Bloody-minded

Given this blog's reliance on Radio National presenter Stephen Crittenden for copy over the Summer period, I feel some comment is owed over the remarkable news that he has been counselled by ABC management for a comment made in an interview with David Hicks' counsel Major Michael Mori. Critts suggested that the prolonged detention of Hicks might finally be due to nothing other than 'bloody-mindedness' on the part of the Howard government. (Already blogged by Slattsnews and Tim Blair). Apparently he also indulged in some overly warm congratulations and good wishes to Major Mori in his closing comments. Crittenden is evidently a fairly cordial person by nature, but does tend to gush when dealing with guests of whom he approves.

Frankly, I find this no worse than any number of other 'Critticisms'. I actually have less of a problem with this kind of frank and open hostility to the Government, than with the soft, steady hum of relentless, unconscious ABC bubblethink - the funhouse mirror which we're all supposed to accept as a transparent windowpane on the real world.

In the meantime, former ABC Four Corners producer Gordon Bick visits the Age letters page today to tell us that we need a 'biased' ABC (scare quotes the Age's , not mine):

"It is necessary and essential for the ABC to always be left of centre — whichever Government is in power."

Words fail me.