NYT Mistake

I don't know that I would necessarily categorize this as a mistake. I think it may well be just the opening salvo and the NYT plans an "escalation of force" and will continue hurling dung-bombs. Their supply of ammunition is probably far from expended. Only time will tell, but I have to admit I was laughing when the story broke. It took even less time than I anticipated for them to turn on McCain like a rabid dog--which is exactly what I and others predicted.

You may be right, they may have other stories waiting for the right moment, but I still think this was a bit of a tactical blunder.

Perhaps someone knew the research they were doing and threatened to "scoop" the NYT, or maybe they worried that word would leak out. I don't know why they released when they did, but it just seems far too early.

Releasing the story when they did just seems horribly partisan. Even my left wing mother, who thinks the media is not biased, thought this was politically motivated.

If they were smarter, there is no way the NYT would have released this now. It would have been far more effective in July or August.

Even if they plan a drumbeat of "scandals" to make McCain seem tainted, starting in February is too soon. If they continue releasing scandal stories for 10 months it will end up boring people rather than tainting McCain.

Recall how the constant stream of Clinton scandals became so monotonous, even conservatives became bored with it, and dismissed ever new revelation as "just another scandal". If they want the most bang for their buck, even a stream of McCain scandals would best be started only a few months out from the general election.

Thanks for reading and for your comments. I hope you come back again.