“In a measure of additional concern for Democrats, Al Gore, who is the best-known Democrat who might run for president in 2004, is viewed unfavorably today by a ratio of almost two to one…. Just 19 percent said they held a favorable view of the former vice president, compared with 43 percent who had an unfavorable view.” – New York Times today. Almost?
SLATE ON RAINES: Jack Shafer says no one would accuse Howell Raines of being a demagogue. I would. But Jack does an excellent job limning the now almost comic hyping of non-news stories to fit Raines’s paleo-liberal agenda, specifically on the Augusta National Golf Club. As Jack points out, Raines is morphing the Times into a daily blog. The Mickster has sharper comments. And I’ve also noticed how Alessandra Stanley has eagerly become Raines’ dutiful copy-slave.
The Dish 