Raleigh News and Observer

I've been trying to keep my eye on editorials lately, but this one from a few days ago slipped by me:

When individuals make political contributions, at least they are making a personal sacrifice of sorts. But a CEO initiating an ad campaign for or against a candidate will simply be making a business decision as to how his company's funds should be invested in light of the potential payback. If the payback is favorable legislative treatment that could mean big savings in, say, avoidance of pollution controls, then the decision in the boardroom is likely to be, "Go for it!"

It may be only 20 positions eliminated, but I wonder who those twenty are?

The News & Observer Publishing Co. plans to eliminate about 20 positions, the latest cuts as the media company rides out a sharp decline in revenue.

Affected employees will be provided severance payments and other transition assistance. The N&O now has 524 full-time positions, down from 704 a year ago. The newspaper last year also cut wages, suspended contributions to retirement plans and required unpaid furloughs for its staff.

Interesting to see this kind of opinionating leak into the opening paragraph of a front-page story in the Charlotte News and Observer this morning:

North Carolina lawmakers are approving bills that push liberal ideals such as more comprehensive sex education in public schools and so-called "green bills" to protect the state's beaches from plastic bags.

If this is what passes for "liberal" in the Old North State, we are surely on the road to hell. Imagine the horrors of giving young people proper information about sex. And even worse, keeping beaches from becoming trash cans. Too bad Senator Basnight, the man behind the beach plastic bag ban, doesn't extend that same philosophy to prohibiting hardened structures on the coast.

Last month I resubscribed to the Raleigh News and Observer after nearly three years of protest. Though I still consider the editorial pages the weakest link in their value chain, Zabouti helped me understand that having a subscription was part of my civic duty. Today, as a full-price paying customer, I recognize I have another duty as well - to call out the good, the bad and the ugly when I see it. This weekend's editorial pages offer an excellent case in point.

Cross-posted from the Brock Log.

It's mad, mad world, friends and neighbors.

Vice President Cheney tried to get Israel to pick a fight with Iran. Why? So the U.S. could legitimately attack back.

Reuters.