Today in Judy: All Over But the Shoutin'
But, boy, is there a lot of shouting.
• First there's, the negotiated letter, not run — God forbid — on the op-ed page but rather as the longest letter to the editor we've ever seen in the Times, 735 words down the far-right column of the editorial page.
• But, of course, there was even some last-minute drama surrounding the letter, as Miller scooped the Times by posting it yesterday evening on her long-dormant blog — along with all her other public and private rebuttals and retorts of the last several weeks. Best line: "Dear Maureen, I'm glad you've always liked me."
• The Observer, of course, had immediate inside-the-newsroom reaction: "Thank God the nightmare is over."
• And only slight less immediate reaction from the woman herself, who seemed uncharacteristically non-combative: "I'm tired.... I will always miss the Times, but now it was time to move on."
• Meantime, the show must go on! Despite the eventful day she'd had, Miller showed up last night for the $375-a-plate Media Law Resource Center dinner at which she was to be a panelist, reported E&P. What did she have to say for herself? She didn't like how her story was covered: There should have been more focus on the journalistic issues involved; there should have been more coverage of her time in jail; there should have been a better explanation of why she finally chose to testify. Yes, because what the world needs is more coverage of Judy Miller.
• In this morning's Times, then, Kit Seelye files what she must hope is her last-ever story about her bosses and colleagues. Free at last! Free at last!, exults Miller, who also boasts of job offers "of all kinds" just a-rollin' in.
• And, finally, in case you didn't know enough about Judy already, the Washington Post profiles her: "So here we are last week in a SoHo brasserie called Balthazar, where a parade of Judys appears. Outraged Judy. Saddened Judy. Charming Judy. Wise Judy. Conspiratorial Judy. Judy, the star New York Times reporter turned beleaguered victim of the gossipmongers and some journalists who have made her 'sick to death of the regurgitation of lies and easily checkable falsehoods.'" And, apparently, Judy who takes phone calls in French and Arabic. Which actually is kinda cool.