WP hires RedState blogger to "balance" Milbank?

This highly partisan addition is, apparently, to "balance" Dana Milbank, which makes no sense. Anyone ever get the impression that Milbank is partisan?

some of the ?s (Edsall is taking a pretty good swing at trying to answer them):

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/03/15/DI2006031501474.html

Rahway, N.J.: I see that you have hired Ben Domenench, one of the founders of RedState.org, a leading right-wing political weblog, to write the "Red America" blog for the Washington Post. In his current post, he immediately defames and slurs leading left-wing political blogs such as DailyKos.com. Can we assume that you will provide an equal opportunity to the left side of the blogosphere by granting a prominent left-wing blogger a column as well? Since the media fairness doctrine is long dead, thanks to Mr. Domenench's hero Ronald Reagan, I suppose there is no longer a legal requirement to do so, but it would be nice if The Post could at least pretend to give some kind of equal voice to the left.
.....
Iowa: I'm assuming this RedState blogger is being paid. How does the Post management justify this when the newsroom staff is being cut by 10 percent according to several reports I have read? I would much rather have The Post continue to present quality, unbiased political coverage than provide bandwidth to an avowed partisan.
.....
Deary, Idaho: Can you ask those people above your paygrade to reconsider their decision to hire a rabid republican to "balance" Dana Millbank? There is no balance there. Granted, it is hard to find people on the left with the oblivious and offensive certainty of RedStaters. After all, the left has no Coulter or Limbaugh. But if you're going to give the far right a forum you better look hard for an anarchist or extreme radical for the other side.
.....
Dale City, Va.: Why does the Post feel a need to "balance" Dana? First off I don't consider Dana liberal, just irreverant. I suspect he will use the same tone regardless of the politics of those in charge. Also, the right has many, many places where only the right gets a hearing or is the main voice, like the Washington Times or Clear Channel. "Balance" has nearly destroyed the media. Just spouting two sides because there are 2 sides with no regard for which is correct is a bigger problem than a lack of Bush views.

they now have to hire butt-kissers to balance?

Milbank snarks both sides.

The WP seems to have lost its mind during the Bush Presidency.

They bend under any pressure from the WH.

Wimps.

Edsall tries to explaing that Milbank is just a cut-up, but I'll bet there was sustained (and MONIED) pressure over that one.

"Tom Edsall: I hate to do this to Jim Brady who seems to be a pretty smart guy, but for the many of you who have strong views about RedState, you should email: Jim Brady at executive.editor@washingtonpost.com "

Senate shut-down maneuver?

I'd say they need some left-sided balance for that hatcht job.

Thanks for straightening me out.

"First off I don't consider Dana liberal, just irreverant"

I still believe this, only now I feel it has developed to such a degree that the right-wing blogosphere itself has been all but annihilated. Most major right-wing bloggers have now been incorporated into the established news media apparatus. Glenn Reynolds is a columnist for MSNBC. Andrew Sullivan is a columnist for Time. Michelle Malkin is a frequently published columnist in a number of offline outlets. And now, RedState co-founder Ben Domenech has a regular column in the Washington Post. Despite being the latest in a long line of conservative bloggers to achieve "mainstream" status with the established news media, his first column was, predictably, an attack on the same institutions that just hired him and gave him space.

In short, there is almost nothing in the way of an independent right-wing blogosphere operating outside of existing, established news media outlets.

http://mydd.com/story/2006/3/21/13850/9332

It's still such an oddity for kos or reddhead at fdl or ANY liberal blogger to land an appearance that there's buzz for days. Forget about writing in a national paper.