SHAFER’S GOOD IDEA

Why not appoint an ombusman from outside the New York Times to respond on a weekly basis on the editorial page to criticisms of the Times’ coverage? It’s what the Washington Post does. My suggestion: ask Jack Shafer. He’s sympathetic to Raines but no fool. The Times has got to stop acting like the Vatican and open itself up to scrutiny and debate. Hey, Pinch. Shut me and all the other critics up, for Pete’s sake. And do your paper a favor as well.