Trib sat on Blagojevich wiretap story

Patrick Fitzgerald just commended them for it.

Not sure how I feel about it.

I understand ... but ick.

 

Why the ick? Either you believe there are circumstances under which a newspaper should sit on a story, or you don't. If we learned anything from "The Wire," it's that blowing a wiretap would be a bad thing. I'm fine with them sitting on it.

 

Did they still get the story first?

 

Personally, I think it was a good move by the editorial board. Why run a story if it would ruin an investigation into a high-ranking public figure?

I think it's better off for the public good that they waited to run it.

 

The "ick" relates to the prosecutor publicly commending the paper for sitting on news.

To me, we'll sit on it. But don't congratulate us for it.

Because with sources like that, it comes down to this:

Break news on our time = Good newspaper!
Break news on your time = Bad newspaper!

 

"Blagojevich and Harris also allegedly conspired to demand the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members responsible for editorials critical of Blagojevich in exchange for state help with the sale of Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs baseball stadium owned by Tribune Co."

Ummm, was Tribune actually entertaining the discussions? Or did they come forward? WTF?

From:
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/12/source-feds-take-gov-blagojevich-into-custody.html

 

And forgive my Canadian ignorance, but aren't Senators elected? Or are they only appointed between elections?

 

Elected. But in this case, it's the seat that Obama vacated, and Illinois state law is that the governor appoints the replacement to serve out the rest of the term. Every state is different. Some hold a special election.

 

Trying to imagine the shudder that went through the Tower when Fitzgerald disclosed this. Gotta believe they didn't see that coming.

 

17th Amendment

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two
Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six
years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in
each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of
the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State
in the Senate, the executive authority of each State shall issue
writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided That the legislature
of any State may empower the executive thereof to make
temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by
election as the legislature may direct.

This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the
election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid
as part of the Constitution.

 

This thread really confused the hell out of me for a few minutes because I couldn't understand why Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald would be commenting on the Trib holding this story. One of these dudes need to take a middle initial or something.

 

Maybe Sam Zell demanded it. Being a great journalist and all.