Deep Throat
I was asked the other day why I haven't discussed the Unmasking of Deep Throat. I find Watergate interesting, and Nixon himself a riveting example of a compromised person, but I really don't care about who Deep Throat was. Yes, it would have been interesting if (then CIA Director) George H.W. Bush was Deep Throat, but I think this case illustrates the value of independent actors which balance power in Washington. The fact that Nixon was trying to neuter the FBI and, the then number 2 at the FBI, Mark Felt was able to push back strong enough to the imperial presidency of Nixon, is a testament to the separation of powers.
But what his outing does bring up are parallels and opportunities to compare and contrast situations between then and now. Obvious ones are that the Nation is, and was, at war - and the war is, and was, increasingly unpopular and without direction. Then, investigative journalism actually meant something. Now, investigative journalism is so neutered by forces inside and outside of journalism, I wonder if another Watergate-type investigation would ever occur. See this Prospect article for a good overview.
It has been a whole month since the Downing Street Memo came out which stated that the Bush Administration was preparing to invade Iraq a mere six months after September 11th, and was using the war appropriations vote as a cynical political move to gain more seats in Congress by placing the war vote before the Mid Term elections. How many times have we heard about not playing politics with war and the troops as pawns by the Washington chattering classes? Yet, there has been nary a peep from the press.
The travesty is that this allows the scum of Watergate to slither back to light. I'm looking to you G. Gordon Liddy, Chuck Colson, and Pat Buchanan - who was never convicted but was implicated in the plot. They have been hitting the television circuit spreading misinformation and slander upon Mark Felt. Letting Liddy, Colson, and Buchanan go on national television and literally rewrite history and slander Mark Felt, is just ludicrous and an indication of how much journalism has changed from Watergate.
Check out the WaPo Deep Throat Blog for more Deep Throat analysis. And the Daily Show has their own humorous take on Liddy et al.
Later - Looks like others are in agreement about Liddy et al on the air.
Comments
Dad says:
Watergate was the birth of investigative journalism...that 2 beat reporters convinced Ben Bradley and the Washington Post to take on the Nixon Administration and the Rebulican Party is what is riveting. To hear Colson and Buchanan slander Felt shows that those closest to Nixon still don't get it and never will. Felt is a National Hero and I'm glad to see he's getting his 15 minutes before his passing. My money was always on Kissinger!!
Posted by: Dad at June 2, 2005 12:25 PM #
plemeljr says:
I don't know if Watergate was the birth of investigative journalism, but rather the pinnacle. Unfortunately, from that point forward two themes have emerged; first, the journalist(s) who want to try to recreate some of that "Watergate magic" - this is what sparked Whitewater and the Clinton witch hunt, which lead to the impeachment of President Clinton. Second, journalism has devolved into a "he-said, she-said" enterprise, largely (I think) do to media consolidation, the birth of 24 hour news (talking heads on CNN), and constant attacks by conservatives and the GOP.
I do think Felt is a hero, but I think hoping for another Watergate-type investigation in today's media environment, is not possible.
Posted by: plemeljr at June 2, 2005 12:47 PM #
Dad says:
I always wondered how Rumsfeld stayed so sneaky clean thru all of this!?
Posted by: Dad at June 4, 2005 1:37 PM #
Dad says:
Well, well...a story about the Downing Street Memo made it to the front page of the Dispatch today!!
Posted by: Dad at June 8, 2005 9:11 AM #
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