Election Exhaustion
My inbox is inundated with press releases from every political party, campaign, ballot issue, and candidate. Everyone is making a last-ditch effort to get their message out, or more importantly they are trying to get the message out that their opponents are rotten, lying, and cheating.
Today, I had a ballot campaign call me three times, and send two emails to ensure I would be at their event tomorrow. THREE TIMES! As if I don’t have anything better to do, than waste my entire day planning for tomorrow.
The GOP is slinging some last-minute mud, saying Democratic House candidate Joe Cohenour is campaigning on the job. I read the complaint a Sheriff’s deputy filed against Cohenour and I think it is a pretty far stretch to call this an ethics violation. **(added 10.28.10– I want to mention the GOP staff didn’t comment or editorialize when they sent this information out, they did leave it up to the reporter to determine if it was newsworthy.)**
The Democrats are using their own tactics to make this last week of campaigning miserable for everyone. In the wonderful world of campaign mailers a group called the Values, Energy & Growth PAC (which is indirectly funded by the Democratic Party) is sending out mailers quoting Montana Cowgirl. Montana Cowgirl might be a useful blog for bias, liberal leaning entertainment, but as a credible source endorsing candidates, try again.
This is my first time covering an election, and I must say the dirty campaigning, the ridiculous press releases, and the negativity might make this not only my first election, but also my last. The parties, candidates, and campaigns are exhausting their best and most reliable assets, the media.
It’s sad, depressing, and dis-spiriting, ain’t it…? On the other hand – isn’t it good to see passion in candidates and supporters?!
Marnee – Just wait until January 3rd…that’s when you’ll get to watch some of these elected mudslingers actually try to focus on something other than destroying each other (hopefully NOT destroying the state…aside from Kristi AG who is the political equivalent of a suicide bomber).
I’m sure we’ll cross paths often up there!
Yeah, today the Bozeman Daily Chronicle issued an apology for publishing what they think is a fake letter to the editor attacking JP Pomnichowski’s opponent. Fake letter to the editor writer, and fake blogger both attacking the same candidate in a “swing district” that’s gerrymandered to be that way.
Several years ago JP got attacked with a similar kind of mailer, maybe even worse.
Saul Alinsky’s rules for radicals: “the ends justify the means”. All sides have adopted the rules now.
So, no, it’s not as good to see passion in candidates as it would be to hear answers to the issues from candidates.
so a blog cannot be a quality source of information, really? and why? because it has a bias, and promotes information that supports the writers views? does that alone make it untrustworthy? this is a blog, should I not trust information found here?
Mr. or Mrs. Really?
I have to say I have very little tolerance for people who refuse to pen their name on comments. If you have something to say, have the courage to pen your name. If you read my post you will not find me trash-talking bloggers. I am simply saying a blog, in which the author hides behind a logo of a busty cowgirl, and clearly has a liberal leaning bias, should not be used a credible source for campaign mailers.
I do not discount the value of bloggers, and their opinions. I am saying one anonymous blogger, Montana Cowgirl, has a bias and should not be used by PAC’s as a source.
I welcome your comments, but in the future please have the courage to use your name.
Marnee
I disagree. I think that it’s a given that Montana Cowgirl has a bias. We all do. You, me, her, everybody. The fact that she chooses to remain anonymous is completely irrelevant. Her credibility as a source is purely dependent on the information she provides. If her information proves good time and time again, then she’s a credible and reliable source, busty cowgirl logo or not.
I disagree. Honestly, everybody is biased. You, me, Montana Cowgirl, everybody. That fact is irrelevant. The only relevant fact here is whether or not Montana Cowgirl’s information is dependable. If her information is found to be accurate time and time again, then the fact that she “hides behind” a busty cowgirl logo doesn’t matter. She’s a credible source.
I’d go so far as to say that anonymity makes her a better source. Too often people hide behind the fact that they’re a Doctor or a Lawyer or a Reporter, and instead of providing actual facts and a real argument, attempt to paint the arguments of their opponents as lesser because their opponents aren’t. Montana Cowgirl doesn’t do that. It doesn’t matter if Montana Cowgirl is a 6 year old girl or a 97 year old man. It doesn’t matter if she’s got her law degree from Harvard, or works as a janitor. What matters are the ideas and facts she provides.
If you disagree with her, that’s great. Have the courage to confront her on her ideas and facts, don’t cower behind the fact that she didn’t tell you her name.
First, I simply fail to see how a blogger being anonymous, myself or Cowgirl, automatically means that information or commentary we put forward should be summarily discounted.
Further, to imply that we are cowards is naive. There could be plenty of reasons behind anonymity and, yes, cowardice could be one. But to say it the only one is a simple, unfair characterization. If I had agreed with you, would you have similarly attacked me?
Ok, so… My question to you: you say the Cowgirl, because of her anonymity, is not a good source for PACs but you don’t offer a compelling argument. So, why? Why does her anonymity, in your mind, make the information she posts unfit as a source? Especially when that information comes directly from a “credibly” source?
No doubt this has been an ugly, ugly campaign season marred by personal attack ads, threats of violence, physical attacks on members of liberal organizations and general kook-tastical nonsense spouted on a daily basis. However, 2012 is going to be 10 times worse.