Washington Post Endorsement?

By: jsrutstein
Published On: 6/6/2008 5:58:51 AM

Has the WaPo made an endorsement for Tuesday's Dem Primary for VA-11?  I may have missed it, because I cancelled my 20+ year subscription in 2006 when they dissed Andy Hurst.  I assumed they'd endorse Connolly this time as the nearest Davis equivalent.  I started to get hopeful that they might not when they let Amy Gardner write about Connolly and SAIC.  Perhaps they didn't endorse in the 2006 primary either.  Does anyone know?  If they did endorse in the 2006 primary, does anyone know if they waited this close to the election?  If they do end up endorsing Connolly, perhaps waiting this long is a signal of weak support, because it wouldn't leave Connolly with that much time to trumpet the endorsement.

Comments



Not yet, although I'd be shocked (Lowell - 6/6/2008 6:09:52 AM)
if they don't endorse corporat-o-crat and Tom Davis pal Gerry Connolly.


Maybe that's (afausser - 6/6/2008 6:19:15 AM)
what's going on Saturday?


Wow, that would be exciting! (Lowell - 6/6/2008 6:38:29 AM)
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. :)


If the Post does endorse Connolly (Lowell - 6/6/2008 8:50:19 AM)
they should have Amy Gardner write it. After her article today, I'd say she's uniquely qualified to do so.


shame (again) on the WaPo (jsrutstein - 6/7/2008 6:33:20 AM)
They did it.  I won't even link to it, and if anyone else has the energy to do analysis of it, go for it.  All I can think is that this is Broder's swan song to his blessed "bipartisanship" and whatever nuggets of honest journalism about issues that matter that allowed Gardner to report on Connolly's conflicted status vis a vis SAIC will be more fairly represented on the editorial board in the future.  At least I don't have to keep my promise to resubscribe.


It's not even worth analyzing (Lowell - 6/7/2008 6:59:52 AM)
If you want to see how addle-brained and muddle-headed these dolts are, read their Harris Miller endorsement and never read another endorsement again.  Also, I'd recommend that you read this analysis by James Martin, which trashes the Washington Post for endorsing Jeannemarie Devolites Davis over Chap Petersen in 2007.  Brilliant!!!


The Post's Jeannemarie endorsment is a classic (Lowell - 6/7/2008 7:04:58 AM)
District 34 : Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis , first elected to the legislature as a conservative Republican, has scrambled to reposition herself as this Fairfa x County district has turned solidly Democratic. Her transformation has prompted knowing smiles from politicos, but it's certainly been energetic: This year she pushed hard to persuade hard-liners in her own party to accept a $400 million transportation funding plan for Northern Virginia. Breaking again with GOP orthodoxy, she's also backed more extensive background checks for gun buyers. In the year's most closely watched and expensive Senate contest, she faces Democrat Chap Petersen, a tough-minded, intelligent former state delegate whom we've backed in past races for other offices. In this campaign, though, Ms. Devolites Davis, a competent, hardworking legislator, has the edge and deserves reelection.

Source



And their previous comments about Connolly (Lowell - 6/7/2008 7:07:28 AM)
"Mr. Connolly has put his hyperkinetic, assertive and at times bullying political talents to work..."

Well, at least they admit that Connolly's a bully (they say "thin skinned" in the current editorial).



Only the WaPo's corrupt nature rescues it from a charge of sexism. (jsrutstein - 6/7/2008 7:22:07 AM)
If just seven months ago the WaPo lauded Connolly's effectiveness, even if it involved "bullying," how can the WaPo justify dismissing Byrne by citing her "sharp-elbow tactics"?


So, Connolly's a "bully" (Lowell - 6/7/2008 7:39:28 AM)
and "think skinned" but they endorse him.  Harris Miller called Jim Webb a racist, misogynist, and anti-Semite but they endorsed him. JMDD put the names and phone numbers of Chap's family on one of her mailers, but they endorsed her.  Apparently, none of that was "toxic" enough for the Washington Post. But Leslie Byrne pointing out the facts about Gerry Connolly, well that's just too much, a bridge too far, etc.  Do these people at the Post realize what a bunch of buffoons they are?  Time to cancel the subscription, save a tree, and read the news online?


Oh, I almost forgot (Lowell - 6/7/2008 7:46:45 AM)
In 2007, Connolly went after anyone who opposed his ally Linda  Smyth as a "closet Republican."  Oh, but that wasn't "toxic?"  Ask the Washington Post to explain their reasoning on that one, I'm sure they'll have a perfectly logical case to make. NOT!


Insulting our intelligence - what a brilliant marketing strategy. (jsrutstein - 6/7/2008 8:27:41 AM)
The WaPo isn't doing Broder or us any favors by allowing him to keep pushing his bipartisan baloney.  Of course, it would be better if mere partisanship never obstructed progress, but our two-party system has been around a long time and doesn't seem to be going anywhere.  Even Tom Davis, over whose demise the WaPo editorial board is still weeping, can see the writing on the wall.  VA-11 desperately wants change.  If Connolly wins on Tuesday, there will be massive regret in VA-11 in 2009.


What the Washington Post is REALLY worried about? (Lowell - 6/7/2008 8:30:05 AM)
That they can't control Leslie Byrne, that she won't support their corporate, pro-"free trade," pro-Iraq War agenda.  That Connolly will be a lot more to their liking.  What else do you need to know?  Vote Leslie Byrne on Tuesday and tell the Washington Post where to shove it!


Oh, for a repeat. (jsrutstein - 6/7/2008 7:07:15 AM)
James was spot on with his takedown of the WaPo's endorsement of JMDD, and though he might prefer a different outcome on Tuesday, let's hope that once again the WaPo speaks and the voters reject, massively :)


The Post's track record on endorsements (Lowell - 6/7/2008 7:15:38 AM)
is not exactly stellar in terms of won/loss record.

For instance, in 2007, they endorsed JMDD (lost), Sharon Pandak (lost), Corey Riley (lost), Bruce Roemmelt (lost), Bill Day (lost), Rex Simmons (lost), Jeannette Rishell (lost), Chris Brown (lost), and Carlos del Toro (lost).

In 2006, they endorsed Harris Miller (lost).  

In other words, the Washington Post endorsement appears to be next to meaningless.



Get Your Facts Correct (varealist - 6/8/2008 12:20:02 AM)
Do you mean David Broder? What does he have to do with anything? You really don't know what you're talking about, man. David Broder writes his own column and has nothing to do with official newspaper opinions. Neither does Amy Gardner. Seems like a lot of people here need a Journalism 101 course. The Washington Post (and every other newspaper) has its own editorial board that discusses and then writes the editorials on the left-facing page of the newspaper.

Here are the members of the editorial board:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/...

No David Broder. Or Max Broder. Or Javier Broder.

I have a great deal of respect for Broder's views throughout the years, so at least have some real facts before making up your own facts about who does what at The Post.

All you can think of think of is this is Broder's swan song? Huh?