Could this be some of the worst journalistic writing ever?

Question

from this article:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070917/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/mukasey_profile

The offending prose:

One of Mukasey's harshest critics said he, too, thought the former judge would be a good fit at the Justice Department — but for very different reasons.

"I think he'll make an excellent attorney general because now he can proceed unencumbered by any sense of fair play or impartiality," said Ron Kuby, an outspoken civil rights lawyer and radio host who is highly critical of government methods.

Kuby said there are things he likes about Mukasey. He suspects the judge opposes the death penalty, and called him "one of the brighter bulbs on the bench — he just used his incredible intelligence to distort the law."

Am I missing something, or does this barely make sense.

The judge is good because he is unencumbered by a sense of impartiality?!!!!! WOW: this=stupid!

The by line is an AP 'writer' Devlin Barrett. How do these guys keep their jobs..

Answer 1

I think your problem is with Kuby, and not Barrett. You shouldn't blame the author of the story for the quote, unless it was inaccurate.

The reporter was assigned to do a reaction story to the announcement. His job was to get both sides' reaction -- find someone for and someone against.

Kuby fit the latter. His sense of sarcasm sometimes doesn't go over as well in print as it might on the air.

I'm not sure I would have gone to Kuby for a reaction -- something a little more straight-forward would have been better -- but we don't know how much time the author had to write the story. Time restraints can factor in as well.

Answer 2

I would interpret this as the guy getting a verbal beating. Hes saying the Justice department is very corrupt. I pretty much agree with all of it.

Answer 3

Something comes to mind that I have used, over the years.
SAME OLD GAMES,
SAME OLD PLACES,
SAME OLD NAMES,
SAME OLD FACES.

In the "news management" /reporting? business
today, there are certain rules one has to remember :
"Never - Never Ever allow the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, facts, or actual occurrences interfere with our attempts to sensationalize any story, about anything, anyone, anytime, anywhere you happen to come across a happening " !!!!!!!! We liberals have the responsibility to educate the public, to our views, and do it our way!!!