Columbuser: Right Wing Hackin' By The Numbers
Maybe I'm finicky, maybe it's something else, but the masquerading as an independent over at Columbuser really steams me. I've got no problem with King's Right Site, Viking Spirit, or plenty of other right-leaning blogs because they're pretty honest with where they're coming from. Honestly, I think folks like this add to the debate, and we're better for it.
Add to this dishonesty the fact that once a week - like clockwork - he comes out swinging against BSB, or another progressive, on the lamest subject ever. Always ignoring the largest element of the story, without fail Columbuser puts the tiniest bit of spin on his fact set to give it that meaty "right wing talking points" taste.
Tonight's latest edition?
Ugh.
Anyways, I've done a little observation over the past month - just watching the comments over there and counting the posts. It's been kinda funny.
Over the last 30 days or so the "independent" site has put up roughly 140 posts, of those about 10 have been hit pieces against left leaning blogs (attacking or spinning against BSB and other progressive sites). I've yet to see our "independent" posts these sorts of attacks against the other side. But yea, he's an independent. Sure. What-eveeeer.
And the posts that generate the most interest at Columbuser? I'll give you one guess. In his 130 non-hit pieces, he got around 90 or so responses. His hits against progressives? About 110 comments.
Just thought I'd throw that out there - it's nice to know who you're dealing with. I'm sure this post will be followed by another hackish post over there that's sure to generate another 20 or so comments. Yay.
Oh, and if that didn't convince you of where he's coming from, here in his own words are comments from his old blog on his 2004 vote preference:
I voted a straight Republican ticket for all races, which includes a US Senator, and those state and local races about which I know nothing, and don't care to...
Yea. "Independent." Sure, I'm an independent too.
You make a persuasive case that the Columbuser blogger is more likely an R than an I -- and may be a anti-BSB wingnut. But whatever he is, Columbuser was right to take a bite out of Doc. the ed expert. And here's a few more factual nips at Doc's "spin".
Neither The Auditor --nor anybody else -- has said the $20 mill was "mis-spent" by charter schools. The Auditor said the ODE does not provide quality oversight of charters on spending these particular federal funds -- a much different charge (fact) that has been around for seven years about ODE and its inconsistent oversight of charters from money to enrollment to truancy. That's why ODE was taken out of the sponsorship business for charter schools in 2003. It did a lousy job of sponsoring and overseeing individual schools. Sponsorship is a tough enough job for city or county school districts close to the individual schools.
Some charter schools do mispend some money and a lot of them ought to be closed. But some charters are doing a good job and ALL charters are non-profits -- by law -- and they undergo regular state audits. Doc's distortion that there are "profit charter schools" whose finances are undisclosed is simply not true. The for-profit management companies have a cap on thier fees they can charge non-profit school boards And the profit management companies do NOT have to reveal their private books just like private school bus companies carrying kids to public schools don't have to reveal their books. Or text book suppliers. Or any other private company with a school board contract. Hence the response to the legislator quoted by Doc.
Doc is right about David Brennan being an extreme case with a structure that runs most money through White Hat instead of the open books of the non-profit schools White Hat operates. Why ODE or the Auditor doesn't get on Brennan for that is a mystery. My theory (and probably Doc's) is that it has something to do with his GOP contributions. Good luck proving that though. Doc may be an education expert but he's a little careless with the rhetoric when it comes to ripping all charter operations.
But now that you have said something nice about me... Senor Troll will never let me in his Ken Blacksmell Kiddie Club. King
The Ken Blacksmell Kiddie Club sounds like a place where -- if you got inside -- you'd be confronted by Chris Hansen, the NBC Perverted Justice Crew and a buncha cops. Your friend Senor Troll must be a real charmer too.