Chi Trib, the lumbering behemoth of Chicago journalism, pursued further the story of Judge Holderman vs. U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald. Fitzg is not cooperating with the investigation, as he accuses others, says Trib, p. 1, under the head, "This time, allegations aimed at prosecutor: Judge says Fitzgerald's office stalling probe of aide's alleged violations."

But don’t all prosecutors accuse others of not cooperating? That’s not their job? But this one "has received national attention for aggressively investigating the leak to a reporter of the identity of a CIA agent," we read in 7th ‘graph. Currently beleaguered MainStreamMedia (MSM) does not like this, and it’s on the mind of reporters and editors if not of readers. Instead, why not, in ‘graph 7 or earlier something like: Fitzg "is making Chicago and Cook County prosecutorial history by pursuing corruption among elected officials"?

This would, I think, represent what’s in the minds of most readers, rather than the Valerie Plame case in Washington, which is thought to threaten freedom of the presses for those who own them.

Additionally, a recurring Chi Trib stylistic quirk turns up here: We are told early on that Holderman is respected but has a temper problem. That generic statement is unsupported until the end of the story, when we are filled in nicely about the temper, or more precisely temperament, problem – but are not satisfied as to his being respected. Why not early on, at first reference to his temper problem, lay in quick reference to the 1999 Council of Lawyers complaint, the late fill-in?