Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Politics Disinformation
Posted by Eli Sanders on Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 8:05 AM
This morning, Governor Gregoire's office answered yesterday's questions and speculation about her whereabouts:
The governor is visiting Iraq with a delegation including Governors John Corzine (D-NJ) and Rick Perry (R-TX).
Ok. I get the need for secrecy about trips to Iraq by U.S. elected leaders, but let's just replay part of the interview I had yesterday afternoon with Laura Lockard, spokesperson for Gov. Christine Gregoire, after news came that Gregoire had mysteriously disappeared:
Q: Is she going to continue as Governor of Washington State?A: "I’m not allowed to say.”
I don't see how it would have compromised the governor's security for Lockard to have confirmed that yes, Gregoire plans to continue serving out her term. Lockard even sent, when I asked for it, the legal chapter-and-verse on who would succeed Gregoire if she were to resign and, say, take a post in the Obama administration. (Lt. Gov. Brad Owen.)
Again, I get the need for secrecy in this situation. I also get the perils of speculation. But there are ways to waive reporters off certain lines of questioning without giving away the true answer. Poorly played.
1
I don't get the need for secrecy.
6 years, trillions of dollars, and our officials still have to disappear themselves in order to safely be in Iraq!>!?!
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME
epic, epic failure
6 years, trillions of dollars, and our officials still have to disappear themselves in order to safely be in Iraq!>!?!
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME
epic, epic failure
2
Thanks for buying into the hype machine, Eli.
3
Pwnage makes you huffy!
4
BICYCLISTS DERAIL SLUT!!
by Eli Sanders
5
I'm not convinced. I bet she's going to be our new Secretary of Iraq.
6
Maybe Lockhart thought the governor might get killed by an IED or something.
You know, just because she is in Iraq doesn't mean that there isn't also a larger announcement coming. (just to fan the flames of empty excitement a little longer)
You know, just because she is in Iraq doesn't mean that there isn't also a larger announcement coming. (just to fan the flames of empty excitement a little longer)
7
Boy, that Dino guy sure would'a been pissed if after all that, she just went "nah".
8
I don't necessarily disagree with you Eli, but I imagine her press team was just having a bit of fun with all the intrigue...no biggie.
9
The only thing played was you, Eli. The spokeswoman gave you one piece of valid info - that the gov was out-of-state. The rest was your imagination.
10
I called it after the first article!
11
Eli got played. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. Guess those applications with the PI and Times won't get calls back after all.
12
OH Eli - it is the BIG world - media folk have no obligation to bare thier souls to you three times a week.
By the way, the Gov. press gang had more than fun, they helped generate 10 million inches of free media - all pointed to a good flag waving positive outcome.
So, who is stupid?
By the way, the Gov. press gang had more than fun, they helped generate 10 million inches of free media - all pointed to a good flag waving positive outcome.
So, who is stupid?
13
Eli, you're funny.
14
My guess: flew to DC for an interview, not hired, then off on a face-saving trip to Iraq.
Hey, and don't single out Eli-- KOMO thought they had the story of the century at six this morning. And while the guv's office doesn't owe the media an explanation for everything, they don't need to be playing dumb-ass shell games either.
Hey, and don't single out Eli-- KOMO thought they had the story of the century at six this morning. And while the guv's office doesn't owe the media an explanation for everything, they don't need to be playing dumb-ass shell games either.
15
Poorly played, indeed, Eli.
The Stranger ran with the following facts:
Gregoire is out of town, and Bill Richardson's nomination for Sec of Commerce went down in flames.
That's all you had, right? Everything else was your imagination.
The Stranger ran with the following facts:
Gregoire is out of town, and Bill Richardson's nomination for Sec of Commerce went down in flames.
That's all you had, right? Everything else was your imagination.
16
I'm really embarrassed for you on this one, Eli
17
She was just doing her job: She wasn't allowed to comment at all, so she didn't, even to your inane question. So since she gave you nothing to go on, you felt the need to make it up.
Suck it up and say it loud and proud, Eli: You fucked up. Bigtime.
Suck it up and say it loud and proud, Eli: You fucked up. Bigtime.
18
poorly played? you're actually trying to blame them for your stupid "reporting?"
poorly played? you're actually trying to blame them for your stupid "reporting?"
19
Y'all are dogpiling. Pretty vicious for morning, are people tired of the snow and drunk early?
Check the quote again: "Q :Is she going to continue as governor of Washington State? A :I'm not allowed to say." THAT'S someone playing a game.
Check the quote again: "Q :Is she going to continue as governor of Washington State? A :I'm not allowed to say." THAT'S someone playing a game.
20
Slog is vicious. Most everyone is so pointlessly negative and contrarian, I don't know why you guys bother blogging for this audience. It would be less punishing to get kicked in the face every day.
21
Seriously. It's a few hours worth of blog posts in the downtimes- it's not like the speculation was run on the front page of anything. Why is everyone so worked up about Eli being wrong?
22
Just the latest in a string of highly visible Slog failures. Who's running the show over there anyway?
23
@21 - "Why is everyone so worked up about Eli being wrong?"
Two reasons:
1) The Stranger strives to be seen as a legitimate news source, while at the same time having fun with wild speculations. I think speculating is fun, but I wouldn't want CNN to do it.
2) Eli is trying to blame Gregoire's office, when "No Comment" was the legitimate and correct answer to all of his questions.
Two reasons:
1) The Stranger strives to be seen as a legitimate news source, while at the same time having fun with wild speculations. I think speculating is fun, but I wouldn't want CNN to do it.
2) Eli is trying to blame Gregoire's office, when "No Comment" was the legitimate and correct answer to all of his questions.
24
@19 - Grant, you're absolutely right. After rereading the statement, "I'm not allowed to say," it is clear as crystal that the Gov's spokesperson was implying that Gregoire is to be named Secretary of Commerce. You just have to read between the lines. Eli, you're clean. Job well done.
25
Actually, very well played. The govenor's office took a relatively prosaic foreign trip and turned it into frenzy of reporting on her possible great destinies. I'd say you guys were played to the hilt, and it's mostly you to blame.
26
Whine, whine, whine.
Small time editorial policy.
The Gov. staff was under strict rules from the Army. NOT as word, means NOT a word... remember they have guns ...
Sorry Eli, sucking up doesn't always work. Try sucking on for the next round ....
By the way - did Army vet hubby go along?
Small time editorial policy.
The Gov. staff was under strict rules from the Army. NOT as word, means NOT a word... remember they have guns ...
Sorry Eli, sucking up doesn't always work. Try sucking on for the next round ....
By the way - did Army vet hubby go along?
27
Fuck that!
They said "I'm not allowed to say."
If they were simply just "having fun" with the Stranger, then fine...funny, but if they were trying to mislead the public which is what it seems like, then that is total bullshit. People are thinking someone more conservative than Rossi (really Brad Owen is) is going to be taking over as Governor without an election until November.
They said "I'm not allowed to say."
If they were simply just "having fun" with the Stranger, then fine...funny, but if they were trying to mislead the public which is what it seems like, then that is total bullshit. People are thinking someone more conservative than Rossi (really Brad Owen is) is going to be taking over as Governor without an election until November.
28
Can we start an investigation into this deception by the Governor's office? Maybe appoint a committee to report back.
29
I liked it better when the newly elected POTUS was a Republican and we didn't have to deal with the local media jumping at every shadow, every out-of-town elected official, in the hopes that someone they have spoken with personally may be appointed to the Cabinet. Eli, put away the crystal ball and just chill. All will be revealed in time. You'll be one the first million people to know.
30
OK, so let's say the flunky confirmed that Gregoire would indeed be serving out the rest of her term.
What, then, would be your next guess as to her whereabouts?
Yeah. That's why they refused to answer the question, fool.
What, then, would be your next guess as to her whereabouts?
Yeah. That's why they refused to answer the question, fool.
31
waive = wave:
Or is one misunderstanding the context of waiving/waving reporters off? Maybe "shoo off" would have been a better choice.
Christine? probably now measuring the drapes for the Embassy to the Court of St. James
Or is one misunderstanding the context of waiving/waving reporters off? Maybe "shoo off" would have been a better choice.
Christine? probably now measuring the drapes for the Embassy to the Court of St. James
32
She's the governor of this state. Got a problem with SLOG asking questions? Too bad. It's not like anyone else here called them up to ask where she was. You could have saved time by not commenting at all if you didn't care where she was.
33
@32 - Do you see anyone on this string giving SLOG a hard time for "asking questions?" No. The criticism is over SLOG's starry-eyed speculation in the absence of more information.
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