Words and phrases no reputable journalist or historian ever uses:

[Maddy McCall]

“top sources say”
“according to an unidentified but close friend of”
“all but certain”
“added fuel to the fire”
“apparently”
“virtually”
“appears to have been”
“were believed to have been”
“said to have been”
“sources close to the woman say”
“according to unidentified pals”

And any other vague and passive-voice innuendo that neither states clearly what happened nor attributes a claim to a legitimate source. Such writing is proffered in an attempt to manipulate the simple-minded and undiscriminating reader.

Articles about the Kerry rumors are chock-full of vague innuendo and passive-voice speculation. Even sophomore-level journalism and history majors know that this is bad writing, and they would receive failing grades on papers if what they turned in vaguely resembled what is being passed off as credible writing about the Kerry rumor in the media right now.

Feel free to add your own words and phrases that deserve very skeptical attention.

[salinen]

1. "manipulate the simple-minded"

Seems oxymoronic, but the pukes have mastered the art form. And I think therein lays a major cause of this societies fall. Teach them to be robotic, greed is godlike, learned people are not as smart as you, then get these clones to the polls.

[Maddy McCall]

2. kick...some people here might find this instructive when the next rumor

surfaces.

Edit: This thread preceded the big news today by three hours. But I'm not going to say I told you so.

[maddezmom]

3. thanks for the reminder jchild

good food for thought :)

[Adelante]

4. Good try, jchild

I hope against hope, though.

[John_H]

5. Bingo!