March 29, 2006 

WRTA

 Brown Shoes Diary 

Guess Who's In My Crosshairs Now?

From time to time, I come up with an asinine opinion.  Yesterday was such a day.  On Open Mike Too with Doug Herendeen, I voiced the opinion that Rick Geist was dutifully and diligently working on legislation to prevent eminent domain abuse in Pennsylvania.  Nothing wrong with that, nor with my opinion.  But I also expressed the view that Steve Clark is one terrific newsman.  Well, on that opinion, as Mr. Clark made plain today, I stand corrected.
 
Around 7:15 this morning, I heard Mr. Clark criticize an opinion piece of mine respectfully submitted to WRTA.com.  Since I teach on Wednesday mornings, I wasn't able to listen to his Two-Way Talk program, but I heard from a friend that he repeated his rant on the program, perhaps even ratcheting up his contempt for me.  And that's my problem with Mr. Clark--I think my opinions are fair game and I'm perfectly respectful of his right to ridicule them, however coherent, researched, and well-reasoned they are.  But I think Mr. Clark goes way over the line in suggesting I have a vendetta (the word he used) against Rick Geist and that Rick Geist is the only person "in my crosshairs."  (That last phrase was reported to me by my friend who listened to Two-Way Talk today.)
 
The truth is, if there's a vendetta between Rick Geist and myself, it's he that is carrying it.  After all, it was Rick Geist (self-described as a leader in the General Assembly and, hence, one of the most powerful people in the state) who called my boss to complain about me after calling me a prostitute himself and otherwise treating me rudely.  No doubt he hoped that such a complaint would either silence me or change my tone.  No chance of that, folks.  In any case, my weight and height notwithstanding, I'm the little guy here.  There was a time when the media scrutinized political leaders and questioned their motives, not those of the ordinary taxpaying citizen.  Is it really such a bad thing for a taxpayer to speak his mind?  Well, excuse me, Mr. Clark. 
 
As for me having only Mr. Geist in my crosshairs, I suggest Mr. Clark read a few of my other opinion pieces at WRTA.com.  I have likened George Bush to Lyndon Johnson and that, dear readers, is no compliment.  I've wondered, based on an email he sent me, whether Bill Frist is a pimp or a prostitute and concluded he's both.  You don't think I've criticized local officials?  Look up my comments on John Eichelberger (Take a Hike, Eiche), Barry Wright, and Donna Gority.  You think I haven't said or written anything negative about Bob Jublierer?  Think again (Ad Nauseum parts 1 and 2).  I put the entire blame for the Sovereign Bank legislation (which is a direct attack on capitalism) on the shoulders of Ed Rendell in one essay. (Rick Geist assured me he was equally responsible.)  I've noted that the entire U.S. Senate has been complicit in attacking capitalism and waging war against wealth-creation.   I've also attacked Paul Krugman, who truly is an elitist know-it-all of the worst kind.  And I've even criticized Crunchy Conservatism and its main proponent, Rod Dreher.  And let's not forget my criticism of George Bailey of the Bailey Savings and Loan.  Sorry, Mr. Clark, if you think I've been singling out Rick Geist for criticism, you just haven't been paying attention.
 
So why the willful disregard for the facts by Steve Clark and the deliberate mis-statement regarding the targets of my opinions?  I can only guess Clark is in the running to be the permanent replacement for Dan Rather and is trying to impress the folks at CBS.
 
And speaking of vendettas.  Just why does Mr. Clark continue to call me an elitist?  Yes, I know the difference between 'infer' and 'imply', something he, as a professional broadcaster, apparently hasn't mastered, but is that elitism?  To Mr. Clark and all of you offended by proper word usage and good grammar, my sincere apologies.  But me, an elitist?  Four very large dogs (a German Shepherd and three Borzoi) have adopted me and I clean up after them every day.  Trust me, no one could get a swelled head shoveling that much fecal matter on a regular basis.  Well, I guess I can think of an exception.


The opinions and ideas expressed in this essay are those of John D McGinnis and should not be considered representative of WRTA.com, any institution with which McGinnis is associated, or anyone else.  He can be contacted at zoiprof@atlanticbb.net.

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