The Show

One week ago we instituted a new policy banning links to the Raleigh News and Observer at BlueNC. The policy was created in response to the newspaper's reliance on propaganda from the Show on its editorial pages in general, with a specific concern over the use of WPTF's Rick Martinez as an op-ed columnist. For my part, the new policy has been a breeze. It's been easy to find important stories at other sites, with the added benefit of being able to uncover fresh, new sources of information. That said, I'd welcome the chance to resume linking to the Old Reliable. All they need to do is Dump Little Ricky.

In any honest discussion, the funding schemes Art Pope uses to influence elections and public policy in North Carolina would be called money laundering.

If you think The Show already has too much influence on content at the N&O, just watch what happens when the paper loses another round of reporters. Soon Art Pope will be the number one content source for the entire operation. Sad news for us all, but especially for those staffers caught in the crossfire.

The News & Observer will eliminate about 20 jobs in the latest cost-cutting effort by the Raleigh-based media company. The staff reductions announced today will affect most areas of the company, including the newsroom. Some employees will have the opportunity to accept voluntary severance packages, but a few positions will be eliminated through layoffs.

When it comes to indignant rants, Arthur Pious Pope III gives as good as he gets, with the level of rhetoric defending his actions directly proportional to damage he's done. His recent response to the boycott of his stores is instructive.

Art Pope Response to NCAE Teachers Union Threatened Boycott of Pope Stores
I am shocked that the NCAE, North Carolina’s teachers’ union, would threaten the jobs of the thousands of employees at our stores, in order to further their union agenda. The NCAE teachers’ union’s call for a boycott of our stores is nothing but political extortion, to try and stop me from supporting Republican candidates and conservative organizations, and instead to try and force me to support the NCAE’s Democratic Party allies and left-wing organizations.

"I was happy to see that Newt Gingrich has staked out a position on the war, a position, or two, or maybe three. I don’t know. I think he has more war positions than he’s had wives."

Antiwar.com

Let's hope it sticks. And spreads.

The largest association of educators in the state is calling for a boycott of all businesses owned by Art Pope, a North Carolina business man and political insider who has contributed millions of dollars to conservative groups pressing for the elimination of caps on charter school funding. The decision to call for the boycott was made last week at the annual convention of the North Carolina Association of Educators.

Binker sez Civitas is misleading and uninformed.
Hat tip to Ed Cone.

If you've had any doubts about the toxic reach of Art Pope's well-funded opinion manufacturing machines, here's a small sampling of what the picture looks like at the News and Observer.

Among the right's more colorful characters, former NC Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr stands distinguished, both in terms of intellect and good humor. After a career on the court, and a quixotic run for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, today he heads one of the smaller fiefdoms in Art Pope's Holy Empire, focusing his energies on matters of constitutional law in North Carolina. Said another way, he spends most of his time suing Democrats. And it seems he's looking for more opportunities.