LAT says utilities need more money

In a front page piece this morning, the LAT suggests that downed power lines, which cause forest fires, are the fault of rate-payers (power customers) who, the LAT suggests, aren't paying enough to allow utilities to maintain their facilities. The utilities don't need anything so much as they need competition. Then, instead of blaming their customers they might start pleasing customers in order not to lose them.

LAT shows its bias, again

The LAT, which hardly ever has anything good to say about a Republican, today publishes a puff piece about Northern California Democratic lawmaker Jerry McNerney, on the front page. Why? Presumably to showcase a Democrat who risks losing his seat next November after only one term in Washington.

Enriching the enemy

That's the title of an LAT editorial today that argues that the next president will need a global energy strategy, one that transcends ideology, to cope with rising oil prices. Well, yes, but such a strategy would involve nuclear power, more reliance on coal and drilling -- in ANWR, along the Pacific coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. But these are things liberals can't stomach, which means no energy policy can transcend ideology. Being liberals, the LAT editors can't see that. Their idea of a global energy strategy would involve more stringent controls on cars, more reliance on wind and solar power and kissing up to Caesar Chavez, Putin and Ahmadinejad.

LAT hides good GDP report

The 3.9 percent growth rate for GDP in the 3rd quarter is reported by the LAT on page C4 of the Business Section from an AP dispatch. The LAT abhors good news.

LAT convicts Carona

In an editorial today, the LAT argues that Orange County Sheriff Michael S. Carona is guilty and should resign, this before his trial has begun. Sentence first, verdict afterwards.

Karen Hughes

LAT reporter Paul Richter this morning reports that Karen Hughes is resigning her position at the State Department and returning to her home state of Texas. In reporting that, however, most of Richter's words are about Hughes' failures, as Richter perceives them, and America's image overseas, which Richter describes as bad and getting worse. Reading Richter's piece, it's hard not to conclude that he took the Hughes resignation as an opportunity to take a few swipes at the Bush administration, something that seems compulsive at the LAT.

Damning with faint praise

The LAT's lead front page story today concerns the reduction in civilian deaths in Iraq in the last 60 days. The LAT acknowledges that "the surge" may have contributed to the decrease but highlights other factors, one of which, the LAT says, is that the sectarian fighting has accomplished it's goal: the separation of Sunnis and Shias. According to that analysis, it seems the "civil war" is over.