabal of haters conspiring for my job. He is vile, he is scum.

_______________________

Welcome!: Was agreeing to do a washingtonpost.com chat a requirement of taking your new position?

Richard Leiby: Welcome, welcome. I've got MAIL. I'VE GOT MAIL.
Yes, doing chats was pretty much part of the deal, along with watching "Crank Yankers" on Comedy Central.

_______________________

Bloomfield, N.J.: Did Lloyd Grove or anyone else give you any advice on how do to this job? If so, what?

Richard Leiby: Wait--Bloomfield. Is this my mother-in-law? She grew up in Bloomfield.
Lloyd's advice was, "After you throw a bomb, run like hell."
(No really, he was quite helpful -- the main thing is that he provided the able and delightful Anne Schroeder.)

_______________________

Vienna, Va.: Why the change from news/world news reporting to Style writing?

Richard Leiby: I've always written for Style. I wrote about music and personalities for a long time before getting into terrorism and war. Liz, please show them something. Like a profile of Mandy Moore or Roky Erickson. I've even attempted to write "humor," but Gene Weingarten conspired against me and undermined me and got that column.

_______________________

washingtonpost.com: Gimme a sec, and I will provide some linkage. -- Liz

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: So, any hate calls/mail from Washington's elite yet?

Richard Leiby: No terrible hate mail or calls yet. And I really wish I had some. I'd print them...

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Please keep the Tip Challenge. In the past it was the only reason that I read the Reliable Source.

Richard Leiby: Anne is going to jump on now to deal with the Tip Challenge and other issues. She worked on the Challenge with Lloyd. I've got to go bloviate on Fox.

_______________________

washingtonpost.com: Vintage Leiby: The Britney Gap (Post, July 6, 2000)

_______________________

Re: the tip challenge: The Tip Challenge was one of the most craven and tackiest things I've ever seen in print and not worthy of ink in the WP. Let it die.

Anne Schroeder: Okay people, what would you do if 50 percent of readers LOVED the Tip Challenge and the other 50 percent (and hostile, may I add) hated it?

It has run its course to some degree, but perhaps we won't say R.I.P. just yet... it's entirely up to Rich.

_______________________

Fairfax, Va.: Hi Richard,
Will you be writing the Reliable Source very differently from Lloyd -- which I think mostly he handed off to his assistants. How will your style be different and I hope more interesting? Thanks.

Anne Schroeder: As Lloyd's former assistant, I can tell you he didn't hand off everything to me. We worked as a team. He worked his tail off. This column is hard to do by oneself and the assistant reports out items as well as fixing the logistics. But yes, Rich and Lloyd have two different styles -- Rich is awfully surly, as you can tell -- and he has many new ideas about how to change the column.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: So Anne -- how will the column be different under Rich?

Anne Schroeder: Well the column will be same in terms of it's overall subject matter, but Rich has different ideas. Our debut item about the Park Service is proof that the column will differ from Lloyd's, but it should -- this is Rich's space now. It'll vary from Paris Hilton to Washington elite. We hope to write what readers want to read.

_______________________

washingtonpost.com: FYI, Rich is live on the Fox News Channel right now.

_______________________

Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.: I'm glad you mentioned your assistant Anne. I could already tell the difference in last week's "Names & Faces" in her absence. She's fantastic and I wanted to send "BRAVOS" to her for holding down the fort in The Reliable Source's transition.

So far so good. I like your style, Mr. Leiby (and I enjoy the word "Squibs.") Welcome aboard.

Who would you say in your two days of Reliable Sourcing is Washington's worst dressed?

Anne Schroeder: Wow! Many thanks! I especially like you right now!
Rich is fabulous to work for and actually a very gifted reporter.
I'm quite excited to work with him. I'm hoping to catch some of his talent. Rich will love that you liked the word "Squibs." We squabbled about that word for a bit on Monday night.

_______________________

Woof woof, meow meow!: Are you the Anne Schroeder that does www.metropets.org?

Anne Schroeder: I'm sorry to say I'm not the same Anne...

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Anne, are you wearing pants? Is Liz?

Is Richard?

washingtonpost.com: I only drop trou for Weingarten. -- Liz

Anne Schroeder: Well Well. Tell us Liz, what are you wearing? (She's in Virginia)

_______________________

Long Beach, Calif.: Did you inherit any of Lloyd's Moles per chance? Do you they have call names? Did Lloyd give you the drop zones and contact locations?

Anne Schroeder: Lloyd was very helpful in terms of offering his contacts, etc. Rich has many of his own and I inherited some as Lloyd's assistant. But we're always hoping for more!

_______________________

Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.: Welcome! I'm watching you on FNC right now -- assuming this is a pre tape? By the way, you look much younger on TV than you did in the yesterday's photo. And I have to say you're talking kind of slow. I liked your first item, but it was more newsy than gossipy, no?

Anyway, will you be covering the shenanigans down here? There's always good gossip with so many self-important sillies in one place! Looking forward to your column and online chats.

Richard Leiby: Hey, it's Leiby, I'm back now. I look younger? I feel really old, tired, a pathetic hack. Let's go other to the depressed middle-aged journalists chat, shall we?

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: We want to know what Richard is wearing!

Richard Leiby: My very lovely wife dressed me today, as she dresses her other children, so I had on a stylish sport coat and a Matisse print tie.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: The Tip Challenge always struck me as a Lloyd Grove thing. Let it go. Give us what we really want -- Roky Erickson gossip.

washingtonpost.com: Try this: The Elevator Doesn't Stop Here Anymore, (Post, June 1991)

Richard Leiby: Roky is out of Austin and living with his youngest brother in Pittsburgh. I'm told he's doing well.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Your predecessor had a problem with his pants often being too short and I was told to never trust someone whose pants are too short. Please tell me that you don't have this problem.

Richard Leiby: I am a shortish person (great Joe Henry song: "Short Man's Room") so my pants are usually too long.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: So, as far as I can tell, your only source so far is a disgruntled, fired Park Service employee. Got Paul O'Neill waiting in the wings, too?

Richard Leiby: It's possible that my only sources now are at Fox News Channel. I'm looking at the O'Neill book, though. Heard about some good tidbits therein.

_______________________

Enough Already: We live in D.C., not L.A. We want DC gossip. We don't care about Ashton Kutcher. We don't care about Mr Blackwell. We don't even care about Howard Dean's wife... yet anyway. We want gossip worthy of The WASHINGTON Post.
Thanks.

Richard Leiby: We're a LOCAL column for LOCAL people -- yes, I understand. But I have 200 columns to write this year, maybe more. Can't do only local. In my view, people need to get some feed on the celeb scene and on national figures. I'm trying to give those items a little twist, though, to make it feel more LOCAL.

_______________________

Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.: is it LEEbee or LIEbee? the FNC guy said LIEbee, but that just sounded wrong.

Richard Leiby: Long "I." Leiby as in Reliable. German speakers--and I know you're out there--will tell you that you always pronounced the "I" when it follows the "E" or vice versa.

_______________________

15th and M: So how long was Lloyd on the job? Frankly I'm ready for some juicier bits. Lloyd was really running out of steam towards the middle to end of his run. He was there about three years right?

Richard Leiby: Lloyd lasted four years. That's an ironman run in this game. I may only last two. What hair I have left is on fire every day.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Did you consider changing your name when you accepted your position, to something like Yves Dish or Peter Hotti? I mean, Lloyd sure couldn't have been born grovel@washpost.com, not could he have?

Richard Leiby: Readers, please submit possible new email addresses. And if my name is too hard to pronounce, go ahead and rename me entirely. Then my kids won't have to bear this horrible legacy.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Yea! Finally a WP columnist/chatter who has a real sense of humor and does not come across as an effete snob, read Weingarten. Welcome and may the Force be with you.

washingtonpost.com: In Gene's stead, I'm offended. -- Liz

Richard Leiby: Gene is not effete. He writes about poop.

_______________________

Boston, Mass.: So how's that tray from Baghdad that you went through such hell to get back? Is it prominently displayed in your home?

Richard Leiby: Yes, the tray from Iraq -- which entails a long story or maybe a posting from my producer here -- hangs in a place of honor in my "study," which is where effete columnists place their Paul O'Neill books and photographs of meetings with President Bush.

_______________________

Re: Your Pic: I think you need to shave your head and get contacts. You look like a politician.

Richard Leiby: Another reader said I look like a rabbi. She wanted me to submit to a makeover. I'll have to consult my bride on this one. She is the only one who has to live with the hideous creature that is me. You guys can scroll right past the photo.

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: You know, you're more handsomer than Lloyd.

Richard Leiby: You are my new bestest friend ever! :}

_______________________

Silver Spring, Md.: How did covering wars prepare you for this job?

Richard Leiby: War infused me with existential dread and ennui. One cannot grow old without having seen war -- I think Frederic Remington said that.
So, basically, now I want to have fun. I think this column will be fun. Bungee jumping in to a fresh daily Hell.

_______________________

Baltimore, Md.: What convinced you to take over the Reliable Source column as opposed to say, Bob Levey's column?

Richard Leiby: I like Bob and his column, but wanted to do something that bounced more directly off the news.

_______________________

washingtonpost.com: The tray reference explained (from the June 20, 2003 Reliable Source):

"Make no mistake: Operation Iraqi Tray Freedom was a complete success."

-- The Post's Richard Leiby yesterday after the Department of Homeland Security returned a copper tray -- a cheap-looking object resembling a hubcap -- given to him by retired Baghdad police lieutenant Sabih Jassim Azzawe during Leiby's recent visit to Iraq. Federal officials also returned 5,125 Iraqi dinars and a Republican Guard document that had been confiscated, along with the tray, by U.S. Customs agents when Leiby landed at Dulles International Airport last month. The presentation ceremony at the Sterling, Va., Customs facility was graced by Leiby's high-powered Washington attorney, Matthew J. McConkey. Leiby signed papers swearing not to sue the government and agreeing to pay its legal expenses, if any, and remitted to McConkey 1,000 dinars (about 67 cents), to be shared with co-counsel John M. Gurley.

_______________________

Southern Maryland: Remember it's a long I, as in "libel."

What does Leiby mean in German, anyway? My great grandparents were German but they died before I was born. Wasn't exposed to it, unfortunately.

Richard Leiby: Good point. Libel -- we'll avoid that.
And I've never really been able to find aGerman word that matches Leiby. I think the name was changed in America. Antwort: Ich weiss nicht.

_______________________

Alexandria, Va.: Will Wednesday be your regular chat day? I'd prefer Friday, which is practically a wasteland without Lloyd, Rita Kempley, and (soon) Bob Levey. (Do people confuse you with him because of the similar name?)

Richard Leiby: We might change the chat day. It depends. I will be writing a Sunday column, which I'll try to put together on Fridays. I like Fridays.

_______________________

The District Line: So what's the scoop on who will get Levey's space?

Richard Leiby: Bob Levey should be doing this chat! I have no gossip on who might get that column. But if I continue to get phone calls for Levey (as I have for 12 years)I'm just going to pretend to be him. Good way to make friends...

_______________________

Alexandria, Va.: Seeing how this is Washington and an election year, you're going to give us a lot of good stuff coming off the campaign trail, right?

Let the rest of the media cover the horse race, I want to hear about the staffers from one campaign getting into a drunken brawl with staffers from another in a pub in New Hampshire or somewhere...

Richard Leiby: I agree. The more drunken brawl in New Hampshire items, the better.
What about Iowa: Do they drink there? Do they drink ethanol?

_______________________

Long Beach, Calif.: Will you be quizzing the public as to whether or not Redskins is an appropriate name for D.C.'s football team? The responses would be fun to read, don't you think, oh, Washington Honkie!

Richard Leiby: Several years ago I write a big piece about the Redskins name, and why it's offensive. But it seems the courts have spoken: The Redskins can keep their moniker. Alternatives welcome from chatters, of course. I'll pass them along to Dan Snyder.

_______________________

Bethesda, Md.: Richard, how can we as humble Post readers assist you? Should we, the unemployed and underemployed scour the city restaurants and drinking establishments with our ears cocked for gossip? What's the most expeditious form of gossip gathering we could perform for you?

Richard Leiby: Thank you, Bethesda. The way to help is simple: If you hear something you find interesting about a national or local figure, or see somebody lurking in your neighborhood who might be a politician doing something strange (not that politicians are strange), just give a call and our crack investigative team will get on it. If you're at a concert or movie theater and find yourself seated next to, say, Colin Powell, then drop us an email. Especially if it's an Outkast concert!

_______________________

Richard Leiby: Many excellent questions remain, but I have to wrap it up. Column must be filled with exclusive items for CNN to shamelessly steal. We'll talk to everyone again in a week, if I haven't gone down in flames by then. Thanks, all.

_______________________