News-Record.com

Here's a question: Is he in your news reader?

As you point out, most blogrolls are set and forget.

FYI, he's not on my blogroll or newsreader, as he has not contributed to my knowledge, education or entertainment. May be he could attend one of the blog meetings to learn how to make his blog more interesting.

I don't keep my blogroll very current, but I can't bring myself to kill it either. I think Don's right, subscribing to a site is the real measure of one's interest in it. Marcus is on my local news reader, aka GSO 101.

If I were a Republican the poor grammar and whiny, petulant tone of that blog post would make me ask this guy to stop blogging for fear he's poorly representing the party.

But seriously, folks -- this is another one of those strange gray areas of blogging. If you're a local paper and you run a blog, do you OWE anyone the attention it might bring them to put them on a blog-roll?

It seems you've thought this out more than anyone else I know with a blog-roll, John, and it looks like you're applying some pretty good rules of traditional journalism to the blog in that sense. The explanation seems sound to me, as there are no other representatives of political parties in the roll. The fact that that didn't occur to this guy before he decided to blog about how mean you're being to him and all the nasty things he heard from a friend of a friend that you said to whomever...that would be more than enough of a reason for me to leave him off my blog-roll.

Lex may be a registered Republican, but he is a Jumpin Jeffords Republican. The only conservative bone in his body- and really your entire staff's is how you live and raise your families.

By the way, I am a paper carrier for the N-R. Technically I am an independant contractor, but does this mean you'd put my blog site up? http://spaces.msn.com/members/christspeak/

Chip: well, the site really needs to have some commentary on local civic affairs or media issues, I think.

Pathetic post but he did stay right on the GOP talking points. You would think the guy would at least invest in a spell checker though.

I couldn't resist leaving a comment. I wonder how long it will take him to delete it?

Lex is a "faux" Republican. His own blog site is nothing but constant sniveling attacks on Republicans.
Or did you guys need a "token" Republican on staff and Lex got the short straw??

I guess the GOP's big tent is shrinking, Larry. Is there no room for ideas other than the talking points?

Ohhhhhhhhhh. Well I come from a Greensboro family currently making good news- we all married up- Like the fact my brother in law (who is running for Governor of SC)is married to one of Coach Bob Sawyer's top five favorite athletes. Or my sister, Ann Conrad, one of the better artists out of here who is married to the newly appointed Federal Judge, Bob Conrad. My wife, Elizabeth, is the Director of the Gboro Pregnancy Care Center.

Me- I am a proud paper boy... far from the esteemed level of 'editor' or 'columnist'- though Van King was proud to say he was mentored by my great uncle, Joe Moore. Guess you have a loophole in the "employees only" clause.

Oops. Read the wrong post the first time. Ridiculous contention on Mr. Chairman's part. Just plain silly. Now I have two comments on his blog.

Marcus spells "blog" with two g's -- 6 times. His post uses the words "Liberial" and "experence", and contains Reader's Worst Nightmare sentences like this:

"This is a list of other bloggers that the editor has on his page that one can click and go to."

and this:

"they state that they don't allow any bloggs of a political nature, ahem.... except they do allow city council members to post their bloggs... hummm.. elected officials running for office ... this year.... not political (?)..."

Maybe he should hire a ghost blogger and dictate his thoughts. Readability would be a nice draw.

Lex is a Republican?

That's the biggest load of hooey I have heard in a long time.

Lex only says he is a Republican so he can discredit and disassemble the party with no impunity.

Think of it: claim you are a part of the group so then you can *act* mortified and disgusted at things it does. It gives you more credibility to *say* you are one of those when you go on the offensive. (At least it would if you only did it occasionally -- as it is Lex does it so often that there's little veneer of his scam remaining.)

"I'm doing this to save the party I am a member of," come the hollow cries of caring coupled with total and utter liberal viewpoints.

UGH!!!!

John,

Well, if it's true what you said to Chip, that "the site really needs to have some commentary on local civic affairs or media issues, I think," then you need to post my blog on your roll, URL above. I'm on vacation until Monday but still, I post almost every weekday about local matters, and I comment on other people's blogs almost everyday. I represent no organization nor business. I am not a registered republican or democrat. So, according to your criteria, I should be there. I do take you at your word about this, but sometimes it seems one needs to be part of a little secret club or something, a liberal leaning one at that. For you and the N&R, it is more important than for a more "private" blogger that there be established fair rules for this in my view, such as you have articulated.

To wit:
Friday afternoon in Charlotte, I attended the investiture of Federal Judge Robert J Conrad. It was certainly not a partisan affair, despite the extreme political nature of the approval process. (He was appointed in April of 2003, but John Edwards withheld approval for 2 years.) NC Atty Gen Roy Cooper spoke. Greensboro’s Bill Osteen was there on his 75th birthday, with his wife and son. I believe all of NC’s federal judges were present. Bobby’s children read letters from President George W. Bush and former FBI Dir Louie B. Freeh. Former US Attorney Generals’ Janet Reno and John Ashcroft, Harvey Gant, Richard Burr and Elizabeth Dole and many more prominent politicians sent emissaries to honor Bobby at his investiture.

As I witnessed yesterday’s ceremony, it occurred to me that among the many good men and women I have known in my life, Judge Conrad is the only true leader.

Great men are among us, but great leaders are truly rare….

26 years ago Bobby Conrad was a tenacious point guard on one of the few outstanding Clemson teams. The synergy of his leadership steering the talents of Billy Williams and Larry Nance propelled Clemson into its only Elite 8 appearance in the 1980 NCAA tournament.

As you would expect, people spoke of honorable virtues that make a good judge. Among them truth, knowledge, wisdom, righteousness (described as a keen sense of right and wrong), respect and humility. I was surprised (and pleased) humility was held in the highest regard. From the President to virtually every judge who spoke, humility was the key ingredient for a successful judgeship.

A prominent Charlotte defense attorney spoke as a lifelong Democrat. For 15 years he battled Bobby (as an assistant US Attorney and later as US Attorney) in the courtroom. He actually polled other defense attorneys who know Bobby only as a prosecutor. They used terms like “straight shooter,” “tough competitor” and a “Boy Scout to describe him.” Of course, the Boy Scout reference was meant to be derisive, but the speaker noted that he, as an Eagle Scout, was pleased to hear that about Bobby.

A young man (last name of Mack) who was prosecuted by Bobby spoke to us about his experience after prison. The day he was released, Bobby called to encourage him. It seems Bobby, having watched Mack play basketball in high school just before his indictment, recognized Mack’s unselfish play, tenacity and leadership qualities as unique character traits. He told Mack what he had seen in him and assured him those qualities would bring him success, particularly as an ex-felon. He became one of the young man’s mentors as a result

Judge Conrad is a devout believer in Christ. He is Catholic. He adores his wife, my sister, Ann. He is a devoted father to 5 incredible children. He either coaches or attends virtually all of their, baseball, softball, soccer and cross country events. He finds time to maintain a prominent relationship with each of his 15 or so nieces and nephews, not to mention his mother, 4 siblings and, of course, his in-laws.

Soon President Bush will nominate a new Supreme Court Justice. It is striking that if Bobby were nominated to the highest court today, he would be completely unacceptable because of the very things that have made him a great leader.