The Post isn't the only one, these so-called Powerful men are a bunch of gutless wonders who happened to make a lot of money and are so afraid of a proven lousy businessman who has a big mouth and no brains causing them to lose a few bucks that they kiss his fat dirty butt instead of standing up to him.
Germany did the same with a Jewish hating Jewish painter.
You would think, men with multiples more money and lawyers than T, would not be intimidated by him. What does poor T have they adore? Why is Musk living in the backyard at at M-A-L ? Worlds richest man squatting in T's backyard at $2000 a night. Seriously? Wait a minute H1B visas and EVs might have something to do with it. Can you imagine stopping immigration in one place to increase it in another. Americans are too lazy to work 80 hours a week and sleep on the factory floor. Bring in the more motivated slaves from India and Taiwan.
I am at wits end to compute how so many actually worship T as if he were the second coming. Perhaps with church attendance down, people need some other meaning in their lives. WIth the forthcoming "verdict" by Judge Merchant a few days from now, it appears the fix is already in. Threaten judge and his daughter and get congress to hold hearings against the daughter... that works. Now who is doing the weaponizing.
What they have to fear is that a dictatorial Strong Man can take away everything they have, jail them, whatever he wants. It's happened to billionaires the world over, under fascist governments. Think Jack Ma in China.
I forgot about the Stars and Stripes cartoon and never knew of your editor’s statement. Terrific recount. The power of the pen is always mightier than the sword. Unfortunately, good penmanship is rare.
I stumbled on the Ann Telnaes piece this morning, and as soon as I read it, I subscribed to her Substack. Why have so many people in our country fallen into the gray area where there is no black and white, no right and wrong? Yes, I know Trump pushed it, but the symptom had to have already been there, for people to just overlook or go along the obvious manipulation of the truth. I don’t know if it’s education, or nurture in the home, or simply social media, but people are so willing to believe anything that is put in front of them. I often thank god that I grew up with good parents who instilled that sense of right and wrong in me, that I grew up before the internet age where I learned how to do things myself, and I am a natural or learned skeptic because of it .
I applaud Ann and you, for sharing your experiences in the world of journalism, because it tells me that there are some, I believe many, of us who are through with all of the lies and call it out. I believe that Ann can find a great new career here on Substack and elsewhere. And do NOT let this go to your head grumpy, but I actually followed you to Substack after reading one of your articles on Raw Story (which I initially did not like because it just edited others’ stories, but it is kind of handy for pulling them all together). So keep it up and I will keep reading, and Ann also.
I agree with everything you wrote Earl, except the very last line. "May they burn in hell" comes closer to my view. The toxic combination of Bezos owning WaPo and Trump's return to the White House tells us that oligarchs underwrite power in more than monetary terms.
I still remember watching “the Post” when Obama was president and I felt so safe and glad the “shrub” was gone!!
Never in my wildest dreams did I even envision someone so dirty, gross and disgusting as the 🍊💩
I remember when Bezos bought the Post and I was happy-I thought he would be good for the paper-I subscribed when Rachel talked of Timothy Snyder and his book “On Tyranny” and supporting newspapers!
I’m the summer I canceled my subscription after canceling the NYT.
I am so saddened by the crumbling of a once revered paper-what would Katherine Graham say 🤔
When your newspapers are owned by individuals, either a billionaire or a small group, you are subject to their points of view. They can be subject to intimidation. I worked for a small community newspaper, and then started my own paper because I saw the intimidation was making the publisher change his positions based on them. When I went out on my own I also was confronted with those who wanted to change my viewpoint to meet their goals (school board, city council, etc.) I didn't succumb to them, but the pressure was harsh. A real journalist writes based on facts (unless they are writing an editorial column). That is the only way we can maintain the balance. When newspapers return to fact checking and deep diving investigation not overseen by publishers, or rejected because of fear of retaliation, we will bring our news media back to where the public will trust and respect them.
Great story. Not too many publishers like yours left in the news business. Now that all corp media is pretty much trump media, it's clear who really has the power at the table. And it isn't independent media or we the people.
Well, WaPo still retains the "services" of the cheesy cartoonist, Michael Ramirez, for the right-wing crowd drawn to the Post's execrable Opinion Page righties.
Fabulous piece. I salute Ann Telnaes, and wish her Godspeed in her new endeavors. Her talent will open the newest and best doors, even those not yet considered such. It is times like these we must NOT lay back and take that which is shoveled out- Thank you for posting!
The ironic part is, (and I use that word loosely these days for obvious reasons,) the cartoon received much more coverage than had it run in the Washington Post.
Earl, your recounting of your run-in with officialdom at Stars and Stripes over an editorial decision reminds me of a similar experience at the Pacific sister publication.
I was sitting in as acting news editor in Tokyo in 1984 at a time of growing public protests against Philippine strongman Ferdinand Marcos. One protest in Manila was particularly exceptional in size and scope, so I gave it good lead play with photo on the front. Marcos, I was to learn, regularly scanned Pacific Stripes (likely, as with Turkey, seeing it as a semi-official organ of the US government). He was apparently quite distressed with that story’s play and summoned our ambassador, Michael Armacost, to the presidential palace to express his displeasure.
Armacost’s office then contacted our publisher, Army Col. Joseph Burlas, and summoned him from Tokyo down to Manila, for an in-person dressing down by the ambassador. The colonel, upon his return, told me of all this but did not chastise nor fault me for my news judgment. He simply asked that I give him a heads-up next time such sensitive material is to run so prominently.
Thank you for sharing that inspiring story . That is what editorial integrity is & also huge kudos to your principled publisher . What a perfect response to Donald Rumsfeld. And yes , this is the power that excellent journalism, which includes the brilliance of political cartoons like Ann’s, can use to stand up to abuse of power by lawmakers. So sad that this has happened to premier news brand that was legendary for its integrity.
The Post isn't the only one, these so-called Powerful men are a bunch of gutless wonders who happened to make a lot of money and are so afraid of a proven lousy businessman who has a big mouth and no brains causing them to lose a few bucks that they kiss his fat dirty butt instead of standing up to him.
Germany did the same with a Jewish hating Jewish painter.
The Post is the most noteworthy newspaper to cave to the rotten SOB, and it is inexcusable and dangerous as hell.
Don't forget the LA Times! They are even worse.
You would think, men with multiples more money and lawyers than T, would not be intimidated by him. What does poor T have they adore? Why is Musk living in the backyard at at M-A-L ? Worlds richest man squatting in T's backyard at $2000 a night. Seriously? Wait a minute H1B visas and EVs might have something to do with it. Can you imagine stopping immigration in one place to increase it in another. Americans are too lazy to work 80 hours a week and sleep on the factory floor. Bring in the more motivated slaves from India and Taiwan.
I am at wits end to compute how so many actually worship T as if he were the second coming. Perhaps with church attendance down, people need some other meaning in their lives. WIth the forthcoming "verdict" by Judge Merchant a few days from now, it appears the fix is already in. Threaten judge and his daughter and get congress to hold hearings against the daughter... that works. Now who is doing the weaponizing.
What they have to fear is that a dictatorial Strong Man can take away everything they have, jail them, whatever he wants. It's happened to billionaires the world over, under fascist governments. Think Jack Ma in China.
I forgot about the Stars and Stripes cartoon and never knew of your editor’s statement. Terrific recount. The power of the pen is always mightier than the sword. Unfortunately, good penmanship is rare.
"Unfortunately, good penmanship is rare." Superb!
I stumbled on the Ann Telnaes piece this morning, and as soon as I read it, I subscribed to her Substack. Why have so many people in our country fallen into the gray area where there is no black and white, no right and wrong? Yes, I know Trump pushed it, but the symptom had to have already been there, for people to just overlook or go along the obvious manipulation of the truth. I don’t know if it’s education, or nurture in the home, or simply social media, but people are so willing to believe anything that is put in front of them. I often thank god that I grew up with good parents who instilled that sense of right and wrong in me, that I grew up before the internet age where I learned how to do things myself, and I am a natural or learned skeptic because of it .
I applaud Ann and you, for sharing your experiences in the world of journalism, because it tells me that there are some, I believe many, of us who are through with all of the lies and call it out. I believe that Ann can find a great new career here on Substack and elsewhere. And do NOT let this go to your head grumpy, but I actually followed you to Substack after reading one of your articles on Raw Story (which I initially did not like because it just edited others’ stories, but it is kind of handy for pulling them all together). So keep it up and I will keep reading, and Ann also.
If you have a Bluesky account, post her Substack article. That's what I did. Make it go viral.
I do! Great idea thanks!
I do and I will now.
---> May they rest in peace.
Frankly, Dear D. Earl, I don't think they should rest in peace at all.
I don't think they deserve a peaceful rest ever again.
Fair.
I agree with everything you wrote Earl, except the very last line. "May they burn in hell" comes closer to my view. The toxic combination of Bezos owning WaPo and Trump's return to the White House tells us that oligarchs underwrite power in more than monetary terms.
I have edited the last line. And am thankful for all you editors out there.
"May they burn in hell for ten eternities."
LOL!
Bezos is one of the richest men in the world. What on earth is he afraid of? Falling to the top 20 list of billionaires?
What embarrassing spectacle him and the other billionaires have become.
Spineless, soulless and, upon reflection, a mirror of the Republican Party.
And a political cartoonist is willing to give up her livelihood to stand for her values yet Bezos who is rich beyond compare has prostrated himself.
Gutless, ballless wonders!!!
Look at who's left the WaPo in the past 10 days and you'll know the place is really deader than the proverbial doornail.
It is heartening on one level, and terribly sad on another.
There was a time when it was a damn good paper.
I still remember watching “the Post” when Obama was president and I felt so safe and glad the “shrub” was gone!!
Never in my wildest dreams did I even envision someone so dirty, gross and disgusting as the 🍊💩
I remember when Bezos bought the Post and I was happy-I thought he would be good for the paper-I subscribed when Rachel talked of Timothy Snyder and his book “On Tyranny” and supporting newspapers!
I’m the summer I canceled my subscription after canceling the NYT.
I am so saddened by the crumbling of a once revered paper-what would Katherine Graham say 🤔
When your newspapers are owned by individuals, either a billionaire or a small group, you are subject to their points of view. They can be subject to intimidation. I worked for a small community newspaper, and then started my own paper because I saw the intimidation was making the publisher change his positions based on them. When I went out on my own I also was confronted with those who wanted to change my viewpoint to meet their goals (school board, city council, etc.) I didn't succumb to them, but the pressure was harsh. A real journalist writes based on facts (unless they are writing an editorial column). That is the only way we can maintain the balance. When newspapers return to fact checking and deep diving investigation not overseen by publishers, or rejected because of fear of retaliation, we will bring our news media back to where the public will trust and respect them.
Great story. Not too many publishers like yours left in the news business. Now that all corp media is pretty much trump media, it's clear who really has the power at the table. And it isn't independent media or we the people.
We must own this power and never give it up; and disown them, and never return.
Well, WaPo still retains the "services" of the cheesy cartoonist, Michael Ramirez, for the right-wing crowd drawn to the Post's execrable Opinion Page righties.
I guess democracy does not need to wait for darkness to die
Fabulous piece. I salute Ann Telnaes, and wish her Godspeed in her new endeavors. Her talent will open the newest and best doors, even those not yet considered such. It is times like these we must NOT lay back and take that which is shoveled out- Thank you for posting!
Fat wallets and thin skin. No way to go through life.
Not one worth living anyway ...
The ironic part is, (and I use that word loosely these days for obvious reasons,) the cartoon received much more coverage than had it run in the Washington Post.
Without a doubt. The silver lining ...
Earl, your recounting of your run-in with officialdom at Stars and Stripes over an editorial decision reminds me of a similar experience at the Pacific sister publication.
I was sitting in as acting news editor in Tokyo in 1984 at a time of growing public protests against Philippine strongman Ferdinand Marcos. One protest in Manila was particularly exceptional in size and scope, so I gave it good lead play with photo on the front. Marcos, I was to learn, regularly scanned Pacific Stripes (likely, as with Turkey, seeing it as a semi-official organ of the US government). He was apparently quite distressed with that story’s play and summoned our ambassador, Michael Armacost, to the presidential palace to express his displeasure.
Armacost’s office then contacted our publisher, Army Col. Joseph Burlas, and summoned him from Tokyo down to Manila, for an in-person dressing down by the ambassador. The colonel, upon his return, told me of all this but did not chastise nor fault me for my news judgment. He simply asked that I give him a heads-up next time such sensitive material is to run so prominently.
By the time I had arrived, civilians ran the place, Rodney, and there was but one Stars & Stripes with seven different worldwide editions.
But it ALWAYS produced top-notch independent journalism. -Cheers
Possible correction: This could have happened late in 1983. That’s an old man’s memory for you!
Thank you for sharing that inspiring story . That is what editorial integrity is & also huge kudos to your principled publisher . What a perfect response to Donald Rumsfeld. And yes , this is the power that excellent journalism, which includes the brilliance of political cartoons like Ann’s, can use to stand up to abuse of power by lawmakers. So sad that this has happened to premier news brand that was legendary for its integrity.
Terrible times for the vocation we love.