Legal Commentary

The Annals of Objective Reporting

By David Bernstein

Ryan J. Foley, AP, begins a ?news? article as follows: ?To end a high-stakes stalemate over union rights that has captured the nation?s attention, a handful of Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin might have to stand up to their new governor.?

There is no indication in the article that such defections are in any way likely. Indeed, later in the article, Foley writes, ?So far, there?s little evidence of a move to compromise.?

As near as I can tell, the stalemate could also be ended with the defection of some Democrats to the governor?s side, though Foley doesn?t choose to mention that option.

Just a bizarre bit of editorializing disguised as news, with the rest of the article just as one-sided.

Full post as published by The Volokh Conspiracy on February 21, 2011 (boomark / email).