Local Blogs, Politicians, Ads and What’s on MY MIND

I recently got home after a week on Oahu and have had a few days to think about a post that Oahu blogger Ian Lind posted “Responding to thorny questions about blogging and bias”

It seems some folks doubt the sincerity of Ian’s blog and the position he writes about at times.

What the heck people… It’s his damn blog and he should be able to do whatever he wants with it.

Some folks may remember that Hunter Bishop had ads on his website for both Angel Pilago and Billy Kenoi during the election season.  If my memory serves me correct, he charged each of them $30.00 per month for those ads.

How is a measly $30.00 a month from any local politician going to influence any real blogger?

Ian is hearing comments like this:

Honestly, I think that since you work on the inside you shouldn’t blog period. If I were an elected official, I would a) never hire you or your relatives b) Never respond to any question you posed. How do we know if the person who’s signing your checks does something unethical you’re not looking the other way? How do we know your questions aren’t being written by your employer in a biased way?
I say stop working at the leg and blog full time. And then you can advertise all you want…

Geez… I can’t understand some folks venom at time? Ian has been an investigative journalist long before blogging ever came about. If Ian’s blog bothers you so much… don’t read it!

I previously mentioned that I won’t accept any political ads on my blog this year only because I don’t think it’s worth the money and people thinking I endorse one candidate or another simply because I have an ad on my blog.

I was earlier questioned by former councilman Bob Jacobson as to why I had Dr. James Weatherford’s blog posted on my site… but I did clarify that simply wasn’t true.

Why do people get so huffy puffy about things we write on our blogs? It’s just our own personal opinion of things.

Accusing bloggers who work for the government in one capacity or another of having biases because of their jobs is crazy. People in Hawaii need to wake up at times and realize that government workers across America are blogging… sorry it’s taken so long for folks to get a grip here in Hawaii.

Just to remind folks… I was the one that broke the story on the Kenoi smear… not Hunter… Although he compiled the facts… (that should say something as I was a supporter of Pilago)  Why would I as a blogger point out that Kenoi was getting smeared when I supported Pilago?

I try and be as neutral as I can on things at time when I see something bogus.

THE BILLY KENOI SMEAR:

http://damontucker.com/2008/08/07/is-a-billy-kenoi-smear-on/

http://damontucker.com/2008/08/14/kenoi-smear-follow-up/

http://damontucker.com/2008/08/17/kenoi-smear-on-front-page-of-tribune-herald/