What we're reading today:
Howard Kurtz has an excellent analysis of Bill O’Reilly’s Super Bowl Sunday interview with President Obama.
Over the weekend, former Vice President Dick Cheney defended Egyptian President Mubarak, saying that Mubarak had been a “good friend” to the United States, and should be treated well.
Former President Bush avoids arrest for war crimes in Switzerland. [if only…]
Rep. Jane Harmon [D-CA] resigning from Congress to head up a bi-partisan think tank.
Arianna Huffington sells out to AOL.
Obama gets his media groove back? An unlikely source, but this is good news for 2012..
Time’s Mark Halperin has hailed Obama as “magnetic,” “distinguished” and “inspiring” — in one story. ABC’s Christiane Amanpour saw “Reaganesque” optimism and “Kennedyesque” encouragement — all in one speech. Howard Fineman, the former Newsweek columnist who now writes for The Huffington Post, said conductor Obama was now leading a “love train” through D.C.
Will AOL co-opt Huffington Post’s culture?
Part of Huffington Post's success was its vibrance and its position outside the establishment. It has now not only joined an establishment, but joined one where most people feel about as close to the brand as they do to Walmart.
Jessica Singal at the Boston Globe wonders what the AOL/Huffington Post combination will mean for the quality of journalism on Huffington Post.
So with Huffington taking over day-to-day editorial operations of the AOL/HuffPo behemoth, the question becomes whether she can graft some sort of personality or soul onto AOL, or whether the endless pressure to produce page views at the expense of quality and tone will win out and further adulterate both brands.
