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News & ArtsThursday, April 16, 2009
Economy The Shame of Seattle Times
Posted by Charles Mudede on Thu, Apr 16, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Not the main story on the cover of NYT...
Not the main story even on WSJ...
Barely made it on the cover of USA Today...
But look at ST...
The tax protest nonsense is the main story on the cover. Why does our paper make something out of this total nothing? I can understand why Tacoma's News Tribune would feature it on its cover, but it is an embarrassment for our only daily paper, a paper for a city that is urban in its mood and mode, to pretend that these folksy tea/tax protests have a point that is in any way meaningful or related to the current economic crisis. In truth, in terms of substance, no distance exists between these protests and the raw hatred that was expressed at the McCain/Palin rallies.
1
Why?
Because Comrade Frank Blethen and his Prince hate taxes on the ultra-rich and the rich.
Need you ask?
Meanwhile 95 percent of American citizens got a TAX CUT and the top tax rate for the rich and the ultra-rich is still 10 PERCENT LOWER than it was under their god President Reagan.
Because Comrade Frank Blethen and his Prince hate taxes on the ultra-rich and the rich.
Need you ask?
Meanwhile 95 percent of American citizens got a TAX CUT and the top tax rate for the rich and the ultra-rich is still 10 PERCENT LOWER than it was under their god President Reagan.
4
For once I agree with your basic premise, Charles, but it seems a little disingenuous for you to act so surprised that a newspaper is out of touch. Hasn't the Stranger been harping incessantly lately on how newspapers are utterly moribund, passe, out of touch by definition? If the traditional news media is dying - and it is - then why be surprised that it isn't at its young and vigorous best?
But yes, these ridiculous little protests were indeed populated by the ignorant entitled, it seems, who didn't really even have any idea what they were protesting. They were a sad demonstration of ideology trumping reality and common sense, but not significant in scope or message.
But yes, these ridiculous little protests were indeed populated by the ignorant entitled, it seems, who didn't really even have any idea what they were protesting. They were a sad demonstration of ideology trumping reality and common sense, but not significant in scope or message.
5
Please learn to be gracious about dissent from the opposition. Certainly we gave you that courtesy for eight years.
6
While the Times is definitely no godsend, it's also pretty clear that these yahoos get attention.
While their protests aren't really about anything (outside of leaking vitriol) their antics are hilarious.
I've been reading all the news I can find on these idiots. I bet the Times sees a bunch of papers sell because of that cover.
Is the stranger not going to feature any of these teabaggers in it's next edition? That'd be kind of sad.
While their protests aren't really about anything (outside of leaking vitriol) their antics are hilarious.
I've been reading all the news I can find on these idiots. I bet the Times sees a bunch of papers sell because of that cover.
Is the stranger not going to feature any of these teabaggers in it's next edition? That'd be kind of sad.
7
Hm, most of these folks poured in from the suburbs and most of the readers of the Seattle Times are from the suburbs.
Play to your audience, I suppose!
Play to your audience, I suppose!
8
Poor Blethen! He and all of the other least productive section of the population have to pay more in taxes. Poor babies.
9
The notion that a protest against taxation without representation in the 1770s has anything to do with taxation at any level WITH REPRESENTATION today is a shameless lie, an attempt to spread the message the Obama/Democrats/us are illegitimate. Very shameless.
And btw very wussy of left to not be attacking them for this fundamental lie.
Ditto with this Texas secession motif. The underlying message is that somehow our current government is illegitimate. This notion needs to be attacked head on as a fundamental lie that's very unpatriotic.
Btw an honest use of 1770s tea motif would be if DC residents used tea party symbols in protest against their slavery, I mean their being second class citizens who are taxed with no representation.
Sadly, most Americans around the nation seem pretty okay with that, despite ostensibly being for equality and democracy and antiracist, etc.
And btw very wussy of left to not be attacking them for this fundamental lie.
Ditto with this Texas secession motif. The underlying message is that somehow our current government is illegitimate. This notion needs to be attacked head on as a fundamental lie that's very unpatriotic.
Btw an honest use of 1770s tea motif would be if DC residents used tea party symbols in protest against their slavery, I mean their being second class citizens who are taxed with no representation.
Sadly, most Americans around the nation seem pretty okay with that, despite ostensibly being for equality and democracy and antiracist, etc.
10
@5:
"Certainly we gave you that courtesy for eight years."
?!!????!!!1??
That statement goes beyond selective memory and into the realm of random text generation.
"Certainly we gave you that courtesy for eight years."
?!!????!!!1??
That statement goes beyond selective memory and into the realm of random text generation.
11
@5,
Right, like when you claimed that all liberals are child molesters, right, raindrop? You're so even handed, aren't you?
Right, like when you claimed that all liberals are child molesters, right, raindrop? You're so even handed, aren't you?
12
regardless of what FOX or the Seattle Times says, these WERE NOT, swing or mainstream voters. I agree with Charles, these were recycled right wingers who just want to have an excuse to rant against the prez and hold their silly anti goverment, anti-liberals and racist signs claiming Obama is not american. Same hateful people from the palin rallies.
13
You guys are idiots if you think Frank Blethen actually had anything to do with that story being on the front page. Jesus.
Thousands of local people were involved in those protests -- it seems like a reasonable front page story to me, especially considering all the flak you guys have been giving the Times about not featuring enough local news (compared to the old PI, e.g.). If it had been an anti-war protest with thousands of local people and they'd put it on the front page, would you be so incensed? Or are you just incensed about its placement because you disagreed with the point the protesters were making?
Incidentally, I also disagreed with the protesters' point and think they are all morons. But I still think it was a valid front page story.
Thousands of local people were involved in those protests -- it seems like a reasonable front page story to me, especially considering all the flak you guys have been giving the Times about not featuring enough local news (compared to the old PI, e.g.). If it had been an anti-war protest with thousands of local people and they'd put it on the front page, would you be so incensed? Or are you just incensed about its placement because you disagreed with the point the protesters were making?
Incidentally, I also disagreed with the protesters' point and think they are all morons. But I still think it was a valid front page story.
14
Oh man, raindrop.
Oh man.
I guess eight years of labeling your opponents as treasonous terrorist sympathizers just slides right off the ol' hippocampus, huh?
No, wait, dammit. Mustn't feed the trolls. You're just too fucking absurd to be real.
Oh man.
I guess eight years of labeling your opponents as treasonous terrorist sympathizers just slides right off the ol' hippocampus, huh?
No, wait, dammit. Mustn't feed the trolls. You're just too fucking absurd to be real.
15
Raindrop: If that is sarcasm, you are right on the money. If that is sincerity, you're a fucking idiot.
16
Um... well ST has the cover story but I've seen the most reporting on the Tea Party protests right here at the Stranger. If you are making comparisons to other news outlets what does that say about you?
17
Don't worry. The Times will be out of business soon. Good riddance! (there should be a sign that reads "Murdoch's Morons")
19
Charles this story would go good with why the Seattle Times is broke, when some guy came to my apartment trying to sell me the paper I laughed at him. People who live in Seattle don't read the times because of shit like this, we read the stranger or the weekly. They endorsed Rossi for governor, I don't see myself giving them money ever. The man wanted to let pharmacies, who are licensed by the state to give out medicine, the right to pick and choose what medicines they distribute. If you're a licensed pharmacist you should have to sell anything a doctor can prescribe, period, that's your purpose, reject whatever the fuck you want over the counter they don't need anymore rights.
20
@9 Not attacking? Every single left-leaning media outlet I've seen over the past few days has debunked the motives behind these protests, and more than a few have relentlessly mocked the folks participating.
I guess I'm just not sure what you mean by "not attacking"...I've seen a LOT of hostility from the left on this.
I guess I'm just not sure what you mean by "not attacking"...I've seen a LOT of hostility from the left on this.
21
The host of C-Span shows the covers of some other metropolitan newspapers:
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/04/16/jam…
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/04/16/jam…
22
I thought it was interesting when the reporter wrote something along the lines of, "The organizers told WSP that they expected 500 to show. About 10 times as many came." It struck me more as press release writing than independent and skeptical reporting. Not that I would expect anything else.
23
Please do not call that rag "ST". Those initials belong to Sound Transit. While many may want to continue debating the merits of transit here or there, please don't hang us up in the Times' baggage. How about we just call them the "Times". Thank you.
24
To sum up the teabaggers: We lost and it's not fair!
Just tell them: America, love it or leave it!
Ha!
Just tell them: America, love it or leave it!
Ha!
25
Would this be the same story that just took up a huge chunk of your blog below? And isn't this (effectively, since no one reads the rest of the site or paper) your front page? Good one!
26
@13:
Approximately 40,000 people attended another event downtown yesterday evening - by your reckoning THAT should have blasted this little "tempest in a tea-bag" right off the front page.
Approximately 40,000 people attended another event downtown yesterday evening - by your reckoning THAT should have blasted this little "tempest in a tea-bag" right off the front page.
27
Yes, we wouldn't want any news about anyone who disagrees with the groupthink here.
Now if that many people showed up for a gay-rights rally? Now that should be front-page news.
Now if that many people showed up for a gay-rights rally? Now that should be front-page news.
28
It IS an embarrassment for a city that is urban in its mood -- But sadly, it fits right into Seattletown.
Seattle is a town, not a city. It's a big town, sure -- but it ain't no city.
Seattle is a town, not a city. It's a big town, sure -- but it ain't no city.
29
That's exactly what I thought on when I scanned the newspaper headline at my bus stop. "Why would they put this irrelevant garbage on the front page?"
Followed by "If these assholes are really against government overspending WHERE HAVE THEY BEEN THE LAST 8 YEARS?"
Followed by "If these assholes are really against government overspending WHERE HAVE THEY BEEN THE LAST 8 YEARS?"
31
Why was there no giant front page pic and massive coverage of the Mariners?
Because the Comrade Socialists at the Seattle Times want Party Elites like Frank Blethen to live in their daschas.
Because the Comrade Socialists at the Seattle Times want Party Elites like Frank Blethen to live in their daschas.
32
@11: There you go telling lies about me Keshmeshi. I never claimed that liberals were child molesters. You just can't think of a more constructive thing to say.
@15: I'm always sincere.
@15: I'm always sincere.
33
28 FTW
Your premise is flawed.
Seattle is not nearly as hip and cool as you girls like to imagine.
It is pretentious and shallow and narrow-minded.
Frank is just what it deserves.
Your premise is flawed.
Seattle is not nearly as hip and cool as you girls like to imagine.
It is pretentious and shallow and narrow-minded.
Frank is just what it deserves.
34
@26 -- Do you mean the M's game? Sports doesn't need the front page -- it already gets an entire dedicated section of the newspaper. One of the only dedicated sections LEFT in the newspaper, actually! So, if that's what you meant, I think they've got that local event covered pretty well already.
36
Because the NYT and USA Today are hack tools of the Left.
Everyone has caught on to that by now and they no longer pretend otherwise.
Everyone has caught on to that by now and they no longer pretend otherwise.
38
So now the ST is as bad a sthe Spokesman Review...awesome.
Let's make the Stranger a daily. You'd own this town in a week.
Let's make the Stranger a daily. You'd own this town in a week.
39
#5:
Or when you branded all dissenters treasonous?
Or when you created special "free speech zones"?
Yeah, the right really championed the people's right to protest.
I don't only think you're wrong. I also think you're nuts. What is the nature of the "dissent" going on now? "Obama is a socialist because he's giving money to private corporations"?
"I—a moderate income-earner—object strenuously to the wealthy being taxed more than me, but less than they were under Reagan"?
"I don't believe we should have to pay taxes"?
"I don't think Obama should pour money into the economy to try to fix the problem my guy Bush got us into"?
Or when you branded all dissenters treasonous?
Or when you created special "free speech zones"?
Yeah, the right really championed the people's right to protest.
I don't only think you're wrong. I also think you're nuts. What is the nature of the "dissent" going on now? "Obama is a socialist because he's giving money to private corporations"?
"I—a moderate income-earner—object strenuously to the wealthy being taxed more than me, but less than they were under Reagan"?
"I don't believe we should have to pay taxes"?
"I don't think Obama should pour money into the economy to try to fix the problem my guy Bush got us into"?
40
@13: Thousands of people showed up for NorWesCon this past weekend; if that'd've been a front page story, I'd've been shocked.
41
Sadly (but not surprisingly) the same phenomena was seen in the San Diego Union-Tribune.
And considering the main protest was about 100 meters from the USMC base, and a couple of hundred meters from one of the dozens of companies dependent on government contracts in SD... well, no one ever accused these guys of discerning subtlety.
And considering the main protest was about 100 meters from the USMC base, and a couple of hundred meters from one of the dozens of companies dependent on government contracts in SD... well, no one ever accused these guys of discerning subtlety.
42
As much as I disagree with the sentiments expressed at these protests, I'm glad that the press is reporting on them. We need to get our media outlets back into the habit of caring about demonstrations.
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