WaPo Ombudsman Howell Educates and "Reminds" Readers about Opinions....

[Sparkly]

Well, well, aren't WE a little defensive today? Deborah Howell writes from the Department of Condescending Drivel to "remind" us about the difference between fact and opinion.

Understanding the separation and role of opinion and fact in a newspaper -- often on the same page -- is hard enough for even sophisticated readers.

Smell an excuse coming?

Although there were numerous complaints about a Sept. 1 editorial on the Valerie Plame case, there were hardly any complaints about The Post's endorsements in Tuesday's primary elections; most candidates endorsed by The Post won their races.

But of course! She's talking about the editorial titled "End of An Affair," which once again got the FACTS wrong!! http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/31/AR2006083101460.html

So I guess if we complain when they LIE, and don't complain when they make endorsements, there's something WE don't understand. After a long explanation of columnists' roles as motivators, enlighteners, and brave idealists, she ends with this:

A reminder to readers: Editorial opinion is not in my purview, and most columnists have wide latitude to write what they want, including the ombudsman.

In other words, "Nya nya, nya nya, nyyaa nyyaa!"

A reminder to Deborah Howell: We understand the difference between fact and opinion. We're waiting for Fred Hiatt to understand the difference between fact and LIES.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/15/AR2006091501065.html

[Berry Cool]

1. What is so wrong with expecting opinions to be based on known facts,

where available, instead of on lies and wishful thinking?

[acmejack]

2. Oooh, it's hard for even "sophisticated readers"!

So as for you regular folks, forget it! Sparkly, you pegged it-Condescending Drivel it is & offensive as hell to boot! Just who does this woman think she is? I may be an unsophisticated rube, but I estimate conservatively I have read 25000 papers in my lifetime so I have some clue, thank you. *

* 54 years old
365 x 40 = 14600, so it is no stretch to think I have read another 8,400 evening papers (we used to have them) and other papers laying around.

[Sparkly]

4. Yup, it's all just SOOO confusing!!

:sarcasm:

[Joe Bacon]

3. Wow, I wish I could do nothing at my job and get paid a big salary

Just like Debbie. Just like every other whore who writes for the Whoreshington Post, she forgot what the difference is between kneeling down and bending over!

[Sparkly]

5. I seriously don't know what qualifies her for the job.

She seems to have such contempt for the paper's readers.

[ProSense]

6. I get it: WaPo editorials

are test runs for GOP spin! Readers shouldn't expect these to include facts!

What a tool!