Thursday, August 05, 2004

The Sideshow -- August 5, 2004

Pssst! Wanna Know a Secret? The Washington Post reports that a FOX News reporter gave up his source on classified leaks to the media. The Post reports it was Sen Richard Shelby (R-AL) who leaked classified intercepted messages to reporters while he served on the Senate Intelligence Committee two years ago. The Post quotes unnamed sources in the investigation as leaking to them word that FOX News’ Carl Cameron identified Shelby as his source. FOX never aired the information. Shelby reportedly met with CNN’s Dana Bash shortly after talking with Cameron. CNN aired the story. (WashPost)

Sandy's Socks are Clean. Meanwhile, Clinton Administration National Security Advisor Sandy Berger has been cleared of charges he mishandled, or stole, or stuffed classified documents in his socks. Both the National Archives and the Justice Department say nothing’s missing after all.

Book Tour. The 9/11 Commission Report is a best seller. And commissioners are on something akin to a book tour. What does every successful author need? A public relations firm. The 9/11 Commission hired Edelman Public Relations Worldwide to handle their PR. (WashPost)

Mixed Message. A handful of buildings are on Orange Alert. The Citicorp Building in New York City is one of them. But if the Citicorp building is under such a great terrorist threat, why did President Bush send First Lady Laura Bush there?

Why Fly Coach, when You can Bill Taxpayers for the Upgrade? Big shots at USAID – the agency that hands out foreign aid – spent $2 million of your tax money to upgrade airline tickets from coach to business class over the last two years. Among the upgrades – a trip for two officials to Zurich that cost $1,770 to fly coach wound up costing you $13,000. (ABC News)

Minority Report. You’re knocked unconscious before the battle begins, are out as your comrades engage in a Silver Star worthy firefight, and are still immobilized when Special Forces troops retrieve you. So how is it YOU become the hero? It might help if you’re blond, blue-eyed, and the standard of beauty for the majority of the press who will cover your ordeal. A new survey shows only 10.5% of the Washington Press Corps are minorities. I must fall into that .5% -- since I’m part Cherokee. (AJR)

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