Saint Is No Journalist
Saint Paul may not be a "journalist", but he has the best riposte yet to Nick Coleman.
He checks Coleman's facts, and finds many of them sorely wanting. He also checks Coleman's pedigree, and finds it revelatory.
It's Coleman's peevish response to the Fraters' hilarious - and clearly satiric - Newspaper Newlyweds series that really got Saint going.
Coleman led and ended his rant with graceless references to the Fraters' riffs on the Coleman family checkbook:
I am a very wealthy man, born into privilege and power, and a stooge of the Democratic Party.
Oh. That reminds me, Smithers: Bring me the heads of some Republicans, would you? Also, set out the good silver. Fritz is coming over to give me my marching orders.
Dad-ums would be so proud, wouldn't he, Muffy?
Nick Coleman's a regular working stiff, right? In step with the regular Joe Lunchboxes of the Twin Cities, taking shots at the "Big Cheeses" (???) of the world.
Guilt?
Saint has the goods:
Regarding being born into privilege, Nick Coleman's father was among the most powerful men in the state, including four terms as Senate Majority Leader, from 1973 to 1981. His step mother, Deborah Howell, worked at the Minneapolis Star from 1965 to 1979, rising to the post of City Editor. In 1973, Nick was given a job as city hall reporter, for the Minneapolis Star. In 1979, Deborah Howell moved to the Pioneer Press serving as Managing Editor, then Executive Editor, until 1990. In 1986, stepson Nick was given a columnist position, at, guess what, the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
And he's claiming not to have been a beneficiary of privilege? His chosen profession straddles the realms of his (step)parental spheres of influence - politics and journalism. His employment history follows in lock step coordination with that of his stepmother. Would he like us to believe his career trajectory in this town is based exclusively on his talent (cough cough) and not the doors opened to him because of his familial connections?
Maybe that is what he truly believes. It wouldn't surprise me that a man who defines journalism as "to scrutinize the actions of those in power" would create delusions about his own power dependent life circumstances. How else could he sleep at night?
Thankfully, in this new world of media and information access, Coleman doesn't get the final edit on reality. Not even of his own life story. Nick, welcome to the future.
Posted by Mitch at
September 30, 2004 08:20 AM
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Excellent points. Could it be that Nick has a double standard he's gotten accustomed to believing is invisible to others? Coleman is delusional.
Posted by: Curtis O. at September 30, 2004 12:40 PMI think there's a basic point being missed.
Coleman no longer functions, for the Trib, as a "journalist". He doesn't go out, collect facts, and report news.
He does essays, and opinion pieces, and persuasive arguments. He interjects his own philosophy into whatever he writes. He tells us his view of things, and tells us why he's right.
He's a print blogger.
So, for him to use the "checks and balances" defense to show his superiority to you guys is disingenuous. Checks and balances exist to ensure factual accuracy, not correctness of thought. He's no more checked and balanced than any blogger.
He's just mad that his territory is being invaded. He's mad that he and Doug and the other paperbloggers are going the way of the buggy whip.
Posted by: Bobby at September 30, 2004 01:32 PMBobby - excellent point, one I address in my latest post.
Curtis - spot on.
Posted by: mitch at September 30, 2004 01:45 PM