Far be it from me to defend the Strib, but at least in this instance it allows me to take another shot at Power Line.
The Bill Moyers commentary that ran in the Strib a couple of weeks ago (and got an astute fisking from V-Toed-Bill) characterized any Christian that votes for a Republican as an anti-environment whacko hoping to bring about end times. By its sheer absurdity, if ever there was a "self-fisking" piece of writing surely Moyers' piece was it.
Moyers got spanked around pretty well. One of those spankers was Power Line. Big Trunk even appeared on the Power Line Factor, er O'Reilly Factor, to slam the Strib for not printing a retraction after it came to light that one quote Moyers used attributed to James Watt was completely fictional.
In today's edition, the Strib not only printed a retraction, but also a response from James Watt and an "apology" letter from Moyers. Better late than never, but at least they're trying. More on Moyers' apology in a moment.
What has PL said about this?
NADA. NIENTE. NOTHING. They're last word on Moyersgate is here.
It's one thing to be partisan. That's cool, and very necessary to keep the marketplace of ideas rollicking. It is quite another to be unfair. That's what the other side does. By not acknowledging the Strib's attempt to atone (they should actually atone for even printing Moyers' worthless piece of shit nonsense, but it's a start) the Power Liners are reducing themselves to the same status as the brain-cell impaired purveyors of agitprop who would have you believe that a reduction in the increase of funding for a social program from 10% to 9% is a "cut".
Basta. Now let's beat on Moyers.
In the grand liberal tradition of the half apology - I was wrong but I'm still right; documents that are "fake but accurate" etc. - Moyers offers up this pile of poop in the letters section:
In a recent speech that I made on religion and the environment ("There is no tomorrow," Jan. 30 Op Ex), I made a mistake in quoting remarks attributed to James Watt, former secretary of interior, by the online journal Grist without confirming them myself.
Because those or similar quotes had also appeared through the years in many other publications -- in the Washington Post and Time, for example, as well as in several books that I consulted in preparing my speech -- I too easily assumed their legitimacy.
Gee that sounds vaguely familiar. Read on:
Despite their widespread currency, I should have checked their accuracy before using them. Grist and the Washington Post have now published corrections concerning the quote attributed to Watt in 1981.
I talked to Mr. Watt on the phone and expressed my own regret at using a quote that I had not myself confirmed.
Fair enough. Very big of you, Bill.
Hey Moyers, why is your face turning purple? You look like you are going to explode. Oh crap! Self-righteous backhand slap coming... EVERYBODY DUCK!
I also told him that I continue to find his policies as secretary of the interior abysmally at odds with what I, as well as other Christians, understand to be our obligation to be stewards of the earth.
Bill Moyers, New York.
Apology not accepted. Hey, Moyers: blow me.
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