Dailyhowler calls GANNON/GUCKERT a non-story...

[dave123williams]

Here's the link:

http://www.dailyhowler.com/

and my response:


_________________________

Bob,

While I turn to the daily howler regularly for insightful (and
regularly pithy) media analysis, you've completely missed the mark on the Gannon story.

Take a deep breath, and realize that it's a scandal. Prostitutes who are given both access and credence by our Government are a qualifiable
security risk to the nation. Not to be indelicate, but the reason is the potential for blackmail. I think you know that.

His clients, on both sides of the aisle, and in the ranks of the
mainstream media who'd rather not have his little black book exposed are an even bigger story.

Oh; there's also the angle that this is all tied up in the current Federal Criminal Grand Jury inquiry in to the outing of a CIA undercover operative. It's an actual investigation, and that on it's own merits careful scrutiny by reporters.

I suppose you'll find the looming indictments to be handed down from this Grand Jury to be a 'non-story', too?

This isn't just a story; it's a piece of bloody red meat. And
objectively, it's a nice rare chunk of filet mignon.

Were I a journalist, or a mere media analyist, I'd be asking questions
instead of denegrating the topic. That's what partisan hacks do.

Best,

Dave Williams

[stepnw1f]

1. Second Time Now Posted

[Al-CIAda]

2. Your letter cut to the quick.

...and what of all the other inside info and access Guckert was privvy to?

[pinerow]

3. Great...Now we're the "Liberal web"...

:sigh:

[kbm8170]

6. Not to mention Guckert's seeming

inability to attribute information - that alone indicates a lack of any real journalistic training. It indicates that both GOPUSA and the now defunct talon were nothing more than official political party "media" with no other purpose than to amplify this week's new talking points and smear campaigns.

This man apparently not only had press credentials, but managed to go to holiday parties here, even though there is no indication that he had any reputation of journalistic skill beyond backing the Party line.

[robbedvoter]

4. David Corn also defended Jeff GOP who's now calling him "my friend"

http://www.thenation.com/capitalgames/index.mhtml?bid=3&pid=2219
and http://www.davidcorn.com/2005/02/gannon_and_me.php
We might slowly put together Gucker's little black book...

[dave123williams]

5. Yep; anybody defending this guy is suspect...

[Eric J in MN]

7. I'm a big supporter of Bob Somerby, I just disagree with him this time NT

NT

[BigBearJohn]

8. It amazes me that anyone could say Gannon is NOT a story

[grasswire]

9. that is.....

...quite possibly, the strangest thing I have ever read on the web.

It scares the bejabbers out of me.

What does it mean when a man very, very close to Al Gore tries to shut down this story? What does it mean when Somerby denigrates the "liberal web"?

I'm seeing several possible explanations for his behavior here, and none of them do anything but convince me the story is bigger than any liberal webster even dreamed.

The simplest explanation for this diatribe is that Somerby's feeling too much competition. But that means he's petty and selfish. Or maybe drunk.

Other possible explanations? :::shudder:::

[jpgray]

10. Somerby kicks ass, but sometimes I disagree with him (nt)

[William Seger]

11. Somerby and Corn are wrong...

... if they assume that the Gannon/Guckert story is about Gannon/Guckert. That seems to lead Somerby to conclude that it's a non-story because Gannon/Guckert is a nobody and Talon is a nothing. And Corn doesn't want to attack Gannon/Guckert for simply being biased (or even for being a whore), or Talon for simply being non-mainstream.

But the story here isn't Gannon/Guckert or Talan; it's really about what I'm starting to call the Bush Administration Reality Factory (BARF). The story is about an apparent shill posing as a journalist in press briefings, offering up Bushkissing editorial opinions couched as questions.

At the very least, isn't it extremely unseemly to have an administration using PR techniques generally associated with snakeoil salesmen and carny hustlers?

In fact, Gannon/Guckert and Talon are just tiny little chunks of the BARF, but that's where the story is.

[tisha666]

12. Lefkow murders, Gannon, and Plame investigation

I think there's something really meaty behind
"Gannongate" and things are getting just a little
too close for comfort in the WH. Here's the read:

http://www.rense.com/general63/dcwho.htm


for part 1 of this series:
http://www.rense.com/general63/gad.htm

[New Earth]

13. so do some of us

already http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3196579&mesg_id=3196579

:)

[shance]

14. Guess Howler has new *contributors*.

n/t

[NashVegas]

15. I'm *Somewhat* Inclined to Agree With Him

Until someone provides a smoking gun tying Gannon directly to Bush, and illegal payments or services are evidenced, the only thing Gannon does is take our minds off of the Social Security debate.

It's not the scandal - it's the distraction.