RAINES' HARD FALL

New York Post ^ | 6/06/03

[kattracks]

June 6, 2003 -- The unprecedented resignations of The New York Times' top two editors yesterday may have been inevitable, but they were no less stunning.

Question is, do those who run the Times truly understand all of the reasons that brought about this astounding turn of events?

[goldstategop]

There's no market for liberalism any more. The older Sulzberger took a look at the growth of the Times' rival, the Post and decreed a Thursday morning massacre. Liberalism uber alles won't help the Gray Lady if it can't stay profitable. Perhaps the listing of America's Newspaper Of Record will bring back the more sober and hard-headed brand of journalism it badly needs to reclaim readers and rebuild its tattered credibility. If it can't do both all its past prestige won't stop its decline into oblivion. The NYT's management has tough decisions to make. It may still seek to retain a liberal bent but the day of its being a DNC organ is clearly over.

[tictoc]

The very first thing that Raines' replacement should do is to fire Maureen Dowd.

After all, a sub-moron yakking away on the editorial page discredits the great institution that is the New York Times.

The very first thing that Raines' replacement should do is to extend Maureen Dowd's contract.

After all, a sub-moron yakking away on the editorial page makes plain the agenda of the birdcage liner that is the New York Times.

I'm so confused.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

. . . The New York Times has been long - and correctly - regarded as America's paper of record; for better or worse, its pages still set much of the national news agenda.

. . . [But] during the tenure of Publisher Arthur Sulzberger: The Times lets its ideological heart bleed all over its news pages - even as it pretends to grind no political axes.

It has a perfect right to do this, of course; any newspaper has.

The conclusion is that no newspaper is to be trusted to be "the newspaper of record." But that leaves broadcast journalism without a point of reference for reporting "in the public interest." Which only points up the fact that broadcast journalism is not in the public interest. The near-turning of the 2000 election via the erroneous "Gore Wins Florida" call before the polls were closed in Florida--and indeed in the western half of the country--must make that plain to anyone who actually thinks about it. But

[libertylover]

I find it interesting that Raines took the action to resign in order to save the NYT from further tarnishment, but he never asked for Clinton's resignation to save the USA from further tarnishment. I don't think I'll ever understand why these people are so ga-ga for the Clintons.

[Jim Noble]

I don't think I'll ever understand why these people are so ga-ga for the Clintons.

Sure you do.

The Clintons are the only active politicians who can lie with a smile about their hard left agenda and get away with it to the point of winning elections.

[pt17]

.....discredits the great institution that is the New York Times

Perhaps was is a better verb.

[johnboy]

I find it interesting that Raines took the action to resign in order to save the NYT from further tarnishment, but he never asked for Clinton's resignation to save the USA from further tarnishment.

boy, did you say a mouthfull. read what howie had to say today (per drudge):

"Remember, when a great story breaks out, go like hell," Howell Raines told colleagues soon after resigning as editor of the New York Times, the most prestigious paper in America and, some would argue, the world.

the last time anyone checked (a year or two ago or so, as i recall), the nyt still had never, ever printed the name "juanita broderick" in its pages.

screw u, nyt.

[gunnedah]

This is the problem with all news, they like sports have become so rigged it is pitiful and America buys this hogwask.
None of them know how nor care to report the truth. All editors have an agenda and play up anything thet sells. Americans are continually being brainwashed and unless you know it for a fact yourself you cant believe any of them.
But in all fairness we ask for it and they give it to us.
I do not buy newspapers any longer and never watch Professional Football,Baseball or Basketball they are all rigged to a certain point.
You can find out just as much truth on the internet if you look deep enough into it and remember where you are getting it from.

[mombonn]

. . . Jayson Blair's long-undetected trail of plagiarism . . .

That should be "long-neglected trail of plagiarism".

[Beck_isright]

If the NYT would quit thinking that just plain old "paper" is the future and realize that those of us on this forum have long ago abandoned the liberal lying mainstream media for alternative sources (like FR, CNS, etc.) then maybe they will grasp the future. But I doubt it. All the proof you need that liberalism is in trouble is to look at the 9 dwarfs they are running for President.

[Paul_B]

> The very first thing that Raines' replacement should do is to fire Maureen Dowd.

Agreed. Dowd absolutely must go. Her repeating the dishonest quote in her following column was a sleezy attempt at covering over her infraction. She should go first, because she's the easiest to knock off. Next should be Bob Herbert, then finally the worst of all, Krugman.

Imagine the hubris to initiate pay-for Net services after this scandal had just broken. I could hardly bring myself to use their _free_ services after the scandal hit.

It has been a delight to see this paper get what it has coming. A major shakeup is, front and center, in its best interests. Or at least, could be.