Cobert News Blackout

Josh, or rather Josh's reader, makes an appropriate observation regarding the apparent news blackout on Cobert's appearance at the WH Correspondents' dinner. What gives? When Imus skewered Clinton at the height of the Lewinsky matter, it was everywhere.

I suspect this press blackout has more to do with the press getting roasted than Bush.

Here's what I'm talking about,

...But the rest of you [non-Fox press], what are you thinking, reporting on NSA wiretapping or secret prisons in eastern Europe? Those things are secret for a very important reason: they're super-depressing. And if that's your goal, well, misery accomplished. Over the last five years you people were so good -- over tax cuts, WMD intelligence, the effect of global warming. We Americans didn't want to know, and you had the courtesy not to try to find out. Those were good times, as far as we knew.

But, listen, let's review the rules. Here's how it works: the president makes decisions. He's the decider. The press secretary announces those decisions, and you people of the press type those decisions down. Make, announce, type. Just put 'em through a spell check and go home. Get to know your family again. Make love to your wife. Write that novel you got kicking around in your head. You know, the one about the intrepid Washington reporter with the courage to stand up to the administration. You know - fiction!

On Saturday night, both Bush and the Press found the truth very painful.