Sorry local media. Now that Catherine Crabill is the GOP nominee in the 99th House District, you can no longer ignore a story first uncovered by a <gasp!> blogger. Not that the Free Lance-Star will bother giving credit to Timothy Watson, who first uncovered Crabill’s crazy rant. Heck, it’s common for a newspaper, even one as prominent as The Washington Post, to literally steal a story right off a blog and claim the information for themselves.

But since Crabill thinks this whole thing is part of  a Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy™ (Even though me and other CONSERVATIVE bloggers all agree that Crabill’s an embarrasment), she couldn’t help herself:

Crabill also told the convention that she had been “beaten, humiliated and ridiculed” by bloggers who discovered a 1995 newspaper article in which she blamed the Oklahoma City terrorist bombing on the federal government. At the time, Crabill lived in New Mexico.

Right. She claims she was misquoted by The Washington Times (another major player in the Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy™) when she said that the federal government attacked us in 1995. So she clarifies….by repeating the very same thing 14 years later:

Crabill denied making the 1995 statement, but, in a recent posting on her Web site, catherinecrabill.com, she said: “I did and do believe that our government was culpable in the [Oklahoma City] bombing. I am not ashamed of standing with my friends and neighbors in New Mexico from the domestic terrorists known as our own government.”

If that doesn’t scare the crap out of you, maybe this quote from a local Republican will: (emphasis added)

“I’m sick of moderate things. God bless her for saying immoderate things,” said Robert Barlow of King George County. “She believes in the same things we do. She speaks to what we believe. She’ll stand up for it when she’s elected.”

h/t I’m Surrounded By Idiots

Not as bad as The Free Lance-Star running a picture of convicted spy Jonathan Pollard in place of Del. Albert Pollard, or Fox “News” deciding that disgraced GOP Congressman/pedophile Mark Foley is actually a Democrat… but still hilariously incompetent.

h/t The Virginia Democrat

In January, Dels. Albert Pollard and Chris Saxman penned an op-ed in the Richmond Times-Dispatch to tout thier support for ending the biennial budget here in Virginia. Newspapers have had a really tough time keeping up with newer forms of mass communication in recent years. Blogs can be great….but there’s a big difference between an accredited journalist like Sam Stein reporting for The Huffington Post and the daily musings on a site like SLANTblog.

 Del. Pollard on The Daily Newspaper:

Just last week the Richmond Times-Dispatch laid off 59 workers and cut 31 vacant positions. A year ago, the paper had 772 employees. They now have 602.

Five years ago their stock was at $73 a share. Now it is $2.

But the Times-Dispatch is not alone, across this nation; the daily paper is in serious decline.

Earlier this year Colorado’s oldest newspaper, the Rocky Mountain News, has folded. In Washington State, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is now only publishing online.

A report published last fall said that daily newspaper circulation fell 4.6% daily Sunday for the six month (yes, 6 month) period ending September 30. Weekly and community papers are in much stronger shape.

Add on top of this that the newspaper business model is based on high fixed costs (the newsroom) spread over a large circulation base. If the base shrinks a little, the profit drops a lot. While web readership is strong for many papers, no one has figured out how to make any real money off of web based papers.

In a state like Virginia, daily newspapers are the grease that keeps the wheels of democracy running. These newspapers write who is naughty and who is nice, they look at the role of money in politics, they investigate stories and, generally, act as a referee.

Blogs are fine and have done much to push traditional journalism, but bloggers rarely investigate and often are not present where the news happens. Bloggers almost never try to present news in an impartial way.

Sure, most people don’t read daily newspapers on a daily basis, but their impact and reach is far beyond that of what people read daily. This is because much of radio, television and internet news was first prepared for the printed paper – the newspaper.

Furthermore, elected leaders – to a certain extent – moderate their behavior because of the threat of bad press. If there is no press, there is moderating influence.

A national press will always exist to cover the president and congress, but a state press… maybe not.

All this brings me to the conclusion…is it possible that in 4 years we won’t have daily papers in Virginia? What will a gubernatorial race look like if there are no daily papers with dedicated political writers? Sure, blogs might follow candidates around and report when they say something truly stupid, but who is going to look at budgets, taxes and policy proposals? Who is going to separate the rhetorical wheat from the policy chaff?

We live in the information age, but at a time when the whole of the General Assembly’s voting record is online, it is important to remember that more information does not equal knowledge.

Surely, reporting will survive. Perhaps it will be propped up by charitable foundations or some alternative revenue source. But if a new business model isn’t figured out fast, it isn’t just the shareholders who are going to suffer — it is the democracy which keeps Virginia strong.

-Albert C. Pollard, Jr.

I got problems with you people! And now, you’re gonna hear about it. - Frank Costanza (1997)

So much to kvetch about. So little time. Where do I begin? Enough Already with Reality Television With 8.5% reported unemployment (I say reported because the out-of-work number is actually quite higher), fighting wars in two theaters, demand deflation and the curse of AIG and reverse-credit swaps, WE have become cast members in our own reality shows. So why do the network suits think it is a good idea to continue the schadenfreude parade? Fare like American Idol and Dancing With The Stars are fine escapes from our daily drama. BUT THIS?

Cast members of "Fear Is Real"

Fear is Real (Aired on The CW) CW’s horror-themed reality series featured 13 contestants pitted against each other in challenges based on situations from various horror movies. Contestants were eliminated one-by-one until a winner was crowned and won  — yeah you guessed it again — a $66,666 grand prize.

I wonder what lovely parting gifts the runner up received. I checked the CW schedule and this Peabody Award-winner is nowhere to be found.  But be sure that the suits are busy preparing for the next reality show pitch!  And, The Diminishing Relevance of FM Radio This past week marked the end of classic rock programming in the DC metro market. CBS decided to dump “The Globe”; famed local deejay Cerphe; and rotations Queen, The Stones, and Golden Earring; for Kelly Clarkson. We’ve been told that my demographic - the cohort that turns to classic rock to recall its happier and most definitely friskier ‘HFS years - has become totally irrelevant. So, goodbye to you! Goodbye to yoo-oooooooh! My AARP card application arrives in 2 years, and 26 days. Thanks for the reminder! Classic rock on 94.7 was at times narrowly programmed. In the past several months, I’ve probably heard “caught in a landslide, no escape from reality” a few hundred times.  FM radio used to be great.  No static at all. Now? Well, the end may be near.  So near I wonder when the FCC will give up the FM spectrum for dead. And, Toll Roads = longer commutes, more-polluted air, scores more highway fatalities, and really pissed-off constitutents that’ve just missed their kids’ soccer games for the umpteeth time.

Accidents like this one on the Dulles Toll Road are what we could expect if Speaker Howell gets his way.

As Chris Guy reported here yesterday, Speaker of the House of Delegates, His Munificence “Wild Bill” Howell thinks the idea of adding more tool roads in the Commonwealth of Virginia is a really nifty way to increase state revenues. Bill. Dude. You’ve come up with some really wacky ideas but this takes the cake.  It’ll never happen, but I’d love to see you try making this a campaign issue. How ’bout a photo op at the Mixing Bowl during the drive home to disclose details of your master plan?  Hmmm?  Hmmm?

We love Japanese bathroom technology: meet the Hello Kitty! air freshener! Available in sky blue and bubble gum pink!

And…Air Fresheners. We have become a nation of Lady MacBeths totally obsessed with creating artifically-scented spaces.  And worldwide, consumers are on target to spend $8 billion to defunkify their personal spaces. Air fresheners in aerosol cans, air fresheners that double as spring loaded toilet paper spindles, and the mother-of-all-environment management devices, the Diaper Genie. Want to freshen the air in your house?  FOR GOODNESS SAKE, TAKE OUT THE TRASH AND OPEN SOME WINDOWS! That is all. Time for me to go outside and enjoy the fresh air.

WaPo, back in the day...

A fortnightly rant, FL-S style (halftime edition) with a h/t each to Michelle, Jenny, Vic, David, Rob, and the rest of the earnest, hardworking journalists out there working to keep it all real. 

To say the least: 2009 has been terrible for the Fourth Estate.

So far this year: The Rocky Mountain News - Colorado’s oldest daily newspaper run continuously for 150 years - is no more; the Christian Science Monitor and Seattle Post-Intelligencer have dropped their print editions; the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press have curtailed much of their home delivery; and WaPo has axed its business section while whittling down its Style section cartoon pages from three to two.  

Zippy the Pinhead and printers ink will soon part ways.

And Thursday I learned that my friend and fellow snark Rob Tannenbaum just got pink-slipped from his post at BLENDER Magazine which too is dropping its print edition.

‘Tis a shame; Rob’s a truly talented journalist with a lot to say.

Earlier this week, President Obama held his second televised news conference.  But he did not entertain questions from any print journalists.  It was striking not hearing the familiar names from WaPo, or McClatchy or TIME, or even NYTimes bylines.

And could that paragon of the Fourth Estate, the Free Lance-Star, be far behind? Will the brain trust on Amelia Street soon be forced by rising costs and plummeting paid-circulation and print ad-sales to go web-only?  As much as I believe that the FL-S is often an abject waste of precious forestry, I do think that our community would be less well-served if the rag were to go away.

Plus, what fun would life be if occasionally we couldn’t set our snark loose on the FL-S’ blue ribbon editorial team?

Creating a viable, sustainable online business model has proven difficult.  The NY Times tried selling access to portions of its print edition online (for an annual fee of $48).  The experiment proved to be a miserable failure and the program was cancelled.  

Adding insult to injury?  Online ad sales are not at all strong.

While many newspapers use recycled paper content, whole forests are still felled to create their printed words.  In one respect, the planet would be a better (and cooler) place with fewer print media outlets.

But a world without newspapers and magazines?  I fear that if and when that becomes situation-normal (SN), we will be even less well-informed and (AFU).  Our check against government waste, fraud, and abuse will have only token meaning.

We’ve elected a talented and thoughtful man our 44th president, one that truly understands the power and potential of electronic media and social networking.

But if media hold this President and his administration to the level of scrutiny it held his immediate predecessor, then we’ll all be the worse for it.  We’ll all be screwed.

To paraphrase the recently-retired ABC News veteran newsman and reliable skeptic Sam Donaldson: 

Hold on, Mr. President!

Fred2Blue will pass an historic milestone today when it logs its 100,000th reader.  That’s pretty good for a third-rate blog no one reads!

Pretty, pretty good!

To quote those great philosphers and consumer product pitchmen, Bartles & Jaymes:

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Good news. The Culpeper Star-Exponent has joined the Free Lance-Star in opposition to building a Wal-Mart right next to one of the most historic locations in the commonwealth.

Speaking of history, a major corporation is threatening a renowned Civil War battlefield. The Wilderness, where Gens. Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant matched wits in 1864, was one of the bloodiest battles of the war. Today, its hallowed fields are among the most sacred in our nation.

Yet, in the name of all that is wrong with corporate America, Wal-Mart is dead set on building a megastore just outside the Wilderness border at Routes 3 and 20 in Orange County.

For much more on the subject, visit the NO WILDERNESS WALMART blog.

On a conference call with bloggers this morning, campaign manager Mike Henry and senior strategist Mo Elleithee announced the first television ad of the 2009 cycle. This spot will run in the Hampton Roads market.

My rantings directed at the FL-S have been too far and too few in between.  

Since F2B started clogging up The Internets in November, 2007, there seem to have been some improvements in story coverage, fact-checking, and photo captioning at Your Hometown Newspaper.   And the editorials, while sometimes obnoxious, have not been altogether inflammatory.

A ko-inky-dink, we’re sure…

And OBTW, a person with the same last name as this writer - someone who attends grade school, lives in this writer’s house, and is as-cute-as-a-button - has actually been the subject of a feature story on the front page of the REGION section!  With a properly-captioned photo, no less!  

With the exception of this once-Chair of the Stafford Democratic Committee being labeled feisty by the FL-S editorial board, I simply couldn’t get arrested in that paper.

I admit that during the past several weeks and months, I have been lulled.   But all that changed with the lead editorial in this morning’s edition.

Here’s a taste:

Last week, Gov. Tim Kaine proposed “no-excuse” in-person absentee balloting for Virginia. While we’re at it, why not go all the way? Just tell voters to stay at home and text “1-800-layze-77″ for Candidate A, and “1-800-layze-78″ for Candidate B.

That is, of course, a joke. But in this “American Idol” universe, where ease and convenience trump effort and thoughtfulness, the governor could have a popular–yet bad–idea.

To paraphrase Idol judge Simon Cowell: “BRILLIANT! ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!”

And as Idol judge Randy Jackson is apt to say,  just as he’s about to unleash some totally unvarnished (negative) feedback on a flop-sweating contestant:

“Yo’ dog, check it out…”

Now I know our little troll friends in darkened basements across the Commonwealth will read this, their little pulses sent racing.  Without a moment’s hesitation they’ll clickety-clack their rubber-stamp responses on FUG (or here on F2B, or here) on what a bad (liberal) idea this is.

As it is, even though some of them were rug rats at the time, we’re sure they freaked when Congress passed the Motor Voter Bill

My question to the cynics is this:  Why is this a BAD idea?  We live in an area with bad-and-getting-worse commute times, a region the AAA calls the second-worst-in-the-U.S. for traffic congestion and delays.

Shouldn’t we encourage more-convenient voting, not less?

I early-voted in early October.  The process was painless.  And yes, I knew then that I would be out-of-town on business during Election Day (Nov. 4).

There were others early-voting as well.  Many of them retirees.  Some of them drove off in cars bearing McCain Palin bumper stickers.

But, I digress.

Now, the editorial does suggest that the nation should - like Europe (Heavens to Murgatroyd!) - adopt 2-day weekend voting.  On paper, a good idea, but that would require Congressional reworking of the 1845 law that mandates voting “on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November…”

Abandonment of the Electoral College - or a meteor striking the FL-S’ offices on Amelia Street - will happen, sooner than repeal of that 1845 law.

Gov. Kaine has proposed a good plan to encourage more people to vote…more Republicans, more Independents, and I suppose more Democrats.  

And this will make the ‘wingnuts nuts:  early-voting may be best-attained if each state were allowed to come up with its own rules.  Keep the Feds out of it, altogether.

But, what’s it all about, (Paulie)?  What’s got your BVDs in a twist?

We think the sheer success of early voting in this country has you and your fellow Birchers in a tither.  President-elect Obama and  Sen. Mark Warner racked up thousands of so-called early votes.

The mere mind-picture of all those selfish naturalized citizens people - working 2 or 3 jobs each day, one shift to the next - getting the same early-voting convenience afforded every Virginian, so they can exercise the-most-sacred of American privileges…

Just like with Motor Voter in ‘93, I suppose y’all will get over this one, too.

That didn’t take long. Blue Commonwealth has made the blogroll at DailyKos. The Great Orange Satan™ gets around 519,000 visits on a weekday, and somewhere between 14 and 24 million visits per month.