Mocking the DSM Meeting

Following up on Fixer's post which he got from Shakey's Sis (I hope neither one of 'em ever gets a job as an elephant trainer. Yeesh!), from Consortium News:

The story by political correspondent Dana Milbank drips with a sarcasm that would never be allowed for a report on, say, a conservative gathering or on a topic involving any part of the American political spectrum other than the Left.

Washington Post editors - having already dismissed the leaked British government documents about the Iraq War as boring, irrelevant news - are now turning to the tried-and-true tactic for silencing any remaining dissent, consigning those who won't go along to the political loony bin.

Those of us who have covered Washington for years have seen the pattern before. A group without sufficient inside-the-Beltway clout tries to draw attention to a scandal that the Post and other prestigious news arbiters have missed or gotten wrong. After ignoring the grievances for a while - and sensing that the complainers have no real muscle - the news arbiters start heaping on the abuse.

Indeed, Dana Milbank, as the Post's White House correspondent, has drawn conservative ire from time to time for not showing sufficient respect for George W. Bush. But if Milbank were tempted to write an over-the-top attack on Bush - like he did on Conyers and the Downing Street Memo hearing - he would pay a high price from retaliating conservatives who would accuse him of bias and flood his editors with complaints.

Though no one wants to say it, everyone in mainstream journalism knows intuitively that there is no real risk in ripping liberals. Most often, it's a win-win. Not only can you write almost whatever you want, but it buys the journalist a measure of protection from conservatives, who have a long record of costing reporters their jobs.

Certainly, any thoughts about impeaching Bush are little more than pipedreams given the reality of today's national media. In that sense, the Post's attacks on the Downing Street Memo hearing should serve as a splash of cold water in the face of the American Left.

While Web sites and progressive talk radio have helped puncture the image of Bush's invulnerability, a much broader media infrastructure would be needed if issues, such as the Iraq deceptions, are to be forced consistently into the national debate.

I think that us Pajamahadeen have to not get a big head over what has been accomplished, even though it has been significant and a good start. I am reminded of the parable about egotism involving a flea having sex with an elephant and asking, "Did it hurt?"

I am also reminded of some words from a Frank Sinatra tune: "Oops, there goes a billion-kilowatt dam!", alluding to the power of persistence.

Keep pluggin' away, gang.