CHANGING OF THE GOD – AT 9:08 P.M. ET:  Bill Keller has stepped down from his deified perch as executive editor of The New York Times, the highest news position.  He will be replaced by Jill Abramson, a longtime Times news executive whose main claim to fame is having co-written "Strange Justice," a vicious hit job on Justice Clarence Thomas.  That's the way they like 'em at The Times.  Prove you're one of us.

Ms. Abramson's view of the world was expressed rather openly in The Times's story of her elevation:

Ms. Abramson, 57, said being named executive editor was “the honor of my life” and like “ascending to Valhalla” for someone who read The Times as a young girl growing up in New York. “We are held together by our passion for our work, our friendship and our deep belief in the mission and indispensability of The Times,” she said.

She also said:

"In my house growing up, The Times substituted for religion."

Yuch.  Double yuch.  Triple yuch, going for quadruple.  I also worked at The Times, decades ago, and I never confused the Travel Section with the Book of Exodus.

Abramson attended the Ethical Culture School, which is several blocks from where we lived in Manhattan.  It's one of those pretentious places where people who believe in its "philosophy" walk around acting very superior.  I mean, just what does "ethical culture" mean?  They also seemed to have a lot of money.  Abramson then attended Harvard, about which nothing need be said.

Abramson will no doubt be interviewed on TV about her new adventure.  She speaks in that maddening pseudo-intellectual way, where words are elongated, and you can't wait for the sentence to end. 

But we wish her luck.  She is part of The Times's culture, so don't expect any great changes for the better.  It's sad because there's a great deal of talent at The Times, but it's too often misused in the service of a pretty clear agenda. 

June 2, 2011