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September 13th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Thanks for doing the legwork, Lynne!!
As for this:
————
Surrounded by supporters including State Rep. David Nangle, former City Manager John Cox, Sandy, his wife of 26 years, and his parents, Joan and Al Lenzi, the candidate also spoke about the need for more candor from the City Council.
————
Well, that certanily got *my* attention….
September 13th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Maybe Donoghue’s strong showing in Lowell has caused at least one of the GOB’s to distance himself (publicly) from Voldemort.
September 13th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Lynne:
In all fairness to Robert Mills, the Sun reporter who authored this story, his primary beat is not City Politics. He does a very good job reporting on issues that he is familiar with and did an excellent job reporting on the ADL/Armenian Genocide issue as this letter to the editor indicates, http://www.lowellsun.com//ci_6817151?IADID=Search-www.lowellsun.com-www.lowellsun.com.
As for candidates, I just wish they would stop telling us that they want what is best for the City. That is a given.
And I certainly do not understand Lenzi’s use of the Tsongas Arena as a backdrop and making the operation of that facility a prominent issue.
September 13th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
“The best” is also a conveniently nebulous term, of course….
September 13th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
I can certainly see the political advantage to be gained in highlighting something that loses money for the City. As usual, though, the truth lies in a more complicated context than ’see - the states losing money on this thing’. But complicated context isn’t usually good for campaigning.
September 13th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
Oh, I’m sure Mills does fine…but my first question when reading it was, “Well, was Lenzi full of - -?” Shouldn’t that be the first question from any reporter reporting on something someone is accusing others of doing or not doing? Logically?
So then, I went to find out, and it took a quick phone call. It wasn’t hard for me to be bothered by not knowing…and I didn’t go to journalism school (quite deliberately - too much like real work…poetry’s more fun cuz there’s less rules ;P ).
September 13th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
You call that verification? Are you kidding me?….You are OBSESSED with John Cox!
September 13th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
Anon: in so far as this election is about the future direction of Lowell, this is completely relevant, don’t you think? Or do you want to claim this has nothing to do with the GOB (which is really what this is about, anyway, not any one individual)? Because it’s blatantly unbelievable that these folks aren’t in it for the GOB.
But seriously…did Lenzi call up CM Lynch to find out what he could before his big speech? No, he didn’t…I’m just wondering if he elected to remain in the dark deliberately. Because that’s not the sort of Councilor I want to elect. I want someone who’s actually intellectually curious about the truth, not some false version of it made up for political gain.
September 13th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
PS: find a nickname, or please stop posting. I don’t care if you remain anonymous. But put some sort of name handle in.
September 13th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Lynne- How do you know what Mike Lenzi did before his “big speech”? Did you call him to VERIFY?
P.S. Please explain this whole GOB thing for me. Is there any hard and fast definition? Do you have to know a certain number of CCs, be related to an elected official, been in the “big tent” at folkfest this year? What’s it all about? Since it clearly dominates lots of discussion here, it would be nice to know what we are talking about….
September 13th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
I wonder if trying to come up with a definition for GOB will impress upon Lynne how hysterical and completely ludicrous this all sounds- not to mention immature, shrill, nasty, uncivilized, etc., etc…
September 13th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
riiight… because nobody ever got anywhere in Lowell by receiving favors from administrators who act like politicians.
September 13th, 2007 at 5:10 pm
Since you didn’t go to journalism school Lynne, perhaps you should stop commenting on matters you know knothing about, kind of like you all want Rita to stop talking about legal matters since she’s not a lawyer.
FYI, a reporter’s job is to REPORT the news story, which is what Mills did here. The news story was a man officially announcing his candidacy for city council. An op-ed writer or a columnist is the type of person who should examine the validity of whatever claims and statements are made or to state opinions on them. Your sarcastic analysis of Mills’ performance in this case only speaks to your overall pettiness and lack of knowledge, something you’re quick to criticize others for.
If you have a problem with Lenzi or Cox, by all means, go for it. You have the forum to do so and are justified in doing in this forum. However, if you really fancy yourself a “legitimate” news and information gatherer as you suggest here, go get some training and try to get a job in a legitimate forum, not someplace where any 11-year old with computer knowledge is just as qualified to state opinions as you are.
September 13th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
Right: have you gone to journalism school? Your posts have printers ink smudges all over them.
September 13th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
Right in Lowell -
As opposed to the tabloid-like piece the Sun does every week called The Column which is most of the time purely fabricated, fiction, or cloudy half truths. Thank god there are outlets such as this that can offer up alternative viewpoints and opinions. Sun is a dinosaur and can feel power slipping away…
September 13th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
Just to weigh in here:
“…So, even if you buy Lenzi’s saintly motivations (hey, maybe he means it), he’s decidedly wrong on his statements. It’s just too bad he didn’t bother to find out if they were true or not before committing to them. And too bad the readers of the Sun didn’t get that context, either. Once upon a time that was the media’s job…”
No, it is not the media’s job AT THIS POINT to counter what the candidate is saying in his/her statement. Media is there to just report what he/she said when the announcement was made.
It IS media’s job from this point forward to keep track of that statement and to compare it with reality. Today was Lenzi’s day.
If there is a real media in Lowell then statements and claims will be weighed against reality and published.
But then again, I said if there were a real media in Lowell…
September 14th, 2007 at 12:52 am
Eleanor, in the coming days you will see more than enough analysis and commentary on what Lenzi said. In fact, the Column that “upside/down” derides will more than likely take the popular point of view on this blog. You see, while the editor might be a friend of Cox, many of his columnists are not, and they’re more than willing to take shots at the Cox crowd and the three amigos on the current council. The fact that they’re allowed to is a plus in my eyes regarding the Sun. There are many outlets where such open differences with the editor are totally squashed. Ask your liberal friends in Manchester how they feel about the Union Leader.
POD, I do have journalistic training and am not at all ashamed of it. That doesn’t make my opinions on matters any more worthy than yours or anybody else’s. What you fail to realize though, is that it doesn’t make them any less valid. You media “experts” here sure don’t like it when you’re challenged on erroneous comments you make. However, when you make a fool of yourself, I’ll be sure to use my ink smudges to point out your mistakes and let the people here decide for themselves who’s “right” and who’s wrong/left.
One more thing for upside/down; you make the common mistake most bloggers make. You take yourself waaaayyyyy too seriously. Just because you proclaim your legitimacy or power, doesn’t mean you really have any. For example, if this blog really had any pull, we’d be watching a Donahue-Oganowski race now, wouldn’t we?
September 14th, 2007 at 8:35 am
I hope that I was not the only one that caught the additionally symbolism as to where Mr. Lenzi announced his candidacy? That was right in the shadow of the Cox Rock!
September 14th, 2007 at 11:48 am
UGH! Although I agree whole-heartedly with Lynne, I am bored-to-tears with hearing the name John Cox.
I will however be more than happy to listen to ANY city council candidate who “announces” from the front door of the Boys Club on Middlesex Street and talks about why crime and poverty in the lower highlands are just as, if not more, critical to the city as any income derived from Tsongas Arena…
That is NEVER going to happen!
September 14th, 2007 at 12:27 pm
Right writes “One more thing for upside/down; you make the common mistake most bloggers make. You take yourself waaaayyyyy too seriously. Just because you proclaim your legitimacy or power, doesn’t mean you really have any. For example, if this blog really had any pull, we’d be watching a Donahue-Oganowski race now, wouldn’t we?”
I am assuming the “Donahue” (sic) reference was not aimed at this blog in general but at me in particular; if I recall there were only a handful of people supporting Eileen Donoghue on this blog; me, Mike, Jack and maybe two or more commentators. Lynne was a Eldridge supporter. As a matter of fact, I think I may have been the only blogger who supported Eileen’s Congressional Campaign.
We could say the same thing as you said about the Sun and the Eagle-Tribune, if those newspapers had any pull, we’d ….
I do not take myself all that seriously but I take the issues that I care about, very seriously.
And Turtledove, you are so right…
September 14th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Right…it’s too much to ask for context in your media…roger that…
The speech in question was a shot at a specific issue and how it’s being handled…I’m just wondering why people think it’s too much to ask that we get context for that shot? Since that information could be garnered?
This isn’t a problem that happens once in a while in one newspaper. It happens all the time, in most newspapers. The article reports on what someone said, and you never get the context.
Look, just because I didn’t (want to) go to journalism school doesn’t mean I don’t know how to critique the media. I as a reader had a very serious question that wasn’t answered by the article in question. This is not to say the reporter is not doing his job or that he doesn’t do great work. But is it too much to ask for our media to go a little further than is standard? Because the standard way the media’s been doing their job in the last decade - that’s been working out so swell for us so far.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
Lynne — Kudos to you! I think you also underscore the point that media literacy is not a common skill. Too many take too much for granted what they read, see, and hear.
September 14th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Lynne, wait till Sunday and I’m sure you’ll get your “context” and commentary. Now, whether you like it or agree with it is another matter. I’m sure you’d love a New York Times dissertation on every 3 paragraph story written, but due to space and time requirements, that’s not completely possible. That’s why bloggers like you exist…you can take all the time in the world to pontificate on the issues YOU deem important. However, if you had to opine on every news matter of the day, I’m sure you’d find yourself unable to provide depth you provide to every piece.
Mimi, the point was that most people on this blog were Donahue supporters, and most of the rest were anti-Niki. Perhaps you should stop parsing words and taking criticism so personally. Then you’d have an easier time understanding the general point made by your commenters.
I’m sure we all appreciate you taking the issues you care about so seriously (at least I know I do, because it gives us a forum to discuss them). I just wish you’d stop focusing on the black and white and search a little harder for the gray area. That’s usually where the truth is found.
September 14th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Right, was this your way of telling me I am thin skinned?
O.K. I agree with you, during the primaries this blog was not Niki-friendly. But that is over now, so let’s move on. None of us want to see a Republican represent this District.
September 14th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
I smell newsprint.
September 14th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
I’m with you POD.
Also… “proclaim your legitimacy or power”
She has the same claim to legitimacy or power that anyone with a readership has, which is to say not much. Not only that but you’d be hard pressed to find a quote where she proclaims any power.
If readers want to tune in to her opinion because they like and or trust it, thats fine. If readers want to tune in (or not) to her opinion because hate / mistrust it, thats fine to. Nobody here except the bashers has ever claimed otherwise.
September 14th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Problem is, RiL, that waiting til Sunday for context isn’t going to help those who might have read this article a few days before if they don’t read the Sunday column or whatever. Or put the two together if they DO read both. They are left with an impression (rightly or wrongly) that there’s a problem with a lack of movement on the issue of the Tsongas Arena when that may not be true. I am so sick of the excuse “well we don’t get paid enough” or “we don’t have enough time/resources/space” to explain why the media is not doing it’s job. Bullocks. It’s our government, and I think it’s important enough to spend the time and money thinking about how an article can be so much better with context and research.
It would have taken like, maybe two sentences and an extra hour or so of following up with sources to explain that context in this case. But the media has been allowed to get away with lacking that context for far too long. So, I call it when I see it.
POD: I also with you…and I think I know who, too. I’ll be nice and not say more than that.
September 14th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Mimi, speak for yourself about seeing a Republican representing this district…LOL. It’s been a donkey district forever. Perhaps a change might do it some good.
Unfortunately Lynne, POD and Mr. Lynne, your detective’s tools aren’t as sharp as you’d like to think. You’d be very surprised if you found out who I really was. But thank you for the compliment of believing I have any pull over at the Sun.
Is it really so hard to believe everyday people who don’t have agendas and consider themselves reasonable might actually disagree with you, whether they work in the media or not? You’re much too paranoid about ink. Debate the issues and don’t worry so much about the background of those debating against you.
Lynne, how come you aren’t so quick to jump on the media for doing a quick story about something one of your preferred politicians says or does? You’re all over the paper for the Lenzi story, but doesn’t the paper do dozens of stories a week about things your (and my, BTW) favorite city councilors might say or do without going into in-depth analysis in the very same article? Happens every single day, and yet you make a huge issue out of the Lenzi case. It’s a fact of life for every newspaper in the country, let alone a small town one like the Sun.
We’d all love more content and in-depth reporting, but we’re not going to get it unless have enough money to start up your own paper or 24-hour news channel devoted specifically to Lowell news and politics. Do you?
September 14th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
RIL: Surprised, maybe. Impressed? Doubtful.
September 14th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
I wasn’t expecting/asking you to be impressed. Just lose a little of the accusatory arrogance and I’ll try not to point out how foolish you sound when you’re dead wrong.