Monday Open Thread 8.26.13
Booman warns us to beware the “Do Something” mantra on Syria:
The problem in Syria is that the opposition is no longer preferable to the regime and the regime is beyond redemption. Until I see evidence that contradicts it, I am not going to assume that Samantha Power is unaware of this conundrum just because she wrote a book condemning historical indifference to genocide in the West. The assumption is that she favors military action because she’s always argued that we should not stand idly by while evil regimes slaughter their own people. But all that tells us is that she is morally opposed to doing nothing when we can intervene at an “acceptable risk.” The problem in Syria is that there are no acceptable risks.
Indeed, it is a no win situation for the US. Edward Luttwak: “It would be disastrous if President Bashar al-Assad’s regime were to emerge victorious after fully suppressing the rebellion and restoring its control over the entire country… But a rebel victory would also be extremely dangerous for the United States and for many of its allies in Europe and the Middle East. That’s because extremist groups, some identified with Al Qaeda, have become the most effective fighting force in Syria.”
The safest course of action is to avoid a no win situation.
VIRGINIA–GOVERNOR–Meyers Research: Terry McAuliffe (D) 48, Ken Cuccinelli (R) 44.
COLORADO–GOVERNOR–Quinnipiac: Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) 47, State Senator Greg Brophy (R) 40, Hickenlooper 47, Scott Gessler (R), 42, Hickenlooper (D) 46, Tom Tancredo (R), 45.
Here is a helpful chart from the Cook Political Report that shows, despite the pundrity, that the Democrats have a pretty clear advantage in next year’s Senate elections.
Recent polling shows that Begich, Pryor, Landrieu and Hagan are all posting very good numbers. The only one I am worried about losing among those four is Pryor’s seat in Arkansas. Meanwhile, I think the Dems will win one of the two Republican competitive seats in either Georgia or Kentucky.
I just heard John McCain having on about making Syria pay. AND ONCE AGAIN, no one asks him how he expects a military living with sequestration and a country that he continues to insist is broke plans to pay for all of this. Seriously, reporters — why in heaven’s name can’t you ask him this?
John Bolton — yes, that John Bolton — looks like he is running for President.
And of course no one in the press corps will be asking this fool how he plans to pay for all of the wars he wants the US to be in, either.
I’m waiting for McCain to proclaim “today, we are all Syrians” and demand “boots on the ground”. If you want a true measure of the failure of the Boomers there is no better example than the endless war that we have stood by and let happen.
Layoffs today at TNJ. Spark and Signature Brandywine both gone; they were big ad vehicles. Entire Spark staff is gone along with 10+ people in advertising. No word yet on main newsroom casualties.
John Bolton? I was wondering how they were going to top themselves after their last primary field.
If we are going to war we must demand a war tax this time. And if it’s not too much to ask, a declaration of war.
That is really sad news re: Spark and Signature Brandywine. Both were decent venues to let people know what’s going on around NCCo at least and there isn’t much that can back fill that function, I think.
Signature Brandywine was nothing more than Delaware Today without similar doctor/dental office penetration.
To me, it appealed to that same Greenville-centric audience. Uh, or maybe it didn’t appeal enough.
Spark, however, will be missed.
I guess that smaller format and paywall thing didn’t work out as it was advertised. Remember how both were supposed to “re-energize” TNJ and provide needed revenue? I bet those who were recently let go remember all too well.
Casualties: 28 total, 6 in the newsroom. Does not include reporter Mike Chalmers, who recently left for a job at UD.
This was part of Gannett-wide cuts that began two weeks ago. The NJ was one of the last papers to make the cuts.
Details at gannett blog.
Here are some comments from Gannett Blog
“Spark was absorbed into the newsroom two years ago. That move, allows the blowhard and biased Ledford to layoff Spark staff and keep what he perceives to be real newspaper staff.”
“Spark had become the last honest, wholehearted effort at TNJ–not to mention the final holdout of print circulation. Exactly where will ads appear when print circulation reaches 0. Banner ads on the website? Hysterical!”
“Was a privilege to bring Spark magazine to the market … It had the chops to stick around for 9.5 years, it unfortunately lost it’s champion in the board room. Good luck to all of you who enjoyed the craft of bringing humor, entertainment, and the weekly pleasant diversion that was Spark Magazine to readers each week. Word.”
“Only someone with a brain the size of a pea would get rid of a publication with an incredible following that is profitable and attracts the age group of readers the paper can’t capture. Another great decision by Gannett. It is very apparent they want out of the print business sooner then later.”
>Reply
No. What’s apparent is they are prepping the newspapers individually for sale. TNJ’s P&L will look much better without Spark and Signature body count.
>>Reply
Who would want to buy these newspapers. Most of them have no copy desk left, no ad design staff left, no web development people, a small circulation staff, a fair amount of them don’t even have a press. If someone were to buy them they would have to spend a lot of money rebuilding everything Gannett has striped from them
I was unable to put any names to the initials that were listed as newsroom casualties at the Gannett blog, although I have a feeling about one or two. Six in the newsroom out of 28 total.
The Courier Post in South Jersey lost its sports editor and Flyers beat writer Randy Miller, who also served as The News Journal’s Flyers guy. Miller covered the Phillies for 16 years for another newspaper group but left to go to Gannett. Less than 2 years later, he’s out of a job.
It seems counterintuitive to get rid of Spark, which was nothing but local reporting (and seemed like an ad magnet to me). I’m sure that there were plenty of people who picked up Spark more often than they ever picked up the actual NJ.