Just So Everyone Knows

In the event you listen to or read local news media and you can’t figure out where they are coming from and why; here is a re-cap.

The Daily Astorian is known as a bleeding heart newspaper to some, but I think they just pander to what ever audience they have on any particular day. They are scoop whores, so if you give them the scoop, they are your friend. This is why Josh Marquis gets such good press with them. He tries in cases in the Daily Astorian. He calls Forrester every time he gets a pimple on his ass. Josh knows how to work the press; sensationally. Instead of handling his recent loss of County based funding by negotiation and offering something, or dealing with it in a productive way that would build trust, Josh goes right on the offensive with a headline, “It was like they spit in my face!” Josh is working the media like he always does instead of attempting to find a reasonable solution.

He understands spin and putting people on the defensive. Now the Daily Astorian is asking the County Manager to offer 15% of his salary. Apples and oranges, Forrester! Marquis is employed by the state, Derickson is employed by the County. Scott Derickson is only a messenger who does what the Budget Committee and the Commissioners ask him to do. Forrester have you lost your f-ing mind. You should know better that to try to spin this in Josh's favor. You are way off base. Maybe you are thinking we should throw a 15% tip at the State Police who also do work in this county. Let's not forget the State Parks and Forestry employees. What about all the people who work in the State Building on Marine Drive? 15% for them, too? I think that all the staff of the District Attorney should be employed by the State and the State should pay the County for the court rooms and offices it uses.

Let's say for a moment that maybe all this is about is about people not liking Josh. If you have an entire Budget Committee and a majority of the County Commissioners and County Staff that don't like the DA (throw in a couple hundred blog readers and a couple thousand under-voters), maybe the man is really not wanted here and perhaps he should consider going elsewhere because his presence and credibility is now going to get in the way of the cases he is bringing before the courts. I know that I would have to claim prejudice against the DA if I were selected for jury duty.

Another odd bit about Forrester and Webb, and I’ve mentioned this before, the Astorian endorsed Kulongowski for Governor, but these two endorsed Saxton in the Capitol Press. WTF? You are pandering to your audience, just like the DA.

Next, let’s move onto New Northwest Broadcasters, KAST in particular. This pseudo news organization panders to its conservative base and the dolts that call in on the “I Hate My Neighbor and Everybody is a Jerk” call in show. The host claims to be a Democrat, yet tolerates the Hate Radio format with the racist, (and friend of Josh), Lars Larson, Rush Limbaugh, Laura Ingraham, and that other old guy who has teeth that whistle. This station will support anything that offers advertising dollars, Bradwood Landing LNG for one.

So we have one news paper that can be bought with a scoop and a promise of continuing scoops, and we have a radio station that one can buy with advertising dollars. Everything you hear or read comes from this base.

Just so every one knows.