Media on Media

Eugene Robinson's column in the Post today makes what is at first an interesting (and much needed) point about how often the media cannibalizes itself... and then goes on to cannibalize the media. Bummer. Still, he makes a good and almost entirely overlooked argument about how successfully the White House was able to spin the Koran business last week and completely divert attention from the main thrust of the Newsweek story. Instead of being upset about prisoner abuse, we were all upset about (if you are a Rightie) irresponsible and national-security-threatening reportage or (if you are a Leftie) the administration putting pressure on the free press to not be so free. Either way, the whole nation looked the other way. Remarkably well done, boys.