Smut-hunting NY Times Limbo Dancing in Alaska

In a 2008 revision of the Limbo dance, the dance often mistakenly attributed to Hawaii but having originated on the Island of Trinidad, the New York Times is proving “how low it can go”. The NY Times is dispatching a group of its top “investigative journalists”, fanning them across the State of Alaska looking for dirt on Palin and Republicans in a desperate bid to take the wheels off of John McCain’s little red wagon. The specter of NY Times reporters, so recently weaned off their Starbucks latte-coffees, is even more laughable than the ABC Terry Moran gaffe that gave Barack Obama a “white father in Kenya” and a “white father in Kansas”.

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The subscription and advertising-challenged NY Times is ponying up to pay scandal mongerers to bring them the dirt. All that means is that journalists from the Big Apple will be holed up at the nearest Alaskan bar with whatever scandal mongerers they think can be bought off for the price of a few beers. “Sara Palin’s sister was interviewed this AM on Fox. Mentioned was that the NY Times is sending a team of slime merchants to Alaska to find anything they can to hurt Palin/the Republicans.” freerepublic.com, Sept. 4, 2008. (“No word on whether the Times will also send a team to Chicago or Indonesia to investigate Madrassa Barry…)” Big clue for NY Times investigative types: Freerepublic.com goes in the same sentence with a disgraced Dan Rather and John Kerry. Google it before going there. NY Times investigative reporters cut their teeth in Alaska by measuring the methane emissions of the polar bears and moose. It’s more than cool Alaskan breezes giving goosebumps to Time’s poster boy Barry Obama these days. When it comes to digging up dirt, the New York Times must take a back seat to Porn King Larry Flynt. “Larry Flynt’s last effort to buy dirt on Washington politicians was what you might call a bust. (freerepublic, June 4, 2007). “But the Hustler publisher launched a new effort Sunday, offering $1 million for provable Potomac sleaze. “The ad explains: “Have you had a sexual encounter with a current member of the United States Congress or a high-ranking government official? Can you provide documented evidence of illicit sexual or intimate relations with a Congressperson, Senator or other prominent officeholder? “Larry Flynt and HUSTLER Magazine will pay you up to $1 million if we choose to publish your verified story and use your material.” Flynt’s 2007 venture into pay-for-scandal journalism was a repeat of his 1998 efforts, during the height of the Monica Lewinsky scandal, when he took out a full-page ad in the accommodating Washington Post, with the same kind of offer. Must have been a wound to Flynt’s ego when the Drudge Report came up with the real goods on the Lewinsky scandal without spending a dime. Flynt later claimed on CNBC’s Rivera Live that he had sussed up information showing hypocrisy by a Republican congressman from Georgia. But somehow that effort never did set Washington back on its heels. The June 2007 ad included a toll-free number (800-251-2714), which answered with a recorded male voice that said: “Thank you for calling the Hustler Magazine hotline. Please briefly describe the information you would like us to consider, along with information on how we may contact you. We will get in touch with you if we are interested in your information.” The ad also included a Hustler e-mail address. When the NY Times hotline is set up, it isn’t too likely to be deluged with all those blog responders from the Obama campaign with G-mail e-mail addresses. They’re now too busy diving for cover from upfront hockey Moms. Meanwhile, in the case of New York Times Smut-Versus-Larry Flynt, at least Flynt’s up front with his.