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"On Monday, Michael Tomaskey, writing for The American Prospect's Web site, took issue with Downie's decision: "The Washington Post should not even be running such a story ... in the first place. Len Downie and the paper's other editors would undoubtedly argue that the story represents the Post's tenacity for getting to the truth, without fear or favor. But what the story actually proves is that a bunch of liars who have in the past contradicted their own current statements can, if their lies are outrageous enough and if they have enough money, control the media agenda and get even the most respected media outlets in the country to focus on picayune 'truths' while missing the larger story."

From the American Prospect:

Cowards All Around
The media should take a step back and remind us what Bush and Cheney were up to in 1969.
By Michael Tomasky
Web Exclusive: 08.23.04

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At first blush, the treatment given to Michael Dobbs' page-one swift-boat article in Sunday's Washington Post seems at least vaguely reassuring. There's the neutral headline "Swift Boat Accounts Incomplete," but below that, a deck-headline informing readers that "Critics Fail to Disprove Kerry's Version of Vietnam War Episode." The banner treatment, running across three-fourths of the front page above the fold, places the onus of proof where it belongs -- on the accusers, not on Kerry, a point that Bob Novak and others have chosen to ignore, obscure, or even refute; and in announcing that the proof isn't there, it seems to be a plus for Kerry.

This is the kind of crap the Democrats are espousing. During the Nixon investigation, Ben Bradlee of the Washington Post used to call this the 'non denial denial.' Their talking points on all of the shows I have watched are to just take the James Carville approach: don't answer any questions, just shout down the host/guest and repeat the same mantra over and over. I wish that some of the hosts had balls enough to tell them to shut up!