Languor and loss
Some notable departures
Languor and loss
Dick Polman, Inquirer National Political Columnist
I'm getting an early start on this first summer weekend, practicing what the French call l'extase langoureuse, which roughly translates as the ecstasy of languishing.
But, before the languor, two quick things:
Today marks the inexplicable farewell of The Washington Post's best political blogger. For five and a half years, Dan Froomkin has tirelessly spoken truth to power - doggedly tracking the incompetent perfidies of the Bush administration, and, lately, holding Barack Obama accountable whenever his actions have failed to jibe with his promises. He deservedly amassed a loyal following, and it remains a mystery why The Post decided to drop him; the official line - that his blog had "run its course" - is self-evidently substance-free.
Froomkin posted his final words this morning; his entire ouevre is worth a look. I'm assuming he'll land somewhere. I'll just note, for now, that his erasure is yet further evidence that the term "liberal media" is a canard. I need only point out that The Post - supposedly a prime "liberal" outpost - has dropped Froomkin while retaining the op-ed services of people like Charles Krauthammer and William Kristol...as well as the editorial page editor who for years indulged the Bush neoconservatives even as Froomkin charted their delusions.
And speaking of loss:
Whenever celebrities die in threes - as often seems to be the case - I am always fascinated by the hierarchy of mourning...in other words, which of the deceased winds up as number three.
So, here at week's end, let's give it up for Ed McMahon.
For every example you might have for the non-existence of a liberal media, I have a hundred showing the opposite. And no I'm not going to list them here. Just Google "ABC News healthcare" and you'll get a few.— jmc
Perhaps that after seeing that being an all-left, 24 hour print version of the "all barack channel" (Hey, ABC is still taking broadcast "journalism" in America to an all new low), the Post realized that people actually want fair and balanced news (see Fox News). By the way, ABC's broadcast of the news from the White House the other night reminds me of watching Tass broadcast from the Kremlin back in the 1980's. What a joke.— CD75- For all people, like JMC and CD, who still believe the myth of the liberal media, I have several bridges over the East River I'd like to sell you cheap.— AHiredGun
Comment removed.- CD, I'll be honest, I laughed at this: "...people actually want fair and balanced news (see Fox News)." I can't think of anybody I know, Republican, Democrat, Socialist, Whathaveyou, that doesn't admit Fox slants to the right and broadcasts their news from that side of the aisle. If you can't admit that, I think you're just kidding yourself.— Eric_in_CA
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- I agree LJL, the Republicans always do themselves in with their expressed self righteousness but personal failings.— chasing history
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- Therrrrrrre Goes Edddddddie! Up to heaven where he belongs! RIP to the most famous second banana ever!— James TL
- I know it looks like the GOP will continue to falter but you better believe they will get back in power. I hope by the time they do they actually follow the tenets of their party: fiscal responsibilty, staying out of people's personal lives and moral high ground. They certainly aren't that now, especially the last one. Saying one thing and doing another doesn't play well here in America....for Republicans OR Democrats! (Funny how you never seem to hear about affairs like Sanford's from 3rd party candidates... perhaps we need to support them more than we do).— James TL
- Yesshh!!! You are correct, sir!!— Phrossty
- James, I don't believe they will get back in power. Progress is inevitable. The rest of the civilized world is to the left of the U.S. so eventually the country will have to wake up and shift to where the success lies.— HandNik
- comradeneedshisfirsteducation is a conservative tool. Tell us more about the republicans and how much they promote "family values" and sanctity of marriage. That is,for everybody but themselves.— mike l
Cited by the Columbia Journalism Review as one of the nation's top political reporters, and lauded by the ABC News political website as "one of the finest political journalists of his generation," Dick Polman is a national political columnist at the Philadelphia Inquirer. He is on the full-time faculty at the University of Pennsylvania, as "writer in residence." Dick has been a frequent guest on C-Span, MSNBC, CNN, NPR and the BBC. He covered the 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004 presidential campaigns.
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