He May Be Unwelcome, but We’ll Survive (Bill Kristol at the New York Times)

The New York Times ^ | January 13, 2008 | Clark Hoyt , Public Editor

[2ndDivisionVet]

IN 1972, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, the publisher of The New York Times, was looking for a conservative columnist for his left-leaning Op-Ed page.

At a charity dinner, he wound up sitting next to William Safire, the Nixon White House speechwriter who coined Spiro Agnew’s famous denunciation of the press as “nattering nabobs of negativism.” They soon had a deal.

But, as described in “The Trust,” the authoritative history of the family that has controlled The Times for more than a century, Sulzberger neglected to involve John Oakes, his cousin and the editor of the editorial page, in the decision. Oakes was appalled when he heard about the negotiations, and not realizing it was too late, offered alternatives. How about Irving Kristol, he suggested.

More than 35 years later, Sulzberger’s son, Arthur Jr. — this time in full partnership with his editorial page editor, Andrew Rosenthal — has hired another conservative columnist for their left-leaning Op-Ed page: Irving Kristol’s son, William.

The choice of Safire, who retired in 2005, set off a storm of protest. “The Times could have saved themselves about 50 grand a year if they just sent an office boy over to the White House to pick up the press releases,” fumed Nicholas von Hoffman of The Washington Post. Kristol’s appointment has not fared any better. “Pretty much the worst idea ever,” grumped Gawker, the New York media gossip Web site.

[Tolik]

They are biased? Never! They see themselves smack in the middle, anybody to the right of them is right wing.

[kcvl]

Hoyt faulted the Bush administration for curtailing access and punishing journalists who dare question spoon-fed conservative talking points.

“Washington is at war with itself,” he said. “The mainstream media is caught in the crossfire.

“Not since Vietnam and Watergate have relations between the government and the press been as strained as they are now,” he added. “Powerful forces are very much against our getting the truth and printing it.”

[wardaddy]

shoulda gone with a tried and true shabbaz goy ya’ll.