Raines of Terror

The Daily Dish (Andrew Sullivan's Blog) ^ | July 9, 2003 | Andrew Sullivan (citing David Margolick)

[Oldie]

RAINES OF TERROR: I was long criticized for using this blog to expose the extraordinary attempt by Howell Raines to turn the New York Times into his personal vehicle for quixotic left-liberal causes - or simply to throw his weight around. He was an insufferable, arrogant tyrant. As more details come out, the most paranoid anti-Raines arguments gain more traction. Now here comes David Margolick's piece in the new Vanity Fair. I offer a single example:

"Worse, Raines would not let facts get in the way of a story he had ordered up or a point he decided to make. 'Howell wanted a thought inserted high in one of my stories,' says a metro reporter. 'The only problem was, it wasn't true. Mind you, this was on my beat, a beat he didn't really know about. I said to the editor who was the message-bearer that it wasn't true, and it didn't belong in the story, period. A while later he came back to me and said, 'Well, you're right, but Howell wants it anyway.' It became clear that the editor had not fully conveyed my arguments to Howell, because he was afraid to. I said, 'F--- that -- I'll tell him myself.' And he literally seized my arm and said, 'You don't want to do that.' And ultimately the editor-intermediary and I compromised on a version of what Howell wanted that was just vague enough not to mean much, but still close enough to a falsehood to make my very uncomfortable."

It was as bad as we thought. Even worse, actually.

[Oldie]

I guess the Vanity Fair article cited by Sullivan here is not available online ... it would be interesting to know if anyone has read it and whether it contains any other juicy tidbits.

[Support Free Republic]

The former President disembarks from his airplane after a trip back to Arkansas. Although the hoopla is less now that he is out of office, Clinton still occasionally finds himself greeted by military personnel. This is one such occasion.

He climbs down the stairs, carrying two huge pigs, one under each arm. He gets to the bottom, and nods his head in return to the soldier's salute. "Son, what do you think about these?" he says. "Nice pigs, SIR!" comes the reply. Clinton gets mildly miffed and lectures, "I'll have you know these aren't just pigs but the finest of Arkansas Razorbacks. Top notch. I got one for Hillary, and one for Chelsea. What do you think about that?"

"Nice trade, SIR!

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[Cicero]

A Google Search turns up the following reference to British Vanity Fair, but you have to be a subscriber to see the article:

British Vanity Fair
... his zeal to remake "the Gray Lady", Raines inspired such fear and loathing that this
troops set out to take the paper back from him. David Margolick reports on ...
www.vanityfair.co.uk/ - 13k - Jul 8, 2003 - Cached - Similar pages

[FreedomCalls]

"I guess the Vanity Fair article cited by Sullivan here is not available online"

It's available at your nearest magazine seller. You can read a free copy at the library. The net is great, but it is not the be-all-and-end-all.

[backhoe]

-The Old Grey Info-Slut... the NYT/Jayson Blair Affair--

[Malesherbes]

The Book of Proverbs says that "Pride goeth before a fall." The ancient Greeks believed that Hubris was followed by Nemesis. The career of Howell Raines confirms this ancient wisdom. Thanks, Howell.

[John Locke]

"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."

[Proverbs xvi:18]

[martin_fierro]

Schadenfreude