First “See, I told you so” post of 2009!
I launched the Newspaper Bailout Countdown Clock on Nov. 11, reported on Connecticut’s move to prop up ailing dead-tree dailies on Dec. 1, and followed up with a column on the coming government rescues for the MSM on Dec. 3.
And now, here comes Reuters, heralding the new year with this: Government aid could save U.S. newspapers, spark debate.
Connecticut lawmaker Frank Nicastro sees saving the local newspaper as his duty. But others think he and his colleagues are setting a worrisome precedent for government involvement in the U.S. press.
Nicastro represents Connecticut’s 79th assembly district, which includes Bristol, a city of about 61,000 people outside Hartford, the state capital. Its paper, The Bristol Press, may fold within days, along with The Herald in nearby New Britain.
That is because publisher Journal Register, in danger of being crushed under hundreds of millions of dollars of debt, says it cannot afford to keep them open anymore.
Nicastro and fellow legislators want the papers to survive, and petitioned the state government to do something about it. “The media is a vitally important part of America,” he said, particularly local papers that cover news ignored by big papers and television and radio stations.
To some experts, that sounds like a bailout, a word that resurfaced this year after the U.S. government agreed to give hundreds of billions of dollars to the automobile and financial sectors.
Won’t be long before a dying newspaper puts in a bid for some of the trillion-dollar stimulus package about to be rammed through Congress.
Fishwrap has its privileges…
See what others have said
Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.
Trackbacks
- ButAsForMe! » First “See, I told you so” post of 2009!
- They’re already dead, they just don’t know it « Mark Epstein
- The first random thoughts of 2009… « JoHNBRoDiGaNDoTCoM
- Dave Lucas' Notes » Welcome to 2009!
- Fausta’s Blog » Blog Archive » Government aid to save newspapers? Hell, no!
- Hot Air » Blog Archive » Newspaper bailouts coming to Connecticut?
- Newspaper Bailout: A Free Press Sells Itself | Political Vindication
- HOTAiR: Newspaper bailouts coming to Connecticut? nO wAY nO hOW Phone Capitol Now 1-202-224-3121 | Impeach Barack Hussein Obama.US Blogs
- Bailing Out Newspapers « The Underground Conservative
- Newspaper bailout | A Nutter's Prattle
- Vitally Important « Cadillac Tight
- This headline should really read… « The Old Right Daily
- The TIW Blog » Blog Archive » IN YOUR FACE: NEWSPAPERS NEW TARGET FOR BAILOUT!
- In Connecticut, it’s more than “Government aid for newspapers” « My Cardboard Box
- Connecticut newspaper bailouts next? | Fire Andrea Mitchell!
- Next In Line For Bailout Money - Newspapers! « Beltway Snark
- More Newspapers Line Up In The Bailout Aisle « Jane Q. Republican
- Cold Fury » You say you want a revolution?
- ButAsForMe! » NYT Starts Selling Ads on Front Page , Reports on it Themselves
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Categories: New York Times, Subprime crisis
Sister Toldjah
» The anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall – and how the far left still hasn’t given up
Pundit & Pundette
» Intelligence agencies knew Hasan was a traitorLegal Insurrection
» Will The Truth Be Hasan's Last Victim?The Powers That Be
» US Intel Knew Hasan Was Trying to Contact Al QaedaRiehl World View
» MSNBC's Shuster Links Fred Phelps To Republicans, ConservativesStop The ACLU
» How Can One Write About The 20th Anniversary Of The Fall Of The Berlin Wall And Not Mention Reagan?
First comment of the new year!
The first shall be last
He who takes the king’s shilling becomes the king’s man, and the First Amendment is history.
Jet Jaguar,
Indeed.
You have justly rebuked me.
How may I be of service?
I’m bailing out of the teaching ‘profession’, as I can’t bear to be complicit to what passes as education today.
Feels good to start a new year and a new career path.
Sorry, Pill, but you missed it by two hours going by the blog time-stamp (Eastern Time).
Shall I stay up another two hours and make the last comment of 2008?
The Bristol Press? Please, whatever happened to ingenuity? Letting go of the old and inventing the new? Noticing in the 1990s that newspapers were dead…?
Once upon a time, people paid $64,000 for tulip bulbs. They invested in South Seas expeditions that were too secret to disclose, but you were welcome to invest. People did. Someday we will look back on 2008 and wonder why the stupid people were in charge of our money. Madoff is an amateur and poor Charles Ponzi was slandered. The biggest theft in history has occurred in Congress. The revenge of double-digit IQs.
Might as well lower the Constitution and Bill of Rights right back into the vault. It seems irrevelant today. “The federal government, now the National government, can do whatever it likes”. New “Constitution”. Bailing out businesses is secondary to bailing out the unions. They are the ones with the money and votes for the politicians, who care more for themselves than the country.
My kids are boring… even if we did snowboard all night.
But I think I will go buy a newspaper in order to do my futile part. I have this unnecessary habit of trying to salvage things that are beyond recovery.
In many ways we will miss our daily papers-at least I will. Local news, City, State and County happenings. There was a time when we could be reasonably sure what we were reading was accurate. How I do not know-lazy and dishonest reporters and editors I guess-but over the years every story became an editorial. They were not telling us what happened but merely what they though about it.
We got better more accurate news at the water cooler-cheaper too. Too bad, give them a few billion and prolong the agony.
But happy New Years and I will NEVER eat that many tamales at one sitting again, again + .
How can a paper serving 61,000 people incur “hundreds of millions of dollars of debt”?
Gee, a Treason Media who act as de facto propagandists for the Democrats are now going broke and need taxpayer dollars to continue their operations.
1. Does anyone (other than Michelle or Hugh Hewitt) dare suggest that the reason people aren’t reading the papers is because they no longer have faith in the veracity of the “news” being delivered?
B. As nice as it may be for the Dems to fund their army of Goebbels, wouldn’t it be more cost-effective for them to allow the tiny papers to collapse which would force people to turn to the bigger, more-prestigious Treason Media outlets like the Times, WaPo, and every TV network without a furry animal in their name? Easier to keep a few friendly giants going than risk some smaller voice catering to non-liberal audiences in the hopes of making a buck.
…and to think that newspapers will willingly become controlled by the government. And this is how it will happen. strange times we live in….
So start up a web page for your local news and save yourself ‘millions of dollars.’
Idiots.
I frequently see a representative for the Houston Chronicle giving away newspapers at the local grocery store trying to get people to subscribe. I told him I wasn’t willing to pay for a paper that has such an obvious political bias. He tried to counter with the claim that it was the only way I could get coverage of local news that wasn’t important to the national media. I pointed out that every tv station in town covers local news. When a car plowed through a local restaurant that I patronize, I was able to read all about it on the internet, even seeing quite a few pictures of the aftermath. My parent’s, who do subscribe to the Chronicle, never even heard about it until I told them. So much for their coverage of local news.
My wife uses the St. Pete Times to line the bottom of her parrot cages. We don’t read or buy it before hand. We just get copies from my brother-in-law who drives a Pinellas County public bus. He gathers them up off the bus for us. I’d much rather read the Tampa Tribune, but they cut their paper a little smaller and it doesn’t fit the bird cages right.
St. Pete Times: All the news with commentary that is fit to be pooped on!
Is this a spoof Michelle? Really, nobody is that stupid.
To quote Orson Welles from the classic “Citizen Kane”;
I don’t get why all the tree huggers aren’t against any paper?
It’s such a waste!
I get ALL my news from the internet.
Funny, I always figured that the 2d Amdt. would be the first to go. Times are strange indeed.
I think it was the mythological character sometimes known as “John Adams” (obviously, an evil neocon invention) who said (I think it was in a movie or something):
“We must be a nation of LAWS, not of MEN.”
(Typical chauvinist/racist/bigot/ homophobe/rethuglican being dismissive of wymyn!)
Anyway, with the Supreme Court having destroyed the Constitution decades ago; with Congress not even pretending anymore to be bound by ANY law or authority; and, now, with the President (who I voted for … twice) not having either the wit or the backbone to even attempt complying with the Constitution — I’m left to wonder: what, exactly, provides authority to anyone at any level of government?
I mean, it’s been clear for years that States (if there really are such things) have NO Authority not specifically GRANTED TO them by the Supreme Court. So, again; why, exactly, must I obey ANY law? By whose authority?
Finally, is there ANYONE – anyone at all – in Congress who is even REMOTELY aware that they are sowing the seeds of violent rebellion in this country?
Yes they are. Look at current events.
I have a sick feeling The Bristol Press will get their
payoffah, bailout.Eyas
The constitution is NOT A LIVING DOCUMENT.
The power of the federal government is limited with the exception of the enumerated rights.
Aren’t our elected representatives sworn to uphold the constitution?
How can we hold them accountable other than violent rebellion?
I feel your pain. I did the same with massive amounts of habanero and datiel peppers.
Family Man,
I don’t know.
That was my point.
I rarely post here. I apologize if the point was unclear. Most of what was in parens was meant to be sarcastic – except for the part where I said I voted for Bush twice … that’s true, unfortunately.
I imagine that everyone was very confused about who I was & where I stood. Sorry, it’s early morning on New Year’s Day — that’s my only excuse.
Any private business that lines up for a government bailout is like the woman at a party who was approached by the rich, handsome man.
He said to her, “I find you so absolutely attractive, would you sleep with me for $5 million?”
She replied, “Well for $5 million, I guess I would.”
The man responded, “Wonderful, would you sleep with me for $5.00?”
The woman snapped back, “Sleep with you for 5.00!!!! Just what do you think I am?
The man replied, “We have already established that. Now we are just haggling over the price.”
Politicians would give a major body part to gain control of a “free press.”
No need to apologize. We are in total agreement and are common in our frustration.
Does it really matter anymore?
The MSM is already a wholly owned subsidiary of the Democrat/Progressive/ Communist party.
Or is the Democrat Party a wholly owned subsidiary of the Leftist Press? Ah, who cares?
If the government finally buys the press, at least we’ll know who owns who.
We know that Republicans will do nothing to stop the Left from setting the agenda for the press (see NPR). I’ll actually be shocked if the Fairness Doctrine doesn’t get significant “Republican” support.
Mercy,, I am with you on the paper waste. I try to imagine the amount of paper the world uses to publish newspaper dailies. It would be better if we read our news on the net. Be a lot less biased as well hopefully.
The newspapers as well as the rest of the MSM is guilty of betraying the trust of the American public and deserves to decline into obscurity. I believe we will look back in history as 2008 being the year journalism in America died. Thank God we have the new media to turn to these days. The Democrats have already been aided by the poor judgment of President Bush in bailing out the UAW a branch of the DNC so why the hell not do the same for the fourth estate (now a fifth column) the propaganda wing of the DNC.
FamilyMan I truly believe our elected overlords could give a damn about the US Constitution or those sheeple stupid enough to vote for them. The tyranny of our bloated arrogant Federal Government continues to grow it is just a matter of time before the 111th Congress and the Obamamessiah overreach to trigger a 2nd Revolution or Civil War. I think that is about the only way we are going to get their attention and make them realized they screwed the pooch. But what else do you expect from a racist xenophobe gun totting bible clinging veteran from the middle of nowhere Idaho.
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE (mo-lone lah-veh) Translation: Come and take them!
Rather than try and add to what you said I just figured I would quote it since it is exactly how I feel. Constitution? What Constitution?
Sorry, I forgot to attribute that quote to Eyas. (Well said, by the way.)
YUP Boomer.
I guess we’re old fashioned hillbillies from Idaho that believe in the original intent of our constitution. I will never go down quietly.
Sorry, I forgot to attribute that quote to Eyas. (Well said, by the way.)
Thanks!
Government “of the People, by the People, and for the People” has indeed “perished from the earth” despite Lincoln’s admonishment and the blood of millions of patriots.
I agree that it’s time to “water the tree of liberty” again, and I’m ready anytime someone says the word “Go!” to offer my own water; but, as many other conservatives have noted, any revolution, rebellion, or civil war will not be successful unless and until a greater portion of the populace is awakened to what we are already aware of.
I have no idea how to achieve this, other than (to steal a Leftist mantra) “Speaking Truth to Power”, by making converts on-line, and supporting any truly conservative (NOT Republican) thinkers and speakers in this country.
Of course, the democRATs will insist on a “Fairness Doctrine” to remove the bias from their new partners!
/sarcasm off
I wonder what is the purpose of all of these bailouts, existing and proposed. I can understand trying to save the financial system and maintain its liquidity. But the auto bailout, and so many others being considered, why? I’ve come up with an answer. Remember in 1994 when the Repubs swept into Congress, Prez Clinton held a March 1995 press conference to declare he was still relevant. That’s what the government is trying to show now. They’re relevant. They’re worthwhile. They’re important. Just like the reason Carole Simpson gave for going into journalism, they “want to make a difference”. And they will make a difference. I just don’t think it’s the difference the country needs or wants. They have the power, and they will exercise that power, because they can. Who gives up their power? It just doesn’t happen. Welcome to bailoutpaloozaville.
By the way, this week the size of our daily paper the Cincinnati Enquirer was virtually cut in half. And two local bookstores, one a Border’s superstore, held going-out-of-business sales. It’s looking bleak for the printed word.
A Happy, Prosperous New Year to All!
*Has this Nicastro not heard of the internet?; Forward-thinking newspapers have already transitioned there as a primary profit center; That’s how the free market works.
*There is still only one viable method to right the Republic, and that is through the many true conservatives still within the Republican Party; Energy and money spent assisting them in purging the party of RINOS is the direction the GOP needs to go, but we need to speak loudly with our voices and silently with our wallets until they themselves understand that.
*2009 is already such an exceedingly rich target environment, and the fiscal conservatives in the GOP need to be out there daily blasting away.
Why buy cow when they get the milk for free?
Because after they buy the cow all of the milk belongs to Democrats.
I think it’s interesting the number of newpapers with online blogs covering recent stories, and the number of people actually commenting. Pretty much a free-for-all but hashing out and actually discussing what’s happening is exciting. You can almost see a trickle down effect because the next time the story is covered it has a different slant. Love it.
If our one paper stopped publishing, I would miss it… I have been reading a morning paper since I was 8 years old… As a young lad of 12 I peddled papers for the DETROIT TIMES, so that was free at my house… My mother also subscribed to the morning DETROIT FREE PRESS and the afternoon DETROIT NEWS… Three daily papers, and they were all read… Now I doubt anyone under 40 years old even subscribes to a paper in PHOENIX… I find I read less paper, and get most news from the NET… Yeah, I’ll miss the paper, not because it is such a STAUNCH source of info, more likely more out of FORCE OF HABIT… Let them go belly up!!!
I don’t believe I have ever approached a new year with greater dread than this one.
The most beautiful words in the English language used to be “I love you.” Now they are: “I told you so, but you wouldn’t listen.”
One thing we have learned during the Bush years is how few conservatives understand, let alone support, the free market. Liberals are bad enough, but God save us from the pseudo-cons.
For any pseudo-cons who might be reading: as with everything else, there is either a market for newspapers’ services or there is not. If there is, then as old forms/business models die, new ones will take their place. It’s called entrepreneurship, a vital part of that free-market thing. If local news about zoning regulations is so vital to people, they will pay for it (price to be determined, subject to change, etc). If not, they won’t. But one way or another the providers must make a profit (that’s called competent management) and the consumers must get value. Everything else is nonsense.
This print media bailout is rubbish. It’s just democrats stealing from the public once again to reward democrats. But I swear to God, if Bush were entering his third term, he would be in a tizzy to get it passed even more than the democrats are. Why? Because if he did, all the liberal newsgoons would love him and that is what really matters in his and all our lives, George’s self-esteem.
For this our ancestors fought and suffered and died?
What’s a news paper??? Oh, you mean that thing that shows up at your door with 4,000 ads and articles copied and pasted from the AP wire?
Thanks for mentioning this. There cannot be enough emphasis about this disaster that is about to occur. This and the fact this incoming POTUS is going to shred the Constitution.
What Constitution?
You have to realize that Connecticut is a socialist republic. The Democrats hold veto proof majorities in the State House and Senate and although the citizens always elect a Republican governor (the last one went to prison) to put some brakes on the legislature, the Republican governors routinely get steamrolled (I am reminded of the classic Bruce Springsteen line from Jungleland: “Retreat and then surrender”. The leading newspaper in Ct. is the Hartford Courant and it is an ultraliberal newspaper and the legislature meekly does anything the Courant’s editorial page director tells it to do. People in Ct. refer to the editorial director of the Courant as the Governor. So it should be no surprise that the legislature, which is also in the hands of the public sector unions, would take taxpayers hard earned money and give it to the newspapers.
Who is invisible John Mellencamp called them the simple man that pays the bills.
“cuz the simple man baby pays for the thrills, The bills and the pills that kill”
Pink Houses Lyrics
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/j/john+mellencamp/pink+houses_20074447.html
J.B.White hits on the theme, that is being omitted in these times we are living in. The “Earners”
http://rattlergator.typepad.com/rattlergator/2008/12/a-quote-to-end-the-year-earn-this.html
About a year ago, I called our local newspaper (the Minneapolis Star) and cancelled. The paper kept appearing on our stoop. I called again. The paper kept coming. I called again and reminded them that they can leave all the papers they want, but I won’t pay for any that were receieved after I cancelled. The papers stopped. Temporarily. A few weeks later, they magically started appearing again. I called and was told it was a “promotion” and the papers were free for a week. I said I didn’t want a free paper, please stop. Of course, the free paper was forced upon me. I kept calling, and one of the reps said, “Why wouldn’t you want a free paper?” I told him I wouldn’t take their biased liberal rag if they paid me to do so. And besides, we were travelling a lot at the time and didn’t want papers piling up on our doorstep. The papers finally stopped, except every once in a while, one shows up…just enough to use for wrapping items for storage. The bottom line is…if a company can’t even give their junk away, what good is a bailout? I know, a windy, long story with little substance. With the dems in power, you need to get used to it.
Welcome, Eyas.
Lincoln was once one of my favorite presidents. Ironically, I don’t feel that way about him any longer. If you read the Gettysburg Address you realize that it was Lincoln who was fighting to destroy government of, by and for the people. He was seeking to impose his will upon those states that had left the Union.
I cannot bring myself to advocate armed rebellion but I no longer believe it can’t happen in this country in my lifetime. The problem with revolutions is that the outcome is almost always more tyrannical than that government that preceded it. One of the biggest problems is that there aren’t enough educated minds who understand how our government was supposed to work and how that limited government fostered greater liberty and created more wealth shared by more people than any other system ever devised. Most people still think FDR “fixed” the Great Depression. Only recently have I begun to see good articles on how he nearly destroyed the economy and made the depression longer and deeper. Many, probably most, including Bush, think big government is the solution. The utter lack of education and historical knowledge is a big part of our problem.
We are homeschooling our kids. While that movement is growing it is still small and it will take decades for it to grow large enough to make a dent in the state run schools. And I frankly wonder if homeschooling will be permitted to grow that large. The leftists understand the need to indoctrinate kids into their world view and that is why they mock, ridicule and oppose homeschooling.
America needs a CONSERVATIVE party. The GOP has sold out and is full of socialists who only care about exercising power rather than protecting and defending the Constitution as they promise when sworn in. The GOP appears to be sliding into irrelevance but that too will take time. The question is whether we have enough time to recover our founding principles without a second revolution.
Good to hear from you again.
Minor fix to an excellent post that needs no fixing. Great job, WarEagle.
WarEagle82 – I think you hit the nail on the head with that statement. The voting population is, unfortunately, incredibly lazy. They just do not care as long as they get their bread and circuses. The liberals have used this fact brilliantly to their advantage. Maybe we can do the same?
I agree 100%.
How do we few, correct this problem?
jjmurphy
I grew up with this story.
“Not Yours To Give”
Col. David Crockett
It should be required reading for all.
Well, I do think withdrawing from failed public institutions like public schools is a good place to start. If 30 million conservatives withdrew their 60 million kids from public schools we would own this country in one generation. Those poor serfs left in public schools wouldn’t be able to type on the internet after another generation of NEA “edumakashun.”
And if I am wrong and we don’t have one generation left, then Eyas is right and the solution will hinge on target practice. Of course, you can withdraw your kids from public schools AND start a regular course of target practice….
Unfortunately, the problem goes very deep and has been going on for generations. Also, the public schools are run by a powerful union. How do we fight this? I guess by continuing to get the message out, as Michelle Malkin is doing. And talking to our local representatives. And making sure our own families are well educated, either by homeschooling, private schools, or, by checking on everything they are learning in public school and setting them straight, and teaching them to stand up for their beliefs. Education begins at home…it always has.
FamilyMan – I discovered that story only a year ago or so. I have a direct link to it on my website and it was my post topic for the day. It IS awesome!
There has recently been a spate of articles attempting to show that newspapers are IMPORTANT. The fact that there is a link to a newspaper article in the parent post here would be taken as proof that even the much vaunted blogs are just leeches on the REAL news media.
All of this will be referred to in the upcoming (I predict) congressional hearings on the state of news media in this country. The media will demand money to keep them afloat while pompously warning that their integrity can not be compromised.
If they actually had any integrity, they wouldn’t be in so much trouble and they wouldn’t need to worry about blogs (except maybe this one).
Buggy whip manufacturers…
Irving,
You have probably made the most accurate prediction for the new year. Or as George W. Bush would say, “We have to destroy their independence to protect their independence.”
I have to very respectfully disagree about pulling your kids from public school.
We had our kids in private school up until junior high. At that point the private schools in our area had become far more liberal than the public schools. We pulled them and put them in public school. They are in all honor/AP classes, which are tough and NOT “babysitting” classes. Sure, there is the normal liberal garbage about global warming, diversity, multi-culturalism, etc. We use these as learning moments for our kids. They come home and research what the teachers told them and learn it is garbage. They debate with their classmates a lot, getting good experience trying to explain their views. And they also have found fellow students who are also conservative, of ALL colors!
So, don’t automatically write off the public schools. With good parental oversight they can provide a great education, not only in reading, writing and math, but also in debating, research and developing a “tougher skin”.
Excellent question, I’ve asked both my blue Senator, my soon to be out of office purple Senator and my D-Rep. the exact same question…guess what? No reply…that’s no surprise tho
Thanks, I knew I recognized your name. Good to hear from you, too.
True, … and, true.
In one sense, the time for revolution is already long past; but, in a practical sense it couldn’t possibly accomplish any good right now. Not with the general ingorance of/disdain for the founding principles that has ensnared The People.
Our problem is not that our politicians are congenitally corrupt, mildly retarded, and power-mad. Our problem is that half of the populace doesn’t care, and more than half of the remainder KEEP VOTING FOR THEM.
Frankly, I’m at a loss as to how to either explain this, or put a stop to it.
I don’t have children. But, if I did, I wouldn’t send them to public school on a dare.
Amen.
But what if we threw a Conservative Party and nobody showed up?
Yes! Parental oversight is the key, and is what has been lacking for too long. Parents have not been doing their jobs of parenting. Parents are too busy earning money and “finding themselves” to bother with their kid’s education. They have trusted the schools to teach their kids right from wrong and in the process have brainwashed them in the liberal traditions…forget history, it’s not important, don’t worry about grammar, it’s not that important, math? Use your calculator. And don’t question your instructor or you will get a bad grade. Oh, and teaching effective debating and problem-solving skills has obviously been eliminated from the curicula.
My Constitution. Your Constitution. It was paid for in blood and defended with more blood.
George Washington’s First Inaugural Address
We still have the political process, absent that we make be forced to take other actions. So decide: Do we Fight like Free Men or wallow like subjects of the King?
I imagine my parents and that generation were sick at heart at the fall of Wake Island, the Philippines, the sinking of ships off both coasts. I can only guess at my mother’s fear as her husband, our father, shipped out for battles unknown and then sent two sons to Viet Nam. But they never quit. We might lose, God Help us not to, but quitting is not what Free Men do.
Lock and Load. Now buy a copy of the NT Times, roll it into a club and beat a hippie with it. It will make you feel better and make America a better place.
Happyscraper – You are right. Without parents being involved (not doing the kids’ work, mind you) public schools are nothing more than indoctrination camps.
I tell my kids to not just believe me instead of their teacher, but research the topic and discover the facts for themselves.
It is an individual family choice. For us, it works. Who knows, maybe my kids will open the eyes of some of the other kids in school.
These papers (and all papers) should not be bailed out.
I’ve read JRC papers since I was in Grade School. The company is in deep trouble having gambled on cornering the print advertising market in Northeastern local dailies and weeklies at the same time they should have divested them. The New Haven Register is actually a decent new organization and their ed page ran pretty non-partisan for the longest time.
Slightly OT, but their demise does not IMHO have anything to do with bias (like they NYT) but simply a sea change in how folks get their news. Still no bailout, even if it would break my heart if they failed.
BSR
I don’t believe that public schools just need a little “parental oversight” to make them better, much less acceptable. If you have to have your kids in public school you surely better be involved to catch the lunacy they are feeding your kids.
I have seen good and bad private schools. But, you control which private school your kids attend. If you don’t like it take them out and find a conservative private school.
Isn’t it odd that “oversight” can mean both “mistake” and “supervision?” In the case of the NEA it means both at the same time! English can be such an odd language.
True, and you can also control which public schools your kids attend. When we pulled our kids from private school we sold our house and moved to the best public high school district in the whole area. Top in all test scores and an earned reputation of being one of the academically toughest schools in the state. (This was after eliminating the available private schools through research and visits.)
Well, that shows a laudable commitment to your kid’s education. But you forget that a simple act of redistricting can have your kids going right back across town to the worst performing school in your town.
It is about politics and unions and not about educating kids. Sure, some wonderful people work in the public schools and some kids get educated regardless of the union. You are lucky, but if we conservatives want to make a difference in this nation we need to withdraw from failed public institutions that are systematically engaged in undermining this nation. And by and large, that includes public schools.
WarEagle82 – Your points are all valid. It does take a real commitment to your kids’ education when you deal with public schools. (By the way, we looked hard into the redistricting issue, too. No worries for us, at least through the time our kids graduate.) We are lucky we had this particular district so close to our previous home. Most people aren’t so lucky.
Public schools are not for everyone, but can be made to work IF you commit the time AND do your research.
Why is it when Democrats see something as “their” duty, they always want to use “our” money to do it? If Frank wanted to invest his own money to save the local paper, I’d say “go for it!” It would be like killing two birds with one stone. But, since there is no chance for a profit, he would rather use our money.
Because bailing out newspapers is a win-win situation for politicians, expect it to happen. The politicians will get credit for saving the papers with our money, and the papers will give them free positive press as a thank you for saving them. (They won’t bite the hand that feeds them.)
How will they be able to resist such an arrangement? It’s a win-win for them, but we the people lose a free press in exchange for a bunch of new bank holding companies producing fish wrap with our tax money.
Here in AZ we have charter schools which are funded by the state, based on enrollment, but are semi-private. Parents play more of a roll, smaller classes, basic education without political input.
My granddaughter is enrolled in one and she and her parents love it!! Her school colors are red, white and blue and they say the Pledge of Allegence every am. They have after school “classes”, extras parents pay for, until 6 pm, like computer learning, Cub Scouts and Brownies, music lessons, baton twirling, etc.
As for the newpaper bailout– pulleeese. Next it will be TV stations because they can’t compete with cable. Can’t somebody stop this maddness????
My blog is failing. My ad revenue is flat over the last year. Who can I call in Congress to request a $1 trillion bailout? Anybody got the switchboard number handy?
rightisright, I suspect that the only thing your congresscritters did was turn your letter over to the Secret Service or the FBI. That’s how insular they’ve all become; they don’t listen to anyone who doesn’t
donate tobribe them.Geeze…haeve you heard of JOA’s ? Joint Operating Agreements? In the 1980’s the Detroit News and Free Press demanded one which, gives them a 99 year monopoly on the newspaper industry in Detroit…Not because of unions…This was during Reagan and, we know how much he loved unions…Air Traffic controllers especially. Now the so called, Detroit Free press is down to delivering a print edition 4 days a week. Har, Har de Har Har…Guess that monopoly wasn’t enough for stock-holders, eh?
Oh, by the way…I can’t compete with…
1. Illegal Aliens 2. Chinese 3. Koreans 4. Indians ( The sub-continent) I don’t mind busting my butt for 9 dollars an hour without benefits but, unfortunately…I’m priced out of the market. I guess an experienced worker who can speak english is expendable. I worked for a company that had 4 English speaking U.S. citizens and, 78 En Espanols…3 English speakers got laid off…Feliz Navidad…Our company had a safety meeting and the dude from HQ was surprised 4 of us were not fluent in Spanish. Phoenix is a mexican town and I hope Joe Arpaio kicks all the illegals were it hurts. Right-to-work defines down the abilities of people for short-term profits…What was that quote? Oh, yes…The rich as well as the poor have the right to beg and sleep under bridges…
Unemployment in U.S.; about 18 million…Illegals? About 18 million…Hmmmm.
Just saying…
Looks like a feeding frenzy over bailouts. Everyone wants a piece of the pie. If you got the votes and money for your “patriotic” politican, you’re in. The only loser is the taxpayer. I bet even the local “Mom & Pop” convenience stores will try to get into the action, without much success, I’ll wager. But, like everyone else, they will try. We’ve have had “bailouts” for illegals for years, and it will continue under this new government, at a much higher rate, I’m sure.
One good bipartisan place to look for good information is http://www.votesmart.org/
Their motto might as well be “just the facts, ma’am.” They have a survey for politicians which few answer, collect interest group ratings from anyone caring to give them (my favorite part), and post public statements, links to campaign websites, etc. I look up all the candidates I vote for or against in there.
I believe I have previously expressed the opinion that there would be nothing wrong with passing out pamphlets containing basic, pertinent historical information. Perhaps a timeline regarding the economies of Russia, Cuba, and China would be useful to start. (With more detail than “China. 1960s. Tanked.” or “Cuba. 1950s. Gangsters. 1959. Beginning of tanking.”)
And, since the educational system has come up again, I will again express my intense dislike of the IB program. (Excellent science and math, though.)
Are conservative newspapers having the same problems as the liberal ones?
So called, ” Family Farms” Have been bailed out for years…You know, Like Tyson Foods?
Just saying