The Bee is wrapping up its electoral recommendations. An editorial today offered our choices for the two open state Assembly races in our region:
Democrat Fran Florez of Shafter for 30th District.
Republican Connie Conway of Tulare in the 34th District.
In addition, we recommend the re-election of incumbent Republican Mike Villines of Fresno in the 29th District, and incumbent Democrat Juan Arambula of Fresno in the 31st District.
Read the full editorial here.
It seems a bit ironic to me that the Bee constantly criticizes (with considerable justification) the Legislature for not doing their jobs - yet every election you rountinely endorse the incumbents when they run for reelection. What's up with that? Is it just legislators from other parts of the state who aren't getting it done?
Why Fran Florez? Haven't you learned enough from the example Dean Florez gave us? We don't need another grandstander that latches onto any emotional issue in order to get air time.
Wanted to know if the Bee has not endorsed either side in the past?
Seems like it's the lessor of two evils at times why not choose not to endorse anyone?
Mike D. it is not true that the Bee routinely endorses the incumbants.
Rich, I know there are exceptions, but they are few and far between. When's the last time they endorsed a challenger in a State Assembly or Senate race?
I think the Bee is the best to answer.
As far as Congressman they have voted against incumbants.
As far as Senators and Assembly, the Bee is better served to answer.
I've been thinking; ya I know, you can smell the smoke.. HA! Anyway... seems to me the newspaper or any other media for that matter, should not be recommending anyone. I thought the goal of those that bring us the new was to report unbiased information so that people could make informed decisions. Don't you think it goes against the principle of journalism?
In an perfect world, you'd be right about this Kim. The Bee is not different from any number of other metropolitan 'news' publications that have sold out the ideal journalistic tradition and developed long, convoluted rationalizations to justify their public advocacy of pet causes and ideologies.
They hate to be called biased, and the worst insult you can ever call an editor or reporter is "newspaper seller." Exactly like career politicians, they love to see themselves as members of an 'elite' fraternity of 'public service,' and are extremely defensive about their self-perceived 'higher calling.'
Think about the kinds of people who are attracted to a career working for a local monopoly newspaper. Do any Bee editors or reporters have the least background or training in economics? law? history? public administration? business? planning? science? tax policy? You'd never be able to tell from any articles or editorials -- the ignorance and superficiality you will always find is only matched by the boldness of their unstated assuptions and the stridence of their conclusions.
Yet many local readers take their 'news' stories, and their editorials (and their choices of re-sold wire service content), seriously.