Quick thoughts this morning

License Plate Publicity (0.00 / 0)

Not to mention that every time Gen. Michael Dubie's name gets in the paper, it keeps the Dubie name front and center, even when his brother Brian, the GOP Gov. candidate, is accomplishing what's usual for him: nothing noteworthy.

NanuqFC
All publicity is good, except an obituary notice. ~ Brendan Behan  

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by: NanuqFC @ Thu Feb 04, 2010 at 06:53:09 AM CST

He's ain't heavy he's my brother (0.00 / 0)

One of the Ten Reasons(#8) Brian Dubie might become governor as put forward by former newsman Chris Graff was his ability to make good use of his brother,the Adjutant General's connections.
http://www.vermontbiz.com/arti...

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by: BP @ Thu Feb 04, 2010 at 07:44:38 AM CST

[ Parent ]

TA did report this (0.00 / 0)

A simple search of the Times Argus and Rutland Herald online archives with the words "Douglas" and "tax" revealed the following.

From the January 31 Times Argus:

His plan would allow a reduction in taxes on average for nonresidential properties (including property above a homestead consisting of a residence and two acres, commercial space and second homes). But it would also effectively mean an increase in property taxes for most households with annual income between $60,000 and $90,000 (the cutoff for income sensitivity).

There is much more:

http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-sear...

The Times Argus does not "swallow" the Douglas administration line. We report the Douglas administration line. We also report the impact of the policy.  

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by: robmitch802 @ Thu Feb 04, 2010 at 11:28:44 AM CST

Any response to this? (0.00 / 0)

I'm glad if the TA has started to do this.

What about the coverage of the gov's budget address?

http://greenmountaindaily.com/...

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by: Jack McCullough @ Fri Feb 05, 2010 at 06:28:02 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Rob, I appreciate the response... (4.00 / 1)

...as well as your pointing out that Porter and his editors finally did come around, but your statement that all you did was "report the Douglas administration line" is ridiculous. It was not reported as "what the administration was saying," that spin was reported as objective fact, not only in the news report initially, but in the follow-up "analysis" also by Porter. The article you cite is dated January 31. What we first objected to, as explained in the original diary, was dated January 20:

Here's the headline from the Times Argus yesterday:

Douglas budget makes cuts, proposes no new taxes

Here's from the Rutland Herald:

Reductions, no new taxes for $150M state budget hole

Blazing message for all to see. Douglas is holding the line on taxes. Even the casual passersby got the message from the stacks in the stores. Too bad it's complete crap.

Now I have some sympathy, sure. As I pointed out in the first piece, at the same time the demonstrably untrue headlines were emblazoned on the front page, your paper's editorial recognized the reality. But that doesn't get you or Porter off the hook of being Douglas's PR mouthpiece in contradiction to simple facts.

And we weren't asking for anything extraordinary. As I pointed out, your colleagues at the AP and the Free Press had no problem reporting the straight facts. No problem at all (Terri Hallenbeck's here, the AP wire report here).

And then, of course, you repeated the "mistaken" narrative in an "analysis" piece on January 25th. The piece you cite is from January 31. It may show up on a simple google search, but the previous 2 articles do as well.

I'm glad you all have come around, but it shouldn't have happened in the first place, and it sure shouldn't have taken all this to get you all to start reporting accurately.

And I have to say, the odd qualification Porter used in his (essentially) corrective piece just came off as petulant. Like he'd been called to the principal's office but was still digging in:

Douglas is proposing reducing the program - effectively increasing taxes - for Vermonters with between $60,000 and $90,000 in annual household income.

"Effectively?" A tax increase is "effectively" increasing taxes? Is that like saying that since it's 15 degrees outside my house this morning, it's "effectively" cold?

Methinks thou dost protest too much is all I'm saying. You folks deserved some lumps on this. Best to take them and move on.

undercaffeinated

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by: odum @ Fri Feb 05, 2010 at 07:46:48 AM CST

[ Parent ]

transferring (0.00 / 0)

Thanks for this. I wonder how many are supporting the guv's newest attempts at transferring wealth upwards from the poor/middle classes to those at the top, which he's been so good at doing all these years.  

When you wake up each morning look around you.  It might be the last time you get to do it.  

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by: Watercloset @ Thu Feb 04, 2010 at 21:11:35 PM CST