HeadlineUpdate

The Problem with Unnamed Sources

    There has been lots of public soul-searching over newspapers' use of unattributed sources.  As a second-generation PR person, I know that every use of an unnamed source is another point scored for a newsmaker's point of view.  News organizations say they only grant anonymity when absolutely necessary, and now the common practice is to state the reasons for doing so.  But as the passage below shows, the practice is still out of hand.  Read this quote from a story on how the Democrats are turning tactical disadvantages into momentum for winning back the Senate and ask yourself, why on earth would a reporter need to let a source hide from a quote as bland, self-serving and non-provocative as this?  News ombudsmen, start your memos.

"I don't think it was ever a map for taking back the majority," said one Democratic strategist, who declined to be identified in order to provide candid information about the campaigns. "But the very fact of it is, we get closer to winning the majority every single week."

Don't it Feel Good?

When was the last time Democrats went into an election anticipating such a rout of Republicans?  I'm sorry, I wasn't around during the Roosevelt  Administration (but I did find this great FDR letter, check it out). Some Republicans are being quoted saying they'll lose 30 seats. This feels good.
But this takes the cake.  Rep. Don Sherwood's dutiful wife has sent this letter to constituents, for which she was praised by President Bush.  Maybe it is the heartfelt cry of woman wronged...or maybe it's  a Roveian dictat in order to get the Prez onstage with a dysfunctional family not his own.

Abstemious Abramoff and Nefarious Norquist

Oh Jack Abramoff, how you break my heart.  Week after week, I keep hoping you'll trigger that seismic shift that will cause the G.O.P. to tumble and fall.  Today's news about your personal perfidy, the nefarious Norquist and your  tax-exempt mouthpieces is probably not the tipping point, but I still hope to see some more indictments of Members of Congress before the Election.  Who else is taking a perp walk with Bob Ney? 
As for today's story, it's not news that PR can be bought and paid for. However I was pleased to read how much Grover Norquist charges to write an op-ed for august journals such as the Moonie Times. $1500--I'll have to raise my rates.  Grover's groups appear in other scandilcious stories this week too, if he ends up leaving the scene it won't be a moment too soon.  He and Pat Buchanan can go off to Thug Camp together...

Now, George Allen is Toast

This just in from the AP, charging George Allen with financial misdealings, failure to disclose stock options and more asinine behavior voters understand very well.  I wouldn't be surprised if this story has been carefully guarded, nurtured and leaked by the Webb campaign.  A nice solid ethical lapse that Allen would ordinarily have been able to swat away. Now it may be enough to tag him as a loser.

And I still maintain that "macaca" was the babbling gibberish of a politician who often finds his tongue loosened by likker, as routinely happens to good ol' boys who like their Confederate flags and nooses.

Special at Denny's--(Ersatz) Humble Pie

    Bad news for those of you who've already lost bets that Denny Hastert would be out as speaker by now.  I missed today's news conference but look forward to watching it on C-Span, but here it is, with an annoying commerical, at the Washington Post.  (Speaking of political Internet porn, I also recommend Bill Clinton's address to the Labour Party Conference).  Hastert's mealy mouthed mea culpa won't buy him much time.  The GOP leadership is clearly afraid of a shake-up, partly because they know that most of the guys next in line have their own ethical questions.  Boehner, Reynolds, Blunt all have supped at the table of Abramoff & Co.  I'm no Republican, but if I were I'd be looking for a new Speaker who's unafraid to take on Jack Abramoff and other fat cats.  Tom Davis for Speaker.  Pass it on.

Of course, it's only going to be a sort-term gig.  That hissing sound is the hope fizzing out of the Republicans' balloon. Thanks to Mark Foley, and despite what Howard Dean and Rahm Emanuel disagree about, the Democrats will take back Congress.