Either they should become that "news media that would devote as much attention to ideas as to gaffes" or they should admit that it's impossible and quit their jobs in a very public protest. There's a third possibility: they could turn Politico into a serious news organization.

Very little, with the possible exception of Drudge and the wingnut blogs that no one takes seriously anyway, sucks as hard as Politico sucks.

One of their guys sneered at me like an Eddie Haskell wanna-be when we met up in the Big Tent in Denver. Gave me great pleasure, it did, to tell him what his blog is worth to me -- not a rat's ass, that's for sure.

If Politico disappeared from the internets tomorrow, we'd all be better off. The faux non-partisanship wears thin when you're fellating the GOP all day ...

An unscripted campaign would be more interesting and more useful to voters...

Senator Biden has not disappointed anyone.

There's a third possibility: they could turn Politico into a serious news organization.

The response to that suggestion would be, it just won't sell, we wouldn't get the attention, we'd go out of business. The evidence cited for that point of view would be, this is what everybody does and it sells, and when organizations don't do it they die -- we're giving the people what they want.

The implicit assumption is that there is no market for a "serious news organization" because people are stupid &/or they can't develop a taste for it.

(There probably is also an unstated assumption that politicians, like lawyers choosing a jury, prefer their audience dumb and emotionally reactive rather than smart and rational, so the politicians would abandon any news organization that got serious.)

Whichever is true, the nub of the issue is, they're not willing to take the risk of testing those assumptions.

And so we're stuck.

He's a certifiable wing nut and was removed from the WaPo White House beat for his proven and public nuttiness.
It's been a while, but I remember wingnut finery, just liek yesterday.

"And so we're stuck."

Actually I don't feel stuck at all. The only time I read anything from Politico is when someone is pointing out their bullshit and links to them.

The lack of press access to both candidates this fall is frustrating.

Love the false equivalency, but I wouldn't expect anything less from them.

If you read the comments there (& somehow manage not to claw your eyes out) you have to realize the audience they've built just ain't ready for reality.

Sinfonian,

let me guess, you are referring to Ben Smith. Oh he's the worst at Politico.

((If you read the comments there (& somehow manage not to claw your eyes out) you have to realize the audience they've built just ain't ready for reality.))

You know, that is so true. Politico has the dumbest, most obnoxious commenters of any major Internet news site. I always feel the need of disinfectant after I go over there. I can't imagine hanging out there on a regular basis, rather than an occasional foray following a link. Teh stupid on that site is depressing.

"I'm glad they're publicly making the case -- they have, to be sure, a unique credibility -- but I'd be even more glad to see them start trying to change the game."

I disagree. If punditoids "publicly (make) the case" for better reporting and then do nothing about it although they're in a position to do something about it, then they're either weaklings or hypocrites.

The reason the press is jumping all over McCain and Palin gaffes IS that their campaign is so tightly scripted. That means that the gaffes or whatever are either planned or the two candidates really, really stupid. I think the latter.

For once, though, the media are doing their jobs.

The other night on Hardball Chris Matthews raved about how "fantastic" Politico is.

actually, it's a handy gauge of how the Corp Media will play - we no longer have to wait for Tweety or the next morning's WaPo - just go on over to the school paper at Kewl Kidz High

still chortle at the idea of "subscribing" to Mike Allen

Ezra, as you no doubt recall Harris sooling the WaPo Ombudstravesty onto Froomkin, and why, let me compliment you on your politeness. You are a saint.