Am I the only one troubled by these photos?

[Hamlette]

It's Arianna Huffington at the White House correspondents dinner.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eat-the-press/2007/04/22/photos-white-house-corre_e_46543.html

I'm not talking about the fact that she and Julia look exactly the same in each photo (are they photoshopped?) but that she's having so much fun with Wolfowitz, Fred Thompson, et al.

Can the press be friends with the likes of Wolfowitz and write objectionably about them?

My big disappointment 2 weeks ago was David Gregory making excuses for Iman (he's a good person) only to find out he'd been on Imus' show like 6,000 times. Now one of our own bloggers sleeping with the enemy (again!)

Maybe its the photo ops that bug me. Go if you must...or even if you want. I'm not sure my gripe is that they are having so much fun. But taking pics and putting them on your web serves what purpose exactly? To convince me you are important?




more at the link...not all as bad as these. Maybe its because Arianna was such a right wing nut case not many years ago that I worry about how adoringly she is looking at Fred Thompson. Or that the right trashes Hollywood but does wannabe parties like this...

[babylonsister]

1. Nah. It's called schmoozing and I'm sure she excels.

Doesn't mean she has to agree with anybody. And I just don't see the adoring look you do.

[Bluebear]

2. Can the press...write objectionably about them?

No.

[MonkeyFunk]

3. Not at all

I realize that Washington does not live in a state of constant warfare, as much as people here wish that were the case.

They fight during the day, and but they can still be social with each other. And I don't expect journalists to "take sides".

The WH Correspondent's dinner is an 80+ year old tradition, where all sides get together for a little fun. I think it's healthy.

[Syrinx]

5. I think it is very unhealthy

America is very different now than it was 87 years ago. Nowadays, the vast majority of the media are controlled by a tiny handful of corporations. I don't think it is healthy for the powerful politicians that dictate our destiny to schmooze with their supposed "watchdogs." Not at all.

[MonkeyFunk]

12. well

that's a pretty naive view of how Washington works.

It's never been the way you'd like it to be.

[illinoisprogressive]

4. she's laughing and buttering them in hopes of them giving her some scoops.

[SoCalDemGrrl]

6. She's a smart cookie. Just taking care of biz. What's she supposed to do?

When you encounter a competitor no matter what business you are in, you
must at least act cordial. I have come face to face with people who
in the past have tried to destroy my business, but I must act civil in those
situations and Arianna was doing the right thing.

Please don't read any more into this photo.

[Smarmie Doofus]

9. A 'competitor' would be another blogger or...

>When you encounter a competitor no matter what business you are in, you
must at least act cordial.>

columnist or professional talking head. Wolfowitz and Thompson can't reasonably be called 'competitors' of Huffington.

[La_Fourmi_Rouge]

7. Yes, you are, and should be!

Do you really think she should be scowling or offering to punch that tired old has-been in the nose? It's one of the biggest soirees in Washington D.C. - it is part of the job, so to speak. I think, if all the great progressive voices in the media were to attend the Corresponent's Dinner and act like sullen, disaffected teenagers acting out innapropriate behaviors, we would have much more cause for concern.

Arianna has been on the progressive side of the ledger for a good long time now, ever since she dumped that empty suit, closeted gay, Republican, former California Senate candidate what's-his-name. She's been rocking on the 'net and pushing the message with clarity and incisive logic. I would not begrudge her schmozzing with anyone in the whole wide world. Much like the Big Dawg does, Arianna Huffington can do as she damn well pleases, and gods bless her!

[Warren DeMontague]

8. Actually, she kinda looks like she's giving both of 'em a little grief.

Like- "Nice job, you fuckups! Hope you're looking forward to losing even bigger in 2008!"

...Honestly, I wouldn't read too much into it.

[blogslut]

10. Oh good grief

Arianna was nice at a party! Call the cops!

[guitar man]

11. nothing wrong

nothing wrong with her putting them at ease. She knows she's not going to get anywhere by putting on a pitbull demeanor with them, they'll just clam up and stay away, and where's the "scoop" in that.

They get a couple drinks in 'em and loosen up some, they might be surprised the next day at what they said "on the record". :evilgrin:

[madokie]

13. more power to her for having the stomach to be able to do it, I wouldn't have

nothing wrong with knowing the enemy and thats what they are