Jim Murphy Versus Howie Kurtz, or, Mister Kurtz, he Dead

CBS Evening News Executive Producer Jim Murphy is talking smack about The Washington Post's Howard Kurtz, and if he isn't careful, frankly, my man Howie's going to find a "Reliable Source" (wink, wink) to be his second (is Bernie Kalb available?), repair to Weehauken, New Jersey, and square off in a duel with .56 caliber ancient pistols at the ready.

Quoth the saucy Murphy, via Romenesko Letters, that randiest of journo watering holes:

"The endless debate over how American politics are covered by domestic media gets another treatment in today's Howard Kurtz column in the Washington Post. And in the sidebar debate over television versus print as a source for comprehensive treatment, Howie comes down firmly on the side of print without ever saying so. But it's obvious in the subtext of Kurtz's report that he reached two conclusions from a selective viewing of the CBS Evening News reports about this year's issues called 'What Does It Mean To You?'"

Translation: Why you gotta be like that, Howie?

Read on and imagine, like I am now, a Barry Lyndon-like duel between the two media mavens.