[George W. Bush]

I wonder if this exercise in 'journalistic integrity' is actually a cover for other objectives.

They just raised their prices (from 75 cents to $1) and they have declined in sales another 5% recently. At the same time, Murdoch's New York Post has gained much more than that (at 25 cents per paper) and is scooping up the younger (~25-40) readers who are the prime advertising targets.

Maybe they're going to take a more conservative tack in order to compete with WSJ (steady numbers of readers and demographics) and with the Post.

This is a lot like the battle between FNC and ABCNNBCBS. Murdoch on the attack everywhere with news organizations oriented toward the key advertising demographics and with a conservative slant.

The Slimes may be trying to save its bacon and might be just slamming down on the worst abusers to knock the rest of the staff into line. Having a work slowdown is the protest from their liberal cadre of reporters and staff.

[Grampa Dave]

It is hard to tell what is going on over in the executive bedrooms where the NY Slimes is managed.

The NY Slimes had been lying for over 70 years and getting by with it.

Now with the internet, Fox News, conservative talk radio, the NY Post and Washington Times, they can't get by with it.

As soon as they lie, spin, use half truths, the old unidentified source and other shams in a story, it is all over the internet and the conservative news sources.

I doubt if the Slimes will bring honest reporting and show both sides of the political story. The key owners of the Slimes drive and control the Rats. They can make any rat politician or break them. They like the key owners of ABCNNBCBS are life long elite left wingers, and they are too arrogant to change. This arrogance will eventually weaken their hold and stature in America. That process has started since the November 2000 election.