Dave: Thank you for your well thought out perspectives. Citizens of this country need to Wake Up and Stand up to those who want to tear down our democratic principles and values. Flood your representatives with your letters and calls to stand up for democracy. Please note you will likely get a benign response like I have in writing Senators Grassley and Ernst. I unfortunately received what I expected. However, I did express my “VOICE”! Please express yours!!
He would have fired you if he could have, Dave—recalling his television days. Now, the Republicans have unleashed their monster on all of us, and we can’t turn him off.
Dave, so what’s the answer? I assume you feel as helpless as I and millions of others do. All around us, the fascists are gathered with the tools of modern warfare - intimidation, pain, power, lies, whips, chains, social media. And at each turn, the powerless and the once powerful (the media, the Democrats, the courts), opt to cower and wait, hoping that reason and kindness will eventually prevail. It’s not that I disagree with you, it’s just that the alternative, COLLECTIVE ACTION (boycotts, demonstrations, civil disobedience), may be the only tools left to the oppressed and patriotic.
Cliff, I think boycotts, protests and the like ARE appropriate for many sectors. I simply think in this case, a media boycott puts us into more of an arm wrestling match with Trump than already exists. Nothing would make him happier. The media should be independent, not monolithic. Our duty is to our readers and viewers, not to media competitors. The right move is exactly what’s happening. The AP tried to talk through the issues with the WH communications folks. It was unsuccessful. So, file suit. See you guys in court. Stand up for your rights. Trump is not the only one who can “fight, fight, fight.”
As always, an excellent column, but I must disagree with you about a boycott. All the halfway responsible news outlets must organize a boycott, insisting on AP being allowed to cover the White House. By the same token, it probably won't happen.*
Trump has shown through his long history that he both denigrates the press (remember, he's even lambasted Fox "News" in the past), but he also feels lost when he isn't the center of attention.
Need proof? How else do you explain his long-lasting relationship with Maggie Haberman who he habitually attacks but yet continues to give access to? If the press (yes, I'll grant you they're a disorganized lot) would band together just this once and refuse to cover him, he'd fold.
*It will probably not happen simply because the owners of the NYT, WaPo and who knows else would not allow it to happen.
I will respectfully disagree. Yes, he wants to be at the center of everyone’s universe, but a boycott would play right into his hands that somehow we’re an enemy he needs to fight.
That is not our job. Our duty is to find out what’s happening and report it to our viewers and readers. We can’t do that if we’re boycotting the WH. Our primary responsibility is not to a competitor. It’s to the American people.
The AP has done the right thing. They are perfectly capable of filing a lawsuit and standing up for their rights.
I don’t recall protesting about Mt McKinley at all, either when Obama changed the name or when Trump changed it back a few weeks ago. The mountain is entirely within the US. That’s different than an international body of water that touches many different countries and has had the same name for 400 years.
Right, Dave. If we in the media pick up our marbles and go home,...well, it might feel good initially. But we don't lose. The people lose. It impairs their power to make informed decisions about the future direction of our government.
it seems hardly anyone understands that the press is the public's eyes and ears.
I remember a testy conversation I had with a weekend desk sergeant at the Clinton Police Department many years ago when I was working for the Quad-City Times. He refused to give names of several people arrested in an incident and proceeded to tell me what he thought of the press and how we got in the way of them serving the public.
"Now you know where I'm coming from," he said.
"Okay now let me tell you where I'm coming from," I said
"I know where you're coming from," he said.
"No, let me tell you," I said. "I'm the public too and I expect the same respect as anyone who walks up to this counter or calls on that telephone."
The Clinton PD was in a law center jointly housed with the Clinton County Sheriff's office. At about that time a sheriff's lieutenant came in and said "Hi Pat! Gettin' everything you need?"
The police sergeant went back, got the rap sheets on the guys arrested and threw them down on the counter in front of me. "That's all you're gettin" he said. That's all I wanted.
While I was grateful for the sheriff's lieutenant accidentally or intentionally running interference for me, he was running for sheriff in the upcoming primary election.
Bottom line is, I'm not there to be your enemy or your friend. Not there to rip you a new one or be your personal public relations machine. I'm there to tell folks what's going on.
I did have a newly elected mayor of Waterloo tell me not to go easy on him and hold him to the same standard as everyone else. In my experience that was the exception rather than the rule.
But he understood our job and I really respected that. And when it comes down to respect is what any of us really want, whether we're working the White House or the weekend police beat.
Thanks, Dave. Please stay the stubborn, uncooperative, independent, non-joiner that you are
My wife will confirm that’s quite likely! :)
Maybe the AP should start calling Mara Lago "Grifters Shithole."
Dave: Thank you for your well thought out perspectives. Citizens of this country need to Wake Up and Stand up to those who want to tear down our democratic principles and values. Flood your representatives with your letters and calls to stand up for democracy. Please note you will likely get a benign response like I have in writing Senators Grassley and Ernst. I unfortunately received what I expected. However, I did express my “VOICE”! Please express yours!!
None of us can do it all but we all need to do what we can.
Dave: “You’re BANNED!”
Wouldn’t surprise me…
He would have fired you if he could have, Dave—recalling his television days. Now, the Republicans have unleashed their monster on all of us, and we can’t turn him off.
Dave, so what’s the answer? I assume you feel as helpless as I and millions of others do. All around us, the fascists are gathered with the tools of modern warfare - intimidation, pain, power, lies, whips, chains, social media. And at each turn, the powerless and the once powerful (the media, the Democrats, the courts), opt to cower and wait, hoping that reason and kindness will eventually prevail. It’s not that I disagree with you, it’s just that the alternative, COLLECTIVE ACTION (boycotts, demonstrations, civil disobedience), may be the only tools left to the oppressed and patriotic.
Cliff, I think boycotts, protests and the like ARE appropriate for many sectors. I simply think in this case, a media boycott puts us into more of an arm wrestling match with Trump than already exists. Nothing would make him happier. The media should be independent, not monolithic. Our duty is to our readers and viewers, not to media competitors. The right move is exactly what’s happening. The AP tried to talk through the issues with the WH communications folks. It was unsuccessful. So, file suit. See you guys in court. Stand up for your rights. Trump is not the only one who can “fight, fight, fight.”
As always, an excellent column, but I must disagree with you about a boycott. All the halfway responsible news outlets must organize a boycott, insisting on AP being allowed to cover the White House. By the same token, it probably won't happen.*
Trump has shown through his long history that he both denigrates the press (remember, he's even lambasted Fox "News" in the past), but he also feels lost when he isn't the center of attention.
Need proof? How else do you explain his long-lasting relationship with Maggie Haberman who he habitually attacks but yet continues to give access to? If the press (yes, I'll grant you they're a disorganized lot) would band together just this once and refuse to cover him, he'd fold.
*It will probably not happen simply because the owners of the NYT, WaPo and who knows else would not allow it to happen.
I will respectfully disagree. Yes, he wants to be at the center of everyone’s universe, but a boycott would play right into his hands that somehow we’re an enemy he needs to fight.
That is not our job. Our duty is to find out what’s happening and report it to our viewers and readers. We can’t do that if we’re boycotting the WH. Our primary responsibility is not to a competitor. It’s to the American people.
The AP has done the right thing. They are perfectly capable of filing a lawsuit and standing up for their rights.
And I respect your opinion. I think both of us are of a mind that we don’t have to agree 100% to share the same general worldview.
That is to be welcomed, especially when we see what happens when a political party marches in lockstep behind a lying, thieving scoundrel.
I love your comments about allegations the media coordinates coverage. Or conspires to report stories in a certain way.
As you noted, anyone who's worked in a newsroom knows that's far from the case. Journalists are definitely not that organized! 🙃
As usual, spot on Dave. This is what fascism smells like
Thanks, Dave. DCA is still National to me as well.
Just curious, did you also protest when Obama renamed Mount McKinley?
I don’t recall protesting about Mt McKinley at all, either when Obama changed the name or when Trump changed it back a few weeks ago. The mountain is entirely within the US. That’s different than an international body of water that touches many different countries and has had the same name for 400 years.
One way to help the AP -- Donate to them!
Go to their home page -- top right corner. There is a RED donate button, if a million people donated $20, it adds up folks.
As the hard rock band AC/DC sang -- "Money Talks"
RINO -- Ed
Right, Dave. If we in the media pick up our marbles and go home,...well, it might feel good initially. But we don't lose. The people lose. It impairs their power to make informed decisions about the future direction of our government.
it seems hardly anyone understands that the press is the public's eyes and ears.
I remember a testy conversation I had with a weekend desk sergeant at the Clinton Police Department many years ago when I was working for the Quad-City Times. He refused to give names of several people arrested in an incident and proceeded to tell me what he thought of the press and how we got in the way of them serving the public.
"Now you know where I'm coming from," he said.
"Okay now let me tell you where I'm coming from," I said
"I know where you're coming from," he said.
"No, let me tell you," I said. "I'm the public too and I expect the same respect as anyone who walks up to this counter or calls on that telephone."
The Clinton PD was in a law center jointly housed with the Clinton County Sheriff's office. At about that time a sheriff's lieutenant came in and said "Hi Pat! Gettin' everything you need?"
The police sergeant went back, got the rap sheets on the guys arrested and threw them down on the counter in front of me. "That's all you're gettin" he said. That's all I wanted.
While I was grateful for the sheriff's lieutenant accidentally or intentionally running interference for me, he was running for sheriff in the upcoming primary election.
Bottom line is, I'm not there to be your enemy or your friend. Not there to rip you a new one or be your personal public relations machine. I'm there to tell folks what's going on.
I did have a newly elected mayor of Waterloo tell me not to go easy on him and hold him to the same standard as everyone else. In my experience that was the exception rather than the rule.
But he understood our job and I really respected that. And when it comes down to respect is what any of us really want, whether we're working the White House or the weekend police beat.