Mickey Kaus writes on Slate.com:
"Don’t Get Caught Again": Lone blogger Luke Ford, and not the L.A. Times, continues to be where you go go to find out what’s really happening in the Villasalinas sex scandal. Ford notes that the LAT, despite signs of catch-up tabloid feistiness earlier in the week, has delivered its traditional scandal-killing thumbsucker on schedule. Riveting headline: "Villaraigosa affair may not be one to remember." Why, "Democratic operative" Chris Lehane thinks he may survive! Ford comments:
It’s stupid to write all these analysis pieces saying the mayor can overcome this scandal until we know how many more scandals are coming the pike on this score. I predict several.
He suggests some leads. …
P.S.: The traditional pompous Tim Rutten piece–attacking "the gossip sheets … that continue to proliferate like informational vermin"**–arrives right on cue as well. L.A.’s Pulitzer-winning paper is back to running at peak efficiency.
Bonus pomposity: Rutten writes–
Villaraigosa’s personal connection with Salinas is a private issue that legitimately concerns only the two of them and their families. No one else has a moral or rhetorical right to an opinion on that aspect of their conduct.
Why the hell not?
**– … like the ones that broke the story the Times helped Villaraigosa try to keep a lid on. Rutten also more or less admits the Times helped cover up the marital trouble of the previous L.A. mayor, James Hahn, even though it clearly affected his performance (when he insisted on going home to look after his kids!). … 10:54 P.M.
