"If you were looking for bonus excess despite miserable operations, the best recent example I can think of is Gannett ..."And the story's best comment on Gannett:
"Never a standout in journalism performance ..."Tell us about it.
Monday, October 24, 2011
N.Y. Times Rips Gannett
The Stifled Voice of the Voter
Some very long faces last week in the news editors' offices at the Democrat and Chronicle, when results arrived from the paper's "Voice of the Voter" poll.
It showed County Executive Maggie Brooks and District Attorney candidate Bill Taylor with substantial leads over the D&C's candidates, Sandy Frankel and Sandra Dorley.
You'd think the first and maybe only public poll in the two highest-profile races this year would be front page material, as in prior years.
Instead Editor, and de facto Political Director of the county Democratic Party, Karen Magnuson buried the poll results deep inside the section, on page 6.
You see, there are lots of voters who will vote for a candidate they think will win, perhaps on the basis that the candidate must be OK if a majority is behind him or her. And there are plenty of people who have held back on contributing money until they can get on board with the likely winner.
So Magnuson and company buried the story. As people who exercise power without responsibility can do.
Just a week before, the non-story of the sentencing of the last "robutrad" defendant commanded a front-page story not just about the sentencing, but a complete rehashing of the paper's spin on the robutrad matter.
Which reminds us of another disappointment for the D&C editors in the poll results. Only 8% of those polled expressed no confidence in Upstate Telecommunications Corporation and 33% "weren't sure." This despite the paper's month-long bashing of UTC, as the focus of the latest scandal contrived by the D&C/Democratic Party to slime the Republican administration of one of the best-run counties in the state.
Of course we've only seen the beginning of the D&C's anti-Republican campaign. Gannett doesn't pay those big bonuses for nothing.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
In The New York Times, No Less
Saturday, October 22, 2011
County-Wide Vandalism of Taylor Signs
Apparently word has gone forth from Democratic Headquarters.
Friday we passed along a note from a reader reporting that all lawn signs for District Attorney candidate Bill Taylor had been taken in the night from a main stretch of one Eastside town.
We now learn that in the same time frame it happened all over Monroe County, and is continuing.
No class.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Business Owners Need Not Apply
If you're a candidate and want the endorsement of Sandy Parker's Rochester Business Alliance, holding one occupation could be fatal to your chances: owner of a business.
Few events better illustrate RBA's decline from business advocacy group to Democratic front organization than three of this year's endorsements.
In competitive races, the RBA's endorsement is off-limits to Republicans. No matter what kind of business they own.
Tucciarello is just the kind of businessman whom the RBA was established to serve. But RBA in its current incarnation won't endorse Republicans in competitive races a Democrat can win.
Parker to Tucciarello: "No soup for you!"
Almost unique among Democratic members of the County Legislature, Mr. Beebe is employed in the private sector. Yet as owner of a small business, Mr. Ancello is the one who grapples daily with the issues at the core of RBA's ostensible mission.
No way la Parker and company endorse the Republican in a must-win seat for her sidekick Joe Morelle. Endorsement to Beebe.
Esposito's not merely the Dems' other most vulnerable legislator, but a staffer in the State Assembly, where he serves as Morelle's political bum-boy numero uno. The Master Plan is for Esposito to inherit the Assembly seat once Morelle gets the state sinecure he's been waiting for.
Proprietor of a local professional business versus a staffer in the State Assembly -- source and defender of every corrosive policy hostile to business. Including specific policy abominations that RBA, on paper, opposes. For today's new RBA, no contest: endorsement to Esposito, the Assembly staffer.
Running Scared
From an Eastside reader: "Every sign for Bill Taylor on Main Street in Pittsford village was pulled down last night and taken away."
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
A-Bomb
Democrat and Chronicle reporter David Andreatta last week called County Legislature President Jeff Adair an "asshole."
Andreatta is assigned full-time to troll for anything that can be spun into a hatchet job against County Republicans in an election year.
After Tuesday's legislative meeting, the newsman went looking for a comment about Adair's ruling on a bill introduced by a member. Adair offered no comment. He said he'd release in the morning his letter to the legislator who made the proposal, explaining his ruling. Adair then went into his office. That's when the D&C's man exclaimed, "What an asshole," within earshot of bystanders.
Imagine the dressing down the reporter got from his boss, Karen Magnuson, Editor of the D&C and de facto Political Director of the Monroe County Democratic Party, for blowing cover by speaking in public the way D&C editors talk privately among themselves.
The reporter has since apologized to Adair.
Update: We updated this post to identify David Andreatta as the reporter.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Why I Decline an Interview for Your Endorsement in My Race for City Council
I've Seen Your Bias from the Inside
So there is no confusion in the next few weeks, I want to share my response to the Democrat and Chronicle's request for an endorsement interview. Here's my e-mail to Jim Lawrence, Editorial Board Editor:
-----Original Message-----
From: rich@richtyson.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2011 10:03 AM
To: Lawrence, James
Cc: Kane, Michael G. (Rochester); Magnuson, Karen
Subject: RE: interview schedule
Hello Jim,
Upon further consideration I do not believe I will be making it in to visit with the Editorial Board. After spending a year on the Board of Contributors, witnessing the difference in how Republican candidates versus Democrat candidates were questioned and finally reported, I don't feel it is in my best interest. As I had mentioned to you and Karen both, I find it unfortunate that we have a single paper here in Rochester that just isn't able to not show their bias with regards to politics.
I would be happy to prepare a response now if you like as to why I feel I am not going to be endorsed. That is, unless that is not permitted for choosing not to come in. On the off chance that I am endorsed I will only assume it is because the D&C must endorse a few Republicans each year to "prove" the lack of bias.
As I plan to stay a part of City politics, win or lose, I hope that in the future the Editorial Board will prove that it is able to set aside their personal political feelings and start advocating for what is best for this community. With that said, I do feel that the day of people needing news organizations to explain candidates is coming to a close. With social networking, websites, and the other avenues that people have today to learn more about someone looking to represent them, I feel that the endorsement of a news organization is outdated.
I wish you a great autumn and hope that the endorsement process goes well for you this year. There are many races going on so you will certainly have your hands full. Thank you for reaching out Jim.
Rich Tyson
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
Stand Tall, GOP Legislators and Candidates
Today the main cheerleader for the idea that David Gantt should appoint Monroe County's Public Defender editorializes that candidates for county office should state their position on the process. Thus the D&C serves notice on county legislative candidates that this will be part of their endorsement interviews.
Every Republican County Legislator and candidate should answer: "I will support and apply the law."
You see, the law requires that the PD be appointed by the County Legislature. That's it.
The Democratic-Media Complex doesn't like Republican bodies making public policy decisions. That's OK for public bodies run by Democrats. But Republican bodies are supposed to share decision-making with Democratic constituencies. "What's ours is ours. What's yours is up for grabs."
Today the D&C repeats its contemptible lie from 2008, that Republicans overturned the established process for chosing the PD and did something different that year. A point-for-point inversion of the truth: in 2008 Republicans made no change in the law governing appointment of the Defender.
What upset the newspaper and Gantt was that, back in the 1970s, the then-legislature acquiesced to an elaborate extra-legal contrivance giving Assemblyman-for-Life Gantt, his hangers-on and self-appointed "community leaders" a substantial influence over the selection. That was a change to the lawful process.
The PD appointed in the late 70s stayed on until 2008. That's when the issue came up again, and the legislature rightly insisted on fulfilling its legal responsibility.
It was that insistence on respecting lawful established process that outraged the likes of Gantt,the D&C and other enemies of the people.
Although Republicans got the policy choice right in 2008, they then completely abdicated leadership on the issue. It represents the most shameful episode in the history of the Republican majority in the County Legislature.
As local media spun a false narrative -- that the GOP was usurping a prescribed method for selecting the PD -- Republicans in the County Legislature remained silent and passive, incurring damaging negative publicity. They had the facts on their side as well as the law. Yet the public only heard from crazies like Gantt and the others who disrupted legislative meetings. For reasons still unexplained, the Republicans nearly undermined their own cause and the principle of the rule of law, by saying nothing.
Republican Legislators and candidates: You can atone for the GOP's cowardly performance in 2008. Stand tall when D&C functionaries bully you in endorsement interviews.
"I will support and apply the law."Of course you can solicit public input, hold public hearings and ask for the view of law-related organizations. But they're not charged with responsibility for making the decision. You are.
Your duty is to do the right thing, even if that brings some controversy. If you don't see it that way, then what the hell are you doing in public office?
Experience the exhilaration of standing tall in a blizzard of lies, armed with the truth, being in the right and fighting for it. That's what leadership and integrity in public office are about.
