HOWARD KURTZ OBSERVES:

Blair seemed untouchable not just because of race, some Times folk say, but because he fit the Raines mold of a young, hungry, single go-getter who could parachute into places and quickly produce a story. Thus, even when prosecutors denounced Blair’s reporting on the Washington sniper case, Raines sent him a congratulatory e-mail.

Had this sort of sweeping breakdown occurred in a government agency, the Times would be the first to demand that senior officials be held accountable. Yet Sulzberger is not inclined in that direction. “Let’s not begin to demonize our executives,” he told his paper.

Didn’t Ken Lay say something similar? But don’t worry: Operation Grey Lady Freedom is underway.