dagblog - Comments for "Will the Real Bob Woodward Please Sit Down?"

Republicans are hyping the

A Guy Called LULU — Tue, 21 May 2013 02:05:58 +0000

In reply to Will the Real Bob Woodward Please Sit Down?

Republicans are hyping the flap over Benghazi talking points by calling it “worse than Watergate,” a false narrative that Bob Woodward has helped along by ignoring new evidence connecting Richard Nixon’s sabotage of Vietnam War peace talks in 1968 to his political spying in 1971-72, writes Robert Parry.

http://consortiumnews.com/2013/05/20/does-woodward-know-watergate/

Yes, they hated Al Gore too,

Anonymous PP — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 09:25:21 +0000

In reply to Newsbusters of all places

Yes, they hated Al Gore too, and loved George Bush, and Miss Manners-like squeamishness when Beltway etiquette isn't followed.

Frat boys with a pen, gotta love it. Of course by being media whores, they brought White House contempt to themselves. Meanwhile we still have little idea what government is doing.

Newsbusters of all places

rmrd0000 — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 05:17:28 +0000

In reply to Will the Real Bob Woodward Please Sit Down?

Newsbusters of all places reports David Gregory of NBC noting that the Washington Press Corps does not like the White House and the feeling is mutual. The statement was made on Friday's NBC "Today" show.

Murrow established his

Michael Wolraich — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 16:48:00 +0000

In reply to The problem is that if a

Murrow established his reputation before he called out McCarthy. That's why his condemnation had such impact. There were plenty of vocal McCarthy critics before Murrow spoke up. The McCarthyites called them communist sympathizers of course. But they couldn't make that stick on Murrow.

Bob Woodward always worked on

Anonymous PP — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 12:43:04 +0000

In reply to Will the Real Bob Woodward Please Sit Down?

Bob Woodward always worked on leaks dropped in his lap. Whether those leaks were true never much concerned him, nor Washington. Fame has created an institution, and that institution must be supported and revered.

Then again, reporters were always amoral hacks, like politicians. "Fartblossom" was the most sincere descriptor, coming in the "he who smelt it dealt it" vein. Why'd we buy into the adoration? The targeted top secret leaks to Woodward from the BushHouse was a horrid precedent - now the White House thumbs its nose at Congress while leaking what it wants to whom it wants.

The problem is that if a

ocean-kat — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 04:42:40 +0000

In reply to I don't think you have to be

The problem is that if a journalist truly transcended partisan politics they'd have to call out most of the republican party like Murrow called out McCarthy. And then they'd be called left wing radicals.

The truly nonpartisan story now is about a republican party that's gotten so extreme and crazy.

Its a story of a democratic president that passes a health care bill designed by the conservative Heritage Foundation, supported by moderate republicans 20 years ago, and put into law by a republican governor. Its a story of a president that bent over backwards and compromised away many democrat supported ideas in a fruitless attempt to get a single republican vote on that republican designed health care bill. Then got called a socialist for passing it.

The nonpartisan story is a democratic president offering significant cuts in SS and medicare and republicans that would not compromise a nickel in revenue in return.

How can an honest nonpartisan journalist tell the story of what's happening now without sounding like a left wing partisan.

I don't think you have to be

Michael Wolraich — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 22:04:29 +0000

In reply to You're right, Michael. I

I don't think you have to be investigative journalist to be a "hero" journalist. Cronkite and Murrow come to mind. But I do think you have to transcend partisan politics, which Maddow does not. You have to win the respect of a broad swath of the country.

That's the part that may be extremely difficult now. With the country so divided, it's hard to achieve success without identifying with one side or the other.

Maybe he will finally retire.

trkingmomoe — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 19:11:04 +0000

In reply to Kathleen Parker wrote a piece

Maybe he will finally retire. I have been hitting the mute button for years when he is on TV.

My grandson asked me about him last night. I told him that it was about time that journalist take a close look at the decline in the quality of their product. This could be a sign that making up stuff to write about to pass as facts will be held accountable. Journalist are starting to catch on that the country's mood is changing and people's interest in tabloid writing is waning. They want honest facts on things that really matter and the pressure is on for journalism to clean it's self up.

Kathleen Parker wrote a piece

Ramona — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 16:10:00 +0000

In reply to Will the Real Bob Woodward Please Sit Down?

Kathleen Parker wrote a piece in WaPo yesterday called "Why the 'threat' on Bob Woodward really matters". Apparently one must never, ever cause Bob Woodward any discomfort:

Though the tone was conciliatory and Sperling apologized for raising his voice, the message nonetheless caused Woodward to bristle. Again, Woodward’s kneecaps are probably safe, but the challenge to his facts, and therefore to his character, was unusual, given Woodward’s stature.

And besides that,

Woodward, almost 70, is Washington’s Reporter Emeritus. His facts stand up to scrutiny. His motivations withstand the test of objectivity. Sperling obviously assumed that Woodward wouldn’t take offense at the suggestion that he not only was wrong but was also endangering his valuable proximity to power.

He assumed, in other words, that Woodward would not do his job. This was an oversight.

The comments are 3,000 and counting, almost all against Parker. But that won't stop her or any of the others in thrall of Bob. The legend will live on.

I agree with Anonymous TMac.

MrSmith1 — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 14:43:07 +0000

In reply to How is it that Bob Woodward

I agree with Anonymous TMac. I have nothing of substance to add, other than to say that I really enjoyed your blog. I also enjoyed Woodward squirming on Morning Joe the other day, claiming he never said he felt threatened, right after they played the clip of him saying he felt threatened. What a maroon. hahahahaha.