The Trib on Ford (and lesser entries)

I noted earlier how the Ford years were a bit before my time and that more or less mutes any sort of reflection that one might have on the era. But the Chicago Trib does a great job in their editorial of Ford, I think. For one, it captures a rather poignant aspect of Ford's legacy: forgiveness. It also puts their own coverage during Ford's presidency into the context, however slightly. What strikes me about that is that it's not every day you see an editorial page refer to itself this way. We have seen numerous cases of editorials quibbling with politicians and then endorsing them either by dismissing or downplaying those disagreements - though rarely referring to them as explicitly as the Trib does here. I'd suspect that there are more moments where such referential treatment could serve to illuminate readers better on the ebbs and flows of thought that coarse through an editorial board.

For what it's worth, Bob Dole also has a short read on President Ford that's worth the reading. Bill Bennett has a take that calls Ford cowardly due to his embargo of his disagreement with Bush's Iraq policy until he dies. Channelling Laurence Simon, I guess the rightwing retards learned this lesson from the John O'Neill & the Swift Boat crew (not to mention the infamous Rep. Jean Schmidt) - there's no low low enough when it's time to call a war hero a coward.

Likewise, I think it's worth calling out Matt Yglesias' commentary on the obit coverage of Ford. It doesn't disprove the existence of a liberal media that there are an overwhelming number of positive obits of Ford upon his passing. It is, however, a sign that the Washington Post (and most of the MSM) may be a skosh saner than the batwing fringe elements. I mean, I'm just curious what it is that Matt would consider "fair and balanced" ... an Eric Alterman screed on how Ford's ruinous economic policies weren't covered enough by the media and therefore must be enumerated now that he's dead? Such an animal might not necessarily prove the existence of a liberal media, but it very well would indicate one with no sense of tact.