Free Republic

by Mark Finkelstein January 3, 2006 - 07:58 Katie Couric's just-completed interview with NY Times Reporter James Risen, who broke the NSA surveillance story and is now publishing his book on the matter, 'State of War,' offered a treasure-trove of insights into the matter. And give Katie a gentlelady's 'C' for her questioning. Couric earned the bulk of her credit by posing this seminal line of questioning: "Did [the leakers] have any sympathy or understanding about this new climate this country finds itself in and the criticism the Bush administration took prior to 9/11 for not putting the pieces together...

Washington Blade Names Pope Benedict XVI Anti-Gay Person of the Year Thursday December 29, 10:49 am ET Gay Newspaper Identifies 'Blessed Bigotry' as God's 'Rottweiler' Attacks Gay Marriage and Priests WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- As 2005 draws to a close, many media outlets will announce their selections for person of the year. In past years, the Washington Blade editors have selected a Story of the Year instead. This year, the Story of the Year was, in the Washington Blade's view, the extraordinary efforts of one individual to not only put a halt to the acceptance of gay people legally...

<p>"From the Washington Monthly: Even Conservatives Hated Them....The verdict from the Fox News crew on Jenna, Barbara, and Laura is not good. Bill Kristol: "The last half hour did not help, as far as I can tell, Bush's campaign for reelection." Mort Kondracke: "Those two girls were ditzes. I'm surprised they were allowed on the program." Fred Barnes: "I think she [Laura] had no place up there or the daughters either....Their mother said they'll be pursuing their own careers. I would advise them to look in some field other than comedy." Now I don't think that anyone--anyone--casts their vote based on the family of the candidate. And that goes for people who really don't like Teresa, too. But it's gotta be pretty bad when the message discipline breaks down like this at Fox News.</p>