Base10 is up on his way to work unusually early today. He is supposed to meet his ex-partner (meaning partner in the police way not in the more modern sort of non-traditional domestic relations way) for drinks after work. I must say, it is rather easy to compose a post on my Audivox xv-6600. The only drawback is the difficulty in using the thumb keyboard. So Base10 appologizes for any spelling errors due to this.

Anyway, how 'bout those Mets? Last night's come-from-behind victory over the Brewers was something. While Zambrano was unusually shacky, giving up 5 runs by the 2nd inning, the Mets bats came through to tioe it up and eventually win in extra innings. And on a walk-off walk by Mike Piazza with bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th inning! (Click here for the recap). Tonight Pedro is pitching so there is certainly hope for another win. (Click here for the preview). Hope springs eternal...

TV Coverage Note: The pitch count is 3-0. The bases are loaded with one out. The TV announcer says that he has often hear Mike say that he likes to swing at a 3-0 pitch. Mike, Mike, Mike! Don't listen to this fool. Just stand there for at least two more pitches and see what happens. As if magic and mental telepathy work, an instant later Piazza walks and the game is won.

Base10 was perusing the Mets schedule and notice that from the end of August on through the end of the season, the Mets play exclusively division games (except for two series against St. Louis and Colorado). Certainly a rocking way to end the season if they're still in contention.

On to Politics:

Sydney Schanberg had an article yesterday in the Village Voice exhorting journalists involved in the Rove/Wilson/Plame/Novak affair to meticulously document their involvement. He argues that unless the media admit to its role of complicity in the "outing" of Plame (his use of scare quotes, not mine--hey it is the Voice), reporters will lose all credibility. In my mind this raises a question he did not intend. It raises the issue of Valerie Plame's culpability. Did reporters latch on to this story because it looked like a CIA officer was engaged in a serious conflict of interest? Other than conservative bloggers, the media is giving short shrift to this aspect of the story. Do Federal laws or CIA rules prohibit recommending family members for assignments? Let's face it, if this was a local mayor in NJ awarding a municipal construction contract to his brother-in-law, the media would be all over him with phrases like "the appearance of impropriety" or "alleged conflict of interest."

Yet Plame may have committed similar misconduct on the far more serious playing field of national security. Where is the media's quest the truth? I don't know the details of Valerie Plame's involvement with the appointment of her husband, but I want to, especially since hubby lied about it later.

So, along with Sydney Schanberg's call for an account of the media's own activity, there are three other questions that I would like answered:

1. To what extent did Valerie Plame influence the decision to select her husband for the Niger trip?

2. Did her actions in the selection process violate federal law or agency rule?

3. If so, is she or has she been disciplined for the violation?

- posted by Base10 @ 8:46 AM