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I am very pleased that Rick Wagner warned us today of the flaws in the candidacy of Barak Obama. Who would’ve known?
Actually, there are flaws in all three candidates but it is a little hard to tell if any of them are fatal, primarily because none of them has held the office of president in the past. The office has a tendency to present tests of courage, moral character and intelligence for which past, supposed “experience” doesn’t prepare a person.
But that isn’t the point. Mr. Wagner has proved, week after week, that the sole purpose of his column is not to inform, but to be a political bomb thrower. Is it really necessary to throw red meat to the locals who are already inclined to be highly partisan — meaning no thought necessary — so they can stand up cheering “go get ‘em Rick”? The level of political discourse in this community is already inflammatory and polluted. Why does The Daily Sentinel feel it necessary to encourage further rancid division with a column that appears to have no other purpose than doing just that?
As has been the case every week thus far, Mr. Wagner’s column today is not really about Barak Obama, but meant to insult a portion of the electorate and rally another portion. That seems to happen naturally around here and another cheerleader sponsored by our primary source of news locally, supposedly serving the entire community, is highly questionable.
And when that columnist is the epitome of pretentiousness, it only magnifies the questionable purpose of the use of a sizable part of the page which could be used for informative, and still partisan opinion. George Will has a bias, for instance, but his column the same day as Wagner’s Obama column actually makes one think.
JOHN BORGEN
Grand Junction
25 Responses to “Rick Wagner acts as political bomb thrower”
Posted April 24th, 2008 at 11:44 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
You can’t seriously consider Rick “Somebody Give Me a Job” Wagner to be a coherent voice for ANY side of an argument; he’s notorious for his Epic Failures: Let’s just look at a couple—
Talk Radio Show Host, KNZZ…anyone remember “The Rick Wagner Show”? KNZZ is hoping you don’t.
How about his disastrous (and purely political) appointment to the Sheriff’s Department? More than one person could tell you about how Rick showed up to an incident involving a suicidal individual on the roof of the courthouse, carrying a bag of popcorn (see, it was funny, like he was Mel Gibson in “Lethal Weapon”)..yeah, Rick, we remember….. go ahead….say it didn’t happen. I dare you.
And if the Free Press is such a joke of a newspaper, how come they had the good sense to get rid of him?
“Right-Wing columnist/blogger/windbag” is just one more job Rick is catastrophically unsuited for.
Posted April 24th, 2008 at 11:50 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
If the Daily Sentinel has any interest in overcoming its well-deserved reputation (Henrietta Hay notwithstanding) as the main media mouthpiece for the Mesa County Republican Party, they should hire a rational, reasonable, intelligent columnist to counter Wagner’s weekly drivel. The Grand Valley is undergoing rapid demographic and political change, but the Sentinel is still behind the curve.
Posted April 24th, 2008 at 12:18 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
So Curmudgeon, I asked and they hired Rick away from the Free Press-you working?
Posted April 24th, 2008 at 12:20 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
The Sentinel’s lethal Wednesday mixture of Rick Wagner and Gary Harmon was what finally pushed my household over the edge. For the first time in nine years, we could not bear to renew our subscription in the face of such drivel overload.
Posted April 24th, 2008 at 12:24 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
mythbuster…Yeah, I work. But what does that have to do with how much of an idiot Rick Wagner is?
Posted April 24th, 2008 at 12:28 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
glad you wised up - i knew from Day 1 (more than 10 years ago) that paying money for a paper copy was a bad idea. unfortunatley the FreePress teeters on irrelevancy also, since there is very little substance and zero investigative journalism; not to mention they sacked EM Ervin.
anyone up for starting a newspaper (or online site) to counter the madness?
Posted April 24th, 2008 at 12:30 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
MY MY MY, Mr. Borgen sure seems to love having his name in the paper.
Too bad he seldom has anything of interest to spew forth about.
Anybody that does not hold to HIS viewpoint is “stupid, unintelligent, mis informed, poorly educated”, etc.
There sits John high on his throne…
Time to flush your throne John, it stinks to high heaven.
Posted April 24th, 2008 at 12:40 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Thanks for the vote of confidence, Willis. It is accepted in the spirit it is given.
Posted April 24th, 2008 at 12:47 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Uh, likely it’s due to the fact that Borgen’s letters are thoughtful, meaningful, and contemporary. And, most importantly, beautifully contrary to your myopic & supremely outdated worldview.
Posted April 24th, 2008 at 12:51 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
It is becoming more and more obvious that some users, and a few abusers do not care for the political viewpoint they feel is the actual political position of the Daily Sentinel.
They seem to care less for the other daily paper in the valley.
How soon can we expect a new, rival, paper in the area?
Will your new enterprise present the same type of coverage as the two current providers of written news?
Or will it be strictly from the viewpoints of a few?
You complainers are willing to provide your OWN forum, are you not?
Or is this another instance of not putting your money where your mouth is?
It’s ok to badmouth the site that lets you spew forth, but not ok to provide your own venue?
Hugo Chavez may be a willing investor, give him a call.
PS. I still have those carbon credits for sale, hurry before I raise the price again.
Posted April 24th, 2008 at 1:01 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Oh - sorry - i should have been more specific…i was thinking of a paper that only displayed NASCAR results, great comics, and occaisional soft porn. You know, keep it simple for the local readership.
Here’s your factoid for the day: 50% of the American public doesn’t know that the Earth orbits the Sun in one calendar year.
Posted April 24th, 2008 at 2:56 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Mr. Borgen, in his intitial letter characterized Mr. Wagner as a bomb thrower. He may believe he is but, if one closely examines his writings, what one finds is that the so-called “bombs” he lobs are mostly duds. They may be messy but of little value. I find it difficult to believe that he enters court, writes a legal brief, without paying careful attention to the the true meanings of the words he uses, then tells the judge “No, this is what is meant by that term.” He would undoubtedly be not only “tossed out of court” but probably out of the legal profession. Yet, he consistently does it in his so-called “opinion” articles. One might suggest that the individual first consider what he means by the term “liberal.” As he is attempting to converse in the political arena, one must assume that by that term he is referring to “political liberal.” Perhaps he would care to define for us what he means by that term, as from what he writes, it is apparent that he really has no real concept of its real meaning. If he is unable to do that, then perhaps he would care to tell us what is the opposite of political liberalism. (Hint: It is not political conservatism.)
In of his other “enlightening” opinions he used the term “true believer” in the sense of “intense belief.” Unfortunately, had he bothered to read the book by the same name, he would have known that its real meaning is “one who is unable to see or consider anything else; i.e. a closed mind).
Fairly recently he referred to Immanuel Kant and the “categorical imperative.” What he neglected, or chose not to provide was any inkling what is that “imperative” Kant spoke about, and there was absolutely no hint, in the entire article, that Mr. Wagner even has even the remotest comprehension of what Kant meant, nor of its significance.
One may therefore conclude that Mr. Wagner is much to “free” with terms and references, which he does not understand. It is then only fair to assume that Mr. Wagner uses terms and references, not to illuminate, but to “impress.” His knowledge of things appears to be limited to “knowing of them”, and not “knowing (understanding)them.”
Mr. Wagner might do much better if he spent considerably more time studying instead of “writing”, although he is certainly free to do both. He might remember something. “Those who are attempting to impress are always the least impressive and, those who need to be impressed are not worth impressing.”
Posted April 24th, 2008 at 3:07 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Mr. Laitres,
Mr. Laitres, I keep asking the question of you, and you keep not answering.
What institutions of higher learning have you attended, and what specific degrees have you earned that allows you to feel smarter than anybody else?
And, since you have been known to be less than honest in your posts, I require names and dates for verification.
By your continued refusal to answer I can only surmise that you are a self taught individual that is incapable honest, intelligent conversation and need to rely on childish attempts at character assassination and belittling others to make yourself seem more intelligent than you actually are.
If facts that prove your positions false arise, you feel perfectly within your rights to discount any facts that you choose to not believe, then base your arguments on your self imposed ignorance of those facts.
Posted April 24th, 2008 at 3:30 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Chancho, here’s another “factoid”, it’s the end result of “public education” through the government indoctrination centers.
And be very careful about insinuating that the local folks are pretty simple, you may find a rude awakening.
Posted April 24th, 2008 at 3:42 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Willis - What schools did you go to? Inquiring minds are dying to know where you learned the “wisdom of the ages.”
Posted April 24th, 2008 at 4:28 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Since Mr. Laitres keeps telling folks that they don’t know the definition of certain political terms, and since it appears that he expects everyone to know these definitions before making intelligent comments, I thought I would provide the definition of liberalism as defined in Wikepedia:
“Within liberalism, there are two major currents of thought. which often compete over the use of the term “liberal” and have been known to clash on many issues, as they differ on their understanding of what constitutes freedom. Classical liberals, believe that the only real freedom is freedom from coercion.[4] As a result they see state intervention in the economy as a coercive power that restricts the economic freedom of individuals and favor laissez-faire economic policy. They oppose the welfare state.[5] Social liberals argue that governments must take an active role in promoting the freedom of citizens. They believe that real freedom can only exist when citizens are healthy, educated, and free from dire poverty. They generally favor the right to an education, the right to health care, and the right to a living wage. Some also favor laws against discrimination in housing and employment, laws against pollution of the environment, and the provision of welfare, including unemployment benefit and housing for the homeless, all supported by progressive taxation.[4]”
Posted April 24th, 2008 at 4:32 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
LOL, Check out post #7 and compare to post #13! Sorry to go off topic, but what a sweet example of the pot calling the kettle black…
Posted April 24th, 2008 at 4:42 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Bullishfrog: Wikepedia, like any reference book, can only handle abrevaiated forms. Political liberalism requires far more, including its constructive components. In order to acquire that, it is necessary to study the history of political thought, not only that concept but also others such that it can be placed in perspective. I do not view reference books, be they dictionaries or encyclopedias as of no worth. They are quite valuable. However, that being said, I doubt that one would have much faith in one calling himself a doctor if all he had studied was a medical dictionary or even Gray’s Anatomy. The same thing applies to all subject matters.
Posted April 24th, 2008 at 4:46 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
toaaronuu: The best way to handle such posts and posters is to totally ignore them, not even acknowledging them on boards. That has been my experience, both in person and on boards. The subject may get irritated at times but, after a while they go away.
Posted April 24th, 2008 at 5:00 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
RL,do you think that more than 0.01% of the population is qualified to vote?
Posted April 24th, 2008 at 5:19 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
bullishfrog: To be honest yes, and definitely by a much greater percentage. And, quite honestly, I not infrequentl question my own qualification. Have I studied the issues enough, and do I really understand them? On what basis am I, or have I decided in the past? When casting a vote for a public official, be that for one at the national, state or local level am I placing my own wants and needs ahead of those of the entire entire group? Is the individual for whom I would cast a ballot (regardless of party affiliaton) “qualified” to serve; i.e. is he/she capable of thinking and dealing with the issues at the level to which he/she aspires?
Posted April 24th, 2008 at 5:28 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
In other word Mr Laitres, if you ignore the question you won’t have to answer it and nobody will know what your qualifications to bad mouth other peoples intelligence are?
So, one more time:
Mr. Laitres, I keep asking the question of you, and you keep not answering.
What institutions of higher learning have you attended, and what specific degrees have you earned that allows you to feel smarter than anybody else?
And, since you have been known to be less than honest in your posts, I require names and dates for verification.
By your continued refusal to answer I can only surmise that you are a self taught individual that is incapable honest, intelligent conversation and need to rely on childish attempts at character assassination and belittling others to make yourself seem more intelligent than you actually are.
If facts that prove your positions false arise, you feel perfectly within your rights to discount any facts that you choose to not believe, then base your arguments on your self imposed ignorance of those facts.
You can choose to answer the question, or stop pretending that you have special knowledge that magically makes you smarter than everybody that disagrees with you.
Your choice.
Posted April 24th, 2008 at 5:41 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
My gawd, weren’t we talking about “Freaky Stalkers” a few days ago? You, over there, answer my question, or I’ll ask it fifty more times!!! Or I’ll hound you until my dying day!!
What is this this place, an electronic courtroom or just some bad drama involving a few who otherwise have no obvious sense of purpose or anything to contribute?
Sorta makes Rick Wagner appear to be a civil person
Posted April 24th, 2008 at 5:49 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Mike, you nailed it shut on that one. Mr. Wagner now looks reserved, civil, and level-headed. Great. Now I gotta go look out my window and see if pigs are soaring past my window.
Posted April 24th, 2008 at 8:07 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Hey folks, the Rick Wagner column is an op-ed just like Henrietta’s and many other guest writers that the Sentinel features each week. I have found them to be fairly balanced…….a couple of liberal columns one day and a couple of columns with a conservative viewpoint the next. As far as the editorials, which are the opinions of the paper, they seem to portray both sides of the political spectrum.
The Daily Sentinel is the only paper I have found that reports news from the whole western slope and does stay on top of what the energy business is up to, both the good and the bad. They have my vote of confidence. And yes, this is just my OPINION.
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