The Post Defense: What, Me Research?

Tim Blair has a response by the Washington Post's know-nothing Iraq bureau chief.

Here is the core of his defense:

It's too bad, though, that the CPA did not do a better job in informing the Western and Arab press about the broadcast. Had we all known about it, I'm sure Bremer's comments would have received wider exposure inside Iraq and beyond. [Empasis added]

Got that? The CPA is responsible for writing his news for him.

The Posse has to wonder what this idiot is paid the big bucks to do if he considers its someone else's job to tell him what's going on.

Apparent his idea of "news gathering" is walking over to a fax machine and chatting up a press officer at the hotel bar. Truly demanding work.

It isn't that the press is biased, it is that it is amazingly lazy. These people hate to get up in the morning and actually work. Notice the tone of the entire piece: it wasn't his fault for getting the story wrong, it was the CPA's for not holding his hand to make sure he got it right.

The next time someone pontificates on the essential "watchdog" role of the press, point out to them that these people can't find their ass with both hands unless some handler directs them to it.

And given a paucity of information, they will simply go with the story that fits their predetermined template.

Had this joker simply written "We could not verify if Bremer gave a farewell address," his butt would have been covered.

Instead he made an assertion without any basis. He assumes that if no one specifically informed him news happened, it must not have happened.

The mainstream press has managed to build a work ethic based on arrogance, bias - and above all else - laziness.

No wonder their credibility has collapsed.