It is a misery these days in the field of journalism that reporters seem unable to figure out a basic fact-- just because political hacks put out press releases that say things, that doesn't make it "news." Today's Washington Post article on a recent local election in Northern Virginia, in which the Democrat running for chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors barely edged out the Republican, is a textbook example. The headline says it all: "Close Loss Cheers Republicans."

Right - a local board election on a snowy day in January, which the Republican candidate still did not win, is proof that Republicans are going to come back strong in northern Virginia and turn that newly blue state back to red.  

I nominate the reporter for editor of the sports page--I would have loved to see Monday's headline, "Close Loss Cheers Cardinals."