Newsweek "CW" Box Slams "Power-Abusing Hacks" Like DeLay and Bush

Newsweek's lame weekly "Conventional Wisdom Watch" box in the up-front "Periscope" section this week announces its theme as the "Exterminated Edition," that "The CW won't have Tom (The Hammer) DeLay to kick around anymore. Luckily, there's no shortage of power-abusing hacks to take the arrows." DeLay was awarded one last down arrow, with the snippy line: "Guy who led Clinton impeach claims he's a victim of 'politics of personal destruction.' That's a good one."

President Bush gets another down arrow (and even the up arrows and sideways arrows are often accompanied by negative takes on Bush): "Old CW: I'll fire anyone who leaks classified info. New CW: Of course, I didn't mean me." This is not to say "Conventional Wisdom" feels the need to be accurate. As Newsweek's sister publication The Washington Post explained, "In June 2004, Bush replied 'yes' when asked if he would fire anyone who leaked the agent's [Valerie Plame's] name. In other statements, Bush has pledged to 'take the appropriate action' if anyone in his administration leaked classified information." (In this 2005 story, Bush had grown more specific to making "committing a crime" the firing offense.) Other typical liberal-media "conventional wisdom"?

Meredith Vieira is awarded an up arrow: "Sophisticated fiftysomething working mom is new "Today" cohost. Start your sleep training now, Meredith." No fuss there about Meredith marching in anti-Bush rallies outside the Republican convention. That only scores points with Jonny Alter, who writes these snarky things.

"Creationism" also gets a down arrow: "Discovery of 'missing link' between fish and land animals a blow to 'intelligent design.' That's science."

(Hat tip: Eric Peterkovsky)