MEDIA FRENZY

They're going nuts over Ford's interview with Bob Woodward, where the former President was criticizing Bush's Iraq policy. So what? President Ford was no Reagan conservative. He was what the country needed post-Watergate, and he was often more "moderate" on issues, yes. That doesn't mean he was always right. I sure didn't like his getting out of Vietnam via appeasement mode. But I still respected him (see my item below), despite occasional points of disagreement. There are new questions, however: Why didn't he request an embargo of the comments until after Bush was gone... or at least until the administration was over? And why was Woodward so eager to release Ford's comments before the body was warm? Progress for Bob this time, though. At least this source gave him quotes while he was alive, and there's a recording of it all. Still not sure when/how he got the past gems from William Casey.

AMERICA MOURNS: The question of the day is whether James Brown draws more people than Ford. Or, for that matter, if the continuing flap between Rosie and Trump will get more pub. Wild card: A Saddam hanging over the weekend. Any predictions on who the leftie will be, first condemning the execution of the Butcher of Baghdad?

FORD PAVED THE WAY FOR REAGAN: So says historian Paul Kengor. http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=OWQ1NzJjZmViNTRkOWY3ZDZjMWQ5YzFjNjBiYjAyYzc=