August 22, 2005
P-I in race to bottom with horse's bottom

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer now recognizes that competition exists from alternative media

"We have a very direct and very vigorous editorial competition with The Seattle Times," McCumber said. "But today, what we're really competing with is a huge range of media that's out there, competing for people's time and interest."
Is the P-I competing by engaging in more investigative reporting and hard-hitting analysis? Not exactly. The P-I is merely in a struggle to follow in the horseproduct-caked shoes of Seattle's favorite left-wing fiction blog, hitting hard on a fabricated non-issue that is of interest only to the lunatic fringe. Victor Ganzi, call your office.

Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at August 22, 2005 12:51 PM | Email This
Comments
1. Has the P-I reported this editorial as an in-kind contribution to the Sims campaign...?

Posted by: Patrick on August 22, 2005 01:45 PM
2. Yes, regardless of whether or not Irons wins, the Gas Tax repeal will still pass.

This is just left rhetoric designed to put pressure on Irons. If Irons loses, it won't be because he's not the better candidate, but because there are a lot of lock-step, mindless Democrats who will vote for Sims regardless of how much evidence emerges that he's just another corrupt politician.

The fools that write this stuff are the same people that think they are winning hearts and minds with Cindy Sheehan.

Posted by: Jeff B. on August 22, 2005 01:49 PM
3. Horseproduct aside, watching MSM come to grips with the IT immediacy of information as well as the scrutiny of the blog industry is going to be interesting..and probably fun.
The information (and busines) models are changing and I'm not sure anyone knows where it will end.


Posted by: Danno on August 22, 2005 01:51 PM
4. With gas prices going up, we will be getting to the cutoff point where people will start doubling up when they go to work. There will be no need to jump into these expensive and bloated projects.

We can sit back and get the answers I need- why the emergency legislation and why can't we reduce construction costs by 20% as a goal.

Posted by: swatter on August 22, 2005 02:30 PM
5. "Seattle Post-Intelligencer Publisher and Editor Roger Oglesby announced two changes in newsroom leadership Friday."

"We are pleased to announce that the emergency deckchair rearrangement has been successfully completed, and now it's smooth sailing from here on in"....

Posted by: alphabet soup on August 22, 2005 03:32 PM
6. The PI quotes Irons press release as:

"In principle, I believe all major tax increases should go to a vote of the people. Personally I am voting no on Initiative 912."

OK if he truly believes this, did he in fact sign I-912 so this "major tax increase" could "go to a vote of the people".
I want an answer from him or his people on this and won't give up until I get one.

If he did sign it then I'll believe this press release and will probably still vote for him despite this evidence of poor judgement. If he didn't then it's just a song and dance to duck the issue and I'll be sitting this one out. We got tax to the max already, don't need someone else with that mentality.

Anyway ain't no one but Sims ever gonna win an election in King County until control of the election office is administered from outside the County or we eventually get an elected Auditor.

Posted by: Finney on August 22, 2005 03:37 PM
7. I know the P-I editorial board is a little slow, so I'll put the argument in terms they can understand.

There are two principles here...one is that tax increases like this should go to the people (a policy question) and the other is that he supports the tax (a personal preference.)

Still not clear? Think in these terms..."While I do not personally support abortion, I recognize a woman's right to choose."

Posted by: South County on August 22, 2005 04:13 PM
8. Biteme, when are you gonna quit huffing spray paint? You should be afraid of what you are!

Posted by: alphabet soup on August 22, 2005 04:14 PM
9. Aw shucks, Stefan... I know how hard it is for you to express your feelings, so thanks for congratulating me on my little media outreach success. If you ever want any PR tips, just ask.

Anway... a "non-issue?" So Stefan, you don't think King County voters deserve to know where Dave Irons stands on an initiative that would have a huge impact on the executive's ability to address our county's critical transportation needs?

Posted by: David Goldstein on August 22, 2005 06:25 PM
10. David Goldstein,
You are so funny. What a witty guy.
And it's not just King County voters that are paying attention to this race.

Posted by: cc on August 22, 2005 06:39 PM
11. South County,

I don't think your analogy holds. There is a gaping chasm of difference between holding an ideological view while advocating people's right to vote about it verses holding a n ideological view but voring yourself agianst that view.

In dave Iron's example, he actually has more integrity by saying he supports something, but rahter than believing he should force that view down our throats and then trying to prevent us from responding by assinging it as an emergency, he instead states what he beleives is right from his understanding nad then presenting that case to the voters to let them decide if they agree. How much more honest do you want a politician to get? "I'm your represntative, and I'll let you know what I think, but I'll only do it if you agree and vote on it." If you want an idealogue who doesn't listen to the people, then DON'T vote for Irons. *sigh*

Contrast that with some New England politician who SAYS he believes abortion is mrally reprehensible but will work hard AGAINST the will of the people to isure that that very reprehensible act is protected at every level, in every instance. That is the measure of the LACK of integrity. In this case, he is violating his own stated conscience AND trying to force that "violated" belief onto others.

Posted by: Eyago on August 22, 2005 08:04 PM
12. Actually that analogy was aimed at the P-I...I think that Iron's position could be principled. Those who find no dispute with the Kerrys of the world have no grounds for criticizing Irons.

Posted by: South County on August 22, 2005 08:44 PM
13. I can't put words into Iron's mouth, but this could be an incredibly principled position. It could also be a way to straddle the issue, but I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.


There is no way to build a case that..."While I do not personally support abortion, I recognize a woman's right to choose," is a principled position. It's the opposite of a principled position.


I want the P-I to explain why they can swallow one, but choke on the other. I know the answer, but they will sound very foolish trying to justify it.

Posted by: South County on August 22, 2005 08:51 PM
14. Sure there's vigorous competition between the P-I and the Times. It's a competition for total mediocrity and irrelevance. Both papers are beyond tiresome.

The P-I is so far to the left they seem to be talking in tongues. You see individual words on the page that you recognize but put together it's just gibberish.

I haven't been able to finish reading a Times editorial in years. It feels like 5 pound weights are attached to your eyelids. You are sucked into a world of such stifling banality you almost start looking around for the hemlock.

And don't get me started on those whining, snivelling ads the Times has been running about how there is only 5 major media chains left and that one might gobble up the poor (or is that broke)little Seattle Times.
Hallelujah! If only it would happen!

Posted by: Bill K. on August 22, 2005 10:25 PM
15. Bill K.,

Very well put.

Now what the Left has left is Horsesass. What a toilet. Suits them.

Posted by: Amused by liberals on August 23, 2005 08:56 AM
16. Goldstien the censor -

Your litle "PR stunt" only confirms the liberal bias in teh media. Thanks.

Posted by: pbj on August 23, 2005 10:04 AM
17. He shall simply be known as "Goldstain". Think about it, then laugh.

Posted by: Sailor Republica on August 23, 2005 10:28 AM
18. Irons IS principled and I'm not at all surprised that the PI doesn't "get it." Irons can win if we work now to get his word out. I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, but I'm going to say it again away: we all need to send Irons money so he can compete with the media blitz that Sim's is planning. You want Irons? Help him get elected by sending him a check...NOW. We can win if we push hard to let everyone know who Irons is - principled, hard working and more integrity in his little finger than Sim's has in his whole body! Donate and it will come back many fold in the form of good government. We deserve Irons, let's make it happen.

Posted by: Jenny on August 23, 2005 10:51 AM
19. Lt Davidov Goldstienikov of the politburo of progressive propaganda and political punditry.

Posted by: pbj on August 23, 2005 11:46 AM
20. Shark, how exactly does wanting to know where a candidate who would want to run King County stands on I-912 makes me a lunatic, or part of any fringe group?

Irons still hasn’t addressed why he plans to vote against I-912. Is he so cowardly that he can’t stand behind his vote with an explanation of why, however little he thinks of the transportation package, he thinks less of the initiative that would kill it? Is he afraid that by actually having to explain his vote he would have to phase his position in such a way that explicitly comes out against the arguments I-912 proponents are making?

The fact is he IS explicitly doing so, whether he wants to speak the words or not. David Irons knows we need the money and that the alternatives are not out there. He realizes that our infrastructure is in dire need of attention and that the funds are not there to address these needs. He realizes that despite the shortcomings of the legislation, the transportation package is the result of bipartisan negotiating and represents the interests of as many people as possible. He realizes that despite what people may feel about unrelated events, such as the Governor election outcome, voting for I-912 is not how we should be communicating “messages” to the legislature.

Posted by: Daniel K on August 23, 2005 01:01 PM
21. Daniel K -- Irons' position on I-912 is irrelevant, as is Sims'. Neither of these guys, nor any other county candidate, is going to have significant influence one way or another on the I-912 vote.

The only people who care about this non-issue are those who like both Ron Sims and the gas tax and are desperately looking for cheap stunts to change the subject of the County Executive away from Ron Sims' innumerable failures.

Posted by: Stefan Sharkansky on August 23, 2005 01:09 PM
22. Stefan - I've got to disagree with you that where Sims or Irons stand on I-912 is irrelevant. We all know the huge impact passage of I-912 would have on funding transportation projects in and around King County (as well as other counties), which will have a direct consequence on just what projects can be addressed. People like Irons and Sims are in a position to influence voters about, in this case, their shared view that I-912 is bad for King County and Washington state. Taking a position on such an important issue and voicing it clearly is an act of leadership. Not doing so is an act of cowardice.

Posted by: Daniel K on August 23, 2005 01:33 PM
Post a comment
Name:


Email Address:


URL:


Comments:


Remember info?