Columbian ditches Malkin
Among some other syndicated column changes, at long last The Columbian is ditching Michelle Malkin. While there's really no explanation about any of the changes, running Malkin was an act of contempt for community values.
All The Columbian needs to do now is place someone moderately progressive on the editorial board so half the community has something of a say, and they'll be right back to what they historically were: a pro-business small town newspaper that leans towards sane Republicans.
I'm tempted to reward the ditching of Malkin by subscribing again, and might, but the issue of freezing progressives out of any say at all on the editorial board still needs to be addressed. It's nice that there are some smart, reality based folks on the editorial board, but none of them are particularly progressive. As the community grows, the paper should recognize that fact and hire at least one progressive editorialist.
In other changes, Suan Estrich will replace the late Molly Ivins, and Garrison Keillor will replace Rick Horowitz.
UPDATE 8:58 PM-- A friend points out the print edition of The Columbian ran Parker's column on Friday instead of Malkin's, with a brief note from editorial page editor John Laird explaining that they rejected Malkin's column due to "numerous instances of gratuitous vulgarity pertaining to rap music." Apparently gratuitous insults of Japanese-Americans (and many others) weren't enough to get Malkin banned, but scary rap lyrics were. Enough irony to require hip waders all around.
Also, a commenter points out that Estrich can hardly "replace" Ivins. Indeed.
Friday: Conservative columnist Kathleen Parker, who is published by more than 350 newspapers, will appear in The Columbian on Fridays, replacing columnist Michelle Malkin. Parker writes for The Orlando Sentinel and The Washington Post Writers Group. She graduated from Florida State University and is writer in residence at the Buckley School of Public Speaking in Camden, S.C. Parker won the 1993 H. L. Mencken Writing Award and appears frequently on "The Chris Matthews Show" on NBC.I recognize the name Kathleen Parker but I'll have to look into her track record. Nobody could be more hateful than Malkin, could they?
All The Columbian needs to do now is place someone moderately progressive on the editorial board so half the community has something of a say, and they'll be right back to what they historically were: a pro-business small town newspaper that leans towards sane Republicans.
I'm tempted to reward the ditching of Malkin by subscribing again, and might, but the issue of freezing progressives out of any say at all on the editorial board still needs to be addressed. It's nice that there are some smart, reality based folks on the editorial board, but none of them are particularly progressive. As the community grows, the paper should recognize that fact and hire at least one progressive editorialist.
In other changes, Suan Estrich will replace the late Molly Ivins, and Garrison Keillor will replace Rick Horowitz.
UPDATE 8:58 PM-- A friend points out the print edition of The Columbian ran Parker's column on Friday instead of Malkin's, with a brief note from editorial page editor John Laird explaining that they rejected Malkin's column due to "numerous instances of gratuitous vulgarity pertaining to rap music." Apparently gratuitous insults of Japanese-Americans (and many others) weren't enough to get Malkin banned, but scary rap lyrics were. Enough irony to require hip waders all around.
Also, a commenter points out that Estrich can hardly "replace" Ivins. Indeed.
