Of course, Duncan had to put it perfectly. I wonder, exactly, who these folks think they are. To whom are they responsible, beyond their editors and publishers and the producers who continually put them on the air? If not to the American people, then whom? Their own consciences? What?
Back in the late 1980's there was some discussion concerning journalistic oversight. There was a move to make newspaper ombudsmen more visible, forcing some kind of accountability. Yet, the arguments raged, mostly over First Amendment issues, often highlighting tabloids and scandal sheets as a counter to the more respectable journalism of the mainstream press. If that is the standard against which they wish to be judged, or to which they wish to be held, I suggest their sights are awfully low. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech. It does not guarantee freedom from accountability. A person can get up and say, or print, or blog, any thing they please. If they expect to be free from criticism, however, they might want to consider another line of work.
Punditry is a dying art, thankfully. Even as Klein, Broder, Shields, Kristol, Friedman, and the rest of the mouthy class continue to spew forth their opinions as truth, their perspective as wisdom, and their contacts with various Hill and EOB staffers as connections, they are taken less and less eriously, not just by the right and left, but by the broad mainstream of America. Just read the comments section of Swampland whenever Klein posts - he is hardly treated with the respect he thinks he deserves.
Opinions are like something else everyone has, as the saying goes, and too often what is produced in mainstream punditry is reminiscent of what flows from that ubiquotous orifice. One need not lunch with members of Congress of Supreme Court Justices in order to figure out what is going on, and use judgement, common sense, and insight to form an opinion. The people are finding their voice, and the official pundit class needs to shout to be heard. And whine about other people taking them to task for being wrong.
