Wrong Again

As part of my continuing complaint about AP/Yahoo headlines:

If there weren't a struggle going on over executive branch authority, I'd care a little less about this inaccurate headline. But there is a problem over power, and so here are my two complaints with either an AP or a Yahoo headline writer.

First, the story is sourced. You can't then have the headline state this as fact.

Second, and far more important: The president doesn't pick an AG. He nominates someone; the Senate approves.

Note that the second graf of the story makes the process clear.

Bush picks Mukasey as attorney general

By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer
28 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - President Bush has settled on Michael B. Mukasey, a retired federal judge from New York, to replace Alberto Gonzales as attorney general and will announce his selection Monday, a person familiar with the president's decision said Sunday evening.

Mukasey, who has handled terrorist cases in the U.S. legal system for more than a decade, would become the nation's top law enforcement officer if confirmed by the Senate. Mukasey has the support of some key Democrats, and it appeared Bush was trying to avoid a bruising confirmation battle.

Influencing the Messengers

This is a rather disturbing Washington Post story about a White House policy of trying to influence journalists and what we saw of protests at events involving George Bush.

... "The rally squad's task is to use their signs and banners as shields between the demonstrators and the main press platform. If the demonstrators are yelling, rally squads can begin and lead supportive chants to drown out the protestors (USA!, USA!, USA!). As a last resort, security should remove the demonstrators from the event site."

Advance teams are advised not to worry if protesters are not visible to the president or cameras: "If it is determined that the media will not see or hear them and that they pose no potential disruption to the event, they can be ignored. On the other hand, if the group is carrying signs, trying to shout down the President, or has the potential to cause some greater disruption to the event, action needs to be taken immediately to minimize the demonstrator's effect."