"Well, that just about does it."

Ryerson pretty much stuck a fork in the once proud hometown newspaper this time.

Do you seriously think they have even the pretense of objectivity and any even basic journalistic integrity left?

As our colleagues Hailstone and Gillespie point out in their earlier posts on this topic, (See Gillespie here and Hailstone here) the local cage-liner has actually endorsed a candidate who is

(A) pending a court appearance for an eviction hearing (the day after the election ... convenient, huh?). It appears that she hasn't paid her rent in a year or so. Good fiscal management skills - she'll fit right in with the bailout crowd;

(B) has foisted off a resume that is (to be kind) "embellished" - well, actually, largely fabricated. Good thing Pelosi doesn't do background investigations on her caucus, huh? And;

(C) apparently, the Cage-liner ed board didn't realize that their endorsed candidate doesn't know or understand campaign finance/election law. No worries here either - well, except for those pesky ethics investigations.

So this is the candidate that the Ryerson crowd thinks will best represent the good people of the 5th CD? As Hailstone points out, they used the massive Wall Street bailout bill as the benchmark ... and only endorsed the guys who voted against it when they knew there wasn't a snowballs chance in West Texas they'd be defeated. One wonders about their judgement. Rather than look at the totality of votes over the past two years, they choose one or two that fits their agenda. That's what I call objective, and you?

No wonder Burton doesn't give these idiots the time of day. No wonder they can't sell newspapers for anything other than an inexpensive alternative to store bought puppy "piddle-pads".

Hailstone was right. They're full of something ... but the aroma is less than intoxicating along Penn St.

More Bad News on Pennsylvania Street

Like you needed any more proof the Cage-Liner's not worth the paper it's printed on, this just in ... delivering the bad news today on their website, local rag is kicking 23 more to the curb.

The lay-offs are a part of 600 pink slips that Gannett is sending out. New publisher, Michael Kane, made the announcement in an email.

First question that came to our minds here at the HQ: "Will Dennis be getting a pink slip anytime soon?"

You have to feel bad for the folks who are getting the axe. Hopefully, there is a bright future in new media for these people. It's always the hard-working grunts that pay for the failures of leadership that have turned a once proud newspaper of record into a collection of AP releases and public notices. The Pros are still willing to give the new guy the benefit of the doubt, but this isn't the start we had hoped for. We actually hope Mr. Kane can turn things around and give the community a real newspaper again.

Tully hates his mailbox

It is that time of year for the media to decry negative campaigning. Fair enough, it is his job to report on the race.

Fear and loathing in your mailbox IndyStar.com: "To amplify the point, the mailer includes an image of a torn Social Security card. Yes, that type of puffed-up political spin is sure to spur a healthy discussion of one of the nation's most important, and politically thorny, programs.

Let me be clear: Both Democrats and Republicans spew out negative mailings. It's a bipartisan thing. But during the weeks leading up to Tuesday's special election, Carson has been the prime offender. Another mailer from his team features a photo of a burned-out Humvee. 'Jon Elrod supports the Bush Iraq War,' it reads."

I will not disagree with his point that sometimes the methods to get voters attention are not my favorite but lets be fair. There will probably be more votes for American Idol out of the 7th than votes for Congress. If voters paid more attention then you would not have to give them a poke to get them to pay attention.

Politicians are like children...the more you ignore them the more they will act out to get your attention.

CD5 Challenger Fades to Black ... Staff Sacked and Short on Cash, do Insiders hear the "Fat Lady" Sing?

This just in ... (Dateline: Indiana CD 05.)

The erstwhile pol, former coroner, perennial candidate, and ER Doc (who strung out Marion County/Indianapolis GOPers contemplating on a bid for Mayor of the State's Capitol City) has apparently flamed out in his bid to unseat the popular incumbent in CD 05.

"This is like the Surge in Iraq," said one pol close to the Incumbent's camp, "You know he's losing it because nobody is writing about him and those who are seemingly need to stretch the facts somewhere near absurdity to even have anything to write about. It's almost sad."

Local cage liner The Indianapolis Star published a story on 2/1 that cited unidentified "political handicappers" as having the race being "one of fewer than two dozen potentially competitive House Primaries in the country." Really? Who are they talking to? All the political insiders with any street cred wrote this off in October after the abysmal 3Q report showing an anemic (to be kind) $21K raised, and only $81K in the bank. (Not much better at EOY: $85K COH), and the majority of that came from three sources: Medical Professionals, Big Pharma Execs and PACs, and Lawyers ... not to mention the $10K he "loaned" himself.

"At his current burn rate, he will not have enough cash to get into mailboxes, let alone up on the tube, even Cable" one insider told us.

Staff Let Go ... Consultants bail.

In an apparent effort to keep his camp from completely collapsing, we hear that he sacked his FD in a cost-cutting move and noticed in the EOY FEC filing that his consultants are no longer on the payroll ... hmmmm.

Other interesting, but as yet unconfirmed, rumors have been circulating about some "less than honest representations made by the campaign," said one flack over the weekend. " I mean, he was less than accurate with Howey last summer, right? $500 grand by the end of the year. C'mon, where'd he end up? 235 or so, not including the ten grand he gave himself."

Another pol watcher told us, "There's no support there, especially from the activists you need in a primary. Nobody has been willing to stand up behind him and endorse the candidacy."

"The real problem I have with this whole thing", said one GOP party official, "is that he's told folks he's not expecting to win, he just wants to drive his name ID up. That's just forcing us to expend valuable resources unnecessarily in a year where we have tough Statehouse races and a Special Election in CD 07." We've heard the same or similar expressions from many other GOPers who are steamed over losing the "generous contributions" that usually come from the Incumbent's coffers to help fund their GOTV and down ballot races.

Our Call: This one's dropped off the radar... crash & burn.