Mr. Ash doesn't understand who he's playing cards with.

[Pale Blue Dot]

We are stunned by the magnitude of the reaction to the article we published yesterday morning. We have put our cards on the table. We invite Mr. Luskin to do the same.

I was a defender of truthout and Mr. Leopold. I didn't get heavily involved, at first because I hated the level of invective that was being spewed by both sides, and then because I thought it was folly to weight in before we knew all the facts. But I wanted to believe the story, and I did believe it.

Today's news, of course, changed all of that. And Mr. Ash's comments above have royally pissed me off. The level of hubris displayed is ridiculous. Rove and his attorney could care less about truthout. They are both smart enough to know that anyone who reads truthout is lost to them. Forever. IF this was some kind of "plant" meant to discredit a news source, it was likely meant to catch a much bigger fish (that didn't bite). Discrediting truthout will not change one person's mind about this administration. It will not make anyone fight Bush with any less ferocity.

So, Mr. Ash, it's time you face the truth. Mr. Luskin is not playing cards with you. YOU are playing cards with US. This is our game. What are you willing to bet? Are you so sure about this, that you are willing to put everything on the line? Your "home"? Your "family"? Because essentially, that's what you've done. If you still believe Leopold's story is accurate, and that there are things you honestly can't tell us that will somehow vindicate you, you need to risk it all. It's the only way you can ever reestablish credibility.

I see your bet, and I raise the entire truthout.org organization. I'm calling all in.

Will you take the bet?

[KittyWampus]

1. Many DU'ers Need To Deflate Their Egos, Learn About Journalism and

how Prosecutors like Fitzgerald get the higher ups in criminal organizations.

[Divernan]

2. Agreed! It's time for responsible reporting with dependable sources.

Enough with the big egos in such a rush to be the first to break a story that they break the rules they learned in J-school, or at their editors' knees (and other joints).

[peacetalksforall]

3. There are some things we can do right away - like sign an online

petition. There are other things we need to wait on.

We're not going to know the truth until after the Libby trial, and more after the Wilson civil trial if there is one, and for some truths, we won't know until after the books come out or after the confessions. In the meantime, we will know little truths.

I am patient. I am not going to challenge Truthout to any poker like challenge.

I haven't been taught why I should despise Truthout. They are still a good source of articles for me. They are just as accurate as most other new internet reporting sources.

I never started out thinking that any of them had to be 100% accurate. I synthesize all the stuff for myself. I don't buy into any of them, in a sense. I try to read a lot then weigh it. Take it in. Weigh it. Throw it out. Forget it. Take it in. Always weigh it. And I don't go around finding out who thinks who who is discredited and why, whatever that means. It seems a waste of time. I discredit writers for myself.

But, Leopold is accused of being discredited so why the big deal over him? I just don't get it. Why not ban him like Madsen? I don't know what either of them did. But, for some on DU, discredited is eternal damnation, just like Falwell would like it.