Joe Conason used to write good journalism, but now he has become little more than a Democratic Party apparatchik, as is reflected once again in this fairly unoriginal piece about the glories of Al Gore and the abuses of the media.

As one who was particularly embittered with what I (along w/umpteen-gazillion other people) regard as the undue deprivation by SCOTUS to his rightful acquisition of the Oval Office, I was indeed intrigued with this analysis of how or media, in its similar infinite wisdom, is suddenly regarding Al Gore as their best buddy!

Joe Conason reflects on the frentic amnesia of mainstream media (and citizen journalism, bloggers, social mediaists) towards reports and comments made in the past. The greater reflection could have encompassed how this bent for drivel that entices readers is our fault(the reader).

"Dowd was not alone, of course; she merely reflected the conventional idiocy of the times (and the Times), along with many, many others." A fairly straight-forward dope slap to the media -- not that it isn't deserved.

While it includes most of the issues I would bring to the argument, it leaves me room for thought; that is, it is thought provoking. Now, I give a lot of columnists with whom I disagree a "thought provoking" quality; but in this case I agree with everything the author says. I only would add the thought that Adlai Stevenson's second try at the presidency should be a lesson to anyone considering trying it. In our state (Washington) the new head of the state Republican party is ... More »

The references to Dowd are priceless. I signed up for NY Times Select so I could read her columns. Guess I'm getting my money's worth if I can read the ramblings of the "king maker" at the Times. Had no idea her trendy columns were so vital to the defeat of Gore in 2000. Silly me, I thought we were given Bush by the Supreme Court and the Republican Party's dirty tricks. Joe Conason did an excellent job of explaining why journalists love Al Gore now. He's no threat, he's declined to run again.

this describes a small slice of the savaging that Gore got. It is accurate at far as it goes within the space constraints

As Al Gore wins accolades for his environmental stance, a likely nobel prize and an Oscar of all things for his film, he has suddenly become the darling of some parts of the press. There are still those who seek to censor him (Fox?) but this piece at least has the decency to address the current journalistic hypocrisy for what it is. The author contends that Gore probably now knows full well just how fickle the media are and that they'll turn on him again if he allows them the chance. ... More »

Reminds the press of its culpability in putting Republicans in power by making idiotic attacks on Democrats. I wonder, though, if Conason has applied his wisdom to current coverage. After all, it was Salon that first suggested that Obama just isn't really black enough.