tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8038715.post113058783624702326..comments2023-09-24T07:47:43.839-04:00Comments on StarSpangledHaggis: Yes, Virginia, there is a PresidentEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17587216740731401718noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8038715.post-1130619664468039182005-10-29T17:01:00.000-04:002005-10-29T17:01:00.000-04:00...and that's why I said that behavior differentia......and that's why I said that behavior differentiates the great citizens from the OK citizens.Integrated Systemshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12326071120855371015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8038715.post-1130619479482301802005-10-29T16:57:00.000-04:002005-10-29T16:57:00.000-04:00journalists are forced to take a roundabout means ...<I>journalists are forced to take a roundabout means (FOIA, interviews, interrogating the PR hacks, etc.) in order to get the truth</I>.<BR/><BR/>These aren't roundabout means -- these are among the many actual channels available for use. Journalists aren't 'forced' to use them, they are <I>obligated</I> to do so.Integrated Systemshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12326071120855371015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8038715.post-1130604931744139342005-10-29T12:55:00.000-04:002005-10-29T12:55:00.000-04:00As a journalist, I can safely say that it's rare f...As a journalist, I can safely say that it's rare for a great citizen to "ask for information." <BR/><BR/>Citizens have a tendancy more towards "demanding answers," whilst journalists are forced to take a roundabout means (FOIA, interviews, interrogating the PR hacks, etc.) in order to get the truth.<BR/><BR/>E, if for some reason you kept a copy of the letter your neice sent, you should copy it again, and copy the letter sent to you by the magical Santa Bush, and take it to your daily newspaper in person, and see if they can do anything with it. Odds are, they won't touch it with a 10 foot pole, but you never know.Geoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02122182645880132705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8038715.post-1130593712059257802005-10-29T09:48:00.000-04:002005-10-29T09:48:00.000-04:00I offered to help her write another letter to the ...<I>I offered to help her write another letter to the President to thank him for his recent reply but to tell him that he didn't give her an answer to her original question...</I><BR/><BR/>Now, that's the American spirit at work! I hope she takes you up on it. Most people settle for the facile answer, and cynically chalk up the lame responses of our public officials as 'politics as usual', dropping the issues right there. And that, in essence, shows people in politics that we tolerate their abuse of the public trust.<BR/><BR/>As the scion of journalists, I know that this is where the great citizens get separated from the OK citizens. The great citizens keep doggedly asking the burning questions: "No, <I>why</I> can't I sit at this lunch counter again?... Wait, can you repeat that rationale about why women can't vote once more? ...OK, these are <I>some</I> of the documents I requested under the FOIA, but not all - can I have the rest, please?...Mr. P., can we go back to the part about the WMDs again?"<BR/><BR/>Great life lesson!Integrated Systemshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12326071120855371015noreply@blogger.com