[Speed Gibson,
Wednesday May 31, 2006 at 3:12am]
Everybody's a Critic
I note a couple blogs unhappy with the Patriot Insider when Yost and Westover are not on, particularly this past weekend. Frankly, I think the Insider was best in show this weekend, over both NARN and TPL (Strom). Why? Because I learned something.
In the first hour with Tim O'Brien, "Blog House" columnist for the Minneapolis Star Tribune appeared, discussing his approach to his regular Saturday column surveying the Blogosphere. I found it quite informative, with considerable candor about how newspapers are trying to position themselves against TV news and the instant news available online. It's one thing for bloggers to criticize his work. It's better to have Mr. O'Brien expose himself as not all that blog saavy. For someone working in the OpEx world to not know of the Thomas Sowell was disappointing and telling, but not a fatal flaw.
The second hour featured Tammy Lee, Independence Party candidate for the Fifth U.S. District, that of retiring Congressman Sabo. She was well-spoken, but left no question that she was a Democrat, just like all the other Reform/Independence candidates. I heard nothing supportive of Republicans or conservatives. Yes, she wants a balanced budget, but by raising taxes, not cutting spending. Her blind, high opinion of Rep. Jack Murtha was particularly surprising for a "moderate". She also got a couple of basic facts wrong.
This prompted me to think the Republicans may have a tiny chance of winning this seat, as opposed to none at all. Suppose the Democrats get in a cat fight over their candidate, with staffer Mike Erlandson challenging the endorsed Keith Ellison in the Primary. It could be nasty, either way. Disaffected losers will find the Green Party (Jay Pond) and Independence Party alternatives very aligned with their DFL views. If GOP nominee Alan Fine scores even 35%, he's got a small "perfect storm" chance against these three liberals.
Meanwhile, back to the radio, I think fill-in host Dave Eichens (sic?) did a fine job, asking good questions, and keeping the show moving along. I like Mark Yost, too, but Dave is about his equal.
Finally, it is not Yost that I truly miss. It is Patrick Campion who started this show. Campion had one characteristic that I wish other hosts would follow: never let an unfounded premise slide by. He took retiring State Senator and candidate for Governor Becky Lourey apart on Health Care, getting her to finally admit what she really wants: someone else to pay her medical bills.
In the first hour with Tim O'Brien, "Blog House" columnist for the Minneapolis Star Tribune appeared, discussing his approach to his regular Saturday column surveying the Blogosphere. I found it quite informative, with considerable candor about how newspapers are trying to position themselves against TV news and the instant news available online. It's one thing for bloggers to criticize his work. It's better to have Mr. O'Brien expose himself as not all that blog saavy. For someone working in the OpEx world to not know of the Thomas Sowell was disappointing and telling, but not a fatal flaw.
The second hour featured Tammy Lee, Independence Party candidate for the Fifth U.S. District, that of retiring Congressman Sabo. She was well-spoken, but left no question that she was a Democrat, just like all the other Reform/Independence candidates. I heard nothing supportive of Republicans or conservatives. Yes, she wants a balanced budget, but by raising taxes, not cutting spending. Her blind, high opinion of Rep. Jack Murtha was particularly surprising for a "moderate". She also got a couple of basic facts wrong.
This prompted me to think the Republicans may have a tiny chance of winning this seat, as opposed to none at all. Suppose the Democrats get in a cat fight over their candidate, with staffer Mike Erlandson challenging the endorsed Keith Ellison in the Primary. It could be nasty, either way. Disaffected losers will find the Green Party (Jay Pond) and Independence Party alternatives very aligned with their DFL views. If GOP nominee Alan Fine scores even 35%, he's got a small "perfect storm" chance against these three liberals.
Meanwhile, back to the radio, I think fill-in host Dave Eichens (sic?) did a fine job, asking good questions, and keeping the show moving along. I like Mark Yost, too, but Dave is about his equal.
Finally, it is not Yost that I truly miss. It is Patrick Campion who started this show. Campion had one characteristic that I wish other hosts would follow: never let an unfounded premise slide by. He took retiring State Senator and candidate for Governor Becky Lourey apart on Health Care, getting her to finally admit what she really wants: someone else to pay her medical bills.