Posted on 12/30/2002 10:53:41 AM PST by TroutStalker
Edited on 04/22/2004 11:47:48 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
I'll write this column, God willing, for years to come. Yet this is the last one while I'm editor of The Wall Street Journal -- an occasion to give some thanks and even to brag a bit.
On Jan. 1, I'll assume the exalted title of editor emeritus; Thinking Things Over is traditionally a former editor's column, under Vermont Royster, William Henry Grimes and Thomas Woodlock. I got rolling a bit early because of my record tenure of 30 years as editor and editorial page editor. My reflections on the public issues of those decades were published Nov. 20; now a few further words on journalistic stewardship.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Notice to Readers
"The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board with Stuart Varney" will not be shown on CNBC Friday night and through the holiday season.
Updated December 20, 2002
The biggest eye opener for me was learning about the democRATs secret discharge petition rules in the House of Representatives. That, and the columns by Dorothy Rabinowitz started my quest into learning about how our governments operate.
Then came the Whitewater editorials, and the rest, as they say, is history.
I had a different thought when I saw those lines you highlighted the only editorial page that sells newspapers., and was just going to ignore it. Then I saw your response. And then I read that it was you who wrote it. So I'm passing along my initial reaction.
I confirmed Bartley's observation specifically.
When I canceled my WSJ subscriptions I told them it was precisely because I loved Bartley and I don't like where I believe Gigot will take the editorial page.
That is, I principally expect to see principle slipping.
And it's not just that I intend to hold Gigot to Bartley's tough standard; I already know him to be flawed. After watching Gigot for too many years let Mark Shields get away with all sorts of astounding BS on Newshour, I have strong grounds for my doubts. Add to that that his published observations tended to be long on cute and glib (at first enjoyable, but grew thin) and short on toughness.
I also told them that whereas I'd hoped Bartley would rub off on Gigot, I was afraid he was beginning to be more affected by Al Hunt.
So I demonstrated my displeasure in the only way the other daily rags ever noticed it -- in my contributing to their well earned dwindling subscriber base.
I hope I'm wrong. But if I prove to be right, please repeat the insult when you finally cannot stand the leftward or statist shift.
Likewise, if you can provide good evidence my anxieties haven't panned out, please be sure to point it out. I miss the old journal.
Thanks.
And, coincidentally, just about the only major conservative editorial page. Just like the only talk radio that makes money is conservative talk radio.Maybe it isn't so coincidental, at that . . .
I agree. Gigot makes sense just often enough to draw attention but he is generally soft and forgetable. Bartley made that paper. (Common sense eventually has its day.)
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