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Dumbest lede of the week, and other media weirdness

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* Yeah, it’s only Monday, but I’m pretty confident this entry will hold up. From the Kankakee Daily Journal

Scott Lee Cohen has been called of many things since his early March departure as the Democratic Party nominee for lieutenant governor.

The word “quitter” isn’t among them.

The 45-year-old Cohen, now an independent candidate for Illinois governor, was in Bourbonnais Friday afternoon and stated he’s in this race because that’s what the people have asked of him.

Nobody has called SLC a quitter since he quit the lt. governor’s race? Really? Huh. I must’ve missed that.

* Bankrupt Mother Tribune spent precious dollars polling 800 Chicagoans and then posted the results on its Breaking News page

The poll found a sparse 4 percent of Chicago-area residents consider August their favorite month. June ranked No. 1 at 21 percent, with July and its accompanying fireworks a close second at 18 percent.

As summer gives way to fall, people remain moderately happy through October — 13 percent ranked it as their favorite — then the bottom drops out with only 1 percent ranking November tops. December’s slightly more popular with 3 percent, but that’s likely just the holiday bump, and well within the poll’s plus or minus 3.5 percent margin of error.

Thanks so much.

* I originally posted this one below, but I’ve moved it up here because it’s gotta be our most vacuous story of the day

Not only did Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign embrace social media, but social media, in turn, embraced Obama.

The story then goes on to report how many Facebook friends and Twitter followers various suburban candidates have. Scintillating…

Facebook and Twitter, too, reveal similar numbers of followers and message styles. Seals has 1,222 followers on his political page. Dold has 1,319. Twitter shows Dold has 162 followers with 27 tweets, and Seals has 224 followers with 82 tweets. […]

On July 20, Dold posted on Facebook about his first radio ad, which he said introduced his reasons for running for office, and his “philosophy as a fiscal conservative and social moderate.”

Those looking at the page not only had the opportunity to click on a link to hear the ad on his website, but could comment on the ad itself. A dozen different Facebook users either commented on the ad or “liked” the post.

“We don’t want to overload people,” Dold said. “We’ve been focused on creating a conversation.”

This would’ve been a great opportunity to point out the dangers of a candidate posting his/her thoughts on Facebook, like when Dold appeared to approve of a hugely controversial budget plan and then deleted his Facebook post when Seals tried to make some hay out of it. But, no.

* Least dubious commentator of the month award (and it’s only August 2nd) goes to a Fox News contributor

“I just got a call earlier today from Michael Steele’s office. I can’t disclose what’s going on right now, but I do expect a lot of support from the RNC,” Hayes told me on July 27.

Regardless of support and the Blagojevich trial touching Jackson’s reputation, the fight will be difficult for Hayes. At the moment, he has only $30,000 in his war chest and Chicago’s 2nd district has not elected a republican since 1950.

The “Hayes” in the story is Isaac Hayes, the Republican opponent of Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. Hayes’ fight will be more than just “difficult.” It’s impossible. The 538 site just rated the district as the tenth most Democratic in the nation. I really doubt Chairman Steele has that kind of money to burn.

* Most flat-out bizarre slam on me that I’ve ever seen

Now the Capitol Fax has not to date written a word about Al Gore meeting prosecutors because an Irish female masseuse wouldn’t give him a hand.

Thanks, Tom. I laughed so hard I almost cried. Made my week.

* The power of “E.” From the Drudge Report…

Later…

Mistakes happen.

* Seen anything goofy lately?

…Adding… I forgot about this lede. Let’s call it our first runner-up

What could have been a soul-stirring celebration of the music of Stephen Sondheim — and a thrilling culmination of ten years of distinguished Sondheim celebrations at the Ravinia Festival — was allowed to fall victim to some bone-headed planning on Saturday night. The debacle on the North Shore was a textbook example of what can happen when an arts venue worries too much about food and drink for its big donors and forgets its real business of fulfilling the artistic souls of the regular folks — the Sondheim lovers without the bow-ties and the fine gowns — at the back of the pavilion and out on the lawn.

Debacle? Really?

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 12:34 pm

Comments

  1. Proof, once again, that Drudge hires his fact checkers from the EIB network … .

    Comment by Smitty Irving Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 12:45 pm

  2. I think most people breathed a sigh of relief once SLC quit the LtGov race, they didn’t mock him as a quitter for it.

    In related news, this should be dedicated to SLC:

    http://www.despair.com/stup24×30pri.html

    Comment by John Bambenek Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 12:50 pm

  3. Weird, not working…

    Try this

    http://site.despair.com/images/dpage/stupidity.jpg

    Comment by John Bambenek Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 12:52 pm

  4. The last 10 years of Illinois government.

    Comment by Moving to Oklahoma Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 12:54 pm

  5. So the smal corrdor btween the highway and the casino tat the e stlouis police portect is in danger?

    I rarely see them in E st louis proper anyway… but if have to kep that casino protected!

    Comment by Ghost Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 1:01 pm

  6. Judging from DoJ crime statistics, haven’t criminals been running wild for some time?

    Was it Washington Park where the mayor was (at least it looked like to me) assassinated?

    Comment by John Bambenek Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 1:05 pm

  7. Ghost

    When Gordon Bush was East St Louis mayor, the casino allowed a huge reduction in property taxes
    http://americancityandcounty.com/mag/government_east_st_louis/

    Comment by Smitty Irving Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 1:08 pm

  8. Capt Fax:
    You might want to steer the new DH political writer to Munson’s old website — when she was lobbying and listed smooth talking, gambling expansion promooter and former member Bobby Molaro
    as an associate.

    Comment by CircularFiringSquad Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 1:11 pm

  9. I am not opposed to the casino, its just imbaanced to put all the police protection around that small corridor. Which has a light every 10 feet, but go a couple block os the corridor of protection (which has the police station on it) and the stop lights have been out of service for years.

    The criminals are already running rampant, that mergency room their has LA beat for stabbing and gunshot wounds.

    Comment by Ghost Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 1:11 pm

  10. http://munsongroup.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=166&Itemid=109

    Comment by CircularFiringSquad Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 1:14 pm

  11. * The poll found a sparse 4 percent of
    * Chicago-area residents consider August
    * their favorite month.

    Oh what the hell…

    WHY WASN’T THE GREEN PARTY INCLUDED IN THIS POLL?

    Comment by PFK Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 1:19 pm

  12. That Tom Roeser quote is priceless…

    Comment by Bring Back Boone's Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 2:14 pm

  13. There going to get 2-1 tickets to “Annie Get Your Gun”

    http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/the_theater_loop/2010/08/sondheim-80-ravinia-concert-short-concert-ravinia-outrage.html

    So hopefully no more crying in California Chardonnay

    Comment by OneMan Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 2:49 pm

  14. Um, Mr. Drudge - to those of us that live here - criminals running wild in East St. Louis is not news.

    Outsiders screaming about things we know look like morons. Much like the national blago-ites.

    Comment by siriusly Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 2:58 pm

  15. LOL - thanks so much I needed this on a Monday - in AUGUST! There can’t be anything worse. Quitter? You betcha!

    Comment by belmont cragin kid Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 3:06 pm

  16. What is it with Kankakee and SLC? The City News endorsement a couple weeks ago, and now this?

    Comment by God's Country Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 3:46 pm

  17. I think we should have a question of the day sometime on a website we would all like to see, but will probably never be made.

    I would like to see this website, especially its clients section. I doubt it will ever exist, but it would be entertaining and informative…

    www.MadiganandGetzendanner.com

    Comment by Easy Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 3:53 pm

  18. I think Kankakee has lost its privileges to endorse/elect Governors.

    Comment by Way Way Down Here Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 3:55 pm

  19. Whether or not Drudge remembered his E it’s going to be way more dangerous to be a cop in E St Louis. The story is about the city cutting 30% of it’s police force. It’s what the story is about….

    Comment by Belle Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 4:26 pm

  20. Dumbest lead from today’s Kankakee Daily Journal about Cohen. Right. How about this from Saturday’s Kankakee Daily Journal editorial: During 2008, there were 16,272 reported murders in the United States. Of those, 9,223 were committed with firearms, 6,755 of those with handguns. These statistics DO NOT include those who were wounded by a handgun and survived.” Well sure, those who were wounded and survived are not included in murder statistics! Rich, you could do a Kankakee Daily Journal “Gaffe of the Day” every day for your readers’ amusement.

    Comment by Jim Ridings Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 4:45 pm

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