Delilah Boyd: The New York Times Launches Political Bog With Front Page "Story" On The Clinton Marriage

Saturday, May 27, 2006

The New York Times Launches Political Bog With Front Page "Story" On The Clinton Marriage

What's the paper of record to do when its readership numbers tank and those pesky bloggers start getting more hits than the NYTimes?

Start your own political blog, of course. Sorry, I can't stop laughing about major revenue-based media conglomerates jumping on the blog bandwagon.

It's like the British army publishing its own late 18th century pamphlets and distributing them to King George's colonists.

Anyway, that whole frontpage above-the-fold NYT article about the Clinton marriage was nothing but an elaborate advertising blitz, designed to draw gossip lovers away from The Post's Page Six and straight to the NYT's new "news"-based blog.

Ahem.

May 22 8:00 am
Welcome to The Empire Zone
Categories: General

Let's cut to the chase: There are so many politics blogs out there, do you really need to read another one?

We vote Yes.

The New York Times political team from Albany and City Hall to Washington and the mother ship on 43rd Street is taking election-year coverage of New York politics to another level with the start of the Empire Zone, a news-driven blog covering '06 in all its glory: Hillary and Bill Clinton, Rudy Giuliani, George Pataki, Mike Bloomberg, Spitzer vs. Suozzi, Faso vs. Weld, and an array of other compelling candidates for statewide office.

We'll pull back the curtain on politics and political news coverage and explain how it all works. And perhaps we'’ll demystify our role in the process, which can only be to the good, considering the skepticism with which the public sees politics and the media.

Whether you're a New Yorker or a reader far away, we hope you'll savor the news and analysis in the Zone every day, and use the Comments section to help drive the political conversation.

Patrick Healy

Hiding behind the "blog" definition and enticing readers with juicy bits of sex/no sex gossip, the NYT thinks it's no longer necessary to cite any reputable sources at all or even address the rumor content on its "blog" site. Savor the analysis, indeed.

Alas, NYT. You haven't been the same since the WaPo creamed you with its Watergate scoops and Pulitzers.

How about a blog on the downhill slide of a once great newspaper?

Didn't think so. That would take research and reputable source citation. Besides, it's way more fun to smear the Clintons.

By the way, which office is Bill Clinton running for in '06?

And when will you conduct your on-the-street survey on the Bush marriage?

That's just gossip, you say?

3 Comments:

Granny said...: I saw that Globe headline while I was waiting in line at the supermarket.

Just can't bring myself to pay for the magazine though.

They get it right once in a while. If Laura has a brain, she'll run, not walk.; 12:49 PM
Kathleen Callon said...: Granny,

If her brain wasn't guided by her pocketbook, she never would have wooed him in.

Have to give her credit for going from a "dime bag" dealer to "First Lady", though.; 11:40 PM
Anonymous said...: actually the times is one of the few papers gaining circulation but whatever; 8:15 PM

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From The Blog Box:

A Scrivener's Lament is officially your go-to scrivener for the next big electoral college showdown. In this case Scrivener Delilah Boyd is keeping an eye on the Electoral College of Cardinals, who Scriv thinks may at any moment be called upon to fly off to Rome (that's as in fly by airplane; only nuns can fly for real) and pick a new pope. But his Holiness is doing better, you must be thinking. Well, the Scriv ain't so sure and even has actual photographs (you'll have to scroll down a bit) of the Holy Father getting viciously attacked by (assumes Scriv) the Lord's messengers of vengeance - apparently to the delight of little children. Anyhoo, the Lament has been keeping files on top candidates for the next Bishop of Rome so that when the sad day comes, you'll know where to turn for all the horserace action. I mention this only because A Scrivener's Lament has been nominated for a Sandy Award in the Most Humorous Blog category.
At A Scrivener's Lament, Delilah Boyd offers a little sigh over the sudden announcement that the Bushies aren't gonna look for WMDs in Iraq anymore. Then the Scrivener offers a useful list of quotes from the administration hornswaggling the country - oops, I mean being sadly misled by the entire intelligence community - about the possibility of weapons stockpiles in Iraq. Maybe Delilah needs to offer to do some volunteer archiving for large media networks. Apparently NBC, CBS, & ABC's news operations are too cash strapped to afford to hire researchers to dig up obscure, unknown quotes likes these for when the yellowcake hits the fan (or in this case fails to).

Ammunition In Bill O'Reilly's War On Christmas

FROM: Pauline Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: 5th December
RE: Christmas Party

I'm happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will take place on December 23rd, starting at noon in the private function room at the Grill House. There will be a cash bar and plenty of drinks! We'll have a small band playing traditional carols...please feel free to sing along. And don't be surprised if the Managing Director shows up dressed as Santa Claus!

A Christmas tree will be lit at 1.00p.m.. Exchange of gifts among employees can be done at that time; however, no gift should be over $10.00 to make the giving of gifts easy for everyone's pockets. This gathering is only for employees! The Managing Director will make a special announcement at the Party.

Merry Christmas to you and your Family.

Pauline

FROM: Pauline Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: 6th December
RE: Holiday Party

In no way was yesterday's memo intended to exclude our Jewish employees. We recognize that Chanukah is an important holiday, which often coincides with Christmas. However, from now on we're calling it our 'Holiday Party.' The same policy applies to any other employees who are not Christians. There will be no Christmas tree or Christmas carols sung. We will have other types of music for your enjoyment. Happy now?

Happy Holidays to you and your family,

Pauline

FROM; Pauline Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: 7th December
RE: Holiday Party

Regarding the note I received from a member of Alcoholics Anonymous requesting a non-drinking table...you didn't sign your name. I'm happy to accommodate this request, but if I put a sign on a table that reads, "AA Only," you wouldn't be anonymous anymore!!!! How am I supposed to handle this? Somebody?

Forget about the gift exchange, no gift exchange allowed now since the Union Officials feel that $10.00 is too much money and Management believes $10.00 is a little cheap. NO GIFT EXCHANGE WILL BE ALLOWED.

Pauline

FROM: Pauline Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: 8th December
RE: Holiday Party

What a diverse group we are! I had no idea that December 20th begins the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which forbids eating and drinking during daylight hours. There goes the party! Seriously, we can appreciate how a luncheon at this time of year does not accommodate our Muslim employees' beliefs, perhaps the Grill House can hold off on serving your meal until the end of the party - or else package everything up for you to take home in a little foil doggy bag. Will that work?

Meanwhile, I've arranged for members of Weight Watchers to sit farthest from the dessert buffet, and pregnant women will get the table closest to the toilets. Gays are allowed to sit with each other, but Lesbians do not have to sit with gay men: each will have their own table. Yes, there will be flower arrangements for the gay men's table, too.

To the person asking permission to cross dress - no cross dressing allowed unless the Supreme Court intervenes before the 23rd.

We will have booster seats for short people. Low fat food will be available for those on a diet. We cannot control the salt used in the food. We suggest those people with high blood pressure taste the food first. There will be fresh fruits as dessert for Diabetics, but the restaurant cannot supply "No Sugar" desserts. Sorry! Did I miss anything?!?!?!?!?!

Pauline

FROM: Pauline Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All F****** Employees
DATE: 9th December
RE: The ******** Holiday Party

Vegetarian pricks! I've had it with you people!!! We're going to keep this party at the Grill House whether you like it or not, so you can sit quietly at the table furthest from the "grill of death," as you so quaintly put it; you'll get your f****** salad bar, including organic tomatoes. But you know tomatoes have feelings, too. They scream when you slice them. I've heard them scream. I'm hearing the scream right NOW!!

I hope you all have a rotten holiday! Drink, drive and die, Jesus-hating Scum!

Pauline (AKA "That Bitch in HR")

FROM: John Bishop - Acting Human Resources Director
DATE: 12th December
RE: Pauline Lewis and Holiday Party

I'm sure I speak for all of us in wishing Pauline Lewis a speedy recovery, and I'll continue to forward your cards to her. In the meantime, Management has decided to cancel our Holiday Party and, instead, give everyone the afternoon of December 23rd off with full pay.

Scrivener Humor
A young monk arrives at the monastery. He is assigned to helping the other monks in copying the old canons and laws of the church by hand. He notices, however, that all of the monks are copying from copies, not from the original manuscript. So, the new monk goes to the head abbot to question this, pointing out that if someone made even a small error in the first copy, it would never be picked up. In fact, that error would be continued in all of the subsequent copies. The head monk says, "We have been copying from the copies for centuries, but you make a good point, my son." So, he goes down into the dark caves... ...underneath the monastery where the original manuscripts are held as archives in a locked vault that hasn't been opened for hundreds of years. Hours go by and nobody sees the old abbot. So, the young monk gets worried and goes down to look for him. He sees him banging his head against the wall, and wailing, "We forgot the "R", we forgot the "R". His forehead is all bloody and bruised and he is crying uncontrollably. The young monk asks the old abbot, "What's wrong, father?" With a choking voice, the old abbot replies, "The word was celebrate."

Psst! Only first-time visitors are counted, y'all!

Delilah Boyd

Saturday, May 27, 2006

The New York Times Launches Political Bog With Front Page "Story" On The Clinton Marriage

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