Slog
News & ArtsFriday, July 6, 2012
Politics / Media I Don't Know Joni Balter Well Enough to Accuse Her of Being an "Abrasive Presence"
Posted by Goldy on Fri, Jul 6, 2012 at 5:04 PM
Been busy with SECB interviews so I'm kinda late to it, but I just wanted to take a moment to offer some comments on Joni Balter's blog post earlier this week about the incident where Attorney General Rob McKenna attempted to have me physically blocked from attending a press conference:
On Monday, Sytman said in an interview that he wanted to talk to Goldstein first about not disrupting the event. Goldstein can be, shall we say, an abrasive presence.
I waited patiently in the outer lobby for Sytman to talk to me, and the one time he showed his face he just brushed me aside. If Joni was a better journalist than I am, she might have called to ask me for my side of the story.
As for the "abrasive presence" line, I believe Balter and I have spoken face to face, shall we say, exactly once (at Joel Connelly's Christmas party in 2005). I don't remember ever seeing her at a press conference. That's not much to go on. So I presume she collected plenty of anecdotes about my "abrasive presence" before tossing it out there as conventional wisdom.
I can be an abrasive writer, sure, but in person I'm generally rather affable and respectful. So I'm not sure what Joni is referring to.
Sytman said he needed some extra time to talk to Goldstein. Sytman says Goldstein dominated and disrupted a media conference call with an assistant attorney general about a year ago.
That's a serious allegation, so I suppose Sytman must have a recording of that conference call to back him up (Dominic has twice asked if there's a recording, but Sytman has refused to answer). I'm guessing Joni must have insisted on listening to this recording instead of just credulously reporting Sytman's characterization. I mean, she's a reporter now, not an opinion writer, right?
I do recall asking a question and followup during Q&A, and I vaguely remember feeling that I had fumbled it, but I'm not sure how one "dominates" a conference call. There's a mute button, right? And they could always hang up on me. And, I'd hope that had I crossed some line or violated some unwritten code of journalism etiquette, somebody might have mentioned it to me at the time. They didn't. First I'd heard of it was in Joni's post. So quite honestly I'm absolutely floored by the accusation.
In any case, Goldstein eventually was admitted — before the attorney general began speaking, Sytman says. Goldstein asked no questions, I have been told, and left. But a question remains about the handling of someone who, by most accounts, had a right to be at the news conference from the beginning.
And what exactly is that question, Joni? Because by asking it, you seem to be suggesting that there actually is a legitimate question of whether or not I had a right to be admitted. Which seems to be an odd question for a journalist to ask.
Huh. No doubt I've pissed off some of my colleagues by critiquing their work (as if media criticism isn't a legitimate exercise), but I thought I'd see a bit more solidarity on such a crucial issue of press freedom.
2
Well, on the one hand, you have already posted an online summation of your side of the story, mentioning the conversations Sytman is talking about and the conference call. Balter did direct people to your post.
It would have been better for her to summarize your points in her own piece so readers could get both sides without having to click through to another article... but she did provide them access to your side of things.
That said, the presence argument... well, we do live in a digital age. Your presence extends beyond what you say and do in person. I'm sure Ms. Balter and her peers at the Times get sick of being called credulous hacks and assume every time you frown that you're taking mental notes about something snide to say. You could just be having trouble digesting something, but in their head you're plotting your next rant.
Either way, your story got some more coverage. Woo!
It would have been better for her to summarize your points in her own piece so readers could get both sides without having to click through to another article... but she did provide them access to your side of things.
That said, the presence argument... well, we do live in a digital age. Your presence extends beyond what you say and do in person. I'm sure Ms. Balter and her peers at the Times get sick of being called credulous hacks and assume every time you frown that you're taking mental notes about something snide to say. You could just be having trouble digesting something, but in their head you're plotting your next rant.
Either way, your story got some more coverage. Woo!
4
Of course you're just going to reply with something incredibly self-serving like "Of course people who hold others accountable are abrasive!" or "Of course people who tell uncomfortable truths are abrasive!"
No.
Plenty of people are the above, VIRTUOUS things that don't get treated like you do. Want to know why you're actually special? It's because you are a preening, fatuous, insufferable cock.
No.
Plenty of people are the above, VIRTUOUS things that don't get treated like you do. Want to know why you're actually special? It's because you are a preening, fatuous, insufferable cock.
5
I'd say you are certainly a journalist, as you are living the dream of every journalist since Woodward & Bernstein - YOU ARE THE STORY! Finally, after all those years about talking about the people who actually do things, people are talking about you. You've made it, Goldy.
BTW: How's the screenplay coming along?
BTW: How's the screenplay coming along?
6
In this day of rewriting press releases and regurgitating press statements, we apparently find actual journalism abrasive
I say we could use more abrasive journalists asking hard questions and holding out for actual answers.
I say we could use more abrasive journalists asking hard questions and holding out for actual answers.
7
She wrote, "But a question remains about the handling of someone who, by most accounts, had a right to be at the news conference from the beginning."
It's very clear she's saying that the question is about how McKenna's crew mishandled it, not a question about your right to be there. Stop playing the victim.
It's very clear she's saying that the question is about how McKenna's crew mishandled it, not a question about your right to be there. Stop playing the victim.
8
@7 What about the "by most accounts"? By what accounts did he not have a right to be there? Is even McKenna still arguing that Goldy didn't have a right to be there?
9
Balter... Balter? Doesn't ring a bell, I don't think I've ever read anything she's written. Is she one of those interns the Stranger uses for a season and then buries in shallow graves in Volunteer Park?
10
Joni is just peeved that we don't love her.
Even if she IS the reason why demand for recycled material went up so much.
Even if she IS the reason why demand for recycled material went up so much.
11
so, mr professional journalist.
did you get Joni's side of the story before farting out this whiny screed?
we don't see any comments from her here.....
did you get Joni's side of the story before farting out this whiny screed?
we don't see any comments from her here.....
12
Maybe you should stop calling the writers at the times morons and idiots and I bet they'll stop calling you abrasive.
14
I'm unclear why being abrasive is a negative in a journalist. Journalist should get under the skin of politicians and others in power. Otherwise they're not really doing their job.
16
I just was handed this webcam video of Goldy entering the McKenna headquarters...speaks for itself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l2hwkqmH…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l2hwkqmH…
19
It makes me sad that Goldy thinks he even needs to respond to Joni Balter. Is she even technically a "journalist"?
20
So we went from toilet seats to dog asses in shopping carts to Ted Nugent claiming to poop his pants for a week to avoid Vietnam to what is, by most accounts, a huge steaming pile of Baltershit.
Fecal Friday flourishes.
Fecal Friday flourishes.
21
Joni Balter..... Isn't she the society reporter for the Times? Or is she the one who edits the ladies section?
24
As a journalist, its your job to ask the hard questions and print what the corporations and powerful don't want revealed. Any less and you're just carrying water for them.
Keep up the good work.
Keep up the good work.
25
"Abrasive presence" is putting it politely. Insufferable self-righteous sniveling prick would be more accurate.
Goldstein starts "horsesass.com" writes under a pseudonym and wonders why he is not taken seriously. He needs to crawl back beneath whatever East Coast rock he came from under. Then he can reunite with his fellow vermin in marxist bliss.
Please take Mudede with you.
Goldstein starts "horsesass.com" writes under a pseudonym and wonders why he is not taken seriously. He needs to crawl back beneath whatever East Coast rock he came from under. Then he can reunite with his fellow vermin in marxist bliss.
Please take Mudede with you.
27
Oh, "busy." Right. With all your important endorsement interviews, you've only had the time to churn out 3 or 4 posts per day about this same old boring and fucking ridiculous issue. Get busier, please, you insufferable partisan hack prick.
28
@25 It's "horsesass.org, not .com, and "Goldy" isn't a pseudonym, it's a nickname. Most of my friends and family call me "Goldy". I never hid my identity.
30
I understand initially posting an article and follow up on this subject, McMenna was a jackass, but it's getting fairly abrasive at this point to have to see them when I check out Slog. The horse died and is now decomposing.
31
Goldy,
Let's face it - you cut your teeth calling public figures "pig fuckers" and "horse's asses". Both terms (and worse) were and are well-deserved. On the other hand, they were well outside the accepted form of mainstream public discourse (again - not judging, loved it myself). You're branded, pal. Here's a tip for the betterment of The Stranger: send Holden instead. See if he gets the same treatment. So far (unfortunately) you're headed for the same fringe-land of barely symathetic rebuffs as that "Kurt Cobain Was Murdered" guy.
Let's face it - you cut your teeth calling public figures "pig fuckers" and "horse's asses". Both terms (and worse) were and are well-deserved. On the other hand, they were well outside the accepted form of mainstream public discourse (again - not judging, loved it myself). You're branded, pal. Here's a tip for the betterment of The Stranger: send Holden instead. See if he gets the same treatment. So far (unfortunately) you're headed for the same fringe-land of barely symathetic rebuffs as that "Kurt Cobain Was Murdered" guy.
32
I listen to KUOW at 10 a.m. Fridays for the rehash of the week's news. I find Eli Sanders informed and engaging. Knute Berger is the resident curmugeon, pretty much negative on everything. Joni is just annoying. She reminds me of NPR's Cokie Roberts: a totally standard mainstream consensus opinion on every subject, and a sour personality to boot. And she has to contribute a lame aside at every available opportunity. I thought when they kicked her off the ST editorial board, she'd disappear from KUOW, but no such luck...
33
Come on Goldy, You've called the seattle times writers a lot worse then "abrasive". So suck it up. I didn't see the seattle times writers complaining that you called them mean/untrue names. They just went on with their jobs as journalist, you might want to give that a try.
34
PS Goldy, your online presence on slog is abrasive. I'm sure Joni's been forward your posts bashing the seattle times which helped formed your opinion of you. @2 said it very well, we live in a digital age, and you have a very visible presence digitally in seattle, and that presence is abrasive. If you where to be a bit more of a gentalman online, maybe people wouldn't jump to conclusions.
35
PPS, not to say I don't agree with 99% of what you say (the 1% being most of the posts support the joke thats called occupy seattle), I just don't agree with the way you express yourself. I'm sure I'm not alone in that most of the time when I read your post I agree with the content but am turned off by the expression.
36
And to back my point up, here's the first couple of hits when I typed in "Seattle Times" in the strangers search box:
"Jesus... have the editors ever read the fucking Constitution? Have they ever even bothered to look up the word "constitution" in the dictionary"
"Honestly, the Seattle Times editorial board is about as qualified to give legal advice as I am to operate on Bruce Ramsey's prostate."
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archive…
"I do find it curious to see the Seattle Times positioning itself as the voice of caution considering its editors were such shameless whores for previous arena proposals"
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archive…
"Shorter Seattle Times: "The way things are are the way things always have been and always should be." You know, because they're old and wise, or something. Or maybe just old."
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archive…
"Honestly, what a bunch of shameless fucking hypocrites."
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archive…
"Contrary to popular belief, I don't actually enjoy fisking Seattle Times editorials any more than I enjoy reading them, but sometimes they are just so stupid or hypocritical or dishonest that I feel I have no other choice"
"But it's the editors' closing admonishment that really pisses me off"
"Or the time you shamelessly pimped for estate tax repeal "
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archive…
"But this week, when it comes to charter schools, a measure the editors like and unions oppose, well, fuck the will of the people"
"But the Seattle Times relentlessly shameless hypocrisy when it comes to honoring—or not—the so-called "will of the people", has long since crossed the line to the realm of the absurd"
"Because your embrace of their will to when you agree with it, and your total disregard for it when you do not, just makes you look stupid"
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archive…
"But the fact that the Seattle Times didn't see fit to mention this to their readers is simply mind-fuckingly irresponsible"
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archive…
More...
"Jesus... have the editors ever read the fucking Constitution? Have they ever even bothered to look up the word "constitution" in the dictionary"
"Honestly, the Seattle Times editorial board is about as qualified to give legal advice as I am to operate on Bruce Ramsey's prostate."
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archive…
"I do find it curious to see the Seattle Times positioning itself as the voice of caution considering its editors were such shameless whores for previous arena proposals"
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archive…
"Shorter Seattle Times: "The way things are are the way things always have been and always should be." You know, because they're old and wise, or something. Or maybe just old."
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archive…
"Honestly, what a bunch of shameless fucking hypocrites."
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archive…
"Contrary to popular belief, I don't actually enjoy fisking Seattle Times editorials any more than I enjoy reading them, but sometimes they are just so stupid or hypocritical or dishonest that I feel I have no other choice"
"But it's the editors' closing admonishment that really pisses me off"
"Or the time you shamelessly pimped for estate tax repeal "
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archive…
"But this week, when it comes to charter schools, a measure the editors like and unions oppose, well, fuck the will of the people"
"But the Seattle Times relentlessly shameless hypocrisy when it comes to honoring—or not—the so-called "will of the people", has long since crossed the line to the realm of the absurd"
"Because your embrace of their will to when you agree with it, and your total disregard for it when you do not, just makes you look stupid"
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archive…
"But the fact that the Seattle Times didn't see fit to mention this to their readers is simply mind-fuckingly irresponsible"
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archive…
37
To sum up, the public face of "Goldy" is the online reporter/slog poster Goldy who is very abrasive, and the person Goldy, who probably is a very polite person. But people are going to form an impression of you from both and honestly I think it's fair if you are going to be an online personality.
38
@37 I admitted to being an abrasive writer. And I stand by all those posts you link to @36. In fact, I'm rather proud of some them. But the allegation is that I disrupt press conferences, and to conflate what I write with how I behave is just plain lazy.
39
Yup. Much of the shit in this comment threat doesn't even address the point made by Goldy at @38.
40
@38, then do you not think it's fair that if the only knowledge someone has of you is from your writing for them to assume that you may behave like that in person? I'm sure you're a really nice guy (I'm a really nice guy in person, and sometimes an asshole online), but since the only exposure I have of you is from your online post/stranger articles, I'd assume you'd be abrasive in person as well.
For example if someone had a bunch of "I hate j2patter" articals online, then I'd assume when I'd met them face to face they'd be as agressive, if not more.
For example if someone had a bunch of "I hate j2patter" articals online, then I'd assume when I'd met them face to face they'd be as agressive, if not more.
41
@40
The online personality of Goldy isn't an issue where the press conference exclusion is concerned. The whole premise of the barring is that they wanted to keep him out based on their belief that he's an asshole, but McKenna's office doesn't have the right to do that.
Goldy may call the Times reporters names, but I doubt his criticisms were used as a basis to justify a public officeholder's violation of their rights, as Balter is essentially doing.
With regard to Balter basing her impression of Goldy on his online personality because they don't know each other, well, that just shows she's a shitty reporter: Goldy's local, she knows Eli, she knows how to contact the Stranger, so she could have actually gotten his side of the story instead of being Sytman's stenographer. The difference between us and her is that we're posting as commenters whereas she's writing as a professional journalist: whether we think Goldy's an asshole or not should be taken with a grain of salt either way, but Balter in her professional life should at least try to be credible.
The online personality of Goldy isn't an issue where the press conference exclusion is concerned. The whole premise of the barring is that they wanted to keep him out based on their belief that he's an asshole, but McKenna's office doesn't have the right to do that.
Goldy may call the Times reporters names, but I doubt his criticisms were used as a basis to justify a public officeholder's violation of their rights, as Balter is essentially doing.
With regard to Balter basing her impression of Goldy on his online personality because they don't know each other, well, that just shows she's a shitty reporter: Goldy's local, she knows Eli, she knows how to contact the Stranger, so she could have actually gotten his side of the story instead of being Sytman's stenographer. The difference between us and her is that we're posting as commenters whereas she's writing as a professional journalist: whether we think Goldy's an asshole or not should be taken with a grain of salt either way, but Balter in her professional life should at least try to be credible.
43
@ 40, see my link @ 13. It's Goldy's story about how he was a jerk - one could say he was abrasive - to people in line at a movie theater. Granted, his backstory shows that he was emotionally fragile at the time, and the disappointment combined with someone's illtimed remarks prompted it. BUT... the thing that stands out is how he recalls it 10 years later as though he were completely justified.
Between that, and some of his truly bitter posts (see any of his posts about the liquor initiative), make it quite easy for me to believe that he's not very self aware when it comes to his behavior. That he's someone who believes certain provocations allow for ill-mannered behaviors, therefore they aren't really ill-mannered because they were justified.
Now, I haven't met him in person. It's entirely possible that I've read all that into his posts. But I keep going back to his Christmas story and how he was proud enough to recall the story a decade later and ask everyone to stay away from the movies for his benefit. What kind of person does that?
Between that, and some of his truly bitter posts (see any of his posts about the liquor initiative), make it quite easy for me to believe that he's not very self aware when it comes to his behavior. That he's someone who believes certain provocations allow for ill-mannered behaviors, therefore they aren't really ill-mannered because they were justified.
Now, I haven't met him in person. It's entirely possible that I've read all that into his posts. But I keep going back to his Christmas story and how he was proud enough to recall the story a decade later and ask everyone to stay away from the movies for his benefit. What kind of person does that?
45
goldy uses foul infantile language to refer to politicians, journalists (actual journalists...) and elected officials.
that's the game, after all.
but when someone says he is 'abrasive' he pouts like a two year old.
oh, and pesters the rest of humanity about it for weeks.
will our little goldy ever grow up?
that's the game, after all.
but when someone says he is 'abrasive' he pouts like a two year old.
oh, and pesters the rest of humanity about it for weeks.
will our little goldy ever grow up?
46
"Pacific Northwest Translator" (TM):
"Disruptive": 1. openly voicing a firm criticism of any person; or stating a firm opinion that openly disagrees with the consensus. 2. Failing to let other people use euphemisms with which they seek to mask disagreement, by openly calling them out as to what they truly mean. 3. Any actual arguing or disagreement. 4. Synonym: "East Coaster" "East coasty," 5. Acting like actual disagreement with emotions is normal and healthy instead of bowing to the local culture that pretends we're all of the same thoughts and moods, kumbaya. 6. Any release of emotional chemicals into the ocean and sandy solution at the beach that makes the other geoducks perceive another one has different thoughts or feelings.
"Disruptive": 1. openly voicing a firm criticism of any person; or stating a firm opinion that openly disagrees with the consensus. 2. Failing to let other people use euphemisms with which they seek to mask disagreement, by openly calling them out as to what they truly mean. 3. Any actual arguing or disagreement. 4. Synonym: "East Coaster" "East coasty," 5. Acting like actual disagreement with emotions is normal and healthy instead of bowing to the local culture that pretends we're all of the same thoughts and moods, kumbaya. 6. Any release of emotional chemicals into the ocean and sandy solution at the beach that makes the other geoducks perceive another one has different thoughts or feelings.
47
Haha, Goldy, sorry if I don't take your word for it that you're affable and respectful in person (as if you would even know how you come off to people). And if you genuinely are respectful to somebody in person, and then skulk off to your computer to trash talk him/her in writing afterwards...then it sounds like what you are is simply a coward.
48
It's amusing that Joni would even think to criticize other people's presser etiquette, given that she rarely attends them herself.
I've seen her at exactly one press conference in three years. It was a State of the City Address, and it was obvious it was her first time at City Hall in awhile--I had to *very patiently* show her how to access the building's free wifi.
Joni Balter is not a journalist, she's a mouthpiece with hair that makes a living parroting other people's opinions.
I've seen her at exactly one press conference in three years. It was a State of the City Address, and it was obvious it was her first time at City Hall in awhile--I had to *very patiently* show her how to access the building's free wifi.
Joni Balter is not a journalist, she's a mouthpiece with hair that makes a living parroting other people's opinions.
49
@28
The point is the lack of maturity you showed in naming your website, .org .com, whatever, it isn't worth my time.
A nickname is not your real name and is thus a pseudonym. I am sure we sloggers could give you a much more fitting nickname.
How about Cowardly Crybaby Snivelstein?
@46
Actually the politeness of west coast is more due to this being a lawless region until rather recently. It was better to be agreeable and not stir up trouble so you didn't get your ass kicked or shot. Nanny state loving least coast city folk don't seem understand this. They come here and pollute our land and our culture trying to make it just like their cesspool back home.
My advice to you is to go the fuck back where you came from and take Goldstein with you.
Your type is not welcome here.
The point is the lack of maturity you showed in naming your website, .org .com, whatever, it isn't worth my time.
A nickname is not your real name and is thus a pseudonym. I am sure we sloggers could give you a much more fitting nickname.
How about Cowardly Crybaby Snivelstein?
@46
Actually the politeness of west coast is more due to this being a lawless region until rather recently. It was better to be agreeable and not stir up trouble so you didn't get your ass kicked or shot. Nanny state loving least coast city folk don't seem understand this. They come here and pollute our land and our culture trying to make it just like their cesspool back home.
My advice to you is to go the fuck back where you came from and take Goldstein with you.
Your type is not welcome here.
50
Ms. Balter's characterizations of Goldy's 'abrasive presents' certainly vindicates my comments a few days ago on his body language.
53
@49 - I'd take Goldy over an infantile whiny asshole with "wild wild west" libertarian secessionist fantasies any day.
56
@43, 44:
Oy vey, I would have thought you'd at least have linked to Goldy's job letter to Frank Blethen. But I recall that Christmas post and it was really damn funny, and I was surprised how many people posting seemed to have taken the post seriously. I'll paste the part you cited there back then as your proof about Goldy:
Goldy: "I'll tell you what," I tell the hobbit in genuine anger as I step toward him and his furry, ticket-holding friends, "You don't honor the way my people celebrate this holiday, and I won't honor yours."
I don't know on what planet where a post in which "my people" = the Jews and "your people" = hobbits and furry friends is to be taken as genuine anger instead of as an element in a tall tale--maybe a Mel Brooks version of The Lord of the Rings?--but it seems clear that that line isn't meant in earnest.
That earlier post makes me think of two things. The first is a description of Joseph Heller's novel God Knows that asks, "What if King David of the Old Testament were basically a smartass Jewish kid from the Lower East Side?" The second is a scene in The Good Wife in which Eli Gold, played by Alan Cumming, accuses a rival of trying to get into his head and says, "It’s Sun Zu, hmm? Destabilizing your enemy? You know the only problem with Sun Zu? He never fought the Jews. We’re Masada, baby. We don’t mess around with mind games, we use knives.” You should watch the scene, because it's fantastic. But to get back to your evidence, I'd say the movie story proves Goldy is threatening and abrasive in the same way the quotation proves that the Eli character is anti-Chinese. Here's the scene:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5up95PuF4…
More...
Oy vey, I would have thought you'd at least have linked to Goldy's job letter to Frank Blethen. But I recall that Christmas post and it was really damn funny, and I was surprised how many people posting seemed to have taken the post seriously. I'll paste the part you cited there back then as your proof about Goldy:
Goldy: "I'll tell you what," I tell the hobbit in genuine anger as I step toward him and his furry, ticket-holding friends, "You don't honor the way my people celebrate this holiday, and I won't honor yours."
I don't know on what planet where a post in which "my people" = the Jews and "your people" = hobbits and furry friends is to be taken as genuine anger instead of as an element in a tall tale--maybe a Mel Brooks version of The Lord of the Rings?--but it seems clear that that line isn't meant in earnest.
That earlier post makes me think of two things. The first is a description of Joseph Heller's novel God Knows that asks, "What if King David of the Old Testament were basically a smartass Jewish kid from the Lower East Side?" The second is a scene in The Good Wife in which Eli Gold, played by Alan Cumming, accuses a rival of trying to get into his head and says, "It’s Sun Zu, hmm? Destabilizing your enemy? You know the only problem with Sun Zu? He never fought the Jews. We’re Masada, baby. We don’t mess around with mind games, we use knives.” You should watch the scene, because it's fantastic. But to get back to your evidence, I'd say the movie story proves Goldy is threatening and abrasive in the same way the quotation proves that the Eli character is anti-Chinese. Here's the scene:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5up95PuF4…
57
@ 56, since it's a question of what Goldy might be like in person, I figured his own story about his own public behavior was more relevant. And I think you mistook his insulting descriptions as evidence that he was telling tall tales, then that must also be the case anyone calls someone a troll. If he was truly joking, most people would not have been fooled into believing it was the truth.
60
@55: But to answer you're question, no. I've only seen video of Goldy and he seems perfectly affable and charming.
63
I'm sure that Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity are wonderfully affable at cocktail parties. But seriously - would you want any of them dating your daughter? Let's concede 2 things:
1) McKenna is violating fundamental Constitutional law in excluding Goldy from press conferences;
2) Balter - and anyone else - is probably spot-on in raising red flags about Goldy's personality, history, and intentions. I personally support all three, but certain pig fuckers, horse's asses etc. may have a different take on things.
The internet is a bitch, Goldy. What you put out there - whether well consdiered or visceral - is out there forever. If there's a lesson here (aside from the pending legal issues), it's that you shouldn't put shit out there if you're not prepared to be judged on said shit.
1) McKenna is violating fundamental Constitutional law in excluding Goldy from press conferences;
2) Balter - and anyone else - is probably spot-on in raising red flags about Goldy's personality, history, and intentions. I personally support all three, but certain pig fuckers, horse's asses etc. may have a different take on things.
The internet is a bitch, Goldy. What you put out there - whether well consdiered or visceral - is out there forever. If there's a lesson here (aside from the pending legal issues), it's that you shouldn't put shit out there if you're not prepared to be judged on said shit.
64
@55,
You call people "pig fuckers", then the term "abrasive" is probably a nicer term to use than others available. The idea that Goldy - or any other public or quasi-public figure - can legitimately make an argument for the separation of their public vs. in-person personas is a bit of a stretch.
You call people "pig fuckers", then the term "abrasive" is probably a nicer term to use than others available. The idea that Goldy - or any other public or quasi-public figure - can legitimately make an argument for the separation of their public vs. in-person personas is a bit of a stretch.
65
Cascade bacon:
@49. ah yes, the pacific northwest is true macho cowboy land, we're all from a culture where if you ask questions you might get shot, THAT's WHY all the westerns in america were filmed in puyallup and everett. riiiiight. we're the "west." Noted. are you insane? this is the pacifist pacific northwest where even any disagreement is viewed as abrasive, and an open comment or observation characterizing local personality can send a native bonkers with angst which requires open hostility to discharge it. sensitive much mr. macho man? this was a lawless region? really? yeah right it's near lawless today, if you go to ace hardware and openly question a teller saying she made a mistake she'll pull out her six gun and shoot you, THAT's WHY folks are too polite to speak up. uh huh. washington state is actually texas, got it.
@49. ah yes, the pacific northwest is true macho cowboy land, we're all from a culture where if you ask questions you might get shot, THAT's WHY all the westerns in america were filmed in puyallup and everett. riiiiight. we're the "west." Noted. are you insane? this is the pacifist pacific northwest where even any disagreement is viewed as abrasive, and an open comment or observation characterizing local personality can send a native bonkers with angst which requires open hostility to discharge it. sensitive much mr. macho man? this was a lawless region? really? yeah right it's near lawless today, if you go to ace hardware and openly question a teller saying she made a mistake she'll pull out her six gun and shoot you, THAT's WHY folks are too polite to speak up. uh huh. washington state is actually texas, got it.
66
Joni Balter...isn't she the one that perpetually has her lips on McKenna's ass on Weekday on KUOW? She's been saying McKenna won the Governor's race for about a year now...
67
@65
Washington has 3 times the concealed carry rate of Texas and the states Northwest region are among the highest in per capita firearms ownership. 100 years ago there were pirates on the Columbia, the Kootenay and in the sound. Still much of the area has a police response times of around an hour, and some are downright lawless, and usually pretty polite.
If you ever left the city you would find that many rural hardware stores sell guns, the AK47 being a prominent favorite. You can pick one up that the Hohum gas station on the peninsula. I have also been in a few rural bars where you can enter a raffle to win the shotgun resting in the elk antlers above the booze.
I also have some bad news for you, most westerns were shot in Italy. Does that mean that Italy is the real wild west?
Although I do highly recommend Deadman staring Johnny Depp for an excellent example of a Pacific North Western, it stays pretty true to the actual residents of the region at the time, even if it is fiction.
That said, take your pathetic ass back home to the other side of the Mississippi and take Goldstein with you.
Washington has 3 times the concealed carry rate of Texas and the states Northwest region are among the highest in per capita firearms ownership. 100 years ago there were pirates on the Columbia, the Kootenay and in the sound. Still much of the area has a police response times of around an hour, and some are downright lawless, and usually pretty polite.
If you ever left the city you would find that many rural hardware stores sell guns, the AK47 being a prominent favorite. You can pick one up that the Hohum gas station on the peninsula. I have also been in a few rural bars where you can enter a raffle to win the shotgun resting in the elk antlers above the booze.
I also have some bad news for you, most westerns were shot in Italy. Does that mean that Italy is the real wild west?
Although I do highly recommend Deadman staring Johnny Depp for an excellent example of a Pacific North Western, it stays pretty true to the actual residents of the region at the time, even if it is fiction.
That said, take your pathetic ass back home to the other side of the Mississippi and take Goldstein with you.
68
@65
Washington has 3 times the concealed carry rate of Texas and the states Northwest region are among the highest in per capita firearms ownership. 100 years ago there were pirates on the Columbia, the Kootenay and in the sound. To this day much of the area has a police response times of around an hour, and some are downright lawless, and usually pretty polite.
If you ever left the city you would find that many rural hardware stores sell guns, the AK47 being a prominent favorite. You can pick one up that the Hohum gas station on the peninsula. I have also been in a few rural bars where you can enter a raffle to win the shotgun resting in the elk antlers above the booze.
I also have some bad news for you, most westerns were shot in Italy. Does that mean that Italy is the real wild west?
Although I do highly recommend Deadman staring Johnny Depp for an excellent example of a Pacific North Western, it stays pretty true to the actual residents of the region at the time, even if it is fiction.
That said, take your pathetic ass back home to the other side of the Mississippi and take Goldstein with you.
Washington has 3 times the concealed carry rate of Texas and the states Northwest region are among the highest in per capita firearms ownership. 100 years ago there were pirates on the Columbia, the Kootenay and in the sound. To this day much of the area has a police response times of around an hour, and some are downright lawless, and usually pretty polite.
If you ever left the city you would find that many rural hardware stores sell guns, the AK47 being a prominent favorite. You can pick one up that the Hohum gas station on the peninsula. I have also been in a few rural bars where you can enter a raffle to win the shotgun resting in the elk antlers above the booze.
I also have some bad news for you, most westerns were shot in Italy. Does that mean that Italy is the real wild west?
Although I do highly recommend Deadman staring Johnny Depp for an excellent example of a Pacific North Western, it stays pretty true to the actual residents of the region at the time, even if it is fiction.
That said, take your pathetic ass back home to the other side of the Mississippi and take Goldstein with you.
69
@67 (aka 68)
You really need to do better to defend yourself. While it might be true that WA state has a higher concealed carry rate than Texas it would need to be about 10 times higher to match in pure numbers due to the slight difference in number of people existing in the two states.
Using a region of a state for a per capita comparison to an entire state is about like comparing apples to watermelons. It is a little dishonest you know. How about comparing Huntsville Texas with your Northwest region? Of course that is me being sneakily dishonest since the per capita gun owner rate near the largest collection of prisons in the nation is a rather understandable 90%. For some reason people that get out of prison there tend to leave the area or the per capita rate would go down due to felons lieing their butts off saying they didn't own weapons.
Most westerns were shot on back lots in Hollywood. With on site shooting in Utah, Arizona, Colorado and the high desert region of California. Sergio did make a lot of spaghetti westerns in Italy but even his prolific rate of churning them out pales to the sheer numbers done by the major US studios. Roy Rodgers alone just about equals ALL of the spaghetti westerns in numbers. When you add in John Wayne (all westerns shot in the US) to that, the numbers against your statement get into the ludicrous range. Please try again.
You really need to do better to defend yourself. While it might be true that WA state has a higher concealed carry rate than Texas it would need to be about 10 times higher to match in pure numbers due to the slight difference in number of people existing in the two states.
Using a region of a state for a per capita comparison to an entire state is about like comparing apples to watermelons. It is a little dishonest you know. How about comparing Huntsville Texas with your Northwest region? Of course that is me being sneakily dishonest since the per capita gun owner rate near the largest collection of prisons in the nation is a rather understandable 90%. For some reason people that get out of prison there tend to leave the area or the per capita rate would go down due to felons lieing their butts off saying they didn't own weapons.
Most westerns were shot on back lots in Hollywood. With on site shooting in Utah, Arizona, Colorado and the high desert region of California. Sergio did make a lot of spaghetti westerns in Italy but even his prolific rate of churning them out pales to the sheer numbers done by the major US studios. Roy Rodgers alone just about equals ALL of the spaghetti westerns in numbers. When you add in John Wayne (all westerns shot in the US) to that, the numbers against your statement get into the ludicrous range. Please try again.
70
@67
pathetic. you are saying the culture of the pacific northwest is ....like texas. or cowboys. super macho.
I have travelled all over this state. I have visited wenatchee doznes of times. people are super nice here and frown upon even a mild disagreement. though in your fantasy they're all strutting around and shooting each other, in fact this isn't so. I ascribe the lack of open disagreement not to the machoe fear theory you suggest, but to cultural factors that are actually pretty well recognized: it's a culture of politeness, of avoiding open disagreement. your hostility to folks from back east refelcts your underlying insecurity and is pathetic. go home and look at your gun if it makes you feel better. the facts are goldy is not "abrasive" he merely disagrees openly and challenges openly, and my point was that the local culture can't tolerate even this mild disagreement, and your overly irrational/angry/hostile/threatened reaction basically proves my point. in fact, it shows that any open commentary about anything violates the taboo politeness repressive culture and merits ostracization. but anyway, got news for you: Washington State/Pacific Northwest culture is not cowboy john wayne culture. it's more like tom hanks in sleepless in seattle: nice, sometimes too nice. sometimes it's like the crazy chicken farmer family on vashon island, that had that tv show....iow, just ill informed, as you appear to be. but mainly it's a culture of niceness, smiling, being polite, saying nice things and if you don't mean them that only makes it nicer and more proper to say them. for example, I could say back to you, "wow, you have some interesting ideas" and in the pacific northwest translator machine this would come out as meaning "fuck you asshole."
I hope this helps you, and have a nice day!
More...
pathetic. you are saying the culture of the pacific northwest is ....like texas. or cowboys. super macho.
I have travelled all over this state. I have visited wenatchee doznes of times. people are super nice here and frown upon even a mild disagreement. though in your fantasy they're all strutting around and shooting each other, in fact this isn't so. I ascribe the lack of open disagreement not to the machoe fear theory you suggest, but to cultural factors that are actually pretty well recognized: it's a culture of politeness, of avoiding open disagreement. your hostility to folks from back east refelcts your underlying insecurity and is pathetic. go home and look at your gun if it makes you feel better. the facts are goldy is not "abrasive" he merely disagrees openly and challenges openly, and my point was that the local culture can't tolerate even this mild disagreement, and your overly irrational/angry/hostile/threatened reaction basically proves my point. in fact, it shows that any open commentary about anything violates the taboo politeness repressive culture and merits ostracization. but anyway, got news for you: Washington State/Pacific Northwest culture is not cowboy john wayne culture. it's more like tom hanks in sleepless in seattle: nice, sometimes too nice. sometimes it's like the crazy chicken farmer family on vashon island, that had that tv show....iow, just ill informed, as you appear to be. but mainly it's a culture of niceness, smiling, being polite, saying nice things and if you don't mean them that only makes it nicer and more proper to say them. for example, I could say back to you, "wow, you have some interesting ideas" and in the pacific northwest translator machine this would come out as meaning "fuck you asshole."
I hope this helps you, and have a nice day!
71
spaghetti westerns were shot in spain by ITALIAN directors. get yer facts straight, you philistines.
72
@70
Actually what I am trying to say seems to be going over your head entirely, but that is to be expected from an unpersonable east coaster. Fact of teh matter is it is simply better for everyone to be polite, it has been that way in the west for some time now. You assholes don't seem understand that. Really I am getting tired of knocking out loud New Yorkers and Chimpchongoians who cant seem to just shut their mouths and be polite rather than running their lobs about this being a backwater full of nice people.
Once again, go back to the coast from whence you came, and take Goldy with you.
@71
Very true thank you, state side they tend to be set in the buttermilk region of east central Ca or Mormon rocks, both are fairly close to Hollywood.
Actually what I am trying to say seems to be going over your head entirely, but that is to be expected from an unpersonable east coaster. Fact of teh matter is it is simply better for everyone to be polite, it has been that way in the west for some time now. You assholes don't seem understand that. Really I am getting tired of knocking out loud New Yorkers and Chimpchongoians who cant seem to just shut their mouths and be polite rather than running their lobs about this being a backwater full of nice people.
Once again, go back to the coast from whence you came, and take Goldy with you.
@71
Very true thank you, state side they tend to be set in the buttermilk region of east central Ca or Mormon rocks, both are fairly close to Hollywood.
73
Goldy, If McKenna gets elected he's going to buy one of those drones our president likes to use to execute people and then we're all in trouble .... especially abrasive journalists. -mikeboyscout
74
The biggest laugh I got, after Goldy's public wound-healing, was C. Madrid calling Balter a non-journalist because she doesn't attend press conferences! Good Lord. Yes, that's journalism CM, if you're a hack who learns the news by having it handed to you.
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