... then we're going to have to grow into the role.
As I noted in comments sections on several other blogs yesterday, I received an invitation but could not attend Governor Jack Markell's historica first meeting with Delaware bloggers.
So instead of having first-hand knowledge of what went down, I am completely dependent on the reports generated by my colleagues.
You can find them at all the usual places: Delawareliberal, Down wit hAbsolutes, Delaware Politics, Delaware Watch....
What strikes me about the event is not the complaints of those who weren't invited, although that's actually a worthwhile question, but the lack of critical coverage of the event itself.
Pretty much everybody came away with some version of this: Well, you may not like Jack's decisions, but he's a thoughtful guy and he agonized over all this, and he's dedicated to transparency....
And our contentious, often profane, always edgy group of bloggers fell all over themselves (except maybe Rsmitty) to present a responsible, respectably journalistic take on the event that would have done a Rotarian proud.
Why?
I suspect it's because nobody was quite ready for prime time, and everybody wanted to act responsible so that they would get invited back.
There's nothing wrong with that, per se, but compare it to the rhetoric and actions of Delaware bloggers about SB 27 or Eminent Domain last year, or the coverage of the Markell-Carney fracas.
And we sound down-right domesticated.
Go read the blogger coverage of the event again: Jack got his message out, virtually undiluted by any serious analysis of what he was saying.
Even his lame I knew it would be controversial answer about Meconi got a virtually complete pass.
In short, guys, it looks suspiciously like we got handled.
Let's be clear: I don't think I would have done any better. I think I would have written exactly the same sort of post the rest of you did. It was only because I wasn't there that I realized that virtually none of the reporting (and, I suspect, none of the questioning) got far beyond press-release that I'm suggesting that we're not quite ready for prime-time yet.
As I noted in comments sections on several other blogs yesterday, I received an invitation but could not attend Governor Jack Markell's historica first meeting with Delaware bloggers.
So instead of having first-hand knowledge of what went down, I am completely dependent on the reports generated by my colleagues.
You can find them at all the usual places: Delawareliberal, Down wit hAbsolutes, Delaware Politics, Delaware Watch....
What strikes me about the event is not the complaints of those who weren't invited, although that's actually a worthwhile question, but the lack of critical coverage of the event itself.
Pretty much everybody came away with some version of this: Well, you may not like Jack's decisions, but he's a thoughtful guy and he agonized over all this, and he's dedicated to transparency....
And our contentious, often profane, always edgy group of bloggers fell all over themselves (except maybe Rsmitty) to present a responsible, respectably journalistic take on the event that would have done a Rotarian proud.
Why?
I suspect it's because nobody was quite ready for prime time, and everybody wanted to act responsible so that they would get invited back.
There's nothing wrong with that, per se, but compare it to the rhetoric and actions of Delaware bloggers about SB 27 or Eminent Domain last year, or the coverage of the Markell-Carney fracas.
And we sound down-right domesticated.
Go read the blogger coverage of the event again: Jack got his message out, virtually undiluted by any serious analysis of what he was saying.
Even his lame I knew it would be controversial answer about Meconi got a virtually complete pass.
In short, guys, it looks suspiciously like we got handled.
Let's be clear: I don't think I would have done any better. I think I would have written exactly the same sort of post the rest of you did. It was only because I wasn't there that I realized that virtually none of the reporting (and, I suspect, none of the questioning) got far beyond press-release that I'm suggesting that we're not quite ready for prime-time yet.
Comments
I had the same impression.
At all costs avoid the friendly living-room cocktail party-ish insider journalism of the 'Village' or 'Beltway' (depending on who is describing it) that allowed the sins of Bushco go largely uncountered.
As far as the tone... I thought it was pretty normal for a first get together. Seemed everyone was feeling everyone out. That said I laughed out loud when Geek asked about Meconi.
As far as the laudatory remarks I made about the Governor, so what? I happen to think that he is like most people: made up in part of some good qualities. That might be a view that is a little less scathing then you like, but it is more realistic about Gov. Markell and most human beings.
Almost, because unlike Matthews, Limbaugh is successful at what he does and is the leader of the repub party.
anonone
For political disagreements.
Matthews' supposed "moral bankruptcy" is absolutely NO comparison to that depravity.
I take any nasty comments from A1 as compliments. He only makes my days better with his extreme a-holery.