It’s interesting to compare the tough coverage George W. Bush received during his first few weeks in office with the disgusting, pro-Obama bias that we’re now seeing. Here’s Fred Hiatt in January 2001:
In these honeymoon weeks, Mr. Bush’s more open-minded opponents have seemed willing to work with him, and those who have spurned his overtures have been left looking churlish. As time goes on, it may be harder to sustain optimism. Mr. Bush wins points now by declaring that he aims to “rid the system of rancor.” At a certain time, however, his promises will begin to sound hollow unless he has helped foster real change in the political culture.
[….]
Yet precisely because power is separated, the system desperately needs charm to lubricate it. That is why “bipartisan” sometimes seems to be the highest compliment in Washington, and why the tone of President Bush’s first fortnight deserves a warm welcome.
Heh indeedy.
Update: To be fair, Hiatt could have been influenced, I suppose, by the fact that Bush received a resounding mandate in 2000 while Obama squeaked into office with a controversial victory this fall.