Checkpoints and Borders Policy Debate - Submitted without comment

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/post/tsa-blog-true-tales-of-dumb-passengers/2012/07/09/gJQAUtMQYW_blog.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-tsa-follies/2012/07/09/gJQAi3LQaW_story.html

Here's the link to the Washington Post's Ombudsman:

Patrick B. Pexton - Ombudsman (http://www.washingtonpost.com/patrick-b-pexton/2011/02/24/ABkLhYN_page.html)

Complaints about the "Here's what I read in a blog" column can be directed to him.

Here's the link to the Washington Post's Ombudsman:

Patrick B. Pexton - Ombudsman (http://www.washingtonpost.com/patrick-b-pexton/2011/02/24/ABkLhYN_page.html)

Complaints about the "Here's what I read in a blog" column can be directed to him.

What I wanted to know when I read those things is, why are there two posts, by two writers, on the same day, using such similar language? And another thing I want to know is, why were both writers too lazy to even read any of the comments? Thanks for the link to the ombudsman, I'll write him and ask him whether the newspaper has any other function than repeating government propaganda.

What I wanted to know when I read those things is, why are there two posts, by two writers, on the same day, using such similar language? And another thing I want to know is, why were both writers too lazy to even read any of the comments? Thanks for the link to the ombudsman, I'll write him and ask him whether the newspaper has any other function than repeating government propaganda.

We already know the answer: both were written from the same story outlines quietly distributed by the TSA. They targeted second-tier columnists known to not think too deeply about motivations.

It's practically a textbook case of propaganda. Except it went a little wrong. Two reporters were from the same news organization. Neither reporter put in the effort to rewrite the outline -- perhaps because of the holiday week.

In a slightly better world this would still happen, but it would trigger real investigative journalism about what happened, and why such propaganda would be needed.