Paul Krugman Says He Was "Censored" By New York Times!

[Fancifulactor]

February 22, 2008
Talking Points Memo

Over on his blog, Paul Krugman reveals today that the paper told him he couldn't use the following lede on his column on last year's State of the Union Address:

“Before the State of the Union address, there had been hints and hopes that President Bush would offer a serious plan to reduce our dependence on imported oil. Instead, however, he took refuge in alcohol.”

"I'm almost never censored at The Times," Krugman writes.

I note this not to defend mockery of human tragedies such as alcoholism, but merely to note that this shows that the paper's editors will, if they feel like something a columnist says is out of bounds, step in and intervene. This strikes me as highly newsworthy, mainly because no such intervention seems to have occurred when Maureen Dowd wrote demented lines such as this of Obama the other day...

Just like Hollywood starlets, he works out religiously and he can make a three-course meal out of a Nicorette.

...or this about Al Gore in 1999...

Al Gore is so feminized and diversified and ecologically correct, he's practically lactating.

Continue reading...
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/horsesmouth/

[snot]

1. is there, or may I inaugurate, the abbreviation . . .

N.S.S., for no shit Sherlock.

Absolutely nothing negative intended about you; but I just mean, this has been going on for decades, check out "Manufacturing Consent"'s observations about NYT coverage of E. Timor.

Pls forgive me if this is negative in any way; but I am really tired of trying to call DU'ers' attn to the need for media reform, and being ignored. I'm prolly just not doing it in the right way; maybe you can do better -- I sincerely hope!!!

[dweller]

2. oh come on now

NSS

has the MSM ever spoken the truth about the Repukes?

dp

[JDPriestly]

3. Stupid question.

Was Krugman suggesting that Bush had a drink before delivering the speech? Or was he referring to the ethanol craze? I don't know what he meant.

[spooked911]

4. the latter, but it was a play on words

get it?

[Demeter]

6. A Double Entendre

Roget’s II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition. 1995.


double-entendre

NOUN: An expression or term liable to more than one interpretation: ambiguity, equivocality, equivocation, equivoque, tergiversation. See CLEAR.



The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002.

double-entendre


(dub-uhl-ahn-TAHN-druh; dooh-blahnn-TAHNN-druh) A word or expression that has two different meanings (in French, double-entendre means “double meaning”), one of which is often bawdy or indelicate. A double-entendre is found in this sentence: “A nudist camp is simply a place where men and women meet to air their differences.”

And for more than you'll ever need to know, including modern French use and historical basis, see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_entendre

[UpInArms]

5. well, the obvious one is that Krugman was making a smart play on words

and their target was a Republican (any R, but especially the NYT editorial board protects *Co) and MoDo is AnnetheManCoulter in disguise and has been for years - she acts like she is progressive until election year comes and then she targets the Democratic forerunner with her itty bitty spiteful pen that has been held back just for this very special moment of snarkiness. I grew to despise her in 1999 and have never gone back for another drink in her poison pen well.

Krugman is the only editorial writer at the NYT worth his salt and now that William Kristol is going to have column there, I'm just rather disgusted with them altogether.

[Doctor_J]

7. Times is being terrorized by the White House.

As with any other media, outlet, anything about any Dem is fair game, while anything about any Repuke is subject to heavy censorship. I can hardly fault the NYT. If they had printed Krugman's words as written they would have been subject to White House terrorism, up to can including prosecution.

[eppur_se_muova]

8. Nice catch! And welcome to DU!

:hi: