Washington is full of wuzzas. A wuzza is an individual who once wuzza somebody, who no longer is, but stays in Washington nonetheless and begs for attention. Bob Woodward wuzza Ace Reporter back in the '70's and has written a couple of "I'm still here and still in touch with the rich and famous" books since then but is now an elderly, forgetful editorial writer at his old newspaper.
Forgetful? Yes. He's forgotten what it's like to actually be a reporter. As a reporter, you get told off all the time. You expect the White House to be friendly when you're looking for dirt or something that will get you attention once again?
Joe Gandelman, who spent much of his life as a freelance journalist here and overseas and who is now the editor-in-chief at The Moderate Voice, writes:
...The White House official who talked to Woodward helped confirm a growing impression that this is a thin-skinned White House. Are Obama officials surprised surprised that Woodward is writing or asserting things with which they don’t agree? How many White Houses have read books or articles by Woodward and found information in them that they wished was not there, or an analysis with which they did not agree? Have they followed Woodward’s career and the credibility of his fly-on-the-wall reporting over the years? ...Moderate Voice
Can't argue with that! Gandelman goes on to say that it's beginning to look more and more as though Woodward is making something out of nothing.
... Indeed: how many (of us) who worked in the news media or worked in it had a source say if we ran with something we’d regret it? It’s often a hint the reporter has it wrong, or that the source is highly connected and there will some kind of consequences. Or its an attempt to intimidate, which inevitably is a stupid mistake: few editors or reporters will STOP reporting on a story if a source makes it clear they don’t want more coverage. In fact, a threat usually means they’re onto something and the story develops “legs.”...Moderate Voice
Gandelman thinks, and I agree, that Woodward's apparent willingness (eagerness?) to appear on the Hannity show is probably going to deal him a significant loss in his credibility. And the Obama administration? Media consumers across this fruited plain are well aware that the Republicans are out to damage the president as thoroughly as they can. Republican credibility is, as polls have been telling us for -- for years now! -- in very bad shape.
That's when the bitter, noisy, defensive stage of being a Washington wuzza really kicks in. It's not just Bob Woodward. If there ever were a bunch of wuzzas plaguing our nation's capitol, the Republican party of 2013 is definitely included!
I don't share what appears to be your poor opinion on Woodward. However, my experience of him is relatively recent - but they've been overall good impressions.
I think that the press will always bump heads with folks and things that shouldn't be said are probably said on a regular basis. I, too, think that it is unfortunate that he may/will go on Hannity. I just posted about that guy.
Posted by: Joseph | February 28, 2013 at 01:30 PM
Aha! So you are Moderate Nation. I don't know if it's some quirk, but your blog is barely legible for me -- Windows/Firefox. The type looks like it's been chewed by a mouse, very fragmented. I saw you were writing about Hannity and wanted to see more. Any idea why this might happen with your site?
I haven't trusted Woodward for a long time and often wonder what that confirmed progressive, Bob Redford, thinks of him!
Posted by: PW | February 28, 2013 at 01:52 PM
Yes, it is me! :)
You're the only person that has reported this issue to me. I will try it in these browsers. Would you be willing to try it in Chrome and/or Safari? Just for the sake of checking?
I look forward to seeing your stuff! I have two more to catch up to.
Posted by: Joseph | February 28, 2013 at 04:12 PM
To follow up, I've tried my site on a windows PC (I have a Mac) and 2 out of three browsers look like a cat scratched my text from top to bottom of the screen. Very strange.
It must be what you're talking about. I'll see what I can do to fix it. My new blogging status may not turn up much, but I'll try. Thanks!
Posted by: Joseph | February 28, 2013 at 06:45 PM
Definitely cat, not mouse! When the page first flickers up, the text is a beautiful, clear white for a nanosecond or less...
Posted by: PW | March 01, 2013 at 04:58 AM
Check it out now, let me know what you think.
Posted by: Joseph | March 01, 2013 at 06:18 PM