On Ray Sansom and the Press

Ray Sansom was my representative. I voted for him but have never personally met him. His problems with NW Florida State College, Jay Odem, etc were all in the public arena before I decided to start a blog on 4 April 2009.

Was Ray Sansom stupid to accept the job at NW Florida State on the same day he became speaker? You bet. Was the building of a Emergency Center in Destin a bad idea? Not really. Was building it at Destin Airport and probably basing the design on Jay Odom's previous plans for a hanger REALLY DUMB? Oh, hell yeah. Was it sleazy, good ole boy politics? Emphatically yes. Was it illegal? Guess what: Probably not! It was voted on and signed by the Governor and if we want to prosecute politicians for earmarks, then let us elect officials that will make it illegal. In our republic, we get the government we voted for. Elections have consequences and the voter often makes a bad choice based on the best of intentions.

Now, I ask the question: Was Ray Sansom set up by the Democrats? I quote from Tampa Bay Online's blog "March on Politics":

[Sansom's attorney] also complained that “bloggers” were now deciding who serves in the Florida House and commented on revelations in the press that Eric Jotkoff, spokesman for the state Democratic Party, had in fact drafted the complaint that a private citizen had filed against Sansom, which sparked the House probe.

Jotkoff responded to Fletcher’s comments this morning by saying that he’s “proud” of the role he played in “holding Ray Sansom accountable for his alleged corruption,” and that “it’s insulting to the citizens of Florida that’s Sansom’s lawyer claims that bloggers are not residents with the same rights as anyone else. What’s especially ironic is that the ‘bloggers’ she references are actually members of the press corps.”

So, while Ray Sansom might have provided the rope, this was a professionally orchestrated "hit job' by the Democrats, make no mistake on that. How long the MSM press knew this fact and didn't report it is anyone's guess. Just make sure that you note that Mr. Jotkoff refers to Sansom's "alleged corruption". Why not just say plain old corruption Mr. Jotkoff? I tell you why, because there is a damn good chance that after the dust settles down on this affair, there is a real possibility that no one will be convicted of anything. Mr. Jotkoff knows this (he is a professional for the Democratic Party) and doesn't want to be hit with a slander suit after all this is over.

My two questions for the MSM is this: Will anyone in the MSM question the professional judgment and ability of Prosecutor Willie Meggs if no one is convicted? Will the MSM, post Sansom resignation, appreciate that they have been played like a violin by the Democrats?

The answers to the above two questions are "No" and "We don't mind, as long as it is a Democrat plucking our strings".

The MSM cannot be trusted by Republicans, PERIOD. Look how they played John McCain all these years. "Maverick" McCain became plain old John when he got his chance to run for President. The sad part is McCain thought the press had his back. What a fool he was.

I repeat this message I posted a few weeks ago. Time for the Republicans to go into the "News" business and fight back.

Chalk one up for the unholy alliance of Liberal Democrats and their Stooge's in the MSM. But remember, you just won a battle, not the war.

And for Mr. Jotkoff: Thanks for the affirmation that Bloggers are legitimate journalists just like the "deadwood" press. I hope return the favor one day.....