"Full page ads in the May 22nd issues of The New York Times and Wall Street Journal tell us that Merrill Lynch now offers 'A new standard for investment research. A new level of confidence for investors,'" James Welborn writes for TomPaine.com. As a result of an investigation by the New York Attorney General, Merrill Lynch is apologizing and paying a $100 million penalty for failing to address past conflicts of interest. "High-profile corporate apologies are back in the news.

"The widely publicized and highly orchestrated public relations campaign adopted by the Bush administration in this 'war on terrorism' is eerily reminiscent of the propaganda war waged during World War II," says Frank Mankiewicz, vice chairman of Hill and Knowlton (the PR firm that orchestrated the campaign to win public support for the war in the Persian Gulf).

The recent disclosure that President Bush received a general warning before Sept. 11 of possible hijackings prompted a firestorm of spin. Conservative pundits and politicians fought back on cue, showing impressive message-discipline as they argued in unison that criticism of the president amounts to treason in the face of terrorism. Democrats "need to be very cautious not to seek political advantage by making incendiary suggestions," said Vice President Dick Cheney (without specifying any "incendiary suggestions" that any Democrats had actually made).