Friday, January 27, 2006

The Minuteman elaborates – In response to this post (I’m sure) Tom Maguire gives a lengthy analysis of Scooter Libby’s apparent defense strategy. Nut quote: “My Not So Bold Prediction - this trial will mark a watershed in the history of the media in America.”

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Which would be what, about 30 media watersheds in the past ten years? What is this, Seaworld?

Libby may succeed in taking somebody down with him, but it doesn't shake up Libby's own odds of going down. This is liable to be as much or more of a watershed moment for unnamed sources who've had the luxury of using reporters as stenographers.

The media may lose the convenience of getting the first galleys of next week's talking points. But it's hard to see how this would hurt the press as much as the loss of invisibility would hurt the Libbys, Podestas and Roves of D.C.

Eric said...

Really?

It seems to me that the media has been living in a rarefied bubble, where they're able to listen in on all of the country's secrets, so long as they maintain their vaunted "journalistic integrity."

But even somebody as evil as Scooter Libby is entitled to a full defense. Can the media survive such scrutiny and loss of private sourcing? Maybe, but in a weakened state.

Anonymous said...

It seems to me that the administration has been living in a rarefied bubble, where they're able to listen in on all of the country's secrets, so long as they maintain their vaunted "war on terror."

There, I fixed that for you.

But seriously, so let's say the media gets weakened and forced into greater accountability. And let's say the Bush administration (and those that follow) are weakened and forced into greater accountability.

Wouldn't that be a win/win?