StarTribune.com

I Get Raked — Again

December 17th, 2008 – 8:32 AM

As a columnist, I’ve found that it’s tough to please everyone — I can get 200 angry emails from readers after writing “good morning.” I’ve had to learn to take thoughtful criticism seriously, while laughing at the other kind.

Back in January 2007, Brian Lambert of the Rake gave me an opportunity to exercise that skill when he took me to task for everything from my political views to — you got it — my appearance. Here’s my response:

Readers who think I should be taken down a peg or two will enjoy Brian Lambert’s article in this month’s Rake. It’s titled “The One-Woman Solution: Inside Katherine Kersten’s Red Star Crusade.” Looks like neither Lambert nor my coworkers will be nominating me for a Pulitzer Prize this year. My sins, it seems, are numerous.

Apparently, I’m not too smart — “[D]uring a conversation, you can’t help but be puzzled by the contradictions she doesn’t see” — or else maybe too smart — “another example of a person whose facile intellect and desire to differentiate herself have impelled her to a rarified stratum of thought.” (Naw, Lambert was right the first time. I’m not smart enough to understand that last sentence.)

A second flaw: I should get back to the opinion page, where I belong. Seems I have no place “on the metro pages, where consistently overt, unvarying partisan ideology has historically been discouraged.” (Ah, the good old days before my arrival, when metro columnists were chastely non-partisan.)

Another problem: I’m in league with dark and sinister forces — engaged in a “symbiotic dance of predation” with those journalistic infidels at Power Line.

Then there are the obligatory asides about how a conservative woman looks and dresses. (Oh-so-progressive folks — feminists in all else — just can’t help themselves on this one.) “In person,” writes Lambert, “Kersten comes off as a classic Edina working mother of four, albeit one with a monochromatic wardrobe favoring shades of black.” One tries to imagine a male parallel: “Grow comes off as a classic Minneapolis working father of three, albeit one with a monochromatic wardrobe favoring hints of denim.”

The real sting, however, comes from the words of my two fellow metro columnists. Nick Coleman takes me to task because — unlike him — I’m too partisan. (Think liberals like Coleman? Democratic politicians and liberal bloggers “hate my guts,” says Coleman, “and that’s the way it’s supposed to be.”) Hmmmm.

Doug Grow thinks a better hire for my position would have been someone “who actually live[s] in the exurbs” and practices “that kind of red-state lifestyle.” Huh? “Someone who rides ATVs on the weekend and goes deer hunting.” It’s true: I have never (in Lambert’s words) “field-gutt[ed] a twelve-point buck.”

So ya got me on that one, guys. If Strib management ever decides you’re right, I’m history. Guess I’ll just pack up my F-150, head for the hills, and divide my declining years between the ice house and the duck blind.

162 Responses to "I Get Raked — Again"

BornDemocrat says:

December 17th, 2008 at 8:52 am

The problem with Brian Lambert is: Who gives a crap? He’s a nobody. He’s so far off the map, that I’d hear what anyone on the planet has to say before I consider anything from his mouth or typewriter.

This insignificant worm knocked KK around again. Why? Who would even know? I know no one who reads his tripe. I’d more insight on the world each day by checking to see the color and position of my daily dump, than reading anything this buffoon has to offer.

So I guess I’m saying, KK, don’t sweat BL. A BM is much more satisfying.

Evil Baby Fauvel says:

December 17th, 2008 at 9:05 am

Here is the text of my letter to the Strib:

Good morning,

I write today to express my extreme displeasure with your decision to eliminate Katherine Kersten’s Think Again column and blog.

As a regular poster to Katherine’s blog and a subscriber to your paper, I find your decision baffling. At a time when newspapers are struggling with reduced subscription readership, I would think that a columnist whose work generates countless visits to your website would be the last you’d want to abolish.

I rarely agree with Katherine – which is exactly why I read her columns and participate in her blog almost daily. Her work forces me to reexamine my own beliefs and revisit the reasons for them. The spirited debate seen on her blog is a rare gem in a cyberspace cluttered with mediocre, bland and useless blogs. Absent Katherine’s commentary, I would have little reason to visit your website; I would certainly visit is far less frequently than I do today.

How many blog writers can boast of a readership as wide as Katherine’s? She attracts readers of many different faiths (and of none), political persuasions, schools of thought and ethnicities. She draws readers from across the country – and from around the globe. She brings people to your website, traffic you’d not otherwise see. You employ no other columnist or author who comes close to generating the controversy that Katherine does – even Nick Coleman, whose work I also enjoy, doesn’t come close – and the resulting visits to your site.

If your objective is to dumb down your product, you’re off to a good start. Thoughtful readers will notice the absence of work that compels them to “Think Again.” These readers will go elsewhere to find the dialog and debate they crave.

But if your objective is to increase, or even retain, readership, especially online (the direction your industry is headed), please reconsider your decision.

Thank you.

Evil Baby Fauvel

Evil Baby Fauvel says:

December 17th, 2008 at 9:15 am

I wanted to be sure everyone sees my response to JonR’s post from yesterday, so I’m reposting it here:

Frankly, I’d prefer a blog run by an enlightened writer who believes that every American has the same civil rights as KK and her spouse enjoy.

From my perspective, the important thing is that we all come here for something. Some of us come here to debate; others to fight; others just to drop in now and then and see what’s going one.

The important thing is that we are a community. It’s a community to which I’ve enjoyed belonging. It’s a community I will miss if we are unsuccessful with our protest.

To me, it doesn’t matter whether you think Katherine is an Ernest Hemmingway or a hack. It doesn’t matter whether you agree with her all the time, some of the time or never.

What matters is that she has been the impetus for the establishment of a community of readers and posters. This community is special to me for many reasons. And that is why I believe Think Again is worth fighting for.

Greg63 says:

December 17th, 2008 at 9:48 am

Here’s the text of my letter to the strib:

To whom it may concern:

You need to keep KK’s columns and especially the blog. It’s the one place where folks of all backgrounds come together and find answers, or more clearly define their thought .. with the exception of D2.

Another thing you may want to consider is that we found a tank.

With that in mind you’d best change your minds.

Sincerely,

Greg63

P.S. GO is coming with.

Deacon Blues says:

December 17th, 2008 at 10:04 am

Heres my letter to the editor,

Star Tribune
Letter to the Editor
RE: Katherine Kersten’s Blog
12/16/2008

To Whom it may concern,

Get FV(KED.

Sincerely yours,

Deacon Blues.

GO saha says:

December 17th, 2008 at 10:18 am

“Kersten comes off as a classic Edina working mother of four, albeit one with a monochromatic wardrobe favoring shades of black.” One tries to imagine a male parallel:”

Johnny Cash
Roy Orbeson
Blues Brothers
Bat Man
Darth Vader

GO saha says:

December 17th, 2008 at 10:28 am

Here’s my leter to the editer:

Can you find me a photo of a cannibal Polar Bear.
What? You can’t? Then why don’t you shut up your fat face? Stupid head.

Sincerely yours,

GO
(The Misbehaviorererer)

Greg63 says:

December 17th, 2008 at 10:29 am

So few words, so much meaning.

That’s beautiful Mark.

God says:

December 17th, 2008 at 10:32 am

Brian Lambert? The supposed adult who’s still doing a kid’s job - going to kids concerts?

If the Strib let’s her go, at least Katherine probably has better job prospects than most. As one of the few intelligent conservatives in the state and one of the even fewer good writers, she should be able to hook on with the Pawlenty administration or take Cheryl Yecke’s long-absent job as Senior Distinguished Fellow For Education at the Center for the American Experiment. Yecke’s infamous essay on genocide in which she had the Tutsis slaughtering the Hutus shouldn’t be hard to top.

GO saha says:

December 17th, 2008 at 10:38 am

Here’s my follow up letter to the editer:

My THeRapist sAys Due to yOur irrashunal fIriNg oF Kersten I cAn NoT Be HALd RespOnSIblE If EyE faLL oFf My Meds AGain anD SomEOnE GeTS HUrt, AgaIN.
CaNiBaaal poLAr BeARs..TheYRE EverYWeAr…AhaAHAaAHAHAahaHAHAAhAAHHHH

SiNcCCereEly yOu’rEs,

GO
(The Misbehaviorist)

Greg63 says:

December 17th, 2008 at 10:40 am

““Kersten comes off as a classic Edina working mother of four, albeit one with a monochromatic wardrobe favoring shades of black.” One tries to imagine a male parallel:”

Johnny Cash
Roy Orbeson
Blues Brothers
Bat Man
Darth Vader ”

You forgot …

The Shadow

Downtown Dan says:

December 17th, 2008 at 10:43 am

Here’s my letter to GO:

Can you find me evidence of a God?
What? You can’t? Then why don’t you shut up your fat face? Stupid head.

Sincerely yours,

DD

tiny litess says:

December 17th, 2008 at 10:43 am

“The White Shadow”?

I loved that show!!!!

Deacon Blues says:

December 17th, 2008 at 10:49 am

Letter to Downtown Dan,

Shut the hell up about global warming. No one likes a gloabl warming bully. Go join green peace and save a whale.

Sincerely,

Deacon Blues

Deacon Blues says:

December 17th, 2008 at 10:51 am

The basketball show Tiny?????

I thought you hated basketball?

Greg63 says:

December 17th, 2008 at 10:52 am

““The White Shadow”?

I loved that show!!!!”

You liked that Ken Howard guy didn’t you ..

Deacon Blues says:

December 17th, 2008 at 11:04 am

“Well I’m not the kind to kiss and tell
but I’ve been seen with Farah.
I’ve never been with anything less than a nine so fine.
I’ve been on fire with Sally Fields
gone fast with a girl named Bo
but somehow they just don’t end up as mine.
It’s a death-defying life I lead
I take my chances.
I die for a livin’ in the movies and T.V.
but the hardest thing I ever do
is watch my leadin’ ladies
kiss some other guy
while I’m bandagin’ my knees.

I might fall from a tall building
I might roll a brand-new car
’cause I’m the unknown stuntman
that made Redford such a star.

I’ve never spent much time in school
but I taught ladies plenty.
It’s true I hire my body out for pay (hey, hey).
I’ve gotten burned over Cheryl Tiegs
blown up for Raquel Welch
but when I end up in the hay it’s only hay (hey, hey).

I might jump an open drawbridge
or Tarzan from a vine
’cause I’m the unknown stuntman
that makes Eastwood lookes so fine.

They’ll never make me president
but I’ve got the best first ladies.
Some days I’ve got’em as far as the eye can see.
A morning dive with Jackie Smith
I crash in the night with Cheryl
but in the end they never stay with me.

I might fall from a tall building
so Burt Reynolds don’t get hurt
I might leap a mighty canyon
so he can kiss and flirt.
While that smooth talker’s kissin’ my girl
I’m just kissin’ dirt

yes I’m the lonely stuntman
that made a lover out of Burt.”

You guys ever watch The Fall Guy with Lee Majors?

GO saha says:

December 17th, 2008 at 11:14 am

“Can you find me evidence of a God?”

Downtown Danno,
I knew it! I knew it all along! Thanks for verifying that Globull Warming is a religion. So much for government funding. Seperation of church and state, ya know.

No I can’t find you evidence of a god. But then again, I don’t have 150 years of statistics, color graphs, a 3rd grade plagerized and exagerated slide show, a washed up has been prophet, or a photo of cannibal Polar Bears either.

ASS

tiny litess says:

December 17th, 2008 at 11:14 am

“I thought you hated basketball?”

Larry Flash Jenkins was on that show. Plus I kept waiting for some black kid to stab the white coach….This was pre-rap you know.

DJ says:

December 17th, 2008 at 11:17 am

A lot of Golden Gems this morning. Well done guys.

One editing note for Greg’s letter. You may be more effective if you remember the pee filled shoes and “products” from D2 home supply…

tiny litess says:

December 17th, 2008 at 11:17 am

DT Dumb

God didn’t make the little green apples, and it don’t rain in indianapolis in the summer time.

dubble_a_ron says:

December 17th, 2008 at 11:28 am

Here is the text from the letter i just sent to the Strib:

Dear Editors,
It saddens me to hear that you have dismissed Katherine Kersten and are retiring the Think Again blog.

I rarely agreed with her opinions. In fact your Opinon page once printed a terse rebuttal I wrote to one of her Muslim fearmongering pieces. However my mind is more stimulated by reading opinions I disagree with than it is by those I agree with and I am drawn to read Katherine’s opinions the way one feels compelled to wiggle a loose tooth. I have spent countless hours reading and or posting on the Think Again blog. The content people upload there runs the gamut from profane to sophomoric to profound and while sometimes it’s discouraging to read the mean things people say it has been fascinating to witness the spectrum of opinion displayed there and to see some of the regular characters develop their written voice.
I can frankly say that Think Again is the only reason I ever thought to navigate to the Strib’s website. Once I was there I would read news articles on the home page and (most importantly to you) get exposed to your advertising content. Let’s face the facts, though. Your website is poorly designed and glitchy, with not enough horsepower to display content promptly and there are many online news outlets that do a better job. Without the Think Again blog I won’t have much reason to go to your web site any more, and ergo will no longer be exposed to the advertising content therein. That’s the way the cookie crumbles, I guess.

Sincerely,
dubble_a_ron

PuzzledPete says:

December 17th, 2008 at 11:29 am

A couple of things. First, to the folks complaining that Katherine Kersten’s column is getting cut — reality check. She’s been offered a buyout, which means the choice to leave is hers.

Second, this blog is proof of why newspaper should get rid of blogging and seriously consider getting rid of columnists in general if they cannot or willnot produce content of value. In an industry facing ruination and financial collapse, there’s got to be something more substantial to write than this self-indulgent pity party. How does this serve the audience — any audience — in any way?

Isn’t one of the baseline rules of being a columnist is that you suck it up when you are criticized? That getting to be a critic for a living means you have to accept criticism.

Setting that aside, the American Right spent years painting the Left as the party of victim-based thinking. What is this column other than an attempt to paint herself as a victim? Oh, boo-hoo big bad columnists are picking on little old me.

It isn’t even wise for self serving purposes. If she takes the buyout, she’ll eventually have to find a job — and here sits a string of blog posts where she actively bites the hand that feeds her.

The only logic I can see for “The Long Goodbye” is a cynical attempt to poison the well and develop an audience that follow her to whatever blog she’s already secretly signed on with,

Greg63 says:

December 17th, 2008 at 11:33 am

“God didn’t make the little green apples, and it don’t rain in indianapolis in the summer time. ”

Actually, it has rained in Indianapolis in the summer time if you go purely by the seasonal charts (i.e., equinox, solstice, etc.).

In some instances, it’s difficult to comprehend where little green apples really come from since the potential of them growing where they do is unexplainable unless you’re willing to do some theory on root systems.

tiny litess says:

December 17th, 2008 at 11:36 am

“In some instances, it’s difficult to comprehend where little green apples really come from since the potential of them growing where they do is unexplainable unless you’re willing to do some theory on root systems. ”

Johnny Appleseed, the pie eaten kind.

Maybe that genius PuzzledPete knows.

Greg63 says:

December 17th, 2008 at 11:38 am

Hey PuzzledPete ..

How many times per day are you referred to as a moron?

If you can’t give an answer then it’s obviously not enough.

So .. to initiate your training, may I begin with:

PP is a moron.

You may thank me later with generous amounts of cash.

DJ says:

December 17th, 2008 at 11:40 am

Petey, so she shouldn’t be allowed to defend herself from other writers who write entire articles dedicated to mocking her? That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever read. And her audience is saddened by her departure, in case you haven’t noticed.

Deacon Blues says:

December 17th, 2008 at 11:42 am

“She’s been offered a buyout, which means the choice to leave is hers.”

Neeyuck yuck yuck….

Thats a good one. Take the buy out or we fire you. A real MN passive aggressive way of saying get out.

mthalo says:

December 17th, 2008 at 11:42 am

The cannibal polar bears story is just another distraction fabricated by Rham Emmanuel to divert attention fron the
Blageovich/Emmanuel/Obama seatgate scandal.

So is the Iraqi shoe throwing incident.
100 blog dollars says those shoes can be traced back to the Fall 2008 mens footwear collection at Marshall Fields.

Deacon Blues says:

December 17th, 2008 at 11:45 am

“Second, this blog is proof of why newspaper should get rid of blogging and seriously consider getting rid of columnists in general if they cannot or willnot produce content of value.”

Great, another self ritcheous bloviator.

“How does this serve the audience — any audience — in any way?”

Ive learned a lot from this blog. Mainly that gay assembly line workers arent immune from racizm.

Greg63 says:

December 17th, 2008 at 11:45 am

“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever read. And her audience is saddened by her departure, in case you haven’t noticed. ”

DJ .. I’m just guessing that D2 has at least gone par on that first ‘challenge’.

tluck says:

December 17th, 2008 at 11:46 am

“She’s been offered a buyout, which means the choice to leave is hers.”

Let me guess. School teacher or an employee of some other government entity.

Your not puzzled Petey. You funny!!!

tiny litess says:

December 17th, 2008 at 11:49 am

I’m goin’ to take the pipe….

DJ says:

December 17th, 2008 at 11:54 am

That’s true Greg. I shouldn’t be so mean to Petey. I guess i’ll just say it’s the dumbest thing I’ve read all day.

Better?

Wait, I read one D2 comment today… hmm… I think Petey’s comment was still dumber.

Greg63 says:

December 17th, 2008 at 11:55 am

““She’s been offered a buyout, which means the choice to leave is hers.””

Or she’s been offered a salary that is only 65% of what she currently makes and will be given a position which is considerably less than her abilities. This also relieves any current ‘bonus’ potential’s based upon circulation increases on the web or paper which she is/was responsible for.

A ‘buyout’/layoff on the other hand will typically provide 3-6 months of full salary and benefits as-well-as potential use of services for new job search.

Of course, she could also have a contract which provides the outcomes which would be commensurate with what was listed above.

Now ask what’s really driving it and I’ll tell you that the readership of Nick is going down while the outrage of KK grabbed attention.

Because of the current regime, they’re going for the ‘fairness’ doctrine vs. the wise business choice and removing both as-well-as anyone else who might have the slightest affiliation to an ‘opinion’ page.

In short, they’re morons such as yourself and I’d bet you’d all buy each other drinks at some yuppy establishment while munching on those 3-day-old mini taco’s you got at half-price and thought were such a good idea until the next morning when you’re stuck on the pooper praying to the God(s) of your choice to make it end …

.. and you’re fresh out of TP.

PP is a moron. (That’s two)

tiny litess says:

December 17th, 2008 at 11:57 am

GO’s old Mug Shot

.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/1217081mugyear5.html

Greg63 says:

December 17th, 2008 at 11:57 am

Hmm ..

D2 ..

PuzzledPete ..

P2?

D2 and P2 .. yes!

Greg63 says:

December 17th, 2008 at 12:02 pm

Tiny ..

Was that when he had a van?

mthalo says:

December 17th, 2008 at 12:06 pm

“Second, this blog is proof of why newspaper should get rid of blogging and seriously consider getting rid of columnists in general if they cannot or willnot produce content of value. In an industry facing ruination and financial collapse, there’s got to be something more substantial to write than this self-indulgent pity party. How does this serve the audience — any audience —in any way?”

The industry is facing ruination because, some time ago, newspapers decided it was their job to make the news, instead of reporting it. Objectiveness, and as a result, credibility got replaced with sensationalism and partisanship. Katherine’s column served as a counterpoint to the editorial position of every other writer
and editor at the Star-Tribune. Without that counterpoint, the paper ceases to remain a new source I’m willing to trust.

If Katherine seems self indulgent to you, perhaps you should take a look at the bigger picture, and see if that’s a reflection of the entire industry.

I’ll leave it to you to figure out why I blog here. If you can’t, come back and ask me.

Downtown Dan says:

December 17th, 2008 at 12:07 pm

Letter to Downtown Dan,

Shut the hell up about global warming. No one likes a gloabl warming bully.

But apparently you have no such problem with the denialists pushing their nonsense on a daily basis, long after I dropped the issue. You strike me as an example of an idiot sports ref; only flag the one that strikes back.

Greg63 says:

December 17th, 2008 at 12:14 pm

“You strike me as an example of an idiot sports ref; only flag the one that strikes back.”

Actually, I don’t think he’d throw any flags becuase lets face it ..

Watching the fights is fun so why stop it?

It’s all about common sense!

mthalo says:

December 17th, 2008 at 12:18 pm

“But apparently you have no such problem with the denialists…..”

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

mthalo says:

December 17th, 2008 at 12:21 pm

“But apparently you have no such problem with the denialists…..

Thhhhupppt!

The sound of methane being released.

mthalo says:

December 17th, 2008 at 12:23 pm

“But apparently you have no such problem with the denialists…..

Pheew!

The sound of carbon dioxide being released shortly after the methane.

dubble_a_ron says:

December 17th, 2008 at 12:24 pm

“The [newspaper] industry is facing ruination…”

Indeed. But judging from yesterday’s posts they might face urination first….

GO saha says:

December 17th, 2008 at 12:24 pm

I’m giving up my quest for the elusive cannibal polar bear photo. Seems I have been, unknowingly, questioning SOME peoples religous beliefs. Seems THESE people think it is fine for the government to use public tax dollars to proselytize.

I’m gonna wait for the cannabal Democrat photo. There should be plenty real soon.

Deacon Blues says:

December 17th, 2008 at 12:32 pm

“But apparently you have no such problem with the denialists pushing their nonsense on a daily basis, long after I dropped the issue. You strike me as an example of an idiot sports ref; only flag the one that strikes back.”

Its because they are funny. You are not.

Former Carrier says:

December 17th, 2008 at 12:40 pm

Hi, all,

Many thanks to those who wrote letters to the editor!

Buyout, shmuyout. She’s being booted.

My next step will be to find the news stories and other blogs that accept comments, and tie some real comment on the issue to Katherine, for instance: “Watch out for black ice on the roads, and the black ice in the hearts of the STrib managers who dared let Katherine Kersten go.”

Evil Baby Fauvel says:

December 17th, 2008 at 1:13 pm

Here is the response I received from Nancy Barnes at the Strib:

Dear Evil Baby Fauvel,

Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments. We are making several changes to our columnist lineup to bring some fresh voices to the metro pages, not to silence any perspective or criticism. We have offered Katherine another writing job in the newsroom at the same pay, and if she doesn’t want to do that, we have asked her to write a standing column for our editorial pages should she choose and that will also appear online. I agree that a diversity of opinion is good for everyone, and good for Star Tribune.
Thanks again for writing.

Best,

Nancy Barnes

Editor

So, Katherine is not being “booted” or laid off. She’s being asked to move to another assignment. When I go back and read what Katherine posted, I note that she didn’t lie (emphasis added):

I’ve been informed that my services as a columnist are no longer needed at the Star Tribune. In the near future, Think Again will have to close up shop.

Still, I feel a little misled by the omission of that tiny but oh-so-important factoid that Katherine has been offered other work at the Strib.

My question now is what this means for the Think Again blog, which I do hope will continue. Does Katherine want to keep authoring Think Again and, if so, will she be allowed to keep it at the Strib? If not, would she be interested in moving it to another blog host? Is she going to accept the Strib’s offer of a change of assignment, or walk away from it all?

As you can read in her reply to me, Nancy Barnes focused on Katherine remaining at the Strib and not what will happen to Think Again – though I note that Katherine herself said that “Think Again will have to close up shop.” Barnes says that Katherine’s writing will “appear online,” but that doesn’t mean it will be as a blog. If it’s not a blog, at best we’ll have the option to “leave a comment” (at least when that feature is enabled; sometimes they turn it off).

I hope that there’s a way we can keep the blog going, even if the content Katherine posts there never makes it into an actual article.

At least Katherine has a job offer!

Greg63 says:

December 17th, 2008 at 1:21 pm

What the heck? I never got a response!

See, it’s because of my hairstyle. Everyone ignores the long-hair guy.

GO saha says:

December 17th, 2008 at 1:36 pm

Here is the response I received from Nancy Barnes at the Strib:

Dear GO,

Thanks so much for your disturbing comments. We are making several changes to our Security and have filed for a restraining order against you. You will be placed in a police lineup if we catch you withing 500 feet of this address. It is not to silence any perspective or criticism, we just find you creepy. We have offered Katherine round the clock body gaurds, FYI. I agree that a diversity of opinion is good for everyone, and good for Star Tribune but you, GO take it to another level that, we at the strib beleive, is going to lead you to be commitable to the funny farm. Polar Bears Rule.

Thanks again for writing.

Best,

Nancy Barnes

Editor

P.S. Lose my number.

Deacon Blues says:

December 17th, 2008 at 1:41 pm

Dear Greg63,

We at the Star Tribune editor’s office have a long standing policy of ignoring long haired aging hipsters. So go fly a kite. Or take ahick. Its up to you.

Sincerely yours,

Nancy

Deacon Blues says:

December 17th, 2008 at 1:41 pm

Dear Greg63,

We at the Star Tribune editor’s office have a long standing policy of ignoring long haired aging hipsters. So go fly a kite. Or take a hike. Its up to you.

Sincerely yours,

Nancy

Deacon Blues says:

December 17th, 2008 at 1:41 pm

Dear Greg63,

We at the Star Tribune editor’s office have a long standing policy of ignoring long haired aging hipsters. So go fly a kite. Or take a hike. Its up to you.

Sincerely yours,

Nancy

dubble_a_ron says:

December 17th, 2008 at 1:43 pm

I got the same email from Nancy Barnes that EBF did.

Greg63 says:

December 17th, 2008 at 1:44 pm

In triplicate?

GO saha says:

December 17th, 2008 at 1:44 pm

cars manuvering in portland snow.

*ttp://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-164378

Deacon Blues says:

December 17th, 2008 at 1:45 pm

Badee Badee Badee, Thats All Folks!!!

GO saha says:

December 17th, 2008 at 1:46 pm

“I got the same email from Nancy Barnes that EBF did”

Did she address you as EBF or Dubble-a-ron.

mthalo says:

December 17th, 2008 at 1:46 pm

“Time names Obama ‘Person of the Year’”

Repeat after me,

Adolf Hitler
Josef Stalin
Nikita Krushchev
Richard Milhous Nixon
Ayatullah Khomeini
GEORGE W. BUSH
Barack Obama

Deacon Blues says:

December 17th, 2008 at 1:48 pm

You forgot Bin Laden

Greg63 says:

December 17th, 2008 at 1:51 pm

Dear Nancy,

Those bald spots aren’t from some disease your hypochondriac young @ss is fretting about.

It’s justice from above brought down to remind you that long-haired hipsters shouldn’t be ignored and stuff.

Get your poop-in-a-group and keep everything the way it is. You might also want to take that old hooka out of the attic and reconsider your ‘fresh’ idea crap.

Peace,

Greg63

P.S. That tank with naked polar bears isn’t a figment of your imagination .. nor are the pea-filled shoes and phallic symboled ‘D2′ projectiles.

GO saha says:

December 17th, 2008 at 1:51 pm

“Time names Obama ‘Person of the Year’”

Come they told me, Barack Obama,
A new born King to see, Barack Obama,
Our finest gifts we bring, Barack Obama, To lay before the King,Barack Obama, Barack Obama, Barack Obama,

So to honor Him, Barack Obama ,
When we come.

Little Baby, Barack Obama,
I am a poor boy too, Barack Obama,
I have no gift to bring, Barack Obama,
That’s fit to give the King, Barack Obama, Barack Obama , Barack Obama ,

Deacon Blues says:

December 17th, 2008 at 1:53 pm

I guess Bin Laden didnt win. I thought he did.

dubble_a_ron says:

December 17th, 2008 at 1:55 pm

“Did she address you as EBF or Dubble-a-ron”

Actually now that I go back and read it, mine was a little different. It didn’t start out “Dear” anything, and there were other subtle differences. Here is the text of the email I got:

Thanks so much for your comments. We are making several changes to our columnist lineup to bring some fresh voices to the metro pages, not to silence any perspective or criticism. We have offered Katherine another writing job in the newsroom at the same pay, and if she doesn’t want to do that, we have asked her to write a standing column for our editorial pages should she choose. I agree that a diversity of opinion is good for everyone, and good for Star Tribune.

Thanks again for writing.

Best,

Nancy Barnes

Editor

See the difference?

EBF’s comments are thoughtful.
I guess mine aren’t.

Nancy must not have deemed it thoughtful for me to point out (in so many words) that their web site sucked and I probably wouldn’t go to it any more once Think Again was gone, and that it might have an implication for advertising revenue.

GO saha says:

December 17th, 2008 at 1:56 pm

hey, i think mullet boy is losing it.

DJ says:

December 17th, 2008 at 2:03 pm

Greg, no more talking to GO. He’s a bad influence on you.

-Mom

Deacon Blues says:

December 17th, 2008 at 2:04 pm

Obama picked Sen. Salazar from CO as his Sec. Of the Interior. I guess he is a rancher and has connections to minning interests. I love it. A BIIIIIG FU to the Sierra Club.

Dear Sierra Club,

Thanks for taking time out of your busy computer game and bong toking schedule to do all that knocking on doors. Without you I wouldnt have been able to get elected president. I hope you like my pick for Sec of the Interior.

Sincerely yours,

Barack.

PS, Get FV(KED

dubble_a_ron says:

December 17th, 2008 at 2:10 pm

Dear Sierra Club,
Thank you for selling my conact information, gathered at my doorstep by an earnest young canvasser, to a marketing group that now is enticing me to get an official Sierra Club Visa card. It’s good to know that you’re so awash in kickbacks from branding yourself that you no longer need my donations.

Sincerely,

dubble_a_ron

P.S. you probably shouldn’t send any more earnest young canvassers to my door because they will get an earful of sh!t that might diminish their enthusiasm.

mthalo says:

December 17th, 2008 at 2:14 pm

“A BIIIIIG FU to the Sierra Club.”

Cool, guess I’ll be researching which rifle is best for hunting polar bear this weekend.

tluck says:

December 17th, 2008 at 2:31 pm

Here what I just fired off to them:

Ms. Barnes / Mr. Harte,

I am writing today to express my complete amazement and displeasure with your recent moves to buyout Nick Coleman and Katherine Kersten, and remove their columns and blog from the Star Tribune. May I remind you, Ms. Barnes, of a quote attributed to you when you were promoted to Editor and Senior Vice President: “Now, more than ever, it is critical that we develop content that stands above the generic news of the day,”. Both Ms. Kersten and Mr. Coleman provided that type of content in your paper, yet here we are. I understand your industry is under a tremendous amount of pressure. But I fail to see how this decision does anything to alleviate that pressure. Yours is an industry in transition, moving from the “dead tree” mode of delivery to an on-line electronic mode of delivery. I believe I heard at one time that Ms. Kersten’s blog alone generates 5,000 views per day, 35,000 views per week. I’m sure that is many, many times the number of views the rest of your blogs generate combined. Please explain the logic that you used to come to a decision that will dramatically reduce the number of people that visit your website which, like it or not, is your future?

As someone who has been in a manufacturing environment for over 30 years I have been involved with more cost saving initiatives than I care to remember. The worst ones cut people. The best ones improved the product, and the processes used to produce it. I looked at the bio’s of some of your operations leadership and was amazed to find that not one of them mentioned anything about Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma style quality plans. (one executive still has Y2K conversion plans listed as an accomplishment!!!). I was then flabbergasted to see that nowhere in your leadership profiles is there VP of Quality. Considering the quality of much of your paper and website, I guess I’m not that flabbergasted after all.

You have many other options that will save your company much more money, and will secure a much stronger and prosperous future for you and your employees. I hope you will reconsider this short sighted decision. Until you do, I will no longer purchase your paper, and once Ms. Kersten’s blog is taken down I will no longer visit your website.

Have a Happy Holiday season.

Respectfully,

tluck

Greg63 says:

December 17th, 2008 at 2:33 pm

“Cool, guess I’ll be researching which rifle is best for hunting polar bear this weekend. ”

300 mag works. But if you’re accurate and have a professional loader the 30-06 is sufficient.

Just in case you were wondering or something ..

dubble_a_ron says:

December 17th, 2008 at 2:41 pm

“300 mag works. But if you’re accurate and have a professional loader the 30-06 is sufficient.”

Remember that one Far Side cartoon where these hunters are on a Safari and there’s a mime standing out on the plain, and one of the hunters is saying to his porter,
“Hand me the Mime Rifle.”

Deacon Blues says:

December 17th, 2008 at 2:43 pm

“But I fail to see how this decision does anything to alleviate that pressure.”

Especially when you consider that, according to Nancy : “We have offered Katherine another writing job in the newsroom at the same pay”

So this isnt a cost cutting measure at all. What is its about then?

mthalo says:

December 17th, 2008 at 2:54 pm

“300 mag works. But if you’re accurate and have a professional loader the 30-06 is sufficient.”

I’ll go with the 06, it’s more versatile. (I’m thinking polar bears and baby seals)

Deacon Blues says:

December 17th, 2008 at 2:55 pm

I dont remember that one but I like this one”

http://radioactivejam.com/images/tShirt2.jpg

dubble_a_ron says:

December 17th, 2008 at 2:58 pm

“Especially when you consider that, according to Nancy : “We have offered Katherine another writing job in the newsroom at the same pay”

“So this isnt a cost cutting measure at all. What is its about then?”

Maybe the reporting position they are offerng her had been previously occupied by someone who was bought out or laid off.

Katherine says:

December 17th, 2008 at 3:12 pm

Management has informed me that if I write a column for the editorial page, it will not be as a Star Tribune employee and will be at a small fraction of my current compensation.

tluck says:

December 17th, 2008 at 3:13 pm

So this isnt a cost cutting measure at all. What is its about then?

This is getting weird. Barnes said in both letters to EBF and dar

“We are making several changes to our columnist lineup to bring some fresh voices to the metro pages”

So are they adding staff or shuffling the deck chairs? Doesn’t anyone there know how to run a business?

Greg63 says:

December 17th, 2008 at 3:17 pm

“Management has informed me that if I write a column for the editorial page, it will not be as a Star Tribune employee and will be at a small fraction of my current compensation.”

Do both and use GO as your ‘ghostwriter’.

I promise I’ll help with proofreading .. and stuff.

Really .. it’d work out.

mthalo says:

December 17th, 2008 at 3:20 pm

With that, this comment

“We have offered Katherine another writing job in the newsroom at the same pay, and if she doesn’t want to do that, we have asked her to write a standing column for our editorial pages should she choose.”

and Coleman being let go,
I get the impression that management does not want any opinions deemed too controversial.

Deacon Blues says:

December 17th, 2008 at 3:29 pm

“NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Lower prices are probably at the bottom of the list of most Americans’ current economic worries. But for a growing number of economists, it’s their biggest fear.

A widespread drop in prices is known as deflation. And typically, it’s not just the price of consumer goods that fall. Home prices, stock prices and even people’s salaries often head lower as well.

The biggest problem with deflation is that when businesses need to continually cut prices to spur sales, they eventually respond by cutting production. That results in growing job losses, and could, in the worst case scenario, even cause a depression.

And several economists say they are far more worried about the threat of deflation now than they have been in the past. The Federal Reserve may also be more concerned about deflation as well.

The central bank cut its key interest rates to near 0% Tuesday. In its statement, the Fed said it expects inflation to “moderate further” but it stopped short of suggesting that inflation would drop “to levels consistent with price stability” as it has in prior statements.

“I think the Fed’s statement clearly reflected some alarm that there is a greater risk of not just deflation, but of depression,” said Bernard Baumohl, executive director of The Economic Outlook Group, a Princeton, N.J. research firm.”

The Fed is worried about a Depression????

KK, its too bad you didnt write more columns about the economy instead of brain sceince while you had the chance.

Greg63 says:

December 17th, 2008 at 3:29 pm

“So are they adding staff or shuffling the deck chairs? Doesn’t anyone there know how to run a business?”

I’ve seen this one before.

Someone is whining.

So .. instead of telling them to grow-up and be an adult, they decide to make new titles and give someone else a ’shot’ because if they don’t they’re afraid of some lawsuit.

They cannot handle anything like that right now.

So they’re giving in.

If you were to ask D2 there’d probably be someone from Somalia or south of the border causing the issue …..

but my Money would be on someone from Lakevill, Maple Grove, or name another one of those dreaded burbs ..

mt …

That is amazing on the operational credits. I don’t have ‘alot’ of faith in them as a whole, but some of the principles make alot of sense.

Deacon Blues says:

December 17th, 2008 at 3:33 pm

The other thing about deflation is it makes any money you’ve borrowed today much much harder to pay back tomorrow. If you’ve borrowd money inflation is actually your friend.

tluck says:

December 17th, 2008 at 3:37 pm

“I get the impression that management does not want any opinions deemed too controversial.”

“Someone is whining.”

That’s the impression I’m getting too. And just how does that jive with:

“Now, more than ever, it is critical that we develop content that stands above the generic news of the day,”

Earth to Barnes!! There are far better places to get generic news than the Stib or Strib.com

Deacon Blues says:

December 17th, 2008 at 3:52 pm

“Spaulding, 40, says he’s a conservative spender who got trapped under $70,000 of credit card debt and high finance charges after 15 years of relying on his credit card for emergencies, such as car repairs. In a letter to the Federal Reserve, a bank regulator, Spaulding complained that “credit card companies are the reason why hardworking Americans like myself struggle for years.”"

-USA Today.

How many conservative spenders in the Blog today have $70,000 in credit card debt? Anyone? Anyone?

Its always intersting to hear how people describe themselves.

Im guessing some of the ‘emergencies’ this guy had in his 15 years of credit card use were not having enough shots for everyone at the bar.

DJ says:

December 17th, 2008 at 3:58 pm

I’m not especially conservative and I don’t have barely any debt. I owe my brother $175 on a bet that I lost. And I owe a friend $140 that I’m too lazy to grab cash before I see him. That’s about it. I’m doing aight.

$70,000? Jeepers that’s a lot. Especially for just a credit card…

mthalo says:

December 17th, 2008 at 3:58 pm

“How many conservative spenders in the Blog today have $70,000 in credit card debt? Anyone? Anyone?”

I had a speedball habit, and only managed to run up 22k.

Unless you wreck a Ferrari, I can’t imagine how you can run up 70k in emergency car repairs.

Deacon Blues says:

December 17th, 2008 at 4:07 pm

This guy complained that he bought two airline tickets that put him over his credit limit, presumably $70,000. The banks raised his rate to 24% because being over the limit, he’s now a risk. As if having $70,000 in credit card debt, as insane as that is, isnt risky enough.

Listen, if you’ve got 70,000 in credit card debt, you should have enough cash around to pay for a couple of airline tickets. The minimum payment on $70 k of CC debt is around $2,000 a month. can yoy believe that?

This country needs a financial labotomy.

GO saha says:

December 17th, 2008 at 4:15 pm

“this guy had in his 15 years of credit card use were not having enough shots for everyone at the bar.”

I’m guessing alot of nights sittin in sniffers row at the gentlemans club. Just slide it throught the slit..er slot

dubble_a_ron says:

December 17th, 2008 at 4:17 pm

The upside of deflation is money squirreled away in your mattress actually appreciates in value.

I have been a liberal spender at times (still digging out from it) and I never had half as much plastic debt as this Spaulding guy.

tluck says:

December 17th, 2008 at 4:17 pm

How many conservative spenders in the Blog today have $70,000 in credit card debt? Anyone? Anyone?

My Ex didn’t even run up that much. She of the $800 worth of underwear.

GO saha says:

December 17th, 2008 at 4:19 pm

DJ
Talk to your sister latly.
Its dumping another foot at the house. Portland hasn’t thawed out from last weekend and are getting hit again today. Then sunday they forcast a warm front with rain and a cold snap that night.
Damn cannibal polar bears.

Deacon Blues says:

December 17th, 2008 at 4:24 pm

Deflation:

Good for savers, terrible for borrowers.

The downside to deflation for savers though is that fixed income savers are getting just absolutley killed by the yields they’re seeing right now.

Deacon Blues says:

December 17th, 2008 at 4:29 pm

Anyone ever been to Augies?

DJ says:

December 17th, 2008 at 4:29 pm

GO, I chatted with her for a bit yesterday but I don’t think the weather came up. So are you enjoying the snow or sick of it already?

Deacon Blues says:

December 17th, 2008 at 4:32 pm

DJ’s best pick up line.

“Heh baby. You like Hugh Grant?”

DJ’s second best pick up line.

“Heh Dude. You like Gladiator movies?”

DJ says:

December 17th, 2008 at 4:32 pm

Hahaha!! Good one Mt. Not quite though. Maybe that’ll be my next bet.

tluck says:

December 17th, 2008 at 4:37 pm

Anyone ever been to Augies?

Once, It’s right up there with the Lamplighter.

GO saha says:

December 17th, 2008 at 4:42 pm

DJ, I’ll never get sick of it.

DJ says:

December 17th, 2008 at 4:43 pm

Rimshot.

I’m never mentioning chick flicks again.

On a completely different topic: How much did you guys love the movie Chicago?

GO saha says:

December 17th, 2008 at 4:45 pm

“How much did you guys love the movie Chicago?”

AHahahahaahhahaha

DJ says:

December 17th, 2008 at 4:46 pm

Oh, and Never Been Kissed. What a great story of love and… umm.. a girl and.. ummm… a guy…???

Deacon Blues says:

December 17th, 2008 at 4:50 pm

“Once, It’s right up there with the Lamplighter.”

You mean the LIMPlifter?

Deacon Blues says:

December 17th, 2008 at 4:52 pm

“On a completely different topic: How much did you guys love the movie Chicago?”

The two best days of my life were when my dog got hit by a truck when I was nine and the first time I saw Chicago.

No wait, scratch that. Reverse it. Those were the two WORST days of my life.

tiny litess says:

December 17th, 2008 at 5:20 pm

Dear Tiny Litess

You are by far the brightest person on that blog and your profoundness will be greatly missed. Those other clowns…who needs them, morons every last one of them.

Best,

Nancy Barnes

Editor

tiny litess says:

December 17th, 2008 at 5:29 pm

I remember when I was young and could eat a Slow Poke.

DJ says:

December 17th, 2008 at 5:31 pm

Mark, Tiny, are you guys as annoyed as me that the Twins did NOTHING at the Winter meetings? They signed Punto, but that’s it. I know there’s still a lot of time left, but come on. Make at least ONE big move… sheesh… Get a big bat. Or an 8th inning guy. Or both.

I am glad they didn’t trade any of their starting pitchers. They all have a lot of potential.

tiny litess says:

December 17th, 2008 at 5:44 pm

Sure..but I like the fact that they do what they do and they are in it every year. Can’t complain look at KC.

I’m a big believer in baseball chemistry.

DJ says:

December 17th, 2008 at 5:57 pm

Me too. That’s one reason I think they wouldn’t mind trading Delmon. I think he has too much potential to trade, but I get that he’s different from most of the other guys. I’d still like to see a big move because if they could get a guy who plays 3rd and hits 35 HRs along with a good 8th inning guy, they will go far. Especially if Mojares pitches like he did at the end of last year.

Chrysler is closing all their plants for a month.

Former Carrier says:

December 17th, 2008 at 6:17 pm

Hi, all,

I’ve never read Rake because I always figured it was a gardening magazine, or a mag for guys like the “rakehells” of 18th-century England whose favorite sports were gambling, drinking, and seducing wenches.

tiny litess says:

December 17th, 2008 at 6:22 pm

Obama at College age looked like Richard Carpenter. Tiny looked like Ozzy Osbourne.

No listen..looks like the guy that gets beat up for no reason. You know what I mean?

dare2sayit.com says:

December 17th, 2008 at 6:34 pm

Dear Dare2sayit,

Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments. We are making several changes to our columnist lineup to bring some fresh liberal voices to the metro pages, and to silence anyone to the right of Hugo Chavez in anticipation of the upcoming democrat sponsored Fairness Doctrine. We will continue to push our liberal agenda of expanded government, higher taxes, amnesty for illegals, global warming, and redistribution of wealth. Thanks again for writing.

Best,

Nancy B.

P.S.
Greg63 is full of it.

tiny litess says:

December 17th, 2008 at 6:39 pm

“and divide my declining years between the ice house and the duck blind.”

Hey one thing. Been buggin’ me most of the day…..Minnesota Natives, we don’t call them ice houses…and don’t ask us to get you a soda.

DJ says:

December 17th, 2008 at 6:43 pm

We don’t call them ice houses? What do we call them? Home?

tiny litess says:

December 17th, 2008 at 6:46 pm

Fish houses………God

dubble_a_ron says:

December 17th, 2008 at 6:49 pm

Well,
I’ll get back on topic for my last post of the day, after my vulgar but very funny contribution to Go and Deacon’s tangent about the guy with 70k of credit card debt was deleted. Musta exceeded someone’s eww gross threshold.

If anyone wants to read the original Rake article, it can be found here (just add an h in front):

ttp://www.secretsofthecity.com/magazine/reporting/features/one-woman-solution

Some of what Mr. Lambert says doesn’t make sense to me, like he’s trying to hard to be a clever writer, but I’ve always liked the line about Katherine being unaware of her contradictions.

DJ says:

December 17th, 2008 at 6:54 pm

Oh. My bad Tiny. I don’t “house fish,” in case you couldn’t tell…

GO saha says:

December 17th, 2008 at 6:54 pm

“Fish houses………God”

Tiny,
You should cut DJ some slack. “Grumpy Old Men” wasn’t a chick flick. It kind of was but he might have missed that one.

GO saha says:

December 17th, 2008 at 6:56 pm

W@e should start calling them DJ Flicks. Unless DJ is REALLY a chick.

tiny litess says:

December 17th, 2008 at 6:57 pm

“Oh. My bad Tiny. I don’t “house fish,” in case you couldn’t tell…”

You never got hammered in a Fish House?

Here..find somebody with a Fish House and get a bottle of Snowshoe Grog and Wild Turkey. Then head out there and do some “fishing”

Greg63 says:

December 17th, 2008 at 7:01 pm

“Unless you wreck a Ferrari, I can’t imagine how you can run up 70k in emergency car repairs.”

It’s called a Dodge.

tiny litess says:

December 17th, 2008 at 7:11 pm

“Oh. My bad Tiny. I don’t “house fish,” in case you couldn’t tell…””

I wouldn’t help a guy who said he needed a “jump” out at his “Ice House”.

Greg63 says:

December 17th, 2008 at 7:13 pm

Dear Dare2sayit,

Thanks so much for your thoughtful yet idiotic comments. We are making several changes to our columnist lineup to bring some fresh voices to the metro pages, which will belittle your intellect (which isn’t really that difficult, so we hired 2nd graders from that charter school you like so much). We will continue to push for people with IQ’s of at least 40 to be part of our interactive opinion web pages.

Best,

Nancy B.

P.S.You could learn quite a bit listening to Greg63 and besides ..

he found a tank.

DJ says:

December 17th, 2008 at 7:45 pm

GO, I just saw part of the second Grumpy Old Men on TV the other day.

I am male. Is it weird that I think you’ve asked that before?

Tiny, what the hell is Showshoe Grog?
I went ice fishing once when I was somewhere around 8. Spent the entire time playing with a superball with a buddy(GO, you can probably make a gay joke out of that… mix it in with the “DJ Flicks” line and I bet it’ll be golden. Make sure you don’t waste this oppurtunity.) That’s it. I don’t like fishing. Even in the summer. I just go out in the boat and drink beer while they fish. The fishing part of it is stupid. I don’t need to freeze my ass off outside in a fish house to drink. I can do it in the warmth of my house or at a bar.

figh44 says:

December 17th, 2008 at 9:29 pm

The lefty loonies are starting to try and swarm yesterday’s blog. You’ll recall lloydletta, who has the most pathetic web site in town.

Greg63 says:

December 17th, 2008 at 9:41 pm

um DJ ..

You don’t know just how nice ice fishing can be ..

look at this:

http://www.lybacks.com/winter.html

I’ve seen them with tv’s and card tables also …

fish and watch football on the ice .. and it’s warm in there ..

DJ says:

December 17th, 2008 at 10:00 pm

A blonde canvassed a wealthy neighborhood looking for odd jobs. She went to the front door of the first house and asked the owner if he had anything for her to do.

“Well, you can paint my porch. How much will you charge?”

“How about $50?”

The man agreed and told her the paint was in the garage. A short time later, the blonde came to the door to collect her money.

“You’re finished already?” he asked.

“Yes,” the blonde answered, “and I had paint left over, so I gave it two coats.” Impressed, the man reached in his pocket for the $50.

“And by the way,” the blonde added, “that’s not a Porch, it’s a Ferrari.”

DJ says:

December 17th, 2008 at 10:14 pm

Greg, when can I move in?

dare2sayit.com says:

December 17th, 2008 at 10:54 pm

I just rented a fish house from McQuaids in Isle. I’m sure it’s not as nice as the one DJ linked too, but my future son in law has never even walked on a frozen lake before, so it will be great!

Stop buy McQuaids, ask where D2’s house is and enjoy a cold Budweiser.

God says:

December 17th, 2008 at 11:28 pm

Oops. I forgot about Dennis Anderson. You’re the Strib’s 3rd best columnist, Katherine.

It’d be interesting to read Strib news articles written with a conservative religious nutjob bias.

“God and a jury of his peers sent Bernie Madoff to prison today, a fate many think is too good for a crooked Christ-killer who even now refuses to accept Jesus as his lord and savior.

“‘There’s nothing more contemptible than defrauding the rich,’ said the Reverend Reno.”

mthalo says:

December 18th, 2008 at 1:02 am

“Fish houses”

…because that’s who lives there after it falls through the ice in March.

iamme says:

December 18th, 2008 at 4:47 am

Speaking of fish houses….did you hear that last year a “buddy” put a “Free” sign on his friend’s fish house and when the friend came to do some ice fishing, his fish house was GONE.

My mother told me this last winter and I never laughed so hard. Then I had to stop laughing because it wasn’t funny to the guy whose fish house got taken. But you have to laugh. Putting a “free” sign on a fish house is going to get the house taken. After all it’s “free”. Reminded me of the movie “Grumpy Old Men”.

iamme says:

December 18th, 2008 at 4:53 am

D2, it’s McQuoid’s that you rented your fish house from, not McQuaid’s.

I’m from Central MN and graduated with McQuoid.

Greg63 says:

December 18th, 2008 at 6:53 am

“D2, it’s McQuoid’s that you rented your fish house from, not McQuaid’s.”

Why am I visualizing some guy with a ‘McQuaid’s’ website getting money from people for ice fishing trips when they don’t really exist?

DJ says:

December 18th, 2008 at 8:21 am

An interesting article. We don’t need to start talking about this again though.

www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,468084,00.html

tiny litess says:

December 18th, 2008 at 8:30 am

“Rick Warren to Give Invocation at Obama Inauguration”

Is that the same anti-gay marriage Rick Warren. I don’t Barack likes gay people. He use to dress like one in college but I don’t think he likes them.

Downtown Dan says:

December 18th, 2008 at 8:33 am

in anticipation of the upcoming democrat sponsored Fairness Doctrine.

So many conservative myths… so little time.

Greg63 says:

December 18th, 2008 at 8:37 am

Between DJ and Tiny’s posts the theme for the day could be:

Gay cannibal polar bears and their influence on society.

There’s much to be said about that ..

allerretour says:

December 18th, 2008 at 8:42 am

Wow, you step away for a few weeks and the place goes to hell in a handbasket.

KK, I’ve very much enjoyed your columns over the last few years. One less reason to visit the Strib site. I’ll keep an eye out for you in other endeavors.

Best of luck.

tiny litess says:

December 18th, 2008 at 9:08 am

“Seth Borenstein is a national science writer for The Associated Press, the world’s largest news organization, covering issues ranging from climate change to astronomy. He is the winner of numerous journalism awards, including the National Journalism Award for environment reporting in 2007 from the Scripps Foundation and the Outstanding Beat Reporting award from the Society of Environmental Journalists in 2008 and 2004. He was part of a team of finalists for the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the Columbia space shuttle disaster. A science and environmental journalist for nearly 20 years, covering everything from hurricanes to space shuttle launches, Borenstein has also worked for Knight Ridder Newspapers’ Washington Bureau, The Orlando Sentinel, and the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale. He is the co-author of three long out-of-print books, two on hurricanes and one on popular science, and once tried out for Florida Marlins (unsuccessfully).”

I don’t see a science degree…do you guys? Sounds like if there are no environmental issues there’s no work for this guy.

Imagine that

DJ says:

December 18th, 2008 at 9:12 am

The Strib doesn’t realize what they are wasting by destroying this blog. Show me another blog where they talk about gay cannibal polar bears.

tluck says:

December 18th, 2008 at 9:46 am

So many conservative myths… so little time.

You really need to get out more Dan

h-tp://sfppc.blogspot.com/2008/12/rep-eshoo-to-push-for-fairness-doctrine.html

Downtown Dan says:

December 18th, 2008 at 10:26 am

OMG, there really is one - one - person actually calling for the fairness doctrine to be reinstated.

And before yesterday there were… zero. For months now were been witnessing the Reigh-wing crapping their pants over the thought that some liberal boogeyman somewhere would go after their dominance of the airwaves, and now they’ve found… one.

Well you sure showed me. I feel so… sheltered.

mthalo says:

December 18th, 2008 at 10:30 am

“So many conservative myths… so little time.”

I used to consider myself a converted liberal, but now I realize that it’s not me who’s changed.
I stayed the same, those calling themselves liberal have turned into fascists.

Don’t like what you hear on the radio? Push to have it eliminated.
Anyone questions liberal dogma, label them a “denier”, throw out the standard you get all your information from Rush Limbaugh/Fox News rant.

Progressive and open minded my @ss!

tluck says:

December 18th, 2008 at 10:49 am

And before yesterday there were… zero.

Your right, I always considered Pelosi a Zero. Actually, something less than zero

On June 24, 2008, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (who represents most of San Francisco, California) told reporters that her fellow Democrat representatives did not want to forbid reintroduction of the Fairness Doctrine, adding “the interest in my caucus is the reverse.” When asked by John Gizzi of Human Events, “Do you personally support revival of the ‘Fairness Doctrine?’”, the Speaker replied “Yes.”

Downtown Dan says:

December 18th, 2008 at 10:53 am

those calling themselves liberal have turned into fascists.

Confusing progressive and populist ideologies with an extremist right wing corporatist ideology because they disagree with your agenda and hurt your feelings?

Don’t like what you hear on the radio? Push to have it eliminated.

Access to rebuttal on public airwaves is now “elimination?”

Anyone questions liberal dogma, label them a “denier”,

People obsessively deny established, documented, and peer reviewed science and opt for the rantings of a drug addicted comedian and partisan funded/run fake news network (Fox went to court to protect their right to lie to the American people - and won) and you call it “questioning?”

Obviously you left your mind so far open your brain fell out.

tiny litess says:

December 18th, 2008 at 11:12 am

“corporatist ideology”

Like the list of corporation that gave to the Obama campaign? Or perhaps a list of people and their positions on large corporate boards who now find themselves part of the Obama administration.

God are you guys fools…really dan you and the gays…falling for all this Progressive garbage. Your boys going off the reservation but he’ll be back in 2010 spouting the same BS and you’ll be on some blog somewhere being the fool that you are.

Downtown Dan says:

December 18th, 2008 at 11:12 am

“One year ago, (June 2007) the House passed a bill, from Indiana Republican and former radio talker Mike Pence, that put a one-year moratorium on funding any Federal Communications Commission reimposition of the doctrine. Democrats, led by David Obey (D-Wis.), suggested that the amendment was a red herring, a nonissue and that it was being debated, such as it was — no Democrats stood to oppose it — to provide sound bites for conservative talkers and “yap yap TV,” who had ginned up the issue.”

Next non-issue to get your base worked up about. Maybe now that a Dem is about to take office you can bring back the Black Helicopters. I hear that really gets the base crapping in their pants.

Downtown Dan says:

December 18th, 2008 at 11:15 am

“One year ago, the House passed a bill, from Indiana Republican and former radio talker Mike Pence, that put a one-year moratorium on funding any Federal Communications Commission re-imposition of the doctrine. Democrats, led by David Obey (D-Wis.), suggested that the amendment was a red herring, a non-issue and that it was being debated, such as it was - no Democrats stood to oppose it - to provide sound bites for conservative talkers and ‘yap yap TV,’ who had ginned up the issue.”

Next non-issue?

Downtown Dan says:

December 18th, 2008 at 11:22 am

Like the list of corporation that gave to the Obama campaign?

My God you really are an idiot. Corporations are forbidden by law from contributing to political campaigns.

Corporations and Labor Unions — are also prohibited form contributing. This law applies to all incorporated organizations, profit or non-profit. Business owners are not allowed to make contributions from their business accounts.

tiny litess says:

December 18th, 2008 at 11:27 am

University of California $1,069,898
Goldman Sachs $884,907
Harvard University $732,150
Microsoft Corp $714,358
Google Inc $704,649
JPMorgan Chase & Co $600,210
Citigroup Inc $586,866
National Amusements Inc $566,409
Time Warner $517,748
Sidley Austin LLP $496,445
UBS AG $484,369
Stanford University $482,199
Skadden, Arps et al $473,424
Wilmerhale Llp $471,729
Columbia University $427,766
Morgan Stanley $425,502
Latham & Watkins $425,324
IBM Corp $416,946
University of Chicago $416,055
Lehman Brothers $410,974

Excuse me? Look like corporation to me.

tiny litess says:

December 18th, 2008 at 11:29 am

You find me ONE Obama appointee who made less then 100,000 in their last job.

tluck says:

December 18th, 2008 at 11:53 am

Next non-issue?

“One year ago, (June 2007)

On June 24, 2008,“Do you personally support revival of the ‘Fairness Doctrine?’”, the Speaker replied “Yes.”

Next non-rebuttal?

mthalo says:

December 18th, 2008 at 1:06 pm

I say,

“Anyone questions liberal dogma, label them a “denier”, throw out the standard you get all your information from Rush Limbaugh/Fox News rant.”

Dan replies with the perfect example.

“People obsessively deny established, documented, and peer reviewed science and opt for the rantings of a drug addicted comedian and partisan funded/run fake news network (Fox went to court to protect their right to lie to the American people - and won) and you call it “questioning?””

Folks, this is not an illusion, it’s the the standard you get all your information from Rush Limbaugh/Fox News rant.

Obviously you have your mind so closed your brain asphyxiated. Perhaps you should write Limbaugh and see if he knows of a good rehab.

mthalo says:

December 18th, 2008 at 1:42 pm

“Access to rebuttal on public airwaves is now “elimination?””

Yes, when you force the private enterprise to air rebuttals at their own expense, during the times the original program aired, that’s elimination through economics.

What would a progressive, open minded person do? Create their own network to specifically counter the talking points of the opposition, name it with a catchy name based on an old CIA operation, and sell the idea to sponsors. If it fails, the true progressive would swallow their pride and admit they misread the American public.

Not demand government control of free speech.

dare2sayit.com says:

December 18th, 2008 at 6:05 pm

“D2, it’s McQuoid’s that you rented your fish house from, not McQuaid’s.”

Thanks iamme!

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Katherine Kersten writes a weekly column for the Star Tribune's Sunday Opinion Exchange section. The column covers a broad range of topics reflecting her experiences and interests.

In this blog, she will address many of the same issues, albeit in quicker, less formal fashion, along with pointing readers to other sources of interesting online commentary and coverage.