Markos Moulitsas Zúniga serves up some harsh criticism of the top two Politico editors: “Memo to Jim VandeHei and John Harris: this is 2007, not 1992.” The famous Kos blogger feels that they’re covering social policy issues as they relate to Election 2008 in a tired, non-progressive manner. “I guess we’re stuck with the political press we have, not the one we wish we had,” he laments.

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In a special letter from the editor John Harris writes today about “how the sausage gets made in a newsroom.” He also admits that Jim VandeHei is always hovering over his shoulders; that the two of them often make mistakes; and that he would personally like to be ”snappier.”

There you have it, folks: the curtains have been pulled back on political journalism. Your life is now transparent. And you can rejoice.

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Following up on our scoops on Josie Hearn’s questionable reporting tactics, the WaPo’s media king weighs in on a little snafu committed at the pub last week: 

One Toke Over the Line?

Ryan Grim, a reporter for the Politico, the new Capitol Hill newspaper and Web site, called the White House drug policy office for comment last week.

Tom Riley, a spokesman for the office, recognized the name. Grim, he says, had called the office long ago, saying he was a reporter, but was using an e-mail address from the Marijuana Policy Project, where he worked. The group’s goal is to legalize the drug.

Riley did not return Grim’s call. Instead, as the Politico disclosed, Riley called Martin Tolchin, the paper’s senior publisher, to point out that the reporter was hardly unbiased.

“He then threatened to complain to Washington Post media columnist Howard Kurtz about a conflict of interest,” the Politico said.

That was not necessary (although such calls are always welcome here on the media beat). I contacted Riley the day the story appeared.

“The idea of someone who had been an activist on this now being a staff writer purporting to write about it objectively . . . is ludicrous,” Riley says.

“It’d be like a lobbyist for Philip Morris going to write about smoking issues for The Post.”

Politico Executive Editor John Harris says that Grim, who was hired from Washington’s City Paper, has a “reliable record” as a reporter. “There are lot of people at publications who have gone from advocacy jobs in a previous career to non-advocacy roles,” Harris says. “The story was motivated by journalistic interest, not his particular views on the subject.”

Grim’s story said President Bush is seeking a 31 percent funding hike for an anti-drug advertising campaign “that government-funded research shows is at best useless and at worst has increased drug use among some teens.” Riley calls the piece “totally slanted,” saying it fails to note that marijuana use among teenagers has declined over the last five years.

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According to FishbowlDC, Bruce Drake, the esteemed editor previously from NPR fame (who, incidently, hired me before the Politico turned into what it is now), is leaving his post:

FishbowlDC has learned that the Politico’s Managing Editor, Bruce Drake, is stepping down from that position, but will serve as a consultant for the Politico for at least a few months.

You’ll recall that Drake was hired during the “Capitol Leader” phase of the Politico and we’ve seen several people, including Marty Tolchin, take on revised roles in Politico World. It is likely that Drake’s new position within the organization is a similar revision.

It’s also likely that I resigned from the Politico as a result of the revised direction Jim VandeHei and John Harris have pushed the publication.

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We’d been hearing rumors that Washington Post politics/style writer Michael Powell, who had been shifted from his New York bureau chief position in recent weeks, was being wooed by the New York Times. Tired of behind-the-scenes talk, we asked him directly whether he’s a mover and/or a shaker.

“I move, but I’m in reasonably good shape, so hopefully not too much shaking,” he told BHDC this evening. ”I am going to the Times for purely personal reasons. I’ve been at the Post for ten years, covering the last days of Marion Barry (his decayed, Autumn of the Patriarch phase), and national politics and Neuva York and I’ve loved every minute of it. Great paper, great place to work.”

He added that he’s excited about going to the Times, and that there was no downside in working at the Post. Hmm, we’ve heard that a lot in recent weeks, right Jim VandeHei and John Harris?

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