Go West

Paul West of the Sun took a not-so-thinly veiled shot at me for my reporting of the Barbara Mikulski rumor from Monday:

On Monday, shortly after Bayh surprised Democrats by announcing that he was quitting, an obscure right-wing blogger posted a report that Mikulski, too, would be announcing in the next few days that she will step down. The groundless report was picked up by other blogs--including some that clear the very low bar for respectability in this realm--without bothering to check its validity.

Now....go back to my post. I mention in very large letters that 1) this was a rumor, 2) that it was the first that I had heard of it and, 3) that I wouldn't at all take it to the bank. How many times do I have to label something as a rumor before people understand that.

Regarding West's assertion that RedMaryland clears "the very low bar for respectability in this realm", I will concede the point to West as a subject matter expert given the fact that the Sun fails to clear the very low bar for respectability in the realm of reporting quite often...