Judith Miller article

Okay, this post is about a recent article in the South Bend Tribune about New York Times reporter Judith Miller. You all know her story, right? Well, according to this article, dated 10/1/05, she finally agreed to testify before a grand jury, after Cheney's chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby "voluntarily waived any confidentiality regarding conversations with her." The article goes on to say, "Libby's attorney asserted on Friday that Libby had not given Miller the name of the CIA agent...."

Hey, I'll testify! No problem! Cheney's chief of staff let me off the hook!

Folks, if Dick Cheney's chief of staff gives you his personal "blessing," you won't be getting into any more trouble whatsoever. Could that be why the picture above the headline is of Judith Miller beaming with warmth while being kissed on the cheek by her lawyer? Believe me, it's not because her lawyer is hot. No, it's because the woman has been let off the hook. She's finished her patsy jail time for the administration. And the Tribune, in its capacity as a rigorous newspaper, asking all the tough questions of the powers that be (ahem!), chooses to display this very flattering color photograph of Ms. Miller rather than probe further into the complexities of this matter.

So why am I dwelling on this? I don't know. I guess it bothers me...the same way around "election" time last year, the SBT kept showing the most flattering color photos possible of Bush, while the pictures of Kerry were usually in black and white, and made him out to look like a total dork (which, admittedly, probably wasn't hard to do). The Tribune often appears to be a Bush administration mouthpiece instead of a real newspaper. And Judith Miller, being a New York Times Bush administration mouthpiece herself, is accordingly given fawning, flattering treatment in the SBT.

Other recent Tribune articles have reassured us that Dick Cheney is just fine after his knee operation. Oh, thank God for that! We were all so worried. Thank you, South Bend Tribune, you've really made me feel better. I'm gonna sleep so much better now, now that I know Dick Cheney's knees are in good shape. Why were his knees in bad shape to begin with? Was it because he kneels down so much in front of the trough of war, greed, and no-bid contracts? Well, whatever the reason, now he can go back to doing...whatever it is that he does (does anybody know?). Hiding out in his secret bunker and practicing his grimace...