Mr. Pitts

[RagingInMiami]

As in Leonard Pitts. I am proud to have such a fine columnist writing for my local newspaper. If you're not familiar with his writing, you are missing out.

Pitts was one of the few journalists in this country to mention the Downing Street Memo, has consistantly cricitized Bush for illegal wiretapping and is not afraid to tackle any subject, whether it be race or homophobia.

I've been reading him for years, and back in the day, I didn't think he was that great. Of course, he was writing for a paper where Carl Hiaasen was the ruling columnist. But as good writers always do, Pitts has grown tremendously over the last few years, earning a Pulitzer Prize along the way.

And we're lucky that Knight Ridder was purchased by McClatchy instead of Gannett or MediaNews because I'm not too sure the latter companies would have allowed him to continue his great work.

So here's a toast for Leonard Pitts. Mr. Pitts.

Click on the link below to read his recent columns. I recommend the one titled: "Quoting Bible to attack gays is hypocritical."

:toast: :toast:

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/columnists/leonard_pitts/

[babylonsister]

1. Your recommendation is good enough for me so I will

search out Mr. Pitts' columns. I am one of those people that never got into Hiassen, and I am a fan of the Downing Street Minutes.
Your positive mention of McClatchy is even better. Thanks!

[WiseButAngrySara]

2. That is good news (for the news!) ....n/t

[kcass1954]

3. I've read the Herald off and on for years, and it's been great to watch

him grow.

When he first started writing, it was mostly about local issues. While I tended to (usually) agree with him, nothing stood out or really made you take notice. You just knew that on a certain day of the week, his column would be right there on the left-hand side of the 1st page of the 2nd section. And I read it... because it was there.

He's tackling the bigger issues these days, and doing a damn fine job of it!

:toast: :toast:

[Kenergy]

4. I agree...he's one of the best n/t

[SeattleGirl]

5. Leonard Pitts is one of my very favorite columnists

His column runs in the Seattle Times every Sunday, and it's one of the first things I look for when the paper gets here. That column you cite was excellent.

Do you remember the one he wrote after 9/11? "How dare you?" That hit a nerve with so many people. He said what I, in my shock, was finding hard to express.

[Kurovski]

6. I used to read him regularly when I lived in Chicago,

I read his stuff in the Tribune. I think the Seattle Times also has the occasional column.

Aside from being a conscientious writer, he also seems to be a decent guy, and very, very cool. A real family man, not like the horseshit "lords of the manor" on the Right.

[Jade Fox]

7. He's really gotten good.....

The Bush era seems to have brought out the best in Pitts. I recently saw him interviewed on TV. He won a Pulitzer this year, I think.

[Kurovski]

8. He did. in 2004, it looks like.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/columnists/leonard_pitts/8364039.htm