Editor,
Generally reflect letters received? How many times have you ran the same letters with just a few words changed. (Downing Memos) and others. How many negative letters have you ran on liberals? (PORK PROJECTS) I have no problem with the NR being liberal, my problem is you pee on us middle of the road and righties and tell us it raining.NC was the 49th worst managed state last year,DID THE NR print this??? This was front page on many newspapers, because it was a AP story.( not in NC) I only know of 2 that did.

Boo Hoo,

Pity the poor Republicans. I guess they'll have to be satisfied with near total control of American government and society.

Like it or not the Republicans control most of the government. People are more likely to write when they don't like something than when they do (as did Mr. Goodman). If more letters are recieved and published that have anti-Republican themes it doesn't nessesarily infer a conspiracy by the "liberal media" (which if it exists is well hidden) but would reflect the dominance on daily life that Republicans have at this point in time.

Did Mr. Goodman get upset at the seemingly endless supply of anti-Clinton letters in the '90s? I suspect not.

I also suspect the N&R is playing straight on this one.

Anti-Bush letters outnumber number of positive letters? DOH That's because there is nothing positive about the Bush administration. Why in just today's headlines the Bush administration has determined that the war in Iraq and the hope to build a democracy will not happen like they wanted. We now will have to settle for less, much less. In fact now we are figuring out a way to leave. Boy, the mighty US just marches into this country and turns it into a wreck. I truley believe this President and administration will go down in history as the the most crooked bunch the US has ever seen.

If there is so much positive about the current administration, why is it not broadcast and published? Why is there so much disdain?

I continually read that the republicans control the House, Senate, and White House, yet there is turmoil. What is the problem? If things are so great, why is there so much unrest and disdain?

Where do we find the answers to such questions?

Spot on Mr. Goodman. I have the exact same sentiment but to give the NR some credit, I think a more realistic letter ratio would be 12:1, Bush bashing vs. approval.

Mr. Goodman, Like it or not folks are tired of the mismanagement of this administration and are speaking out. This is a public forum. Where is there a better place?

As Marshall pointed out, republican control everything else in America. Are you suggesting they control peoples expressed thoughts and feelings also? That is what it sounds like to me.

Darryl made the observation in another thread with power comes (or should come)responsibility. The republicans are in power so why should they not answer to the American people they are suppose to represent and serve?

I have heard a lot of whining from people who dislike any criticism of this administration, no matter how valid. If you can't take the comments aganist this administration as a reflection of how people feel, don't read them.

You sound like you want to totally control the free press. Please, go back to The Enterprise to do your whining.

Mr. Goodman,

Like you, I used to wonder why the N&R always slanted the news to the left, and always portrayed the President in the worst possible light. I was frustrated and angry, and felt that the N&R was doing a poor job by being out of touch with their readership.

But, I was wrong.

After seeing last year's election results, it is clear that just the opposite is true. Guilford County was an oasis of blue in a big sea of red. So, they really ARE in touch with their urban readers.

I think the problem lies in the Editorial staff thinking the paper is a "Greensboro paper" while the Marketing staf want it to be a "Triad Regional Paper." Those of us in the outlying suburban areas always have the option of not buying the paper. There are other choices.

In the meantime, if you EXPECT the paper to be slanted to the left, you will never be disappointed. You're problem is you expect it to be more balanced, and there is absolutely no law requiring this. Except the law of economics, of course.

I read that the magazine Vanity Fair suffered a 22% circulation drop after devoting a full year to Bush bashing. Now, they have returned to doing what they do best ("celebrity gossip") and their circulation is rebounding. So, the laws of economics do work.

Marty

Just curious from all of you folks that think the news coverage of the N&R is slanted left, what evidence or examples can you provide to demonstrate this bias.

Marshall...

The N&R reports that the "Bush economy" is in bad shape. For some reason... 4.8% unemployment, 2.5% inflation and 5% interest rates are TERRIBLE, even though they called the "Clinton economy" an economic miracle, despite having worse numbers. They ALWAYS stick to the DNC Party line.

The N&R runs OBVIOUS opinion pieces against the President on page one, why burrying any good news on page 14.

They even write headlines for AP stories that don't match the content of the story... just to make them SEEM more critical of the President.

Did they even COVER the recent revelations about Jamie Gorelick's "wall of seperation" preventing the army from giving information to the FBI about Mohammed Atta's terror cell?

How MANY MORE stories about the Abu Ghraib prison abuses will they run? At what point have they stopped "informing us" and have started spewing propaganda for the left?

Do you remember that silly article they ran last year about how "there are no shopping centers, hospitals or nice places in the black half of town?" They divided Greensboro in "half" by chopping off the far east side of it!

Anyone who FAILS to see this very obvious bias and slant is either very dimwitted, or a N&R staff member. Or perhaps both.

All of this is of course within their rights.

But, they aren't fooling anyone. They stopped being a serious newspaper 20 years ago. Now, they just shill for the radical left. Which probably pleases most of their urban Greensboro readers. And, I really have no problem with them doing this, as long as they don't pretend to be a real newspaper.

Marty

The content of published letters reflects the political position of the editorial staff.
The last presidential election showed Guilford County split 50/50 Republican/Democrat.
The editorial comment of the N&R has never been balanced.
Headlines show a left-leaning bias, as do the selection of stories published, as does the syndicated editorial columns.
Conservatives are less likely to scream out their support for what's going right than liberals are to who rail against anything they dislike to the annoyance of their neighbors.
You just have to read the left-wing drivel that passes for "comments" here to understand that.
It's mostly a matter of manners.

If this Blog is any reprentation of the anti- Bush sentiment, then the News-Record is spot on. Quit whining Mr. Goodman because the people of this country are fed up with your crooked Republican controlled Government.

Bias or no, it must be said that it's a pretty sad state of affairs when the current President has become reduced to one of those "hit his face and win a prize" website banner ads.

I thought that chimpanzee looked familiar!
(;-}

I scan several papers when I have time & I don't see the N&R being out of the mainstream & the mainstream not being particularly biased. This is a myth as far as I'm concerned propagated by folks that listen to biased entertainment that passes for commentary & think it's news & when the MSM don't match said commentary they call it called biased just like the commentary tells them it is.

People, reporters, editors, all have biases but they don't all have the same biases, so you have to read & listen to a lot of sources. On balance you will find what passes as the truth if you do that.

Marshall,

It really all depends on who gets to define the "mainstream."

Is the mainstream the 53% of America who voted for GW Bush, or is the mass media, who overwelmingly suported (and publicly endorsed) John Kerry? Polls taken of mass media journalists revealed that something like 85% were Kerry supporters.

Doesn't it even remotely seem odd to you that 53% of America can be classified as "out of the mainstream" by the other 47%?

More to the point... if the N&R is "mainstream" then why do all the candidates they endorse for national office tend to LOSE? Is it coincidence? Bad luck? Or... maybe they just don't get it.

Think back..... when was the LAST TIME the State of North Carolina selected Presidential electors who were endorsed by the Greensboro N&R?

Marty

Marshall, read any of Rosemary "China Girl" Roberts' articles for a profound demonstration of bias. - WHEW!

It just occurred to me ... BLOGSs are nothing more than hi-tech, 21st century backyard fences! Isn't it cool?

Now, I must opine.

These recent posts could be the text of conversations during ANY administration during MY lifetime ... let's see ... IKE was POTUS when I was born. (I just scared myself) We've heard these same complaints re: Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson and Kennedy. (Sorry, I was just too young for political activism during IKE although I did end up on the pre-com crew of his carrier). Dems and Pubs point the finger at each other for starting the fire. Meanwhile, the house is burning to the ground and the REAL firestarters are stealing the treasures from the basement. Partisan politics provides cover for those that control both parties. The old, hardlined Dixiecrats are now calling themselves republicans while left-wing extremists call themselves centrists. Fifty years from now, if we still have an America, we'll be reading the same comments regardless of which side of the political fence we stand.

It makes for interesting observation, but, we, the people, have lost all but a remnant of control over our government. We no longer have a government "of, by and for the people", we have one that is ON the people ... constantly using our money (taxes) on things to be used against us.

Do I hear Nero a'tunin' up his fiddle?

Republicans controll everything????
Who has NC in the shape it in???
Who ripped off YOUR $$$ for Homestead and Jamestown??
Tell who is in charge, while our schools go to hell?
Who is in charge while Basnight and Black misuse your TAX $$$??
Who is in charge when a temporary tax goes on forever.
Who is in charge while most state have a surplus and NC is broke?
What paper does not print these facts?
Liberal Facts.
Need. When someone wants someone else's money.
Greed, When someone wants to keep their money.

Just heard on NLPR (National Liberal Public Radio) this morning that G'boro is the 66th most liberal city in the US and 16o something most conservative city. But fear not, despite the paper's editorial bias, Laura Ingraham and Rush Limbaugh are dominating Greensboro airways- despite a weak signal from W-S.

"The difference between a Democrat and a Republican is that the Democrats are a party of no ideas and the Republicans are a party of bad ideas. The only thing worse than a Republican or a Democrat is when these two pricks start working together."

- Lewis Black -

I seem to recall these same types of letters flooding in to every newspaper ten or twelve years ago. Of course they all called for Clinton's removal and impeachment.

I'm sure that the American people get tired of being screwed by whatever party is in control and call for a change. It's a long cycle of thinking that the other party will bring something new to the table. The sad thing is we never catch on to the lies being told to us. We're like the prom date of the football captain. We actually believe he won't tell his friends about it. Oh our gullibility.

Christspeak, try 1200 in Graham, same station as the 600 in WS, just a better signal. 680 from Raliegh comes in well too but they don't have Laura Ingraham.

Martin, You and others who use the 53% vs 47% are basing your statements on OLD INFORMATION. Some of those 53% that voted for Bush and supported him last year are regretting it NOW and are saying so. Read any newspaper you want from yesterday and the day before to read this CURRENT information for yourself.

Although the articles I read did say there are a few who stick by Bush out of loyalty or personal reasons, there are a good many who have jumped ship because of the changing reasons for the Iraqi war, the lack of new ideas for SS or energy, high gas prices and a whale of a national debt (the war) or they now think he is not to be trusted.

If you are addressing the issues of today, you need to accurately reflect the current information on these issues.

Yvonne,

I tend to believe the election results more than the newspapers or polls. Remember how both the media and their polls suggested Bush would lose the last 2 elections? These were polls just days before the election. Didn't turn out that way did it?

Now, to the issue at hand, I do believe it is natural that many more of the Letters to the Editor are going to be negative than positive. I think the only thing reflected here is that people would rather gripe and moan than say something nice.

buscuit- dubya lost one of those two elections and an activist court gave him the presidency. Had those 5 activist judges followed the law intsead of Karl Roves orders - there would have been no second election for dubya.

biscuit, While I agree it is human nature to be negative sometimes, I can't help but note that people have legitimate reasons to be that way. I realize not everyone is as blessed and fortunate as I am. My life was good before Bush and is good now. And I give all the glory to God every day for all the ways I am blessed.

This does not negate, however, all the pain and suffering I see and read about every day. I am intelligent enough to know no one person can be responsible for all the woes we, as humans, suffer, not even Bush. But I also think Bush, as a leader, has done little to improve our plight.

As a result, I find it impossible to support him in the decisions I feel are wrong for us as a nation. I am not arrogant enough to think my lack of support means beans to him or anyone who has the power to change things. It makes me, however, feel better to speak out about injustices as I think this forum is the proper place to do so.

yellowdog,

if I truly believed what you do, i would have been in the streets startin' a revolution. i think either side could argue they won that one. i do think its a shame that more people could vote for gore and bush still wins. but that's the law of the land and i think they followed it the best they could.

Yellowdog, please provide some facts to back up your claim.
Every investigation after the 2000 election showed that President Bush won by having more votes.
Do you have any evidence otherwise?
I know it hurts you to think that the citizens didn't want to elect that moron Gore. Sorry.

Bob - Good man!!(no pun intended....well maybe a little one). I had just sent the N&R (which I call the "Daily Worker") a letter saying much the same thing. Glad you got yours printed. Send me an email address and I'll send you what I wrote.

I frequently blast the N&R and every so occasionally the letter gets printed. Actually I have had two letters printed in "USA Today" in about the same time I had two printed in N&R. Theoretically N&R says there is a once a month criteria, however, I think they set a different standard for those of us who hit too close to the mark too often.

Mike Crouch - Greensboro
MIKROUCH@aol.com

Bob - I just realized I there was one point I forgot to make. Re the mom (Cindy Sheehan) who is camped out in Crawford......The N&R loves this story (as do all the liberal media)...but she gave an interesting interview to CNN last week.

When posed the question whether if she were now able to meet the Pres. it might take the wind out of her sails, she said "yes, it might take away the momentum which is building" when pressed she acknowledged that she wasnt really pressing for the interview with Bush, she wanted the protest to build.

Also, when confronted with the fact that her son's grandparents and aunt were very much against what she is doing....that it represents a dishonor to her son.....she said "well, my in-laws and I have been on opposite sides of the political spectrum for a long time." Excuse me but it sounds as if she is INDEED EXPLOITING her son's death to make her anti-war/anti-Bush point.

Talk about exploiting and being exploited. Her appropriately felt grief has been hi-jacked by her and the left for the purpose of making Bush look bad.

Mike Crouch

Bobby D.

I hope you aren't holding your breath waiting for some facts from yellowdog. He's not into that. He will tell you that all that matters are his feelings. If he feeels on any given day that 2+2=5, it does and no matter what proof you offer him to the contrary will not override his feelings.

Rove told 5 Supreme Court Justices what to do in the 2000 election, just like he commanded the British to falsify evidence to support the war. There are many other interesting feelings he can share with you.

Michael let me explain a little so that even you can understand. When I refer to Karl Rove I mean the collective right wing christian evil that has attached itself to the GOP, when I refer to dubya I mean the the collective of extremely rich white men who own and operate the repub party. You see they need each other - one group provides the money and the other group provides the votes. So Michael when I say Rove orders this or that I mean the rich old white guys better do what the right wing religeous crazies want or ...no votes... no power... the rich old white guys have to pay taxes again. Listen carefully Michael - the rich old white guys don't care about abortion or prayers in schools or creationism or you - they care about money and power.

Yellowcake,

The fact that you expect people to know what you mean when you say another tells much about you. The fact that you think that Christians are evil as opposed to non-believers is ludicrous and baseless.

The fact that you think that the Republican party is the only one with rich white guys in it shows your blindness. But it is true that Republicans pander to people with moral values. Your beloved Democrats pander to the wretches and evil-doers of the country. So what's your point?

Mr. Goodman your letter doesn't say anything positive about dubya you only complain that the N&R prints negative letters - see even you can't think of anything good to say about dubya or karl. You also say that the N&R won't print your letters - N&R says this whiney epistle is the third one - Mr. Goodman you have told a fib just like every other repub on the planet you just can not tell the truth - be ashamed. Why don't you spend the next 30 days trying to think of something positive or up-lifting to say about karl and dubya. Here's a good start - for a guy from Kinneybunk port Maine Dubya has a nice Texas accent - that must have taken a while to learn. At least dubya never robbed a bank like his brother Neil did or fixed an election like Jeb did. You could always mention what a dynamic businessman he was - no all his companies went broke. You could brag about his stellar military carreer - no there's the AWOL thing and the cocain - better not mention the military Mr. Goodman. Say you could mention his good driving record - no the alcoholism might come up and there were arrests for drunk driving. Well those are just a few examples of good things to say about dubya and karl. That is the sort of thing the N&R might print - not your usual whiney drivel. Good luck Mr. Goodman I hope you can use my suggestions.

So, Michael, your point seems to be that to be a Christian you must be a Republican. Last time I checked, God did not have a political party.

Neither the Republican party nor the Democratic Party has a corner on God. The real shame is when people equate nationalism and patriotism to Christianity.

The Republican party doesn't have a corner on moral values. War is not a "moral value" that I hold as a believer. The Republicans are indeed anti-abortion, but could never be considered "pro-life". "Prolife" doesn't end at birth, my friend.

So, when you are tempted to equate Christianity with ANY political party or ideology, please remember that this has been tried before...Germany...1933....the Lutheran state church. And look where that got them.

www.sojo.net

I 1000% agree with your comments, Mr. Goodman. I thought the editor's reply was snooty and disrespectful.

If the paper publishes the letters that represent the majority of opinions expressed then maybe it would not be afraid to publish the statistics on how many letters were received in support of or opposition to the opinion stated in each letter. Of course there is no reason to suspect they would be honest if they did.

Keep writing Mr. Goodman and so will I. Mr. Bush won this state even with a local candidate on the other ticket. Lets not forget that.

Craig,

Very aware of all that. Did not say that all Christians were Republican. I said that Republicans pander to people with moral values.

Yellowcake,

Feeelings, nothing more than feeelings....(everybody sing!).

Your last post could not be packed with more opinions and feelings if you tried. Please, just once, back your claims with some facts.

I'll start you off here...you say that Bush has a fake Texan accent (because he is really from Maine). Uh, no, you moron. He has lived in Texas for nearly 50 years.

Yet more proof that you could not care less about reality- just feelings and all those pretty colors floating around in your head.

oops! My bad, yellowcake. Perhaps you assumed that since Dubya's father lives in Maine that he did/does also.

Perhaps I've been insensitive to you. But not all 50-something men live in their parents basement. Sorry.

Awwww, let's sing feelings for Yallerdawg, good idea. Facts don't matter, talking points from Howard Dean are supreme truth for ol Yaller. Goin on vacation for a few days yaller, maybe you won't hear from me. Glad we could agree on watermelons though.

Hey "dittoheads" (that sounds better than butt-heads) if you are going to insult me at least try to be cleaver. Odd you only picked 1 of my list of positives to attack. Oh and by the way Butt ...excuse me Dittoheads dubya was born in Maine and lived there many years also he was "educated" at Yale ( for you dittoheads Yale is not in Texas he couldn't get into a scool with his high school records - his daddy got him into Yale $$$$$$$$). Why is dubya the only one in the family that sounds like a southern bumpkin?

Now to my other positve points - I was only trying to help a confused old repub to write a letter to N&R oped page with something positive about duya. Believe me ditto heads it aint easy. But then all you ditto heads must know this as you never say anything good about old dubya either... tough huh BOYS. Now to be fair to dubya his daddy and karl and dick should never have put him in this position, all he had to show for his life was a miserable military career and several failed businesses...no wonder he jumped in a bottle. I mean picture him sitting in a classroom full of children - he has just been told the twin towers in NY were attacked and he sat there glassy eyed - lost - alone - wishing for a shot of old red eye - or for karl to tell him what to do.

How about his brother Neil do any of you ditto heads know what has become of him. Has the statute of limitations run out on his grand theft at the Silverado Savings and Loan of California? Come on now ditto heads are you trying to tell me the Silverado Scandel never happened? Come on boys don't repub - I mean lie(Iknow it's the same thing).

Well ditto heads what have you to say -oh and don't worry about my feelings, I'm fine I didn,t vote for dubya my conscience is clear. I have apparently hurt your feelings though - I mean you have to confront the truth about your repub "leadership" and know that whatever they do - it's your fault - you voted for them.

Hey duya whatta you say
How many troops will you kill today.

Ditto heads their blood is on your heads too you voted for dubya you share the guilt.

Yellowcake,

Dubya was born in CT, not Maine. He moved to Midland, Tx when he was 5. He later moved to Houston. His parents later moved to Maine. Never said that Texas was the only placed he ever lived. Like many kids, he went to college elsewhere. But he returned to his home state.

I picked this one because it is a matter of history that is fact and not subject to opinion. I said in an another thread that Neil did do something criminal. Does that make all of his siblings guilty? Are you responsible for what your siblings do? Was Bill responsible for Roger? Jimmy responsible for Billy? No one ever said it didn't happen. You are the one who said his father created a war to distract from it. That's stupid.

And then you reference a DUI. Sure, he did something stupid in his youth. Is there something you did 25 years ago that you are not proud of? You still do things everyday that you should be ashamed of- like writing idiotic posts.

Now that you've lost the debate on where he lived the vast majority of his life, try another one. Show us that you know what AWOL means and prove that Bush was guilty of such.

Pointing out W.'s positives is useless to someone like you. You see 2,000 dead soldiers. I do too, but I also see 50 million free people as a result. I see a terrorist network in such dissaray that they haven't been able to strike us since. I see an incredible economy, I'm sure you will point to something negative. It's a waste of time. You are a pathetic, negative person.

Hey, Dubya, what ya say
how many people did you free today?

Hey, Dubya, what ya say
how many people did you protect today?

Michael,

Sorry, I understand now. "Pander" is the operative word.

However, the definition of "moral values" is subjective.

www.sojo.net

Craig,

Actually, both are subjective. My choice of wording was directed at yellowsqueeze and a long ongoing dialogue.

Michael,

I see that now...and if I had not been so lazy before, I would have seen it then.

-Craig

Yellowdog,

You are making improvements. I was pleasantly surprised you spelled conscience correctly.

Here's some more constructive criticism:

-cleaver: object used for chopping

-scool has an h between the c and the o

-scandel is spelled scandal

-carreer is spelled career

You guys be nice to yallerdawg, he is spelling and fact compromised, but at least he knows how to turn on his computer. But he does know how to spew the venom with the best of the fanatical liberals. Just see him as a Howard Dean / Micheal Moore mouthpiece, nothing serious but entertaining.

Hey yallerdawg what do you say,
How many lies you gonna tell today?