If I was composing an article such as this (or any of these) for a news service like the AP, I'd be inclined to at least mention the Washington state election irregularities (prefaced with the standard "alleged") including, but not limited to: the special dispensation for the Democrats to knock on voters' doors to verify signature-rejected ballots, the later discoveries of unsecured and presumably mishandled ballots, and the registrations of voters to mailstops and storage facilities.
I might also mention the irregularity of enhancing/duplicating ballots by permanently altering them, after subjectively divining voter intent (they knocked on doors to verify signatures, why not these ballots, too?)
That these and so many other salient issues are absent from practically all "major media" articles and editorials about our gubernatorial election gets you thinking: SoundPolitics, and other bloggers, are finding enough substantive and glaring evidence, especially in King County, to raise significant suspicions. What we publish is immediately held to account, parsed by our opponents and allies alike, yet facts presented are easily validated via the same public source material we utilize.
The media's job, its very raison d'etre, is to be skeptical and diligent in pursuit of truth--all truth. Where are they now?
Take for example this quote:
Gov. Gary Locke said he strongly disagrees with Rossi's call for another election. "The people have voted, and all votes properly cast were counted," said Locke, a Democrat who's retiring after two terms.A brave reporter might have followed this with: "However, there is some question whether, also counted, were improperly cast votes," with details about Precinct 1823, the malfeasant, unqualified, duplicate, and dead voters, etc.
But this would require journalistic cynicism to be directed equally towards both political parties.
Another quote, this time from Washington's mewling ballot-thaumaturge:
State Democratic Party Chairman Paul Berendt said Rossi should either concede or "immediately present evidence showing he has legal grounds to challenge the election."Another glistening, perfect opportunity for the reporter to cast a wider net, and mention (with skeptical qualification, of course) what evidence has already been brought forward (see above-- or anywhere on this blog).
Our local media is acting more like a blind than a window.
(With much thanks to our ally Orbusmax.com, an incomparable clearinghouse of news from all over the Northwest.)
Posted by Brian Crouch at December 29, 2004 07:55 PM | Email ThisKing 5, KIRO, and The Seattle Times are all conducting surveys regarding a Rossi concession, a revote, and Who do we believe actually should be the Governor.....
Every survey result as of 9pm is favoring Rossi!
How are they going ignore their own survey results?
Posted by: Deborah on December 29, 2004 09:03 PMGet over it
Move On.
Posted by: Magnum Serpentine on December 29, 2004 09:19 PMStefan is not making one thin dime from all his hard work on this investigation, it's a passion, not a profession. The PI, the Times, even the Stranger, once their staff is off, they're off. Or at least, that's how it seems. They have no zeal to expose what doesn't enrich them or aggrandize them.
I once talked to a bored-looking reporter at the WAGOP (aka WSRP) convention. I went about diplomatically trying to discern his leanings, and we talked a lot about which candidates I admired, and why. Didn't get much reaction or curiosity, although he was the one asking questions. Then he asked about the big controversy with a dark horse candidate, and i said something that made his pen flash to his
notepad. When it ended up not being QUITE controversial enough, he stopped writing.
The reporter came there with an agenda, and was only going to quote what suited it.
It occurred to me at that moment what a filter the media can be: One has only to read a transcript of a press conference, then read the reportage on said conference, to see that we are only getting a parsed version of reality from the professionals.
Posted by: Bleeding heart conservative on December 29, 2004 09:27 PMBrian is right. The media, predictably, are not doing their job. Thank goodness for blogs like this one, where the work of the media gets done FOR them, when they refuse to do it. I noticed that they sure kept quiet about the fact that Democrat hand-counters got fired for cheating. They should have put that across page one and named names. What's up with these lazy papers?
Posted by: Michele on December 29, 2004 09:27 PMYes, that may be true. He failed to touch on the topic of the votes that were improperly cast.
No matter how this turns out, the really good news will be not having to look at him any longer.
The sad part is that if any Seattle news reporter really wanted to dig into this scandal, they'd likely end up being famous. If everything turned out honkey-dorey and nothing was amiss, what's the downside?
Posted by: Larry on December 29, 2004 09:34 PMSpeaking honestly, when is the last time YOU have read the newspaper or tuned into a local news show? I am having a hard time remembering the exact date for myself.
Posted by: Jonathan Gardner on December 29, 2004 09:48 PMhref=http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/005/087nhhbq.asp
Posted by: Jeff B. on December 29, 2004 10:03 PMOne both King and KIRO sites - you have to first click into the lead Rossi story to find the polls...
Actually...I may be mistaken about the KIRO poll - I believe it's on the home page on the left margin....
Posted by: Deborah on December 29, 2004 10:21 PMBecause Democrats are fearful of a real contest. Washington voters might show the Democrats who they really wanted for Governor, Rossi.
We had the Chicago Tribune, notably Republican (as Republican as a newspaper can be, at least), and the Chicago Sun-Times, famously Democratic.
Between the two there was competition, and you could count on investigative news reports on local events.
Here in Seattle, between the Times and the P-I...need I say more? It's the same news, packaged a little differently.
Capitalism (or lack thereof) at its finest - no competition, no results.
Posted by: Larry on December 29, 2004 10:28 PMThe hunger for alternative media in Puget Sound is why we have three conservative talk radio stations in town... and one national host, Michael Medved.
Posted by: Bleeding heart conservative on December 29, 2004 10:33 PMSeattle's newspapers are no longer
relevant. They are dinosaurs. Please stop reading them.
They are however good for use as packing material, lining bird cages, spray painting, etc.
End of Story
Get over it.
Move On
Posted by: Magnum Serpentine on December 30, 2004 07:50 AMIt is just an incredible shame how King 5 news is ignoring the results of yesterdays poll! Now granted, I did not catch the early morning news broadcast - but so far this noon - there has been absolutely NO mention of the results favoring Rossi!
So incredibly biased, unprofessional and predictible for this lame liberal leaning news broadcasting service....I am shaking my head in embarrassment for them....
Jean? Dennis? I'm switching to Fox News on channel 13.
Posted by: Deborah on December 30, 2004 12:58 PM