The CBC’s Stephen Smart IS NOT in a Conflict-of-Interest: So Say the Trollops Who Defend Their Close Relationships to Christy Clark’s Shameless, Corrupt Government
There was a tremendous methodology–and intelligence to Muhammad Ali’s ‘Rope-a-Dope’.
If you let your opponents fire their best punches early, and you can sustain the hits, then knocking them out becomes routine.
Even top contenders lost badly.
Amazingly, Smokin’ Joe Frazier (a far more devastating puncher than Ali–but not better boxer) fell pray to this and perhaps the best example was George Foreman, whose ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ didn’t go very well at all. Well beyond illustrating Ali’s genius, it also demonstrated the thoroughly limited laurels of firing off without a stitch of strategy.
I was reminded of this, often, in the last week since the ruling by CBC Ombudsman Kirk LaPointe–who found the CBC’s Victoria Bureau Chief Stephen Smart in a conflict of interest, radiated through the BC press corps like loose electricity.
Bill Good, unable to divorce himself from the fact that the obvious conflict is because his former producer, Rebecca Scott, is married to Stephen Smart, AND she is working for the very Premier’s Office Smart is primarily responsible to cover, with impartiality and evenhandedness. This isn’t the first time (or the last) Bill will fulsomely verify that he is well past his ‘best before’ date.
Global’s Keith Baldrey described the decision as “dumb” and then went on to tell everyone what a great guy and sharp reporter Smart is–facts already pointed out on this blog as far back as early 2011 when I also pointed out the clear conflict of the Smart/Scott fiasco. Then again, this is the same chap, Baldrey, who will say almost anything to defend the generally meritless positions and total lack of integrity in BC news. His humiliating hubris about what a “non-story” the BC Rail scandal is, only serves to make plain how alone you are. The so-called “best” of the mainstream press in this province have abandoned you.
They’re sell-outs.
Not to be outdone, CKNW’s Sean Leslie, went shockingly deeper into the sin bin and referred to the LaPointe decision as “idiotic.” Leslie, who once foamed at the mouth on-air after I tore former NW producer Carly Nicol to shreds for censoring me, actually had the temerity (read: COMPLETE STUPIDITY) to claim Smart was not only without conflict but used example after example (also on his facebook page) that made no sense and often looked equally confused and confusing. As an aside, the rumors of his wife possibly being employed in a PARTISAN position with this corrupt government was something I asked him two days ago, by email., to clear up–confirm or deny. Of course, no response as of the publishing of this post.
Deeper yet (as unbelievably as that may be), went Craig McInnes of the Vancouver Sun (who is unsurprisingly on their ‘Editorial Board’), with, quite possibly, the single greatest load of horse manure on this issue. To him, it was about modern marriages and other unrelated drivel that he manufactured to fill column space. CBC Ombudsman LaPointe, a former colleague of the McInnes’ didn’t understand the modern world and his standards according to buffoon McInnes, are stuck in the 50s.
What a moronic spin job by McInnes. And all for what? For excusing the deterioration of journalism in this province to the extent that it’s now okay to be covering the team your wife is helping lead. McInnes continued that he and his wife were once employed by the same paper and blathered on about it as if the example was like to the glaring, screaming conflict Smart has been in since his wife took the job, as Deputy Press Secretary for the most shameful and dishonest politician in BC history–Christy Clark.
The decision confirming Smart’s conflict will not go away. CBC boss Johnny Michel (who is an otherwise top notch media executive) disgraced himself by pretending that LaPointe’s position didn’t find any bias or fault with Smart’s reporting. This is a mendacious statement if there ever was one. LaPointe said he couldn’t find one as it wasn’t his purview to examine what Smart might not have covered (as per the letter by complainant Merv Adey). Do you see the difference?
In point of fact, Smart has missed many major stories on Clark and covered her softly except for two instances, for which I gave him lavish credit.
But where is he in reporting the general malaise of the provincial government? How does he do that without appearing to be jeopardizing his wife’s job? When was Smart critical of Premier Clark’s inability to connect with voters? I mean really critical, like BCTV’s Clem Chapple was before Baldrey took over that spot and eventually destroyed its credibility. How does Smart get such a fair appraisal accomplished without the implied criticism of his wife’s work? She’s not some party hack in the back room, cold-calling volunteers or dialing for dollars for a summer BBQ tour. She’s one of two members of the actual Premier’s staff responsible for MEDIA!!! Her husband is Victoria Bureau Chief for his station! This is not an obvious (at least potential) conflict???
The CBC cannot ignore this. Either their Ombudsman is wrong or Johnny Michel is wrong, it can’t bloody well be both.
As for the members of the press defending this incredible conflict with opinions from the lunatic fringe, remember only this: Kirk LaPointe disrupted the steady and rapidly devolving role of the generally slothful media in this province. They were content to lazily while away the days with their friends in this government, attending cocktail receptions and quaffing wine spritzers and champagne.
This is the same media who host shameless script-readers that refer to themselves as “media celebrities.” This is the same group whose non-existent standards have buried your right to know and provided places like this over 100,000 BC readers per month. Their premiere awards SHOW, the Websters, is sponsored by some of the very same corporations they have treated with kid gloves. CN Rail, the “winner” of the BC Rail bidding sham, being chief among them.
LaPointe’s decision is so significant, that newsrooms and stations across the province are trembling.
Because all the commenting boards of every article written by every shameless excuse-monger of this travesty in Victoria between the CBC and the Premier’s Office, is LOADED with hotly negative replies.
The people are awakening. THEY’RE ANGRY and they’re not going to take it anymore. Cancel your subscriptions. Stop watching them.
Trust me, the media are scared–and they should be. All it took for their fragile exterior to crack was a simple conflict to be laid bare, and they fell in a heap of deflection and consternation.
How do they defend at least a decade of nothingness?
They’ll have to admit that Smart’s conflict is not only a behavior they condone, but approve of greatly.
And all the while I keep thinking of Christy Clark sitting between Jim Beatty and Keith Baldrey at the 2011, Vancouver Club wedding of….
Rebecca Scott and Stephen Smart.
If you close your eyes you can taste the caviar.
… and the Sun brings us gangster pornography
http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2012/01/19/was-duhres-slaying-retaliation-for-earlier-attacks/
… brace yourself and weep!
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Indeed.
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Funny, I was just going to say I read somewhere in Kim Bolan’s Enquirer Blog that she is the blog Queen in BC (She claims to had 60000 hits on the weekend Jon Bacon died). This woman has no integrity. Her blog is full of people gossiping about who’s going to get shot next, threats, defamation. It’s more like a high school kids blog not a main stream big city newspaper blog. Very sad what’s going on!
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Kim had 60,000 hits in a weekend and says she’s number one??????????????????????????
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!
As the person who owns the number one blog in BC, that’s REEEEEEEEEALLY funny!
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How about getting academicians to comment on this subject?
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How about getting your colleagues to comment on this???
You seem to be the only one with some guts on the issue.
How does the NDP and the Conservatives get covered fairly when the media are so happily in bed with this Liberal government?
I’ve never seen anything like it!!! FOR SHAME!
BTW, Gung Hay Fat Choy.
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Your absolutely right Alex , in my 40 years in this province I have never seen the likes of this !
The line between the politicians has become so blurred it’s scary !
This is what happens in a banana republic, or a communist state.
Not in a first world democracy, we should all be ashamed as citizens we have been lazy, and let this current state of affairs happen to British Columbia.
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Indeed we should.
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if any Conservative or NDP politicians speak out
they can expect retaliation from this vicious media crew of Baldrey, Leslie, Beatty ,Good
i would be scared to slam this spiteful, vindictive bunch
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Oh yeah? I have and my numbers continue to rise while people are tuning out from all their shows.
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Gung Hei Fat Choy to you too.
Having NDP, or any political party, politician to comment on the impartiallity or operation of the media? I don’t think it would carry much weight. That’s why I suggest seeking academician opinion.
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Thanks pal. I don’t like going to most professors because most are usually dead wrong.
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Don’t think it’s a good idea to have political party or politician to go after the impartiality of the media. Having NDP complaining the media in favour of the Liberals, there is a conflict of interest too. That’s why I would suggest seeking the opinion of academicians.
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..and then of course, there’s the distinct possibility that the media, with verrrrrrry long memories, wait with knives unsheathed for those on the Opposition side to nake a sound about this.
Not likely. All parties are in the same bed. Fawning, sucking up, bits of tittle, trying to feed the beast before the beast feeds on them, that’s the relationship many pols have with reporters. No one is willing to call the media on this crap.
Hmmm. maybe Newt could drop in for one good rousting?
i would like to think that there are a few journalists of integrity that will get past this “closed shop” mentality of protecting one of their own.
Any takers out there?
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“in the last week since the ruling by CBC Ombudsman Kirk LaPointe–that found the CBC’s Victoria Bureau Chief Stephen Smart in a conflict of interest, radiated through the BC press corps like loose electricity.”
Grate Scott, your Smart meter has detected electricity in the MSM!
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Yes, seems to be the only time this happens–when they are forced to face the truth.
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Listened to CKNW , Bill Good today, 3 hours of dead air….
Even talked about bullying.. never mentioned Christy once. ????
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thought Simi would pick up the slack…. a we bit on judicial issues, started Ok….back to dead air….
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I haven’t discussed this with her, but for obvious reasons, I think willing commentators at NW would likely hit a wall if they excoriated Rebecca Scott or took a position so opposite from the morning slot dunce.
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It’s gotten so bad. He is a disaster.
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Morning slot dunce or morning slut dance?
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BOTH!
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Like the structure of a great work of fiction, beginning, middle, and climax,this is a great rendering and exposure of what is sadly the reality of the state of the MSM in this province. The desperation and intensity of the MSM’s defensiveness against the only decision Lapointe,could have made, based on the CBC’s own code of conduct, truly reveals how adrift, lazy, jaded, self serving, illogical and beholding the media and some its major “celebrity”players have become.
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Great comment.
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You’ll love this Alex,from twitter, late last night.
rebsmacscott Rebecca Scott
Wrkng hard as always. Love the shoes. RT @christyclarkbc: Working on tmw’s speech for Mining Roundup. http://ow.ly/i/qD63
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I saw it last night.
Think of Rebecca Scott’s immaturity and the Premier’s shamefulness. Selling her sexuality again, it’s the high heeled, hump-me-now pumps that are the focus.
What a total joke. You don’t know if you’re watching the priming of a premier or the making of a porno.
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OMG! Choke! Splutter! I’m a pretty composed person but laughed out loud so hard that everyone around me wanted to know what I was reading. Those last three sentences made my day! You may have gained a few new readers! If it wasn’t real, it would be hysterical. One staff I worked with used to get up early to watch The PTL Club with Jim and Tammy Faye for comedic effect throughout the day. That what this makes me think of. What is our premier going to say and where is she going to show up next?
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LOL! Great stuff…
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LMFAO too funny!!! But Alex the people of BC are getting it by Christy hard and with no lube so to speak lol.
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You’re bang on…
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Its becoming embarrassingly obvious with each “sound bite” and “photo op” how totally out of her depth the Preem really is. Smart people can act dumb but dumb people cant act smart forever.
Eventually, when the voters toss her out or the polls are too lopsided to ignore, the MSM in this province will drag their lazy arses over to the side of the fence that the rest of us sit on. They will then cheer her demise and prostrate themselves before the new Premier. And on and on it goes……..
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Ah, Twatter. Where people make complete asses out of themselves without even realizing it.
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This whole fiasco that is the current Liberal leadership would be comical, if not for the fact that it were reality.
Don’t say or do anything of substance, just reward friends in high places so as to retain power.
And as you say, all on our dime……pathetic, truly.
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Truly, utterly pathetic.
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Bang on. The LSM have lost all credibility and are now in cover-up mode. Time for some real journalism and new news sources. Watergate would have never seen the light of day in this province with the hacks we have today.
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/01/25/brian-hutchinson-cbc-feels-free-to-ignore-its-own-ombudsman
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/reporter+link+premier+close+comfort+ombudsman/6029636/story.html
And as you point out the comments are extremely negative on all the stories I’ve seen. I would have thought Sun news would have been all over this by now given their distaste of the CBC.
Keep up the good work.
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Anyone commenting in those streams is beat the living shit out of McInnes in particular that infernal idiot who lost the plot before even writing the damn story.
I just knew Brian hutchinson would do something. Great column.
Thanks!!!
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This is proving to be a very valuable exercise as we watch the wagons being circled. We get to watch and decide which members of the journalistic community to trust in the future. Or not.
And it doesn’t help those comprising the circle that their rifles are all pointing inward.
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I LOVE that last line.
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Though not a full time academic, I’ll give you my opinion based on 50 years of working at some of Canada’s largest broadcasting companies as well as being a professor of media at Seneca College in Toronto and a fill-in Instructor at BCIT in Burnaby.
Conflict of Interest is or should I say was a clearly understood precept of journalism, print or electronic.
Any relationship between a reporter and those he or she reports about is forbidden.
The Radio Television News Directors Association of Canada’s Code of Ethics, to which most electronic newsrooms subscribe, states in Article Six that: Electronic journalists will govern themselves on and off the job in such a way as to avoid conflict of interest, real or apparent.
Short, sharp, clear and concise.
It cannot be subverted, not as Stephen Smart has posted on his Facebook page, by economic necessity, saying you can’t live in Victoria on one salary.
I’ve had further correspondence with Kirk LaPointe.
It appears this is not over.
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NOTICE TO READERS: SUPERB COMMENT–REQUIRED READING.
For those of you not aware that you are in the presence of media royalty, let me help: it is a distinct privilege to know the Mike Clever is even reading my words, nevermind participating in the fora I provide.
It’s an honour to have him here and you should read his every word
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Very nice to have someone of his calibre commenting. Mr Cleaver please feel free to jump into the Tsakumis comment section any time !
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Absolutely!
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No need to hold your cap in hand. Your hard work is being appreciated and honoured. Just keep pounding this wall. Some walls are so weak that they disintegrate after a single blow.
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Thank you my friend.
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Quote:
“It cannot be subverted, not as Stephen Smart has posted on his Facebook page, by economic necessity, saying you can’t live in Victoria on one salary.”
God, how much does one make to live in Victoria? I’ll wager Smart makes $60k+ and his wife’s salary has been advertised @ $175k+. Please explain to me why the vast majority of people in Victoria live on one hell of a lot less money, yet Smart and his squeeze seem unable to do so.
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He only made his position more laughable by writing such crap.
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Hi Alex: If you get a chance you should listen to News Editor Jim Harrisons editorial on the Scott/Smart affair last Monday on RadioCHNL in Kamloops.It seems to be that he’s one of the few newsmen in the Province to see the situation for what it is,direct conflict that must be addressed. Well worth a listen,and he is a previous Webster Award winner who would not be asked to return the award,unlike Good and Palmer. http://www.chnlradio.ca easy to find.
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I listen to Jim all the time and have been on his show a few times. Excellent editorial. Really good stuff.
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I meant to include this from Stephen’s Facebook page:
Stephen Smart Thanks, George. That’s much appreciated. If only we still lived in an age where a family could survive on one income this wouldn’t be a problem. Anyway, your email means a lot.
January 20 at 10:54am · Like
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Honestly, for such a nice guy Smarty is he’s being a complete ass.
That he doesn’t get it is frightening. Anyway, as long as his credibility remains shot, nothing the CBC does on Victoria will matter.
I’ll have something for him to cover next week. DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE PREMIER AND BC RAIL. Will he cover it? Let’s see.
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My previous position was that Smart should be judged on his performance and your note that he only rarely has blown whistles on Christy is a fair comment on that situation. If he is still there when the budget comes down let’s see how he portrays it, What has he done on crowding in the courts? On whether higher-ups blocked Rossmo’s work? On what Patrick K’s role is now etc etc – but what has anyone else done too? Not much.
But BTW who selected Kirk LaPointe for that job anyway? Is he the best objective adjudicator they could find? What did VanSun do under his leadership?
As Rafe so often says, we have to be our own media, so thanks again for your useful billboard.
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Your comments on Bill Good are right on. Does anyone listen to him anymore. We stopped a long time ago. We wrote to NW a coupe of years ago suggesting it was time for him to go.
Thanks to TUNEINRADION we listen to Rush Limbaugh in that time slot.
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IForgive the rant. I’ll claim I earned it.
As I watch this story unfold I’m called back to the week the Boss Power incident unfolded in QP in the Legislature. It’s some of the best Hansard reading in years. The Liberals were squirming and making complete fools of themselves.
A civil servant was ordered not to do a review of a uranium mining application. He refused, and was replaced. A more compliant civil servant obeyed orders, and that decision eventually cost the taxpayers #30 mil in an out of court settlement.
I watched CBC TV news all that week and saw no mention of it. Vaughn Palmer did do two excellent columns I believe. It made the G & M in a small way. It wasn’t unnoticed.
But this was a story that, had the goof been by an NDP government, the MSM would have been all over. They would have been apoplectic, and at the very least a Ministerial resignation would have happened. I challenge anyone to disagree on this point. Media has been slanted in this province for a long time. God I miss Jack Webster.
So when CBC almost totally ignored it, persisting with lost dog stories, sprinkled with a little HST, I lost my temper. The result is the current controversy.
Stephen Smart’s stories, we are told, are assigned and vetted. So I told Lapointe in a part of the letter not published, that the actual bias appeared to be a level above him. Absolutely Smart is in a conflict position, but he reported that, and his superiors made the mistake.
Mcinnes of the Sun actually says “We are invested in the success of our politicians” . I admit that’s only slightly out of context, but those were his words. It’s unbelievable. Think about it! I agree with him that journalists have no responsibility to be against anyone or anything, but they do have a responsibility to be evenhanded, and critical of nonsense when nonsense is all the politician gives you.
The MSM stars opposing the ombudsmans decision are behaving like grazing animals, surrounding and defending the weakest of the herd. I believe Smart is not that, and he can take care of himself.
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Thank you Mr. Adey. I too contacted the CBC months ago to complain that Mr. Smart’s employment was improper, and the producer I spoke with replied in a dismissive, disgusted, arrogant tone, “Oh, that.” You followed through with more tenacity than me, and I’m very grateful to you.
You used the phrase “protect the weak one” referring to the media elite protecting their own. Immediately a light went on in my brain, because that’s what our government should be doing, protecting the weak ones in society, but they are not.
To make matters worse, when the weak ones (ordinary citizens) go to the media to help expose harm and serious wrong-doing by government and authorities, the media will often suppress the story.
I’ll go one step further and say that it’s the BC government’s practice to attack the weak ones, cutting them off from the herd and employing their media friends to ensure the public is none the wise. They do this by bringing lawsuits to silence them, or by buying silence if they are sued. Occasionally, when the heat gets too hot, they launch some media efforts to fool the public into thinking they are changing their spots. That’s just a ploy to throw their critics off and mollify the public.
This is the government’s standard practice, especially when they, the government, or authorities are the ones who have committed serious wrong-doing. All of this is great business for the lawyer industry, but not for taxpayers and citizens.
There is nowhere to turn for help in BC when someone has been or is being harmed by the government. Nowhere and no one. People don’t see this until something happens to them.
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Another ethical day at the Stephen Smart Home:
Scene 1 : Christy Clark receives phone call from Chinese billionaire saying he will be in Burns Lake tomorrow to announce he’s buying & rebuilding the local mill. Christy tells her staff to get ready to leave in an hour for another great photo-op. Rebecca calls Stephen and say’s she won’t be home for a couple of days. Stephen replies “ I’d like to ask what’s up dear, but you know… we’re full of ethics “.
Scene 2 : The CBC calls a news conference and reveals unquestionable evidence that Christy Clark was a key player in the BC Rail fiasco. The CBC demands she resign. Later that day. Rebecca asks “ how was your day dear ? “. “ Well I’m sure you heard, I wanted to warn you but you know… we’re full of ethics “.
The next day the CBC announces it has bought the rights to this story for a new TV show called…
Little House of Ethics on the Prairie.
Guy in Victoria
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Timber supply for Burns Lake in question. Christy makes commitment to ship logs going to China to save jobs. It all gets very confusing.
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Oh no, not a stitch of confusion. Her priority is to create Chinese jobs, not save BC jobs.
Makes perfect sense.
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great column again,
bill good is a joke,
his friday morning comment on this issue was a smoke sreen fart at best.
the man has no clue.
it is quite simple . the cbc own ajudicator ruled that the cbc code of ethics were violated , end of story
yes the are all scared , if i was morally corrupt as them i would be scared
the most interesting thing for me is. the reaction from cbc brass to this unwillingness to enforce the ajudicator^s ruling.
if local brass think this is going away they are so wrong
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I must also add that I’m a lifelong fan of the CBC, but their reputation as the public’s broadcaster has suffered greatly. I don’t get disappointed with the usual suspects, rather I get upset with the news sources I once trusted to serve the public’s need to know diligently and fairly.
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IMHO, CBC gave up serving the public’s need to know a long time ago. They have been serving the Liberals’ (federal and provincial) need for PR for a long long time.
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Complete agreement. Their news division should be sold off and made impartial.
The rest of it we can all do without.
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After reading Craig McInnes’ article, I sent him the following note:
Just read your article with respect to the “modern marriage” and potential and/or real, conflicts of interest. Sorry, I simply disagree with your point of view here.
As a journalist, is it not your duty to report on the facts and truth of an issue? Since when does a reporters “vested interest in the success of a politician” come into play? This is an example of exactly why there are journalistic ethics and standards – to prevent these “vested interests” from unduly influencing a story. The matter at hand is not whether Mr Smart acted improperly, it is that he is in a position where this could happen. With Mr Smart having to report on the actions of government and his wife being one of those directly responsible for communicating with the press, how could this not have the appearance of a conflict?
One point that I will agree with you on is the fact that these conflicts are managed properly. However, in my opinion, Mr LaPointe did his job and the news editors at CBC have not. Sadly, rather than holding high the integrity of journalistic practices here in our province, I fear your opinion is a step backwards.
Craig’s reply –
Thanks for your comments. Just one point, I did not say “vested interest in the success of a politician.” I said “politicians” and by extension, our political system and our society. When they fail, we all suffer. The whole point of holding them to account, to use that terminology, is to ensure that they don’t stray from the path of serving their constituents.
On the rest we’ll have to disagree.
At least he replied and did not simply ignore my note. However, regardless of whether or not the politicians and/or the system should fail, they should be able to do so WITHOUT undue influence from those in the media with a “vested interest”.
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Well done. Don’t let him breathe!!
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I agree! VERY well done! For the media or anyone in a position of power over the media to soberly, seriously, and apparently reflectively suggest that perpetuating propaganda, ignoring truths, fudging facts, or in any way stepping aside from or over a legitimate news story is to safeguard a democratic political system that depends upon informed scrutiny and debate is SHOCKING in the extreme. Individual politicians must be accountable to constituents and the ruling party leaders and cabinet members willingly take on the extra mantle of responsibility and accountability to ALL citizens and a non-complicit and ethical journalists. Other university-educated professions have colleges with codes of conduct and disciplinary measures for ethical lapses, conflicts of interest, and participation unbecoming of the profession. Courses need to be taken annually and formally supervised practice and accreditation are mandatory to ensure that workplace group think, office politics and power dynamics, and owner privilege don’t override the integrity of university educated and certified professionals. It’s not rocket science but the current myopia is astounding. Such complacency, entitlement, and lack of accountability. Full absorption in this milieu for so long means that even the ‘leaders’ in the profession unabashedly dismiss the stinkingly obvious. Just another day …. That’s just the way we do things here.
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Yes, thank you, I quite agree.
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no kidding alex.
id like to relate a short story that backs up your point.
about a year ago i came across a very bad car accident. (pieces of the 2 vehicles were littered over a 2 block long stretch).
the next day i ran across a local police officer and asked “hey i was went by that accident last night, and the media reported it as a minor fender bender…. thats ridiculous considering the damage… was the guy being chased by the police???”
the police officers response was “no… they were speeding, and honestly the media today is enterainment…. it has NOTHING to do with the news”
this is the description given to me of the main stream media by an RCMP officer. i was not shocked, but had to myself that i had known this for years but not wanted to admit it.
people the only way to get factual reporting is to do exactly what alex has suggested…. turn off the media outlets that cant be bothered to report the truth anymore.
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Who will Kieth Baldry admire when Miss Christy is no longer at the helm?
When ALL of the BC taxpayers tune into the 12 o’clock news…and endure the ramblings of a out of touch hack who would much rather golf with “The BIG boys”. Than report the true events of this……The Most Beautiful Place On Earth….This is a problem.
Mr Smart….Is not that smart. Or is he?
Maybe if the likes of the Alex’s of the world would just go away, things would be just fine.
If the watchdog for the CBC, or the watchdog for the Glowball or the Citytv…Ha!…..Has No Teeth, then who do we turn to?
Funny……WE are already here. The Only Journalist who gives a shit about BC. Alex. (Yea, there’s a few more out there, but THEY are pretty quiet).
As Bill Good ALWAY’s says…….”Interesting”.
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Yep, the media here are willfully blind to the fact the emperor has no clothes.
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“What a total joke. You don’t know if you’re watching the priming of a premier or the making of a porno.”
and the title? Maid in Victoria?
Starring Rebecca Scott as Patricia Bay?
The male as “Sidney”? or “Col Wood”? or even “Mahl L. Hat”?
Wonder which guy would have the male role the one with the porn mustache?
(cue 1970′s porn music)
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In regards to Sean Leslie ” I asked him two days ago, by email., to clear up–confirm or deny. Of course, no response as of the publishing of this post.”
Well Alex, may I humbly suggest that “no response” is in fact a response.
When you are asked to make a declaration that you really do not want to make, the most used deflection is not to reply.
The silence however speaks volumes.
I would suggest that we now know the answer.
Cheers
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Off topic alert.
It’s a tough go deciding what is the better (less biased) media in Vancouver. I’ve briefly tried to listen to 1040 for the last three days. Office vs person debate regarding Tim Thomas giving a visit to the WH … and Obama’s photo op.
Question: If an American president finds it fit to curtsey for an Arab king, should have Tim Thomas traveled to the WH to curtsey the president?
BTW: When I switched over to 980 … the kooks are just as repetitive as the commercials.
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Tim Thomas should be hailed as a hero!
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Tim Thomas is a selfish bastard for skipping out on the White House visit, and then not keeping quiet about it. I think he’ll be gone from Beantown at the end of the season over this.
He should have gone, and given Obama his two cents while shaking his hand.
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The only selfish bastard is the President, who thinks he can get away with what he’s done.
Thomas should be congratulated for sticking to the principles which made America great.
I hope we trade for him. Great goaltender and clearly someone with a conscience and a ton of character.
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I never heard of any athletes skipping out of their White House when Dubya was president, even though some would argue that there’s no way he should get away with what he’s done.
Sports should be one of the few things in this world that transcends politics, period.
The World Cup is a classic example. Many times, two countries who absolutely despise each other meet on the field of play. No matter how much they hate each others guts, they just go and play, and even shake each others hands at the end.
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I think Thomas is a Republican, if I am not mistaken.
Funny how the media makes such a big deal about this….I wonder if the shoe was on the other foot and the athlete in question was a Democrat and the Pres. was Republican, what the reaction would have been……..yeah I think we all know…….
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What a terrific observation. He is indeed a Republican. Bless him for taking a stand.
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Does Tim favour Newt or Mitt?
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My understanding is that his family have been long time, active Republicans and that they favour Mitt Romney.
After last night’s debate, I think the choice is pretty clear. Romney is the best they’ve got and in a head-to-head contest with Obama he wins by a small margin. The others, most notably Gingrich–the ass, loses heavily.
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When the whole fast ferry thingy went down for the NDP, they claimed they were stupid – not dishonest.
The press really should make the same statement.
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When the whole fast ferry thingy went down for the NDP, they claimed they were stupid – not dishonest.
They were very hestitant in so doing, it wasn’t until Dan Miler was interim Premier that a half assed statement came out of them regarding the FastCats.
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bruce allen would be good on tv and radio if only they would give him more time slot other than reality check.Also A former reporter said needs to be 5 yr rotation out of reporting to get fresh perspective ,less inbedded.
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Alex:
I think this quite nicely sums up the BC media’s current state of siege mentality
So which one is Bill Good?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp_hzrB_FI4
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Hysterical! But true!!!!!
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Yes, and as the puffed up Bill Good (obviously the one on the left) and his singing partner pointed out: “We must placate them even though we hate them”.
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Is that a tuba I hear in the background?
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You touched on the salient issue, which can be summed up as the golden rule… he who has the gold makes the rules.
Print media is going downhill in every measurable metric… readership and quality being the top of that list. If I were a print reported, first and foremost on my mind would be keeping my job because with the next round of cuts always looming (before the 100-year-old doors are slammed shut for good), you need to keep a low profile and phone it in. Piss off one wrong person, and that’s it. And when the people who might get pissed off are in Victoria and in power, well, come on.
Show me one reporter with guts and something to lose that’s willing to take this on… or BC Rail… or any number of thorny issues we can only read about here. Show me just one. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
Sigh.
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Ferris, reporting for duty!
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Well when Christy Campbell became leader she did say she it was a Fresh Start. Say that 3 times quickly it comes out fresh tart, fresh tart, fresh tart
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Now there is a phrase that chimes – “Christy Campbell” – ! wonder if the MSM would ever dare to use that ?
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You are kidding right?
Where would you locate a set of testicles in the Victoria Press Gallery? They don’t exist.
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Forgive me, I recall you saying some time back we’re permitted one off topic post, here’s mine.
The BC political landscape is most assuredly a cause for concern. Dimwit and Duh at the helm provincally
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Agreed. Happy to cash your chip for you…
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Two days ago, on CKNW, instead of addressing this CBC fiasco, useless Bill did a fluff piece on hitting in youth hockey… “are ya fer it, or agin it”? Discuss!
During this banter, some hockey terms came up – several times.
Terms such as – Novice, Tyke, Atom, Peewee, Bantam, Midget, Juvenile.
Savant Bill repeatedly asked for definitions of these terms.
What does this prove?
Obviously, Bill never listened to his father, and as a result he knows sh*t about sports!
It matches his political acumen – he knows sh*t about politics too!
Bill, time for some Geritol!
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Bill Good is only in the media because his father got him hooked up years ago and it all rolled from there.
Otherwise, he suffers from good fortune. I say suffers, because he got handed such a plum from the old man and did nothing with it. He was a sports reader. How tough is this? Squire, by comparison, is a very bright articulate guy in person. Mason, who covered sports with great writing, graduated to becoming one of Canada’s best know journalists.
Vanilla the Dim, inherited his spot from the greatness of Rafe and has been fortunate not to have had any competition ever.
But he will. Soon…
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Oops. Sorry. Crazy buttons and my mouse is chasing itself. Anyway, if you think Mr. K in the west wing is problematic consider this, that lunatic in Ottawa has plans to micro-manage the provinces. His first plan he called a crime omnibus. To do what he considers necessary he must first employ the age old strategy of divide and conquer. He will do this by redirecting our national police force ( RCMP ) into his personal vanguard and the first inhabitants of his super prisons will be his critics. $35 billion for fighter aircraft for a nation that has never in our history been more recognized for anything other than a peacekeeping nation. In times of great conflict Canada has offered it’s sons and daughters and we’re known as a place of democracy. Worldwide people seeking a better life choose to come here. He intends to change that. That foolish grin he embarrasses this country with is insidious and we’re damn lucky the first nations people are demanding better stewardship from Ottawa. They will hold the line. No matter how he tries to put all the legs on the wrong end of the dog his is a one term disaster. Thank sweet Jesus.
Just my opinion.
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An opinion fit for a tin foil hat…IMHO.
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I respect your opinion and champion your right to express it. However, certain facts are undeniable. I pray the significance of the following doesn’t escape you –
“In December, the National Post reported that there was internal debate within the government about increasing the age of eligibility for the other major element of the public pension scheme – Old Age Security – from 65 to 67.”
A direct assault on the working poor. Folks who have struggled for years to fulfill their commitments, to their families and the thief who picked their pocket every payday. In the belief that hard work and dedication would one day provide a secure future. The social impact of this will not only hurt seniors but the financial load upon caring sons and daughters who try to assist parents who have already done their share. I may wear foil, but I do it with pride.
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I have made clear, several times over the last few weeks, that I am growingly concerned with the Conservatives on issues which they would be fools to touch. The Northern Pipeline is one, old age pension benefits and age eligibility is yet another.
Is that not clear enough? I’m repeating what I’ve already written.
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Alex, my comment was directed at the poster who chose to consider my previous post as worthy of a tin foil hat.. I don’t question your belief or moral stance on these issues. Seldom have I been privileged to share ideas and concerns with a man of principal which you embody. The simple fact that you share my concern only serves to satisfy my hope that better men with vision may someday lead me to a better world.
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Geezus Gary, my apologies. I noticed that your comment didn’t come in under any stream and looked like in was a general comment to me.
This goddamned new internal programming is driving me crazy. Sorry about that pal.
Bloody hell, I wish my new provider would just pick one system and stick with the damn thing. Once I get used to one, they come up with a new one!!!! LOL!
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Now THAT is valid criticism. The stuff about putting critics in prison and that we are a “peacekeeping” country is pure fantasy.
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OK. I’ve taken the time to consider your point. Here’s what I’m left with. Let me break it down so that your narrow view doesn’t conflict with my generalizations. Let’s say we had a different system. Oh say, a lottery system. One individual chosen at random to support and fund one politician.Your number comes up and the lottery says you are now responsible to provide for let’s say Pamela Martin, All costs, incidentals and comforts. How long before you scream from the roof tops that there must be a better way. Don’t stop there. Perhaps you decide a new roof on your home would be nice. Fiscal prudence says you cost it out and finally decide on the best choice. Contractor comes and provides a quote. You cut the cheque and they disappear You of course would consider that theft. When your government takes their share of your labour before you get an opportunity to reap the benefit you expect at the very least, some service in return. They fail to provide it. Is that also not theft ? Now for the part that matters. When your government takes their share ( and a bit more of yours ) and direct it to a lavish lifestyle for themselves while convincing you through glitzy campaign ads that it’s in your better interest that from here on in you should support private education for your children, private health care for you and your family and if your parents are too old to be productive, well hell with em. Let them wither in an alley somewhere. My point being, our government is positioning itself to use your tax dollars to prepare for the inevitable backlash their wonton disregard for your best interest will result in. When the Arab Spring comes to Canada, Harper has the answer. Throw em all in prison. Taxation without representation is not merely a historical quote. And never has it been more relevant. Perhaps I should have said that we’re a peaceful nation, would that suit you better ?
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The question should be how much of taxpayers money has the MSM made from “The Best Place On Earth”. Why would they cut off the hand that feeds them?
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Good question! Whom among them would dare answer to such honesty?
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” and has been fortunate not to have had any competition ever.
But he will. Soon…”
Sorry to post twice…. but the above comment has been made more than once ? Is there another new venture for Alex …. Soon.. ??
Guy in Victoria
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It’s time…
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I figured in the end Smart would resort to the “can’t live on one income in Victoria” excuse. Who can live on one income anywhere these days ? This clearly shows it is about his “personal” living arrangements and relations with his wife and not about what is his own journalistic ethics. He may as well be saying “Screw the public, until Rebecca moved to Victoria, I haven’t been getting screwed in months ! ”
I bet when Global BC goes 24/7 we will be seeing Baldrey ad nauseum blabbing away. May be the perfect time to bombard the new show with ethics questions so the public can see how pathetic this has become.
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I wouldn’t bet on that. If Jill Krop is getting her own show (I am a huge fan of Jill’s work) then you might see them going in a different direction.
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I’ve been mulling what impact GlobalNews24/7 will have on the next provincial election (May 14, 2013) – any thoughts?
Wanna bet there’ll be lots of chatter about “momentum” just before the voting? And commissioned polls … and cheap high-repeat rates for political ads . .
Global News ratings are an amazing phenomenon and with NW’s dominance of radio news there’s not much room left for others.
It is in that regard where I’ve learned to like the CBC – when all the others are running off half-cocked on various non-issues the good old CBC-TV will still report on stories that really matter and thereby sometimes shame the other TV operations to report what they had been ignoring.
So don’t throw out any babies with bathwater here – better to have a pantheon of voices than only a few.
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NW is on the bubble. They have no competition and still tank in key demographics.
Global needn’t worry about the CBC since they are a disaster in terms of ethics and as long as Margo Harper remains at CTV (and continues to run it into the shitter) Global is ALSO without competition.
Lots of room to challenge.
And the CNN/FOX style newscast you suggest is intolerable to Canadians. Leading the public wouldn’t wash.
Although in some cases, like the BC Rail scandal, I’d suggest we’re already there.
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I Agree.
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But will not she be “guided” by the News Management as they for Global?
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I think you need to know that Baldrey is the stick in the wheel and not Global management. When his influence is enough to spike a story, marvy, he needn’t cover it or worry about. That’s his thinking.
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Funny that this ironic and yet so very telling comment would emerge. As anecdotal, expensive, and as defensive as it may be, it is illuminating. It suggests that the person complaining about the high cost of living is not a big picture thinker and clearly has not connected any dots to the policies and priorities of the government of the last ten years in this province. Talk about a disconnect from the economic reality created by new taxes, levies, surcharges, tolls, pet projects, the Olympics, a puffed up Premier’s office, Convention centre cost over runs, BC Ferries CEO silliness, and BC Rail buffoonery (paying $6M in legal bills). If a family desperately needs two or more incomes to make ends meet, it is a result of the free reign that the BC Liberals have enjoyed and yet MORE reason why a number of media resignations or reassignments are appropriate and long overdue.
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Oh, we’ll be talking about the $6 million Basi-Virk payment again next week, you can bet on it.
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Will there ever come a time that we see a fearless reporter with a backbone? Up and coming for that matter….
also, do you think that any Global reporter will touch these issues in the future?
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Yes and yes.
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It’s a shame, but it might be time for the CBC to go. They have no more integrity than anyone else now. Why are we paying to keep them?
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Excellent point and how wonderful to hear from you!
I think they’re credibility in Vancouver is tanked while they allow Smart on as Victoria Bureau Chief. It’s plainly wrong.
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CBC BC news director Wayne Williams wrote “there could be a perception of conflicte of interest, we have taken steps to address the issue, ensuring both distance and trasparency.”
Oh yeah? What steps we’re left to wonder.
Perhaps the Dick Van Dyke school of distance and transpaency.
“You knew there was a sexual connection between Rob and Laura (Steve and Rebecca). We allowed it to happen. We didn’t have them go around saying, “I love you.” They proved it by the way that they reacted to each other. But we were constrained to use twin beds rather than double beds.” Carl Reiner
http://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news-photo/american-actors-mary-tyler-moore-and-dick-van-dyke-kiss-in-news-photo/80845827?Language=en-US
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And may I add that Mary Tyler Moore was an absolute fox!
Very attractive.
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Where is Sun News in all of this? Or would they even care?
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Surprisingly, not a word about this issue.
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