That Liberal Mainstream Media Bias

Via Digby, who got it from Firedoglake. Richard Morin, the pollster for the Washington Post, seriously has his panties in a twist when people asked him why he has not polled the public over whether Bush should be impeached. In fact, the very fact that people are asking the question makes him "mad".

[W]e do not ask about impeachment because it is not a serious option or a topic of considered discussion --witness the fact that no member of congressional Democratic leadership or any of the serious Democratic presidential candidates in '08 are calling for Bush's impeachment. When it is or they are, we will ask about it in our polls.

Erm, is this the same Morin that signed off on a poll asking "If this affair did happen and if Clinton did not resign, is this something for which Clinton should be impeached, or not?", mere days after the monicagate story first broke? Why I do believe it is. Let's see...President possibly getting schtupped by the White House Intern. That's A1 impeachment track stuff if I've ever seen it. President admitting on the teevee to violating the constitution and spying on American citizens without a warrent? Why for shame! What kind of scandalmongers do you think we are here at the WaPo? We can't ask the American people if he needs to be impeached. Doing so might put the idea into their heads that he does, and that would be b...b...b...bias.

So, do I think there is a conspiracy afoot between the press and the Republicans to stymie the Democrats? No. The press is not cozily in anyone's back pocket. What they are though, is craven, publicity driven and afraid. They knew that Monica meant a nation enthralled, hooked on the latest tabloid tidbits, and thus a big boost to their circulation/viewership. They hopped on that bandwagon like hobos onto a southbound train. This latest impeachment drive, however important, is deemed too esoteric and lacking in juicyness to engage the masses. Best leave it alone. Especially since taking the lead on this will incurr the wrath of the Republicans. The Democrats? We've got no wrath. We're very lacking in the wrath department. But since Morin, Howell et. al. does not relish admitting to the world (or themselves) that they're a bunch of impotent, sales-driven, muck-seeking, power-fearing tools, they seek to explain their silence by delegitimizing the issue at hand.

Naperville, Ill.: Why haven't you polled on public support for the impeachment of George W. Bush?

Richard Morin: This question makes me mad...

Seattle, Wash.: How come ABC News/Post poll has not yet polled on impeachment?

Richard Morin: Getting madder...

Haymarket, Va.: With all the recent scandals and illegal/unconstitutional actions of the President, why hasn't ABC News / Washington Post polled whether the President should be impeached?

Richard Morin: Madder still...

The gentleman doth project too much. Who are you really mad at, Mr. Morin? Your readers or your own spinelessness? The questions are not going to stop coming. Are you just going to sit there getting madder and madder and madder, or will you step up to the plate and do your job?