February 20, 2009
— Gabriel Malor I have a funny feeling I forgot to do something this week.
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February 19, 2009
— Open Blog ”Free to a good home: One Seattle P-I street newspaper box in nearly mint condition. Hardly ever used. Please give this poor little guy a new lease on life.” (more about this below)
(Ace has been documenting the impending demise of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer as it continues its slow circling around the drain, preparing to exit this world as it passes on to newspaper Valhalla. IÂ’m not sure what date his posts were on, but if I can find them IÂ’ll tack them on for reference later.)
Here’s an update though, straight from the horse’s mouth: “Union Explores P-I Buyout Idea.”
”The union representing most Seattle P-I workers is scheduled to meet next week to discuss an employee buyout of the newspaper.”“The Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild is "trying to figure out if enough P-I employees are interested in a buyout that it would be worthwhile for us to bring out a consultant and to seek state money for a feasibility study," Guild Administrative Officer Liz Brown said.”
“The Hearst Corp. put the newspaper up for sale Jan. 9 and said it would quit printing the paper in 60 days, (faster please, -ed) perhaps maintaining an online-only P-I.”
“"If people are resigned to let the old girl die, then it isn't worth it," Brown said. "Some might even get angry at the idea, because they don't want their hopes raised."”
Of course thereÂ’s no possibility there might be a conflict of interest regarding a state government subsidizing a newspaperÂ’s efforts to stay afloat, right? Meanwhile, a listener to a local radio talk show sent the host a very sad e-mail and photograph regarding the little red newspaper box that couldnÂ’t. An excerpt:
””When I saw it from half-way across the misty and stinking shelter of the transfer station, I was frozen in a flight-or-fight moment, I could not act. I was mournful and ecstatic at the same time.””
This may only seem like a local story, from a far-off backwater most of you have never heard of, but this could quickly become pandemic, spreading like wildfire across the street corners of America. Where then will you turn for editorials and,Â…ummmÂ…coupon circulars? If you let that happen, then you will have the
(h/t to the Dori Monson Show)
Notice: Posted by permission of AceCorp LLC. Please e-mail overnight open thread tips to xgenghisx@gmail.com. Otherwise send tips to Ace.
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February 20, 2009
— Gabriel Malor It was a frankly unimaginable display of hubris for then-candidate Obama to take a victory lap through the Middle East and Europe this summer after he won the Democratic nomination. But he insisted that he was going to be a bridge-building president, who will "restore" America's image abroad. He told a crowd of thousands in Berlin that he was a "citizen of the world" and that he would break down the walls on either side of the Atlantic. The speech was entitled "A World that Stands as One."
He said:
Yes, there have been differences between America and Europe. No doubt, there will be differences in the future. But the burdens of global citizenship continue to bind us together. A change of leadership in Washington will not lift this burden. In this new century, Americans and Europeans alike will be required to do more - not less. Partnership and cooperation among nations is not a choice; it is the one way, the only way, to protect our common security and advance our common humanity.
They cheered and stupidly believed him. Here is the fruit of President Obama's popularity: Almost nothing.
US hopes of securing more troops for Afghanistan from its Nato allies were disappointed on Thursday as European countries refused to offer up many more soldiers despite pleas from Robert Gates, US defence secretary.At a two-day meeting of Nato defence ministers in the Polish city of Krakow, Mr Gates said the new US administration “is prepared to make additional commitments to Afghanistan. But there clearly will be expectations that the allies must do more as well”. [...]
The lacklustre response to US hopes for a more robust commitment from the allies came as the parliament in Kyrgyzstan voted overwhelmingly to evict the US from a military base that is a crucial transit hub for its forces in Afghanistan.
The step led Washington to accuse Moscow of hindering the war effort in Afghanistan by backing the closure of Manas, the only US military base in former Soviet central Asia. Kurmanbek Bakiyev, Kyrgyzstan’s president, announced plans to shut the base this month during a visit to Moscow, where he accepted a $2.1bn (€1.7bn, £1.5bn) Russian aid package.
Don't get me wrong. We have many welcome allies in this fight. For example, the UK, Canada, Poland, and even France and Germany have sent troops, though these latter two refused to allow their contributions to engage in combat. And don't forget Georgia, which had a damn good reason to call their troops home. They've all lost soldiers in the War on Terror and we praise their troops. The failure here is not their soldiers'. And it's not really their governments' either.
The failure is Obama's. Obama, who criticized President Bush for failing to get more support out of our European allies. Obama, who played Monday-morning quarterback to decisionmakers in Washington. Obama, who puffed himself up with cheap words. Obama, who led us to believe he could do better. He can't deliver.
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February 19, 2009
— Gabriel Malor To be honest, I expected them to roll over sooner than this. But they're standing by their cartoonist. Actually, they're going one further and giving the finger to their detractors.
But it has been taken as something else - as a depiction of President Obama, as a thinly veiled expression of racism.This most certainly was not its intent; to those who were offended by the image, we apologize.
However, there are some in the media and in public life who have had differences with The Post in the past - and they see the incident as an opportunity for payback.
To them, no apology is due.
Sometimes a cartoon is just a cartoon - even as the opportunists seek to make it something else.
Good for them. This is exactly the right response. Contrite towards the few (hypothetical) people that deserve it. And a firm fuck-off to everyone else. Sometimes a drawing of a chimpanzee is just a drawing of a chimpanzee. The crazy chimp lady story just happened to coincide with the creation of the spendulus. Personally, I think there should be more references to the infinite monkey theorem in daily life.
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February 20, 2009
— Gabriel Malor Huh. Just huh.
Editor and Publisher says that Vicki Iseman, who was defamed by the N.Y. Times at the height of the presidential campaign has settled. Iseman sued the newspaper for $27 million dollars after it claimed that she had an "improper relationship" with John McCain.
What'd she settle for?
The settlement, which does not include any payment, retraction or apology from the Gray Lady, includes an agreement for the Times to post an online Op-Ed from Iseman's attorneys. Executive Editor Bill Keller will counter with his own Web essay.Washington Bureau Chief Dean Baquet told staffers in a memo Thursday that the settlement essentially vindicates the Times' reporting, noting to them that "We paid no money. We did not apologize. We did not retract one word of the story, which was a compelling chapter in the tale of Senator John McCain and his political rise."
Talk about a fizzle. Click over to read Baquet's crowing letter to staffers about the "deep reporting, dozens of interviews and an abundance of caution" that led to the original article on Iseman's romantic connection to McCain.
Next-day Bump: The statement from Iseman's lawyers is here. A joint statement from the parties is here. Bill Keller's response is here.
It seems the center of their dispute and the reason they settled is because of the good old N.Y. Times v. Sullivan defamation standard.
Related: Okay, not really related to Iseman, but still connected. The N.Y. Times has suspended dividends on its securities. Arthur Sulzberger, Jr. cites the need for "financial flexibility" and an "uncertain business outlook."
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February 19, 2009
— Dave in Texas Gonna refocus on his "newly formed strategic communications business".
Strategic is better.
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— DrewM Remember the American and Israel hatefest known as UN World Conference Against Racism held in Durban in 2001? Even Colin Powell found it so noxious that he was forced to pull the US delegation out in disgust.
Well, like a disease that anti-biotics can treat but not cure, the usual cretins are back for more.
Unfortunately, so is the US. The Obama administration decided to participate in the preparatory meetings supposedly to help improve the final product. Alas, when push is coming to shove, they are acquiescing to evil by not speaking in favor of language about the Holocaust (surprise! Iran objected) or against efforts to single out Israel as a racist state (this was offered by some country called "Palestine" which I've never heard of).
As Anne Bayefsky writes at NRO
What is more visible is that the U.S. has little to gain for itself — or for global human rights — from participating. Under the consensus rule, many important suggestions have gone unadopted. A proposal to condemn human-rights violations based on sexual orientation ran into immediate objections from South Africa, Syria, Algeria, Iran, Botswana, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Morocco, Holy See, Libya, Egypt, and China. Pakistan said no to a provision that sought to make violence against women and children a criminal offence. Iran balked at a call for states to promote gender equality, and at a suggestion to ensure that the concept of multiculturalism is not used to infringe human rights.U.S. strategy is evidently to announce the United States participated actively in the planning session, made proposals, and was given a warm welcome. Continuing efforts to improve the final result, it will be argued, are therefore warranted. The pace is sufficiently slow that this refrain will be repeated until it is so late in the day that walking out would cause a major diplomatic furor, which will in turn be used to justify attendance at the Conference itself. Obama’s hunger for engagement, in and of itself, is apparently his first priority. Israel is way down on the list and and American first principles are now subject to discussion.
There's much more at the link.
It's going to be a long 4 years.
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01:24 PM
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— DrewM Just wrapping up on all the cable networks.
No word yet on whether or not Obama's first appearance in a foreign country as President has led to that country asking for admittance to the union.
Stand by for a rundown.
The newness is showing - the president began his remarks with, "It's a great pleasure to be here in Iowa - Ottawa."
But as silly school girl Kathleen Parker tells us, Obama is preternaturally calm and unflappable. Since he never gets nervous, one can only surmise he's an idiot (at least that's how Bush would be portrayed).
(Thanks to Robert_Paulson in the comments for the link).
Ummm...Obama just thanked the Canadians who came to the US to campaign for him. How many donated money to the cause Barack? Jebus what an idiot. (see the 3:31 entry from the White House liveblog)
Shocker! As of 4:17est the AP story on the press conference doesn't mention the Iowa/Ottawa gaffe. To paraphrase Chief Brody, you're gonna need a bigger memory hole.
For the record, I don't think it's a big or even little deal. It's just the clear double standard I find so amusing/annoying.
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11:21 AM
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— DrewM This isn't really a national story but it's so absurd and fits in so nicely with the general disgust with government many of us are feeling (and not enough people share yet), I thought I'd post it.
Gov. David Paterson's proposals to tax non-diet soda, iTunes downloads and even haircuts are well known by now. But did you know he wants to tax your tax filings, too?Tucked into the governor's 2009-2010 budget proposal is a plan to levy a $10 fee for income taxes that are filed on paper rather than electronically. State budget officials believe the paper filing fee could generate $6.8 million during the next fiscal year.
This is why NY, The Empire State (heh), is dying.
You aren't a citizen in the eyes of the governing class, you are simply either a dependent of the state or a revenue stream.
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— Dave in Texas Deadlock broken?
Seems to be.
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10:20 AM
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