I'm saying that the WMD reporting was not consciously evil. It was bad journalism, even very bad journalism.

That first week, I also went to Washington. That was really tough. I sympathize with those Washington figures who have to face 40 Times Washington bureau reporters. They ask hard questions and they're relentless. And they were quite suspicious and quite dubious about me.

Baseball is a pretty sight and a nice experience, win or lose, particularly if it is watched in a nice park.

Now I worry. If people ended up liking me, did I do the job wrong? So I decided they didn't end up liking me - they ended up being able to deal with me.

I know there are reporters who ridicule pundits.

The Times' new credibility committee report that was issued on Monday very specifically said they will be putting in a policy that reporters must get permission from their department heads to appear on television, which I think is a really good thing.

Closing one's ears to the complaints of partisans would also entail closing one's mind to the substance of their arguments.