FiredUp Just Isn't Fun To Read Anymore

I'm of two minds about FiredUp's new blogger, .Sean.  On the one hand, the disappearance of all the former FiredUp writers (is it because they now have jobs in the Nixon and Carnahan offices?) has brought down the Missouri political hackery down several notches.  On the other, the addition of Sean has turned Fired up into a sad retread of other national blogs.  On any given day, stories are posted taken from Kos and TalkingPointsMemo and half a dozen other proud members of the Journolist echo chamber, but the analysis telegraphing what Carnahan family wants the state papers to write about is sadly lacking.

Maybe it's because Sean spent too much time in D.C., and maybe it's because he thinks blogging is easier when you're reading talking points straight from your email, but I worry about Missouri journalists.  There just isn't any "meat" left for them to read. Aside from copying other people's work, there aren't any juicy stories or good rants, just the mindless beating of a series of topics pre-approved by Sean's bosses.  

On any given day, the only original stories are how much Sean hates Roy Blunt and Blaine Luetkmeyer, unless of course he's gushing on his man crush, Ed Martin (a situation that has reached stalker status in the blogger hall of fame and really needs an intervention before Ed wakes up with a bunny on the stove).  This is what happens when you outsource your blog folks.  High volume, low quality.

One more sad example is Sean's continued attempt to claim Luetkemeyer is using bad numbers from the cap-and-trade bill. I explained in small words to Sean why he needed to man up and apologize, but his lame response was that his job was copying stories from the media, and using logic and reason were not his responsibility.  He'd apologize if they did.

Of course, Sean is so committed, he can't get a story right.  Read this Columbia Tribune article by Terry Ganey.  It's a pretty straightforward story.  It reports what Luetkemeyer said, then prints what a climate change bill supporter says.  You know, it's a news report.

Sean takes that story, and pretends that Ganey is laying some kind of smack down on Luetkemeyer.  I guess that's what happens when you're told what to write. You have to twist a story and make it fit.  Why Blaine? Blaine is the newest Congressman for Missouri, and thus supposedly the most vulnerable in 2010.  And that explains it all folks.  Like a petulant child, Sean is going to keep posting stories that he pretends fit a narrative, when the truth is he won't even engage on the issue.

By the way, Sean.  The bill coming out of the House exempts 85% of the permits for the cap-and-trade auction.  The reason is to protect companies that would suffer from higher energy costs.  That blows a giant hole in the Obama budget, and also lays bare Reilly's claim that $600 billion in extra cost isn't a cost, because is returned in services.  If there is no increased cost from cap-and-trade, why do 85% of the permits have to be given away?

Sean brings up the Weekly Standard article to claim that Blaine is misusing Reilly's statements, but he just can't get past a basic fact.

Cap-And-Trade raises money for the government.  How does it do that?  Where does that money come from?  Who pays it?  Reilly says it's not a cost, because the government spends our money.  Sean cannot and will not make the effort to explain how the government taking money from consumers and spending it on services is different than taxes.  This has explained to him.  He knows this.  Yet still he continues.

As I said, two minds.  While I welcome the continued lack of effectiveness of the FiredUp website, it would be nice to have someone responsible over there manning the helm.

Comments

[Patrick Tuohey]

I'm new to blogging and content Web sites, but I have already noticed that FiredUp! is pretty predictable--moreso than other sites. I assumed this was just my own conclusion.

[-Jim Durbin]

It didn't used to be that way Patrick. Sean has really watered down their coverage. It used to be committed left wing activists pushing stories, and the fun was figuring out which was which. But at least it was original.

Sean must think he's paid by the post. Thanks for commenting. I really like what the Record is trying to do, and will add a link.