Funny, I remember Ms. Cox ridin’ that tire swing pretty hard back in Aught Eight. I guess she’s a little embarrassed by that l’il episode.

Funny, I remember Ms. Cox ridin’ that tire swing pretty hard back in Aught Eight.

I don’t believe that was her.  Are you talking about McCain’s bar-b-q?

Well, she’s right. And I don’t think too many members of the WH press corps would strenuously disagree with her, either. I know two former members personally, and they’ll be the first to tell you it’s a dog-and-pony show.

You’ve really got to wear a chastity belt in Washington to preserve your journalistic virginity. Once the secretary of state invites you to lunch
and asks your opinion, you’re sunk.

-I.F. Stone on government manipulation of the media.

Stone died in 1989, but his writing is absolutely up-to-date.

The day of a typical White House correspondent consists, literally, of waiting to be told things. Legitimate security concerns and a tightly scripted political world keep the presidential press corps physically corralled and informationally hostage.

I call bullshit. They don’t spend 24 hours a day in a cage waiting for someone to throw them some kibble. They could, if they desired, find out if the daily spin matched reality. If that’s too much effort they could, if they wanted, at least give the WH flak a hard time. See for example Helen Thomas. The only thing most of those schmoes are trained to do is take accurate notes.

as much as I hate Ana Marie Cox, I have to agree with her assessment. who can forget the pliant WH press corp’s eager willingness to suck dick in the run up to the Iraq war? wasnt there that one WH press person asking Bush how his faith was holding in the run up to the war? Helen Thomas should have been Chief Executive Editor a long time ago. That she hasnt been show the quality of crappy journalism the US has today

I don’t believe that was her.  Are you talking about McCain’s bar-b-q?

I did a search over there for “tire swinging” and “Ana Marie Cox” and came up with zip.  Just a “tire swinging” search brought up numerous names.  Maybe the fact that she did travel with the McCain campaign resulted in that earlier comment but I don’t believe she was ever a major tire swinger.

I didn’t mean “tire-swinging” literally, geniuses.

Googled ” ‘ana marie cox’ mccain”

ed, ana may have slurped those ribs, but that is Holly Bailey riding that swing. As I linked to in my comment.

I would not think of Ana Marie as a serious journalist so much as a meta-journalist, anyway. Bailey and Bumiller soft-pedaling McCain is much more disturbing. It seems to me Cox is covering the story of the barbecue, and its effect on real journos, but then I am a confessed Wonkette fan. That’s my bias, and I didn’t even get a delicious dry-rubbed rib out of it.

Hunger Tallest Palin—

I call bullshit. They don’t spend 24 hours a day in a cage waiting for someone to throw them some kibble.

That’s true.  For instance, Jeff Gannon had time to pursue an outside career.

I would not think of Ana Marie as a serious journalist so much as a meta-journalist, anyway. Bailey and Bumiller soft-pedaling McCain is much more disturbing.

None of that changes the fact that Ms. Cox was metaphorically riding the tire swing (I don’t really need to put that phrase in quotes, do I?).

I liked Wonkette when Ms. Cox did it (“The ass fucking stops here!”), but she is guilty of kissing up to McCain. Gots to call ‘em likes we sees ‘em.

Ed might be an asshole, but I think he’s right about AMC. I like her, but she did kiss McCain’s ass shamelessly at times.

Ed might be an asshole

Hey, wha’d I do?

Oh Ed, possibly I misinterpreted your tone above. If you weren’t trying to be an asshole, I apologize for the misunderstanding.

I didn’t mean “tire-swinging” literally, geniuses.

Since I referred to the *tire swinging* *meme* at TPM I think I got that.

I think AMC regrettably was caught up in the “ass kissing = access” loop. The pressure of producing for Time was undoubtedly high.