TPR'S MEDIA GUIDE TO THE CLINTON SCANDALS Who was soft on crime & who wasn't A major reason Clinton retained such high popularity for so long was because, when it cames to Clinton and his friends, much of the media was soft on crime. Seldom in the history of law enforcement have prosecutors, police officers, and grand juries faced such media opposition to their efforts. This guide is designed to help you wend your way through the media morass. Thanks to our brutal objectivity, TPR is not included. Besides, you're already here. And since we believe in both redemption and descent from grace, we shall update this list from time to time. Send your nominations to TPR

Pick of the litter

Jerry Seper, Washington Times Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, Telegraph of London Christopher Ruddy, NewsMax Roger Morris, "Partners in Power"

Best independent investigator

Hugh Sprunt

Best of the Net

NewsMax: Chris Ruddy, Carl Limbacher The Clinton Administration Scandal Bulletin Board Washington Weekly: Wes Phelan WorldNet: David Bresnahan

Best mainstream reporters

Jeff Gerth, New York Times William Sammon, Washington Times Liza Myers, NBC Jackie Judge, ABC Mara Leveritt, Arkansas Times

Best back creek reporter

Matt Drudge

Most establishment journalist to advocate Clinton's resignation

David Broder

Best dailies

Washington Times Wall Street Journal

Best magazines

Insight The American Spectator

Best catch-up ball

Phillip Weiss, New York Observer Stuart Taylor, National Journal

Worst daily

Washington Post

Worst columnists & commentators

Gene Lyons, Joe Conason, Eleanor Clift, Jane Mayer, Geraldo Rivera, Cokie Roberts, Tom Oliphant, Anthony Lewis, Charles Grodin, Renata Adler, Eric Alterman, Alan Dershowitz, Lannie Davis, Evan Thomas

Worst publications

Salon, The New Yorker

Loose cannons

Dick Morris, George Stephanopoulos

Best TV Program

Chris Matthews' Hardball; Bill O'Reilly

Miniscule Left-Wing Conspiracy

Roger Morris, Phillip Weiss, Jim Ridgeway, Nat Hentoff, Michael Kelly

Most negligent media

National Public Radio Jim Lehrer Hour

Most disappointing media

The left-liberal press

The Still-Don't-Get-It Gang

Bill Raspberry, Anthony Lewis, Jim Lehrer, Mollie Ivans, Diane Rehm, Mary McGrory, Alan Colmes, Gary Trudeau, Wolf Blitzer, Margaret Carlson, Al Hunt

Further nominations are welcome. Mail to TPR Return to TPR's home page