JOHN KERRY REPORTING FOR DUTY - AT 7:48 A.M. ET:  From Andrew Malcolm's superb Top of the Ticket blog, at the L.A. Times:

With several print newspapers already dead in recent months, others failing or under financial threat and a crass crowd of brash, disrespectful online journalists attracting millions of readers, the jut-jawed senator from Massachusetts John Kerry is worried about the future of said journalism.

Why is it his business? some might ask.

Well, for one thing, as a youngster Kerry delivered the Washington Star. That newspaper died. As an adult Democratic candidate for president five years ago, Kerry got some rough treatment from opponents and journalists both on- and offline. His campaign died. Does anyone see a pattern here?

COMMENT:  What a record.  And if Kerry holds hearings on the crisis?  What happens to the publishers who testify?  Given Kerry's history, I shudder to think.  Maybe he'll throw the party and no one will come.  There are whispers of the Kerry Curse.

This is not government's business, but the fact is that the Dems would love to keep alive papers like the Boston Globe, which have signed onto the Age of Obama.  When the subjects are in trouble, the kings and princes must act.

Recommend Andrew's entire blog on this.  Very witty. 

May 7, 2009