Consequences.

CBS just fired four key people over the Bush National Guard story. Notice, please, it's the particularly mighty who're falling these days. In CBS's case, its only remaining crown jewel, 60 Minutes. Then there was the New York Times, over Jason Blair and Judith Miller--two distinctly different kinds of disasters. Of course, the Washington Post has had its stupid spells.

Big screwups have a chilling effect on journalism. Those outfits, except for the controversy good journalism always ignites, seemed bulletproof.

I couldn't tell you who to trust right now. Certainly not the government. They're out there buying talk show hosts.

I'm an optimist, though. You know what they say: the safest airline to fly is the one that just had a crash.

As always, you're on your own.

For another view, check out Mike.