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Maybe the collective staff of the MBJ conspired to give the poor Senator a roofie enema.
That might explain quite a few things, actually.
O.T. Did you hear about the lady who killed her husband by giving him a traditional (except that it was two-bottles-of-sherry) enema? He had some kind of medical condition that kept him from drinking. Man, that's some serious alcoholism. "I got to have me a drink. Here, honey, squirt it up my butt."
Sigh. I came of age backstage, so I've known some unusual folks for a long, long time. Once I took a potential girlfriend on a date---a wine bar and live theater: pretty swank for a dirt poor 17-year old (and yeah, I knew the restaurant owners so we got served---her comment:This tastes like fermented fruit). She was also impressed that I knew the theater directors and the actors. It was looking good for Davis! Then the Artistic Director (who has a sardonic sense of humor) comes by and gives me a big ol' man-boy-love-hug. "Hey Chris, ever had a Champaigne enema?" He asked.
Me and my pretty girlie never went out again.
"Why would he ask you something like that?" she screamed. "Why?"
Mmmmmm... roofie enemaaaaaaaasss...
You want an example of a pol being given a pass? That's easy: Mayor Herenton. How many news media types knew the situation but refused to report it? Darrell Phillips says quite a few, at every media outlet. And yet, it was he who broke his own story!
What about the VanderSchaafs? (Did I spell that right?) I got to Memphis a bit late there, but I'd wager more than a few folks in town knew their troubles long before they intersected with the law.
end pt. 1
pt. 2
I frankly don't care about Ford's Mormon family life. His brushes with the law and Senate rules are a different matter, but the authorities in both cases don't seem interested in prosecution. Must be nice to be able to intimidate "law enforcement." The voters in his district don't seem to care either.
But when Thomas attempts to defend the questionable -- white media -- that's another matter. She's disingenuous at best, stupid at worst. Is she so blindered she can't look around her own shop? What does that say about her views on other matters? Her credibility?
Ford is a matter for the voters and the cops and courts. Thomas is a matter for her readers.
The media isn't black or white Mike. It's the media. It could stand more diversity, yes. But Ford kick started this.
Character is an issue whether you care or not.
Herenton is black. Did you miss that? And he's not getting a pass he's getting creamed. See channel 3 tonight? Insanity on all fronts.
And Pat V. took QUITE a beating for her lightfingered ways. And her hair. Bad examples, but keep trying.
And remember, it's not a pass unless the information is confirmed, widely known and, widely ignored. You can't report gossip dontcha know.
e.g. Councilman Muckaduck's a lush.
That's hearsay he drives his Fiero into the Wolf River harbor.
He is! I knew it. Councilman Muckaduck (R-Lakanooki) is a lush. Thanks for the tip.
What bugs me about all this is that we're even less likely to see any significant TV news coverage of policy, instead of personalities and scandal.
I know that sounds naive. But really, I don't care if a politician kicks his dog if his policy choices benefit my life.
That's what the Republicans did with Lewinsky -- they used the scandal as leverage to advance their program. The subtext was, "Clinton's a horndog, therefore our tax and foreign policy is better."
The moral outrage was just a cover to tear down a thriving economy and relative peace abroad.
And now look what we've got: Bush policies that hurt millions of REAL PEOPLE, not just some tabloid freaks.
I was in Delibertate Liberate today and saw a couple of WMC "reporters" and had to bite my tongue to avoid holding up the newspaper and snidely saying, "I guess this means you won't be doing that multi-part investigative report you were planning on the pros and cons of consolidation and metro government
Sure, sure Peej & Mike. I understand where both of you are coming form but here's a tip: you can only judge a column or report for what it is, not for what it is not. You may take issue with the subject matter, sure, and you may note omissions. But Wendi was out to take Ford down a notch, not to address policy or the racial makeup of Memphis media. She hit her chosen nail on the head, while failing to drive home your personal screws.
And here's more: if Ford was a GENIUS legislator who was really making Memphis and Tennessee a better place, and this was some overt attempt to thwart him, I'd be hollering like a skinned rat. But you have to assume (and in fact the record shows) that someone as self serving as Ford, isn't on anyone's side but his own. So hit ALL the angles to show the man for what he is. And Thomas DID hit on his special pro-deadbeat dad legislation, so it wasn't all scandal mongering.
And there it sits.
Oh, I don't think Ford is any great legislator - far from it. He's a fool who deserves anything he gets.
But I don't recall Thomas really discussing the merits of the child support legislation, just that it benefited (a not disinterested) Ford. Beyond that, it may or may not be good policy; I really don't know, & all this juicy scandal coverage sheds no light on the matter.
So much for the CA's lighthouse logo.
(end pt. 1)
(pt. 2)
It's true, you can't judge a specific column for what it doesn't say, but I think you can judge a columnist - and an editorial policy - by what they relentlessly cover and what they ignore.
The TV stations are worse of course. The barely suppressed glee on Andy Wise’s face as he interviewed Marsh was disgusting. Vultures.
And of course Ford, Herenton & even Clinton let themselves in for this nonsense, so blame them all you want. Like Charles Foster Kane, they’ve “set back the sacred cause of reform.”
With Clinton, the result was tragic - we got Bush, war & recession. Here in Memphis the outcome is merely farce.
But if none of this had happened, does anyone think there’d be a bunch of serious policy-oriented news coverage in its place - or would they just find some other zoo animals to poke sticks at?
I think that what everyone always forgets when these types of discussions come up is that the paper and TV stations are businesses, not not-for-profit watchdog agencies. You can hoot and holler all you want about what you think that they should be, but the almighty dollar wins everytime. And that will never change. Change our society's need for scandal and they'll report something different.
And I don't think the racial make-up of memphis has or should have anything to do with the racial make-up of the writers at the CA. What is the racial make-up of the subscribers? Oh, well now we're getting somewhere.
Except for the Clinton stuff, what Peej said.
Ford stays in office despite incredible antics -- threats to public officials, conflicts of interest, self-serving legislation, dummy corporations. Why hasn't any news source tried to analyse *why*? I don't care who he screws. I wanna know why he hasn't been screwed in return.
p.1
p.2
Thomas went after Ford for racial hypocrisy, among other things. But has she turned that same analysis to her own paper, or industry? No. And I'd be very surprised if she mustered the vehemence and snarkiness of her Ford column if she ever did.
It was an easy slam-dunk column, that pretty nearly anyone could write. I don't want that from a local columnist. She has an obligation to her readers, based on her privileged position at the paper, to dig deeper, think harder and write better.
Put it another way: if she were a blogger, she'd be languishing in Internet obscurity.
It's not JUST scandal. There's a lot more going on here than just scandal.
I agree that there's room for criticism based on the underrepresentation of blacks, hispanics, asians, and wool fetishists in the media. But it exists OUTSIDE the context of crazy John Ford. And since the word ombudsman is seldom heard these days, that's just not going to happen. Is there a clear white bias.
I'm saying no. In fact, since its reinvention the CA has been working overtime to be less white-centric. Short of a clear bias in new hires and editorial content why should Wendi ask those questions? Well, other than at career day at Melrose, or Humes. You're looking at the forest on this one Mike, but you're only seeing trees.
A model: how many NEW bylines do you see in the Tri-State Defender?
Not many. Same local names, and wire copy.
Good point on the TSD, which I haven't even seen in years. Do they still print the statement of purpose on their editorial page? I've always liked that.
Reminds me of the Flyer's editorial page "Our Manifesto" from years ago. I tried to find that with your "search" tool. No luck. Any chance y'all can dig that up? I'd love to reread it.
Of course, what can possibly compare to the Flyer's recent in depth coverage of Memphis Hotties?
"Of course, what can possibly compare to the Flyer's recent in depth coverage of Memphis Hotties?"
Indeed. We need more "coverage" of Bora Kim. Wrowr.
[Blushing]
I stewed every time the Hottie issue was discussed. That's so not my cup of reading. But it's light and fun, and if the Flyer ever loses its sophomoric side, that's when I'm outta there.
But Hotties?
Oh my. At least my addition to that list managed to make fun of the whole concept. Anybody read the Rock Unit's answers? Ah--- even subversive within the confines of my own paper.
Huh? "At the behest of the Black Community"? Which segment of the Black Community are you refering to? The segment of the Black Community that re-elected John Ford, as the song goes,.."Time after time"? Or, are you refering to the "baby daddy" himself, ignorant loud mouthed Thaddeus Matthews's crowd?
I have no "dogs" in this fight. I am just wondering if you really know what you are talking about.
Personally, I loath the Commericial Appeal. The majority of the contributors/editors of that poor excuse for a newspaper, come across as members of some type of elitist society that would, for example, cry "foul" to programs/initiatives such as affirmative action due to it's illedged entitlement related issues, all the while practicing in words, and in deeds, entitlement by virtue of white skin.
There, that will teach them not to post my comments to the editor. (just kidding, my friend)
And, before you "go there", I know that Wendi Thomas is black. Ms. Thomas is also, in my opinion, a good writer. A big baby (could not even stay away for a year) lol, nonetheless, a good writer.
Now, "twist" everything that I have said, as usual. lol
Later,
my friend
Oops!, The Commercial Appeal, please excuse typos, I know, I know, you love me anyway. lol
From the "center"
Your girl,
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