For some time, ChronWatch has noted the tendency for the Chron to blur the lines between "news" and editorial opinon.

Carolyn Lochhead’s piece on Monday, “State of the Union puts squeeze on Bush”, appeared on the Chron’s front page and was a distinctly anti-Bush item. There was no pretence of providing balanced quotes or opinion. It was pure op-ed, and totally bash-Bush..

Then, on Wednesday Marc Sandalow returns to the Chron with one of his famous “Analysis” articles that is nothing more than “op-ed disguised as news.” Like Carolyn’s it is totally anti-Bush in content. Yet, this article serves as the headline item on the front page. Not only has Chron liberal op-ed made the front page, it is the headline item.

Of course, it is journalistically acceptable for the Chron to take any editorial position they choose, even if doing so turns off potential readers. However, I had always hoped that some level of standards would prevent editorial posture from totally invading the non-editorial sections of the paper. Carolyn and Marc have clearly violated that principle, and apparently it has editorial approval.

Further, how can we ever expect a non-biased article from either of these writers now that they have revealed their personal flagrant bias?

As a suggestion, why don’t you drop the pretence and just toss your traditional standards totally out the window. How about a front page consisting of Marc’s article, Wednesday’s fuzzy editorial on the speech, and Robert Scheer’s column? I mean, let’s go for broke. If we are to be liberal advocates, let’s not let fussy old journalistic standards get in our way. Like Cindy says, our problem is we are not being aggressive enough. Standards should take the back seat in our Bush eradication efforts.

Oh yes, I almost forgot. The sfgate.com page shows the picture of Bush speaking with the title "State of the Disunion," which links to the Sandalow piece. Liberal advocacy journalism has become the standard at the Chron, no doubt about it.

I would mention Mark Morford's column on the subject of Bush's speech, but it is already embarrassing enough that the Chron chooses to print it.