Magic 8 Ball World of Politics

CJR Daily (the Columbia Journalism Review's web successor to its election-era Campaign Desk), notes how articles in today's New York Times dealing with rumors about Bush's ongoing cabinet reshuffles are, well, completely lacking in , errr, solid information. This is a segment they are calling Cabinetstakes, which describes "highly speculative, anonymously sourced stories with one thing in common: From them, readers learn next to nothing." They focus their ire on an article by Richard W. Stevenson. I'll let you read CJR Daily's analysis, but I do like their conclusion.

Readers would do just as well consulting a Magic 8 Ball: Will Snow depart "eventually"? "Signals" point to yes. Will Snow go "sooner rather than later"? Affirmative, according to "hints." Will Snow go "as soon as Bush decides" on a replacement? Unnamed insider says it is so. Is Bush "close" to deciding on Snow's replacement? Reply hazy, ask again later.