OK, Greta's blog reply to Bob Costas's refusal on Larry King's bugging me.

[Berry Cool]

...and I just have to vent.

You may all remember last week that Bob Costas, as fill-in for Larry King, actually decided not to do the show one night rather than have to do a Natalee Holloway/BTK Killer-themed show. Well, Greta Van I Wouldn'thaveacareerwithoutNataleeHolloway decided to have at him in her blog.

Some excerpts, and my replies:

"I have read with some puzzlement the criticism of our show for focusing on so many missing people — including Natalee Holloway. The criticism does NOT come from the familes of missing people (they are desperate for our help) and it does NOT come from the many police departments we work with on these stories (they are very, very, very grateful for our help.)"

Greta...are you sure you put enough "very"s in that sentence? How about a few more, just to make your point more strongly?

"It comes from some print journalists who would rather throw stones, than help. Their ink and space could be put to better use than criticizing those helping the families and the police. I wish they would help — we have an epidemic."

Yeah, right. An EPIDEMIC, folks. Everyone knows someone who has disappeared...don't we???? It's sweeping the nation! Folks are disappearing off the streets left and right! I just looked out the window and saw someone disappear! It makes AIDS in Africa look like a sneeze!

"Much of the criticism got started when Bob Costas declined to guest host for Larry King last week...I had considered responding to Costas' decision, which was widely reported, with a tongue in cheek remark (e.g. "He only looks for missing golf balls at the 8th hole) but then realized that maybe Bob Costas is not behind this latest skirmish over missing persons shows or segments."

So, of course, you refrained, right, Greta? Uh, no. YOU TOLD US WHAT YOU HAD CONSIDERED SAYING ABOUT HIM. Therefore, YOU SAID IT. You got your dig in, while coyly pretending to refrain from it. Congratulations.

"Plus, upon reflection, my tongue in cheek thought about Costas is not funny and it is probably wrong to criticize him."

Then WHY ARE YOU DOING IT????

"I bet his decision not to guest host was not meant to insult the many suffering families or law enforcement agencies working around the clock to find them."

In other words, you're trying to imply that it WAS. Nice dig.

"It occurred to me that maybe Bob Costas bowed out of doing the missing persons story on Larry King because he realized he is not experienced in criminal investigations enough to do a missing persons topic show and wanted to take a pass so that he would not do a poor job or an awkward one. There are some stories I would probably not want to do. Since I don't golf, it would be silly for me to do an hour on Tiger Woods (search) in a tournament, or an hour on the Masters..."

(me doing Greta) "Attention everyone. Bob Costas is ONLY A SPORTSCASTER. Repeat: ONLY A SPORTSCASTER. Therefore, UNLIKE I, WHO USED TO BE A LAWYER, he is INEXPERIENCED at doing the kind of all-important missing-persons story I cover so well. He can only be trusted with trivial stories on sports matters."

"Maybe Costas thought he would leave missing person segments to those of us who have been in the trenches and actually investigated these case or tried them for years..."

Repeat of above.

"Maybe the real villains are those who rather throw stones and create controversy where there is none or should be none...."

Uh, no. The real villains are those who rationalize their choices away.

"Here is the plain truth: We have a missing persons problem — a giant one...We can either help or spend our time acting holier than thou ("I would never do such a story... I prefer to do high brow stories" Like what? Character assasination of Judge Roberts for sport? I have seen those swipes at him. He is not my first choice, but he is an able man with a distinguished legal career and yet people want to rip him apart — including checking out his kids' adoption papers! It does not get much dirtier than that!)"

Ah, so the REAL agenda finally comes out! We're mad because people are saying bad things about Judge Roberts! That's not for us! No, we must stay in Aruba covering the things that REALLY matter.

"I do know that this skirmish over the topic of our show is very hurtful to the many families who are suffering with missing loved ones...I also know that the many law enforcement agencies greatly appreciate our help and would be horrified if those of us who cover these stories were intimidated into not doing these segments because there are critics."

That's right, folks. Shut down the MSM obsession with missing pretty white girls and before you know it, EVERYONE IN THE COUNTRY will be missing. Why does Bob Costas hate America? Why does he hate the families of the missing? Why does he hate the police?

"As for the editorial writers and columnists who are critical, if you are bored this summer and can't find anything to write about except our programming, give me a call and I will give you a bunch of topics. You don't have to 'soil your hands' with such topics as missing children or adults — you can instead investigate whether we give our law enforcement sufficient funds and tools to help stop this growing epidemic. It is a real problem and they need your help."

Hmmmm. Defensive much? That you have to hide behind the police?

"I know many naysayers in the print world have dwindling circulation and that our competition has slipped considerably, and I also know that the 'oldest trick in the book' is to get ratings or readers by saying 'I would never do that story' since by making that statement or writing an editorial about it, you look 'clean' in your mind, but you have done the topic. Voila! And it isn't just the print journalists who try this trick. Well, we are on to you."

Well, Greta, we're on to YOU, too...because you just used the exact same "oldest" trick in this blog. You wrote specifically about what you said you weren't going to comment on. You "look clean in your mind," but...

Oh. Just as a capper, she closes it all with an e-mail from the brother of a missing person thanking her profusely for being on his case. Unsolicited. Of course.

What a piece of work. Watching the human rationalization process is fascinating, isn't it?

[Canuckistanian]

1. Just asking.... What do the freepers think of l'afffaire Natalee?

Do they obsess about her as much as the SCLM? Is this a RW/LW kind of issue? Do they read dark lefy-wing conspiracies into this?

I appreciate all you brave souls who delve into that cesspool of humanity. I can't do it.

Can you help a fellow DUer?

[Hissyspit]

2. She's rationalizing. I don't take her serious at all. n/t