Toledo Talk - The Blade blows it again

From Ace_Face's workspace

The Blade blows it again

As anyone who has ever read any of my posts knows, I am a liberal and a proud one at that. I support Barack Obama for President. But I couldn't help but cringe when I read yesterday's account of The Blade's publisher John Robinson Block meeting Obama on Sunday. Things didn't start off well with the big photo of the two of them on the front page.

And things only went downhill from there:

John Robinson Block, The Blade’s co-publisher and editor-in-chief, greeted Mr. Obama at the front entrance of the newspaper shortly after 2:45 p.m., telling him, “The Toledo Blade is a newspaper that believes in justice and never has supported George Bush.”

and

Before walking up the stairs to the editorial board offices, Mr. Obama stopped to shake hands with several Blade employees and posed for photos with children of the employees.

I believe that in America, a newspaper is free to have an agenda if they so choose. But I think it is egregious for the Blade to have any pretense of being a balanced newspaper anymore. I also think that they are not doing Obama any favors. As I stated before, I support him for president. But everyone needs to stop treating him with kid gloves. The Republican attack machine is just starting to rev up in anticipation of his nomination and if anyone thinks that this is going to be a kinder, softer election than 2000 or 2004, they couldn't be more wrong. Obama needs to take the hard questions so that he is not dogged by the allegation that he was basically ordained by the so-called "liberal media."

created by Ace_Face on Feb 26, 2008 at 09:47:45 am
updated by Ace_Face on Feb 26, 2008 at 09:48:49 am Comments: 37

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Comments ... #

it is egregious for the Blade to have any pretense of being a balanced newspaper anymore.

"anymore"?? Shit, they never were.

But everyone needs to stop treating him with kid gloves.

Damn Ace! Im impressed! This from a liberal no less!! I for one am getting sick and tired of the fact that only black people dare say anything against BHO, or ask valid questions about his past voting record lest they be labled racist.

posted by billy on Feb 26, 2008 at 10:15:18 am     #

I believe that both candidates should be asked the tough questions. And let me be clear: tough questions should be about their political career. Not about why Obama snorted coke in high school or why McCain dumped the wife who raised his children while he was in a POW camp to marry a rich heiress.

Another thing that rankles me about John Robinson Block is that he has nothing in common with the average Ohioan. Most of us have had to work for our living rather than being handed a multi-million dollar media empire. Didn't he claim years ago that he had to move back to Pittsburgh because he couldn't find any suitable women in Toledo? What a loser.

posted by Ace_Face on Feb 26, 2008 at 11:04:35 am     #

The republican attack machine? He should be ready, if he survives the Clinton attack machine. I hope the Clintons hurry up and release the alleged evidence of Husseins' past "indiscretions".
I'm stocking up on popcorn and peanuts for the coming show

posted by CharlieA-Z on Feb 26, 2008 at 11:33:12 am     #

I'd be very surprised if Clintons would release such information, even if they had it. Aside from the obvious irony of such information coming from the Clintons of all people, it is more likely to backfire and hurt Clinton in the long run. And McCain is smart enough to know that he has at least as many skeletons as any of the rest of them.

posted by Ace_Face on Feb 26, 2008 at 11:37:10 am     #

Block likes girls ?????

Are you sure ?

posted by elmahico on Feb 26, 2008 at 11:39:05 am     #

Ace, you're scaring me - a liberal and a conservative agreeing on the national campaign process??

Like you're saying, I could care less about and think the whole monica thing with Bill Clinton was idiocy - but I'd like to hear what Hillary has to say about the pardons he gave at the end of his term. (and dont you dare say "that was Bill, this is Hillary!)

I could give two shits about McCain's girlfriend or that he married a rich heiress - but I want to know why he's such a pussy on immigration.

Obama snorted coke as a young man? So'd I, get past it - but I'd like to know why he thinks live birth abortions are ok with him - http://www.cwfa.org/articledisplay.asp?id=1489&department=CWA&categoryid=life

or why He voted against allowing people to claim self-defense if they used a gun in their home.

For the record, I dont think any one of them is fit to occupy the oval office.

posted by billy on Feb 26, 2008 at 11:42:11 am     #

But everyone needs to stop treating him with kid gloves.

If it appears this way for some, it's probably due to the biggest criticism he'll get--his inexperience. You can attack him for his inexperience, but in the same regard he doesn't have experience making dumb decisions---like forgoing Constitutional responsibilites for Congressional declaration of war.

posted by Chris99 on Feb 26, 2008 at 11:47:21 am     #

I want to know why the fighting in Iraq is wrong, and attacking Pakistan is ok with him.

posted by CharlieA-Z on Feb 26, 2008 at 12:01:06 pm     #

"or why He voted against allowing people to claim self-defense if they used a gun in their home"

Because the people usually shot are NOT republicans.

posted by CharlieA-Z on Feb 26, 2008 at 12:03:31 pm     #

Solely on the basis of height and reach, Obama could take Rosebud 31 seconds in the 1st round.

Obama is a poor man's Jack Johnson.

posted by charlatan on Feb 26, 2008 at 12:50:13 pm     #

To answer CharlieA-Z cuz Osama ain't in Iraq. He's in Pakistan where he is fed information to assist him in evading the US.

posted by holland on Feb 26, 2008 at 01:05:03 pm     #

I want to know why the fighting in Iraq is wrong, and attacking Pakistan is ok with him

Probably because the people that actually attacked us have been living comfortably in Pakistan.

posted by Chris99 on Feb 26, 2008 at 01:08:07 pm     #

Can we get back to bashing the Blade please?

posted by Ace_Face on Feb 26, 2008 at 01:29:40 pm     #

Real quick, what Obama said re: Pakistan on Aug 1:

"There are terrorists holed up in those mountains who murdered 3,000 Americans. They are plotting to strike again. It was a terrible mistake to fail to act when we had a chance to take out an al Qaeda leadership meeting in 2005. If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won't act, we will."

Sounds good to me.

posted by Ace_Face on Feb 26, 2008 at 01:33:51 pm     #

Talk,talk,talk.

This is campaign season. Plenty of talk to go around.

I want to see some ACTION !

posted by elmahico on Feb 26, 2008 at 02:23:30 pm     #

Has the Blah officially endorsed either of them yet?

posted by CharlieA-Z on Feb 26, 2008 at 03:46:40 pm     #

I see the mincing little worm has finally stopped wearing those stupid bow ties. I'll never forget the sheer revulsion that swept over me when I learned that the gorgeous redhead and former toledoan Paula Pennypacker had dated him-presumably to get his support for her mayoral run (it didn't work, since she was a republican).

posted by Darkseid on Feb 27, 2008 at 01:15:33 am     #

Speaking of Pennypacker, she is doing pretty good after marrying a shady local gangs-er,character and moving to Arizona.

http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/2-23-2002-12043.asp

posted by Darkseid on Feb 27, 2008 at 06:58:39 am     #

I see the mincing little worm has finally stopped wearing those stupid bow ties

Looking at the picture, it sure looks like a bow tie to me.

posted by McCaskey on Feb 27, 2008 at 12:32:24 pm     #

Has the Blah officially endorsed either of them yet?

I'm pretty sure the story and accompaning picture basically is the official Obama endorsement.

posted by McCaskey on Feb 27, 2008 at 01:08:37 pm     #

For the record, I dont think any one of them is fit to occupy the oval office.

So Billy, you sitting this one out?

posted by McCaskey on Feb 27, 2008 at 01:10:32 pm     #

Ive still got to decide between the "lesser of two evils" and sitting out...

Right now I really dont know - but right now, the 'big three' that are out there, IMHO NONE of them would be an asset to this country, and if you go out and google the oath of office, I cannot see any one of them saying those few words and being able to mean it...

Ive felt the same way for the last 4 mayoral elections too - when you dont like your choices, what do you do? Sit out or vote for someone you DO NOT want in office simply because you want his opponent in office even less?

It's a tough choice.

posted by billy on Feb 27, 2008 at 01:48:32 pm     #

Please billy, do sit it out.

posted by holland on Feb 27, 2008 at 01:57:22 pm     #

Lesser of two evils is one way to phrase it. While I also don't get excited about either of the big 3, it will come down to beliefs and principles for me.

How do I feel and believe on an issue - how do the candidate feel on them -mark up the scores - vote for who is closest. There will be no contest, I cannot think of a single issue I agree with either Obama or Clinton on.

Sure, its easy to agree on their platitudes, but when inconvenienced with facts, costs, the constitution and liberty, their ideas fail and their "solutions" don't work.

So I will vote for McCain in the general election, presuming he is the Republican nominee.

A have not been in the Toledo area long enough to know Block's history, but the Blade has been far from objective for the years I have lived her.

The A-Hole

posted by TheAssHoleLawyer on Feb 27, 2008 at 02:13:07 pm     #

and lived here.

posted by TheAssHoleLawyer on Feb 27, 2008 at 02:14:07 pm     #

Why earlier today was the Blade's home page running a photo of Barack Obama beside the headline "Chelsea Clinton Campaigning in NW Ohio"? And under Barack's photo it said, "Read full story: Chelsea Clinton comes to NW Ohio."

Now it's changed, but I have a screenshot although no web hosting for it.

***

ALSO, I've received a series of snarky e-mails from Jack Lessenberry -- the ombudsman, you know, the "reader representative" -- this week in answer to my objection of the Blade using its "Bill Clinton Trolls Toledo ... " headline earlier this month.

Lessenberry answered other people's criticism of the headline this past Sunday in the paper and concluded that "trolling" was acceptable to describe Bill Clinton. It was obvious in his piece that he does not know what a "troll" is as used on forums such as this one. So I wrote to him and let him know.

He replied that he was "not concerned with the online community" (which is why I'm sure he wouldn't be concerned with me posting this).

I wrote back and thanked him for his clarification that some readers matter and some do not. He replied that I had misunderstood him; that that's not what he meant.

So yesterday I composed another e-mail regarding my objection to the word, and explaining what readers of a certain demographic interpret the word "troll" to mean.

Lessenberry's snarky answer to me today invited me to write, "for my own amusement," my own dictionary dictating what words are and are not acceptable for news outlets to use. Then he let me know that he speaks four languages, and that the word "trolling" was "perfect" to describe Bill Clinton.

***

I guess when the editorial board finally does print their endorsement of Barack Obama, the headline might as well read, "We hate the Clintons and you should, too."

posted by jmleong on Feb 27, 2008 at 02:59:31 pm     #

Please billy, do sit it out.

And Holland once again proves the caliber of politician she is.

posted by billy on Feb 27, 2008 at 09:37:36 pm     #

Shocker

posted by jmleong on Feb 28, 2008 at 11:10:26 am     #

Aw shucks billyboy - just trying to help you make up your mind. Can't blame a gal for trying.

posted by holland on Feb 28, 2008 at 11:24:23 am     #

BTW have you read The Blade's unprecedented enorsement? This old liberal's heart is just a glowin.

posted by holland on Feb 28, 2008 at 11:25:47 am     #

You know, from the photo, it appears possible that Mr Obama is just about to land a left-handed uppercut hit to the Blockhead's jaw. If so: I APPROVE.

posted by GuestZero on Feb 28, 2008 at 01:14:22 pm     #

I like to imagine that that smile on Obama's face was just as Block told him that the Blade has never approved of George W Bush. Obama must have been thinking "This is going to be like shooting fish in a barrel..."

posted by Ace_Face on Feb 28, 2008 at 02:27:42 pm     #

Obama is an empty slate that people put their own ideas on and think he is the Messiah. He doesn't stand for anything.

posted by Republicans_for_Hilliary on Feb 29, 2008 at 01:21:51 pm     #

Hmmm, seems the real issue with Repubs is that the "empty slate" means that they have no substantive issues upon which they can attack him. As a result they are reduced to a sort of name calling "Barack HUSSEIN Obama" and pictures of this guy in traditional Somali tribal dress and try to conflate the headress with a terrorist turban. Pathetically hilarious! Hard to "Swift Boat" when there is no boat.

posted by holland on Feb 29, 2008 at 01:31:32 pm     #

holland - what are his accomplishments? He was hand fed as Senator in Illinois and has done nothing in the US Senate.

http://www.houstonpress.com/2008-02-28/news/barack-obama-screamed-at-me/

Jones appointed Obama sponsor of virtually every high-profile piece of legislation, angering many rank-and-file state legislators who had more seniority than Obama and had spent years championing the bills.

"I took all the beatings and insults and endured all the racist comments over the years from nasty Republican committee chairmen," State Senator Rickey Hendon, the original sponsor of landmark racial profiling and videotaped confession legislation yanked away by Jones and given to Obama, complained to me at the time. "Barack didn't have to endure any of it, yet, in the end, he got all the credit.

"I don't consider it bill jacking," Hendon told me. "But no one wants to carry the ball 99 yards all the way to the one-yard line, and then give it to the halfback who gets all the credit and the stats in the record book."

During his seventh and final year in the state Senate, Obama's stats soared. He sponsored a whopping 26 bills passed into law — including many he now cites in his presidential campaign when attacked as inexperienced.

It was a stunning achievement that started him on the path of national politics — and he couldn't have done it without Jones.

posted by Republicans_for_Hilliary on Feb 29, 2008 at 02:10:59 pm     #

So? Take him on, on his record or his lack therof. That's fair and democratic. Use real issues. Oh that's right. I forgot. That isn't in the Karl Rove playbook is it?

posted by holland on Feb 29, 2008 at 02:30:48 pm     #

I'm interested in those that say Obama hasn't done anything. What is your prerequisite for Presidential qualifications? The office of President isn't a reward for spending "x" amount of years in Congress. As long as you meet Constitutional requirements, have a platform that most voters like, and (unfortunately) have the ability to raise insane amounts of cash, then you too can be President. This IS America, afterall. What, does he have to wrestle a bear for ya?

posted by Chris99 on Feb 29, 2008 at 02:47:09 pm     #