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October 18, 2005Fitzgerald Announcing Soon?/Keller's Wishful Thinking/Judy Miller's Market Value/Harry Shearer on Anderson CooperThe Washington Post is reporting today that special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald is close to announcing his findings in the CIA leak case--so close that this announcement might come tomorrow. I talked to Fitzgerald's spokesperson this morning and asked to be put on the media notification list Fitzgerald's office is keeping and, per usual, received no hint of when, if ever, an announcement would come. Meanwhile, the blogosphere has been showing little mercy to The New York Times and Judy Miller. Justifiably so, as I've noted in previous posts. Have the Times and Miller taken most of the lumps they're going to get? Executive editor Bill Keller seems to think so. In a memo he sent to the paper's staff on Monday, which was posted by Jim Romenesko, Keller said, I wanted to add a personal postscript to the fine, rigorous piece of journalism we published Sunday. Actually, "postscript" implies an end, and I suppose it's too early to hope for that just yet. But in the world beyond the media water coolers, the focus will shift back to more momentous stories--possibly including the leak investigation in which, for all we know, this paper's ordeal may have been more a digression than a climax. With any luck all of you can resume your undistracted, full-throttle pursuit of putting out the best news report in the world. I know Keller's intent is to put the Miller brouhaha into perspective, but by dismissing the matter as merely a topic of interest to those who dwell at "media water coolers," Keller shows that he still doesn't fully get it. The Miller episode has diminished the paper's credibility, which already had suffered due to her war-greasing reporting on Iraq's (nonexistent) WMDs. As noted by me and others, serious questions were generated by Miller's piece this past weekend. That was not the doing of media slackers who hang out at water dispensers. The Times and Keller are responsible for this. Keller did write: When I get back I'll still have some important loose ends to tie up from this episode. Let's hope these loose ends involve the questions over which I and others have obsessed: Miller's violation of the Times, policy on anonymous sourcing, her curious security clearance, her inability to recall who told her about Joseph Wilson's wife, the sudden appearance of a notebook, etc. I do hope that Keller turns this around, even after this past weekend's bumbled effort. This nation benefits if its leading national newspaper is credible. Think about it. Who makes up the audience for a Judy Miller book? Those who care about the leak story (people who are upset by the Bush administration, the war, and the leak) probably tend to view her as a villain--or friend of the villains--in this saga. And her status as a First Amendment champion has been tarnished by the revelation that her lawyers early on tried to cut a deal so she could stay out of prison and by the finale of her go-to-jail story, in which she did cut a deal to get out. Will liberals want to read what will be a self-serving account--especially after Miller has demonstrated that she cannot be trusted to write about herself? Will conservatives want to read the self-serving account of a reporter who may have done in Dick Cheney's chief of staff, Scooter Libby? These days, most political-oriented books are purchased by partisans of the left or the right. Will consumers on either side rush to a bookstore to plunk down $29.95 for Miller's take? I'm not issuing any predictions about the fate of her book. But Miller may have cashed in at just the right moment. How fortunate for her. Listen, we have a chaplain here who's with this National Guard unit, and he's saying--he's sort of an interesting guy. He says that, you know, a lot of his soldiers are kind of shocked by the disparities they are seeing between rich and poor. And that, you know, they're from Oklahoma and they're a pretty conservative bunch but they're starting to sound like a group of liberals because they're all sort of stunned by what they see. I don't know if that's of any interest, but....Right, okay, we're full. Alright No problem. The horse video should be being fed in on the back of that other story that we're feeding in. It's good video. I looked at it. It's cool. How do we know this conversation--in which someone back at CNN HQ shot down Cooper's idea for a piece on the Oklahomans' reaction to the rich-poor gap in hurricane-struck New Orleans--occurred? Harry Shearer, noted humorist, actor (Spinal Tap, The Truman Show, A Mighty Wind) voice-provider for The Simpsons (Montgomery Burns, Ned Flanders and many others), and HuffingtonPost blogger, has produced a piece of sound art called "Sound Around Katrina" that leads off with this unbroadcasted conversation, which, I presume, was captured from a satellite TV feed. In the past, Shearer has produced other media art using satellite feeds. (His "Face Time" exhibit, which ran in Washington last fall, showed familiar talking heads--politicians and commentators--sitting silently in front of television cameras while waiting to go on air.) What's my interest in Shearer's art? His Katrina piece appears in a public art exhibition now up in Washington, DC, called Found Sound that was curated by Welmoed Laanstra, who happens to be my spouse. Shearer is one of nine artists who contributed sound-related art to the project. (Other participants include artists Richard Chartier, Joseph Grigely, Alberto Gaitan, Brandon Morse, and Robin Rose.) And most of the art is being featured in sound booths--reconfigured Port-a-Potties--that have been placed on sidewalks across town. The point is to encourage folks who don't usually hit the art galleries and museums to spend a few moments contemplating this relatively new art form. Here's a clip from the press release for the project: By placing the sound booths on the sidewalk, the project will make this innovative art accessible to a large number of people," says Welmoed Laanstra, the exhibit's curator. "The aim is to create a public experience focused on the developing field of sound art."...In an essay for the project, Nora Halpern, a vice president of Americans for the Arts observes, "Most traditional exhibitions inhabit contiguous spaces, but FOUND SOUND entices the listener to crisscross a city to experience fully this collection of work. As one leaves a destination for another--whether by foot, car, bus, or Metro--the heightened audio awareness encouraged by each piece should continue, like a musical riff, through all the spaces in between." Writer/humorist Calvin Trillin contributed a poem to the project. The project runs until November 5; the sound booths tend to be open during gallery hours. For all the locations and a complete list of artists--only Shearer plays with media sound--check out the exhibit's website at www.foundsounddc.com. And The Washington Post published a fine write-up of the project. (Click here.) We now interrupt this infomercial to return to our regularly scheduled blog. Posted by David Corn at October 18, 2005 11:02 AM |
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"HUBRIS is a bold and provocative book that will quickly become an explosive part of the national debate on how we got involved in Iraq." --Tom Brokaw |
Comments
WOW!
Great post!
You are on fire today!
Thanks
Kirk
Posted by: capt at October 18, 2005 11:17 AM
David,
Good luck to your wife's art project. It sounds interesting - any plan to travel to other cities?
Thank you as well for the Cannabis stats.
Following is a repost from the very bottom of the last thread, and I think is relevant this morning:
I, too, grew up with a fondness for the NYTimes. In fact, a friend of my parents worked there, at the foreign desk, and once when meeting him downtown I got a chance to read a speech that George McGovern was about to deliver later that day. It was an eerie look into the world of journalism for a teenager.
So, here is a link to the old grey lady's John Burns take on the trial of Saddam Hussein which starts tomorrow. A quick excerpt of the 2 page article:
[...] While many Iraqis are eager for the moment when they see Mr. Hussein in the dock, Western human rights groups and legal experts have warned that the former dictator is unlikely to get a fair trial, and that the probable outcome, a death sentence, will be what the tribunal's harshest critics have described as "victor's justice."
Critics here and abroad have said that the proper forum for the trials would have been an international tribunal of the kind that has spent four years hearing the case against the former Yugoslav president, Slobodan Milosevic, in The Hague.[...]
I was interested in the sense of irony here, in that as we will remember, John Burns was accused of being an agent of US intellegence by Saddam Hussein, and after the initial military victory Mr. Burns, in an appearance with Tommy Franks and the former President Bush, he mentioned that he had gotten his employment at the Times through (former CIA head) GHWB! I saw this on C-Span, and have never been able to find a transcript.
So, now we have the relevation that Judy Miller had special "security clearances".
Further keep in mind, that in a trial at a place like the Hague, Saddam would have opportunity to talk about little things such as the involvement of U.S. intellengence in the coming to power of the Baath Party in Iraq, the use of that party as a tool of assasination of the Iraqi Communists, as well, of course, as to the source of his original cache of chemical & biological weapons.
Certainly, this will not be allowed in the limited tribunal described by Mr. Burns.
Posted by: Robert Schwartz at October 18, 2005 11:17 AM
I find I'm wondering if Miller's source for "Valarie Flame" might have been Cheyney himself. If so, that would explain why she got her testimony limited to Libby, and why she can't "remember" who used the name.
Posted by: L. Hyde at October 18, 2005 11:36 AM
Robert,
I've a feeling that the sound will be shut off anytime anybody's likely to get "off message" during Sadaam's trial. It was so during his last appearance and will likely be so during this.
Posted by: Hajji at October 18, 2005 11:37 AM
I am trying to figure out why someone would offer Judy Miller 1.2 million dollars for a book deal when she can't even remember who mentioned Valerie Plame's name. If she can't recall that what makes these people think she can remember everything else and get all the other facts right. I do believe Chaney was involved up to his eyebrows, but I'm positive we will never know for sure.
Posted by: RJ at October 18, 2005 11:46 AM
The suspense is killing me! I hope we have an answer by tomorrow...
Posted by: Mike at October 18, 2005 11:52 AM
David , thanks for all of your work.
Although it still appears you are still fending for the New York Times, as you have in the past during this scandal. You did come to your senses and began to apply the "journalistic standards" that I know that you believe in deeply,and applied them to the New York Times and Judy Miller in several of your latest post.
This latest post you begin to "drift" again back to protecting the New York Times instead of demanding that they come clean. You stated "I do hope that Keller turns this around, event after this past weekends bumbled effort. This nation benefits if its leading national newspaper is credible".
"Bumbled efforts"? "Bumbled efforts"? The New York Times has more than bumbled they have failed the american people and your craft miserably. Beyond miserably I believe they have committed crimes against humanity by being complicit to Judy Miller's false reports that have resulted in tens of thousands of deaths...deaths.
How can you call these "bumbling efforts" It sounds like your describing Barney Fife(sp?) on Mayberry. The New York Times continues to miss every opportunity to come clean. They could have "fired" her, she abandoned them. What the hell does she have on Sulzberger? I hope they go down..unless they really accept their responsiblity for being part and parcel to these crimes.
Judy is beyond any hope..she continues to be a compulsive LIAR, and feels absolutely no responsibility to anyone else with the exception of Judy.
She is a classic socio-path with no conscience what so ever. She has no shame. Being willing to reap money off of her "fame" from this scandal instead of feeling "shame" about her part in desseminating the false intelligence. She has been proved to be a COMPULSIVE LIAR, that insisted she was "fucking right".
The american public needs to put boundaries around Judy.(she can't do it herself and the New YOrk Times seemed to not even really try) This is the way to deal with someone who is as ill as she is.
Hopefully Fitzgerald holds her accountable for her lies, her mis-use of her security clearance, and throws her back in jail. Until then, or if that does not happen.
NEVER NEVER BUY ANY BOOK THAT SHE WRITES....BOYCOTT ANY BOOK JUDY WRITES. WHY IN THE HELL WOULD ANYONE BUY A BOOK FROM A LIAR. UNLESS OF COURSE YOU WERE DOING A STUDY ON A COMPULSIVE LIARS. SHE IS A CLASSIC CASE
She needs boundaries...I believe she is truely ILL.
Posted by: kathleen at October 18, 2005 12:00 PM
I would not buy Judy Millers book if I found it for a quarter at a garage sale. I wouldn't even buy it to burn it. I wouldn't buy it from a library bin and the money went to benefit the library. I wouldn't buy it if the money went to benefit the food shelf. I would feel I was contaminated if I touched the book. Ick.
Found Sound - Sounds like a very interesting project. When it comes to the Walker Art Center in MN I will go see it.
Louis Freeh is a snake. I saw him on Meet the Press. I'm surprised he didn't hiss. No love lost between him and Clinton but good god. By the end of the interview I was thinking, "Ok, this guy was incompetent, Clinton called him on it, and this is payback. The guy's a chump."
Posted by: Jeanne at October 18, 2005 12:02 PM
#2
Robert,
Interesting post.
Posted by: Jeanne at October 18, 2005 12:03 PM
I have no respect for Louis Freeh and the way he went after Clinton.
--------
So there were 771,605 arrests for marijuana and 90% of arrests were for possession.
I don't understand how you people can sit around puffing on reefer all day. Damn Hippies.
Posted by: Prof. B G D'Gre at October 18, 2005 12:05 PM
I have been waiting to hear about a boycott but one against buying a NYT?
I bet they would change their tune if it hit them in the wallet.
If only a few thousand canceled their subscriptions. . .
Still dreaming I guess.
capt
Posted by: capt at October 18, 2005 12:07 PM
Capt.
Undoubtedly...the NYTimes is a corporation. Corporate entities have shown less and less compuction to behave in ethical manners. NYT will care little for its reputation so long as the ad $s keep rolling in.
Hell, they've already whored out their columnists in a bizzare "Pay per Whine" program on the web...
F-em!
-T
Posted by: Hajji at October 18, 2005 12:20 PM
ABC Breaking news: Baltimore's McHenry and Harbor tunnels closed due to threat of Terrorist Attacks...
Bring on the BOOGA BOOGA as WRH would say.
Expect indictments soon!
-T
Posted by: Hajji at October 18, 2005 12:23 PM
Kathleen,
I think the readers need to do the demanding of the paper. I believe that had much more weight.
Posted by: Jeanne at October 18, 2005 12:23 PM
Oh S**T! Does Fitzgerald have to go through any TUNNELS on his way to work?
______________
Informant: Bomb Plot in Progress
An informant told authorities late last week that a plot to blow up one or both tunnels under Baltimore's harbor was in progress, ABC News has learned.
According to the informant, six Egyptian terrorists were going to receive bomb materials that would arrive by ship to Baltimore Harbor in a container marked "Cocoa." The informant said the terrorists would then use the material to assemble explosive devices, which would be planted in cars as part of a plot to bomb one or both of the tunnels.
The Department of Homeland Security, however, has some doubts about the source's credibility.
It is as yet unclear as to whether the tunnels have been closed as a precaution or because of an active crime scene investigation.
DHS, as well as Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, may provide statements later today.
__________________
"...The Department of Homeland Security, however, has some doubts about the source's credibility."
Uhm...sound Familiar?
-T
Posted by: Hajji at October 18, 2005 12:26 PM
The infomercial a little plug for your wife, sounds a little like the Valerie's plug for Joe Wilson, of course their is no harm in pushing for someone unless they are not qualified. Welmeed Laanstra's project sounds fascinating. What a great concept. I did hear it mentioned on Npr, and I know NPr has done other projects with these booths. (Grand Central station)
Just like the soldiers from Oklahoma I was astounded by the disparity in New Orleans when I went there this spring. I was on a trip with my youngest daughter who was seriously considering attending Loyola this fall. I had not been to New Orleans in 25 years, and was taken back and how much worse the poverty had gotten since I was there last.
I talked with many service workers, maids to some of New Orleans richer families (I would ask lots of questions of people while I was riding the trolley on St Charles). Many of the women I talked with had not had raises in ten years, had no health care, and felt trapped by the entrenched economic disparity in this city. Which we know is in many cities and rural areas in our country.
The race and class disparity is being quickly swept under the rug again. The "scab of racism" as Chris Matthews of Hardball referred to the issue, is quickly growing back over this invisible / ignored gaping wound.
I am wondering if Welmeed will use these booths to encourage all (black, white, yellow, brown, and red) to share their thoughts on racist and class issues. This would be a great project in cities and rural areas across the country.
Posted by: kathleen at October 18, 2005 12:27 PM
I hate that pay to read the columnists crap. If I go online and read Krugman there are ads plastered all over the page. How much money is being made there and how much are they losing by me not viewing it?
I'm even willing to view an ad. I have no problem with that. But this pay to read crap is going to shut down the free access to news. If everybody does it the news is held hostage again.
Posted by: Jeanne at October 18, 2005 12:30 PM
I have doubts about Homeland Security's credibility.
Posted by: Jeanne at October 18, 2005 12:32 PM
I wonder if THIS GUY is who's REALLY living in Rove's Texas Taxes Shack!
Posted by: Hajji at October 18, 2005 12:34 PM
Jeanie...I agree the public does need to hold the Times accountable...and I know I am a little hard on David Corn, but I am not going to avoid what I see in some of his writings. Calling Keller's efforts to accept some responsibility for their failure to edit or reign Judy Miller in, "bumbling efforts" is a gross understatement.
The tens of thousands of dead and their families, the american public, journalist, like David Corn and others deserve more than Keller's "bumbling efforts" to come clean. The New York Times needs to seriously apologize and demonstrate just how this will never happen again. They needed to prove to the american public they mean business..THEY NEEDED TO FIRE JUDY MILLER.
The New York Times deserves to be hung out to dry until they come clean, and accept responsiblity for their serious over sight and complicit support of Judy.
Glad to hear what you feel about not touching, buying or getting near anything Judy would try to make money off of. SHE IS ILL.
Does anyone know who set the timing for Saddam's trial??...of course we should have figured it would have been timed exactly as Fitzgerald's investigations were ending. Karl must have something to do with it.
Posted by: kathleen at October 18, 2005 12:44 PM
The Apprentice : A Novel
by Lewis Libby
At $0.84 a copy I bet it is not a bargain.
Posted by: capt at October 18, 2005 12:44 PM
Kathleen,
I would love, love, love to hear the voice of the minorities in this country. I would love to hear the voice of the poor.
You have hip hop and rap, it is the most political music in the history of music, but the music industry has spent the last 10 years + trying to shut it down. You have people discussing the issues surrounding those living in poverty but do I hear them? Only if I know where to find the speeches on the internet. Seperate the voices and they can't galvanize.
Posted by: Jeanne at October 18, 2005 12:49 PM
Iraqis Say Civilians Killed in U.S. Raids
Military Asserts Fatalities in West Were Insurgents
By Ellen Knickmeyer
Washington Post Foreign Service
Tuesday, October 18, 2005; Page A01
BAGHDAD, Oct. 17 -- A U.S. fighter jet bombed a crowd gathered around a burned Humvee on the edge of a provincial capital in western Iraq, killing 25 people, including 18 children, hospital officials and family members said Monday. The military said the Sunday raid targeted insurgents planting a bomb for new attacks.
In all, residents and hospital workers said, 39 civilians and at least 13 armed insurgents were killed in a day of U.S. airstrikes in Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, a Sunni Arab region with a heavy insurgent presence.
The U.S. military said it killed a total of 70 insurgents in Sunday's airstrikes and, in a statement, said it knew of no civilian deaths. [...] more.
******************
Sigh....
Posted by: Robert Schwartz at October 18, 2005 12:53 PM
The bombing mission was code named "Get Out The Vote"
Posted by: capt at October 18, 2005 12:58 PM
By the way, there's another hurricane developing. Is the weather service allowed to broadcast warnings without Cheney's written approval?
Posted by: Jeanne at October 18, 2005 01:02 PM
Not One More Death - Not One More Dollar
Co-Sponsored by Gold Star Families for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, and Military Families Speak Out
There are currently 149 events planned in 34 states and counting...
On the day after the 2,000th reported U.S. military death in Iraq, people will gather in communities across the U.S. to say that the countryճ pro-peace majority wants Congress to stop the deaths by stopping the dollars that are funding the war. More about the event
Resources
*****end of clip*****
Check it out!
capt
Posted by: capt at October 18, 2005 01:09 PM
#21
Oh Capt,
Too funny. Here's the review page. "Sexy stuff!!! but go to Japan my man."
The Apprentice : A Novel (Paperback)
From Publishers Weekly
Although set in Japan in 1903, Libby's first novel avoids the exoticism and antiquarianism of James Clavell and sets its own tightly dreamlike tone. Setsuo, apprentice innkeeper at an isolated mountain hostel in Northern Japan, finds himself marooned with a dubious cast of travelers during a blizzard. His youthful naivete unfortunately draws him not only to a mysterious young woman with a band of itinerant performers but also to a half-frozen and half-crazed visitor. When this stranger flees back into the storm, Setsuo and another guest separately pursue him, leading to robbery and murder. With rumors of political intrigue enveloping the action and the apprentice in possession of a Macguffin as enigmatic as a haiku image, Libby maintains a sense of mystery and claustrophobia through pared-down prose and minimalist characterization. Setsuo's love interest, for instance, is simply the "girl in the cloak of yellow fur" for much of the novel. Even after he learns her name is Yukiko, her actions, history and motives remain ambiguous to the end.
Posted by: Jeanne at October 18, 2005 01:12 PM
Jeanie, go check out the cover of the latest AMERICAN PROSPECT... a swirling hurricane, with the words...ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION NOW?.
Will be signing off to go to work and live my life. These days I am more hopeful, that the political pendulum may swing back to the middle in our country.
Although it continues to be deeply disturbing to me, that many people are so affected or killed as our political pendulum swings.
Posted by: kathleen at October 18, 2005 01:14 PM
Americans' Father
We, Americans, know Bush as the War President. Many Americans do not know that Bush made a comment to a neocon preacher that he wanted Americans to look upon him as their father. He wants to be our father. Many Americans will see Bush as their father and that is fine. Now ask daddy for a loan to help you over some tough times.
Posted by: Gerald at October 18, 2005 01:15 PM
Robert, (#23)
It has happened so many times, but I never get numb to the slaughter of innocents. I know that if I were a kid and something blew up or crashed or something, I'd be one of the first to go check it out. (might even try to make a few bucks from the scrap)
This is simply indiscriminate mass punishment for townspeople who just happen to live beyond the control of the military. It is retribution against innocent civilians. It is barbaristic and immoral and tarnishes the entire military. It is indiscriminate murder out of anger. It is what the world sees when it hears "United States of America".
-T
Posted by: Hajji at October 18, 2005 01:20 PM
Now, off to a piddly little 8hr ER shift. I can do that time, standing on my HEAD! (but I'll get in trouble if I actually try THAT again)
Next scheduled shift...November 8!!!
California, here I come!...
-t
Posted by: Hajji at October 18, 2005 01:27 PM
Hajji,
I am so excited to see the Bush administration go down but there is a part of me that wonders what will happen when the nation realizes what criminals the Bush Co was and is.
How as a nation do we cope with what this group did? I have been against it from the start and I have trouble coping with it. We have destroyed a country so that Dick Cheney and George Bush could have money and power and play soldier.
Posted by: Jeanne at October 18, 2005 01:29 PM
Now...just think if the gov't put a tax on
those 771,605 pot busts...
what a waste of resources..
Posted by: Stella at October 18, 2005 02:07 PM
Marijuana isn't "manufactured". It's grown, not run through beakers and distilled. The PR war is winning the terminology war. Just the other day, I read about a "marijuana lab" being discovered. I think if most people actually saw the pictures of said "lab" they would see that it's just a hyproponic *garden*, very similar to what is used for growing orchids.
Posted by: Delgado at October 18, 2005 02:30 PM
I am so tired of our wonderful government wasting tax dollars busting stoners I could puke.
*pukes*
Posted by: Laura at October 18, 2005 05:24 PM
There is only one reason to keep the prohibition against marijuana in place, and that is because it has so many beneficial applications, but no one, not industry or big pharma, can get a patent on it. If they can't make money it will stay illegal, period.
Posted by: Saladin at October 18, 2005 05:29 PM
Hydroponics grow great tomatos also. But wouldn't want anyone smoking tomatos. Especially homegrown tomatos. Just redneckies do that;>
Posted by: th at October 18, 2005 06:35 PM
"The Miller episode has diminished the paper's credibility, which already had suffered due to her war-greasing reporting on Iraq's (nonexistent) WMDs"...
.. And the Whitewater persecution, and Wen Ho Lee persecution- just to name two other saga's worthy of inclusion in your truncated list.
Your work is generally admirable, Corn. Why pull your punches where the Times is concerned?
Posted by: Sonoma at October 18, 2005 07:08 PM
Stupid potheads: http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8155
Posted by: goob at October 18, 2005 07:52 PM
Of course the FB of I regards this as coming up in the world because their traditional # one role for many years has been grabbing teenagers who joy ride somebody else's car across state lines.
Posted by: Wm. Rowland at October 18, 2005 08:40 PM
Can the Anderson Cooper sound piece really be true? While I love Harry Shearer's work, I suspect his sense of absurd humor.
If true, this could be a major scandal for CNN, far worse than anything they have done in the past. Can we find the producer who nixed the story? (Assuming the story is true.)
This sort of story keeps my broken heart from mending. I want this country to at least try to live up to some sort of ideal, other than money grubbing.
Posted by: Kal Palnicki at October 19, 2005 08:25 AM