Sen. Ed Kennedy led a pack of 20 Massachusetts politicos in penning a stern letter to New York Times chief Arthur Sulzberg, demanding – and even we don't believe it – that Pinch leave the Boston Globe's ranks alone. They're losing too many staffers, cry the officials. Which, and we're just using logic here, most politicians would be overjoyed with: Fewer muckrakers all up in their business trying to eek out a scandal or discover a conflict of interest. Not as many calls to return.

In a letter to Sulzberger, Kennedy and others said "a troubling pattern of disinvestment, downsizing, outsourcing and cost cutting has emerged" to damage the fabled paper.

"A shrinking news hole and the elimination of bureaus have stung the morale of employees facing in creased health care costs and wage freezes."

The group said "Boston Globe journalists have risked their lives and, in some cases, given their lives" to uphold "a long and storied tradition of excellence."

"What a terrible shame it would be if the premier brand in journalism - The New York Times Co. - was responsible for doing genuine harm to that tradition."

Sure, perhaps some of the politicians are frightened at the thought of losing close confidants who've been instrumental in leaking items about their opponents, but thanks to their criticism and yesterday's annoucement of a NYT Co. profit mudslide – from $23.1 million last quarter to the current $14 million, or a 39 percent dip – the company's stock slipped a couple points. We're not financial professionals or anything, but acting as a catalyst to destroy the Times' revenues doesn't seem like a sound gameplan to keep Globe staffers employed.

SULZBERGER SLAMMED AS PROFITS DROP 39% [Paul Tharp, NYP]