The Note: On Hiatus

ABC News has put The Note on hiatus, because its creator has left his role as ABC News Political Director. Mark Halperin will instead write some more books and become a ABC News Political analyst (a role that allows much more editorializing than is allowed of a political director).

I hadn't noticed it in The Note, but some followers of Halperin say that he has drifted farther and farther to the right (to Karl Rove worship) in recent times. His recent book certainly had a place of honor for Rove's effectiveness in the 24-hour-news cycle world, but I'm not willing to call Halperin a partisan hack. The tone of the Note over several years has honored effective politicians (good and bad), but has also challenged its readers to do the right thing for the nation.

Here's a writeup of the history of the note and Halperin's recent rhetoric that has endeared him to the right.

Here's to the hope that the newly promoted ABC News Political team can take the publication in a new directions, while still calling things as they are.