Call me crazy, but shouldn't the goal of hiring op-ed columnists simply to be find great writers (preferably local for papers that aren't national like the Post or the New York Times) who make you think. I'm pretty sure that casting that wide net would pull in conservatives as well as liberals. The New York Times, in fact, with a false start or two, has done a fairly good job in getting David Brooks (whose conservative credentials are under review after his flirtation with Obama) and now Ross Douthat, who writes some weird stuff on sex but has been fairly readable on other topics; certainly you'll learn at least more from a typical Brooks column than from Maureen Dowd channeling the Beltway zeitgeist with her strained analogies, and have you noticed that some of the most pointed criticism of Obama has come from having a true liberal around in Paul Krugman? Here in Philly, Michael Smerconish -- who I profoundly disagree with on torture and a few other issues -- is at least a lifelong local guy who surprises and can be provocative -- but hey, it's a lot easier and less hassle (and cheaper, frankly) to get Linda Chavez to recycle whatever the oil-industry funded think tanks are gushing out this week.
But like I said, it's just a lot easier for editors and publishers to mindlessly try to big yellow line in the middle of the old worn-down highway than to search for a new route -- even when there's a 16-ton Mack truck barreling down the other direction.
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Are you joking? They did not have to "rush out" to hire Liberals at newspapers- they have been working and writing there since the begining. How can you explain the Philly Inq- endorsing a democrat for president every 4 years? Jimmy Carter- YES!....John Kerry- YES! Walter Mondale- YES! Thsi is an embarassing post.— Illogical Liberal- Comment removed.
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- Imagine a far right, Christian, Van Jones in a republican's admin - Mr. Bunch how would the MSM treat, portray, villify him? Look at what the MSM did and continues to do to Sarah Palin-(But she deserves it-AND Van Jones was a "good guy') Liberals are hypocrites- obviously.— Illogical Liberal
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- Amazing. You're actually trying to paint the media (msm at least) as centrist? The last grasp for the fourth estate that is now finally losing its power thanks to the internet. The networks no longer "set the drumbeat," as my public relations professors used to say. If major media outlets don;t start taking notice of the popularity of certain stories online, be they right or left leaning, they'll be out of business very soon. Maybe you and Pollman can work work at the Daily KOS......at least you won;t have to pretend to be a journalist (Pollman no longer bothers anyway)— tjm333126
- It is always laughable to observe the media paranoia of the right wing. Bunch sucks you guys in every time.— mxlplk
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- FILE UNDER "THE MORE YOU KNOW" By ALAN FRAM, Associated Press Writer Alan Fram, Associated Press Writer – 1 min ago WASHINGTON – Public disapproval of President Barack Obama's handling of health care has jumped to 52 percent, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll released hours before he makes his case for overhaul in a prime-time address to Congress.— WriteWinger
Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
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