The Cave Man Speaks

"Isn't that delightful? This particular leaker was no whistle-blower and no patriot; just a partisan with an axe to grind. But after the Times has printed dozens (hundreds, probably) of stories critical of the Bush administration based on leaks by Democratic bureaucrats, we're still waiting for the paper to write: 'A copy of the report was obtained by The New York Times from someone sympathetic to the Democrats' position who wanted his criticism of the Bush administration to be known.'"

Actually, it wasn't someone who wanted Barrett's criticism "known," since it would have been known yesterday when the report was released. It was someone who wanted the prosecutor's arguments above the fold on the Times front page, where it ended up, by giving the paper an exclusive.

Washington Post ombudsman Deborah Howell has clarified, but not apologized for, her mistake on Abramoff:

"I've heard from lots of angry readers about the remark in my column Sunday that lobbyist Jack Abramoff gave money to both parties. A better way to have said it would be that Abramoff 'directed' contributions to both parties."

The avalanche of nasty comments about Howell -- calling her a shill, a whore and worse -- have prompted washingtonpost.com executive editor Jim Brady to shut down this site's new comments feature:

"There are things that we said we would not allow, including personal attacks, the use of profanity and hate speech. Because a significant number of folks who have posted in this blog have refused to follow any of those relatively simple rules, we've decided not to allow comments for the time being. It's a shame that it's come to this. Transparency and reasoned debate are crucial parts of the Web culture, and it's a disappointment to us that we have not been able to maintain a civil conversation, especially about issues that people feel strongly (and differently) about."

CBS's Vaughn Ververs weighs in:

"What I saw was certainly aggressive criticism, some off-base, some more on-point. There were a lot of attacks on Howell's ability to be an ombudsman and on the paper for its reporting. And there were an awful lot of calls for Howell to resign or be fired over the issue. (It was clear that few of the commenters had a solid grasp of exactly what the role of an ombudsman is, or who Howell reports to). . . . [T]he discussion was hardly one that could be considered respectful, or even civil.

"This unfortunate chain of events leaves everyone in the new media landscape in worse position. The Post, laudably, was making an effort to engage readers in a dialogue -- just as so many press reformers have clamored for. By closing that comment door, they've perhaps taken a step backward from trying to be more open in the future.

"More than that, the news audience has been terribly served by a few loudmouths incapable of having a rational discussion."

Responding to a negative piece is a political art, but in this column by Daily News gossip Lloyd Grove, Kerry's guy goes nuclear:

"Sen. John Kerry's flack traded barbs with the author of a soon-to-be published GQ mag article claiming that loyal Democrats, especially former Kerry aides, wish the once and probably future Presidential candidate would just go away.

" 'You read GQ to pick suits and ties, not to pick a commander-in-chief,' Kerry's mouthpiece David Wade E-mailed me concerning Michael Crowley's hit piece, which claims party activists believe the Massachusetts senator 'blew his best chance and that he's "delusional," as I repeatedly heard, to think he's still wanted.'

"Wade responded hirsutely: 'As a GQ fashionista would say, the magazine's political coverage has the longevity of the Soul Patch and the sophistication of The Mullet. I won't lose sleep over the inside-the-beltway musings of a reporter too young to shave and the Chardonnay-drinking pals he met on the cocktail party circuit.'

"Crowley, who pointed out that he's 33 while Wade is only 30, retorted: 'David Wade should show more respect for his elders. A juvenile response like that is what you get from someone without a real defense. And, by the way, maybe if John Kerry understood fashion better, he wouldn't have gone on those windsurfing outings, which made his own staff cringe.' "

That kind of response just guarantees that the GQ piece will become a must-read among the cognoscenti.

In other news, Amazon is offering a weekly online talk show starring Bill Maher. And did anyone know that Martha Reeves of Vandellas fame is now a member of the Detroit City Council? Was there dancin' in the streets?