I'll skip to the bottom. I've been hearing NPR folks discuss this all day, many of them people who have worked closely with Williams. The preponderance of them are sorry NPR made this decision, and sorry to see this statement taken out of context, when the entire conversation does come across more level-headed. It is NPR's loss to have Williams gone. Shirley Sherrod's name has been invoked several times.

I suspect there is no un-saying those words, on the part of management, and I imagine they will be discussing how to approach these folks who have dual loyalties. For years Cokie Roberts has worked for NPR and ABC. And Maura Liason, she's another FOX and NPR one. And I'm sure there are more. Robert Crulwich, though he's mostly on the fringes now, has been in multiple news venues.

I don't like the FOX and NPR matchup, FOX has so little credibility. But I imagine the opportunity to bring intelligence to a low-brow audience is awfully tempting, plus the extra income. Trouble is, that job can come back to bite them.

SRS