Note for Dana Milbank....

[Skidmore]

Mr. Dana Milbank,

I appreciate your willingness to finally start calling a Republican candidate/office holder on dishonest and despicable behavior now that the media has become the target of nasty assaults by crowds of rightwing supporters. Let me point out to you that during the Bush years, there has a very long history of this type of behavior, blessed by a wink and a nod by the candidate/office holder, and heretofore unreported in any media save the independent press. While the Washington media toadied up to the bullyboys in the Bush administration and to their equally bullyish crowds, citizens who weren't card carrying Republicans were barred from attending speeches by the erstwhile President of their nation. They were barred from asking questions and relegated to "free speech zones." The sheer numbers of us who attended demonstrations and protested the crimes of the Bush administration went unreported or were discounted by members of the media. The objections we had to the gross misuse of power were denigrated as the natterings of the "leftist fringe."

Now you find it disturbing that these tactics are directed to you. They want to silence you. This is what happens when the media does not do its job of being vigilant for the people. This is what happens when the glitter of power and wealth seduces the press. Now that the media. Now is the time you and your colleagues find the same courage that demonstrators who have faced police dogs, tasers, and truncheons have and help us preserve our democracy. If the media fails yet again to confront the new bullyboy and his mobs, our nation may not be able to stand up again so readily. Mr. Milbank, it is time for you all to do your jobs and quit covering for these abusers of power and the people.

Skidmore