Sen Cardin (D-MD) is Today’s Stupidest Senator

[Stingo]

Bail out the newspaper industry? I’m here to say that is a bad idea, and I’m ashamed that it is a Democrat who suggested it. I’m going to blame the Republicans for it, because they didn’t put up strong enough competition in the Senate race in MD in 2006, so we ended up with lackluster Cardin. The GOP nominee was Steele.

http://allspinzone.com/wp/2009/03/26/sen-cardin-d-md-is-todays-stupidest-senator/

[Captain Hilts]

1. He's been more progressive than Barb. nt

[Stingo]

3. Progressive does not mean smart

And this legislation to make newspapers nonprofit is stupid. It is like making buggy whip manufacturers nonprofits. We don't have room going forward for museum pieces like newspapers. Nostalgia doesn't pay the bills.

[marmar]

6. "Ma Kettle" Mikulski?

Yup. She seems to be quite middle-of-the-road.

[Captain Hilts]

10. I've never heard her called that, but, yes, she has been disappointing of late.

Besides, Marjorie Main was probably about 5'9".

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. You leave my Ben alone!

well I guess we do need newspapers still?:hi:

[Captain Hilts]

5. I think we do. Ranting weblogs are not a substitute. Doesn't mean I think...

they should be non-profits though.

[elleng]

4. Somehow I suspect that you could find a 'more stupider senator'

if you looked.

What do you think is SO stupid about his proposal? He's one of my Senators (recently moved from DC, so finally HAVE senators) and I'll be happy to let him know if there's a good reason.

[Stingo]

11. How about Stupidest Dem Cenator?

It goes without saying there are Republicans who are more stupid.

[elleng]

12. Whats your substantive reason

for saying this?

[Stingo]

13. Cardin's wanting to bail out newspapers

fundamentally ignores that change that is underway in media. He's got legislation here that allows media to become nonprofits, when that actually was possible already. Of course, those newspapers would still end up producing hard copies, and like buggy whips, hard copies are part of the past, as much as I love a newspaper with my coffee in the morning. His project is a FAIL because it has no vision for the future of media. given that there are myriad conversations out there about reimagining newspapers, and he seems unaware of them, I'm thinking that means stupid. But if you want to substitute "ignorant" then I'm OK with that.

[elleng]

14. Try 'foolish.'

I recently spent 7 months at my parents' independent living facility; my father is 95. Many there read newspapers every day; few use 'new media.' 'Future' is not here yet.

[Stingo]

15. We can't wait until everyone

unready for change dies for change to happen. More importantly, we can't afford to subsidize those living in a pre-change age. We need to be realistic about where to invest our money.

[Skinner]

7. Actually, I think Cardin's idea is worth trying.

Calling it a "bailout" is misleading, and calling Cardin stupid is absurd.

All his bill would do is permit local newspapers to reorganize as non-profit organizations. Yes, we lose the tax revenue that we otherwise would have received if the newspaper turned a profit. But these days, there ain't many local newspapers turning a profit.

Think for a moment: What is the absolute best broadcast news source? That's right: NPR.

How have periodicals like The Nation and The Weekly Standard survived for so long? That's right: Donations.

Local newspapers are in serious trouble. They aren't going to get by on their old business model. Should we just let them die? Some think so. Personally, I think it would be a mistake to let them die -- or worse, get bought up by a corporate behemoth like Gannett and their ilk -- without at least giving them some other options.

I make my living on the Internet. But I have not drunk the Kool-Aid. The blogosphere is no substitute for real news organizations. We are basically leeches, making a living off of the backs of other organizations that do the expensive-but-vital work of news gathering.

[JaneQPublic]

8. I voted for Kweisi Mfume in the Dem Primary. (nt)

[OwnedByFerrets]

9. I'll make you a sweet deal....you take my TWO senators

from ALA and I will take your ONE. Seems like a great deal to me.......FOR me.