rj struggles with schadenfreude*
I know I lectured the Democrats this week on their "Schadenfreude dependence" (definition below), saying that it keeps them from taking responsibility, making choices, and being true leaders. Not that I'm one to talk: I fight my demons, too, one news cycle at a time.
While I've said that delighting in Republican misery could be a distraction from progressive goals, I stumbled a little over Karl Rove's bad day on Friday - and today, Lord, I may fall. Like Sylvester the Cat trying to kick his Tweety-hunting addiction in Fritz Frehling's "Birds Anonymous," all I can do is offer this plaintive cry: "Oh, God, I'm weak. Weak!"
Today we got what Arianna calls the Judy-culpa: The Times' attempt to explain its own conversion to Judy-ism, Judy's pathetic self-justification, and the widespread condemnation they've both from other media sources. A Google News search tonight on "Miller Times mistakes" yielded 497 hits.
That's a Schadenfreude-o-rama. It's got to be bad news for Scooter "I Guess He'd Rather Be in Colorado" Libby, and ... for ... K-K-Karl - Oh, how can I resist?!? Just one more bird!!
So Judy can't remember who told her about "Miss Flame," but then recalling names, dates, and facts isn't all that important to the reportin' game, is it? Others may observe that Judy hits all the neoconservative talking points in her own piece - for example, by saying tha (per the defense's argument) the suspected perp didn't mention Valerie by flame .. er ... name (as if that mattered legally).
She also repeats the neocon spin line about poor Scooter and his friends suffering the frustration of "selective leaking" (for which many doctors recommend the Depends line of fine products).
Nor will I comment on Judy's inability to remember who first told her about Valerie - that mystery source she'll no doubt hunt as aggressively as OJ looked for the "real killers."
Nah. That's not my style. If you want me I'll be off somewhere building the new, high-minded progressive majority.
I also won't mention that Judy acknowledges collaborating in government disinformation, by misleading readers about her source's identity:
When the subject turned to Mr. Wilson, Mr. Libby requested that he be identified only as a "former Hill staffer." I agreed to the new ground rules because I knew that Mr. Libby had once worked on Capitol Hill.
Using this standard, Ms. Miller would be able to quote the President of the United States and attribute it only to "a failed congressional candidate with a drunk driving record."
But I'm a new man and I"m not going to say that. Nor am I going to take a line written about Judy in the Times -- about her notable "ability to cultivate relationships with influential sources" -- and put it together with her own comment that Scooter "was unusually straight with me," to somehow suggest that all those rumors about her sourcing methods are true. If more than the Aspens were turning in Colorado, believe me, I don't want to know.
It feels good to be living the clean life. Now that I've resisted the temptation to indulge in Judyfreude, my load feels a little lighter. Soon we'll learn of Karl Rove's fate, and I'll be able to say, "Not today, thanks." Then maybe we'll hear about Scooter. After that, well ... reporters have started asking Condi questions. And speculating about Cheney ...
Please! Oh, please! Just ... one ... more ... bird!!
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* According to Merriam-Webster, schadenfreude is defined as "enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others." As in, "I got yer 'schadenfreude' right here, pal."