When It's Necessary To Cry Wolf

Newly minted Washington governor Christine Gregoire won her recount fight, says John Nichols, because she wasn't afraid of crying wolf when she actually saw one. This may be the first time that The Nation has had the gall to compare Election 2004 with Election 2000. You can quibble that it's not actually The Nation, just John Nichols. OK, fine. It's true that the editors haven't really said much, though the always-wary-of-never-being-asked-back-by-PBS David Corn has dished out considerable bile for anyone crying foul about electoral hanky-panky in Ohio. (Cf. Corn's tight-rope walking on the Gary Webb issue.)

But expect more as the Conyers investigation continues. And remember: The Nation has the largest circulation (140,000) of any opinion magazine in this country. When it speaks, a lot of people listen. And if it wants to throw stink bombs in every precinct in Ohio, Washington's gonna have to smell it.