Tiny Crawford Newspaper Endorses Kerry

[Career Prole]

CRAWFORD, Texas - A weekly newspaper that bills itself as President Bush (news - web sites)'s hometown paper endorsed John Kerry (news - web sites) for president, saying the Massachusetts senator will restore American dignity.

The Lone Star Iconoclast, which has a circulation of 425, said in an editorial dated Sept. 29 that Texans should rate the candidates not by hometown or political party, but by where they intend to take the country.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040928/ap_on_el_pr/crawford_paper_kerry&cid=694&ncid=2043

A small but significant endorsement!

[hadrons]

1. "The people who know him best endore Kerry" (my remark)

LOL

[Owlet]

2. Next headline..."Tiny Crawford Newspaper Destroyed in Suspicious Fire"

. I thought I saw Karen Hughes headed that way in her F150 with a five gallon can of gas in the back.

[Cocoa]

8. lol

hilarious visual. :-)

[Career Prole]

17. No kidding! I can even hear the same music playing from

"The Wizard of Oz" when Miss Gulch was pedalling her bike to Dorothy's house.

[jobycom]

11. LOL Or deported for donating money to Muslim charities? nt.

[Scairp]

21. I asked, I'm sure we'll hear the standard answer

"The editor is a notorious Bushhater, they are known liberals, this is not a surprise... blah, blah, blah". Same shit, different day.

[rsmith6621]

3. Ya Get the Feeling......

That Crawford wants their TOWN back....its got to be a bitch to have secret service and the press constantly in your backyard.....

But then again your neighbors know you best....

[GainesT1958]

15. Well, even though the Boston Globe has periodically busted Kerry's chops..

I'll bet better-than-even moula they don't endorse Dub!:D

B-)

[LisaM]

19. What town? It didn't exist till * started running for national office

they are really close to WACO, which I'm guessing they didn't want to be Shrub's place of origin. So they invented a town. Now it's turning on them, which is pretty hilarious.

[Demeter]

4. Freedom of the Press

more people should try it.

[proud patriot]

5. wow

that's a pleasant surprise

[bear425]

6. Don't forget to rate the story a 5! n/t

[AspenRose]

7. Last I heard Crawford had a black mayor...so don't be surprised if

all of a sudden he 'can't vote.' He, too, was pro-Kerry.

[Rose Siding]

9. The four items they chose to highlight are spot on

"Four items trouble us the most about the Bush administration: his initiatives to disable the Social Security (news - web sites) system, the deteriorating state of the American economy, a dangerous shift away from the basic freedoms established by our founding fathers, and his continuous mistakes regarding Iraq (news - web sites)," the editorial said.

[xxqqqzme]

36. sounds like something

around which to build a campaign.

[llmart]

10. Never underestimate the influence of newspaper endorsements.

Don't forget to rate the article a "5".

[Career Prole]

12. Make sure to drop on by the Crawford paper

Lone Star Iconoclast and endorse their endorsement. It's worth the trip just to see the banner ad at the top of their homepage! My first thought upon seeing it was that he'd also make an excellent doorstop. :D

Actual Ad From Shrub's Hometown Newspaper...Unintentional slur?

[Career Prole]

20. Dagnabbit...the Red X of Death!

Anyways, The ad is selling a paperweight and looks like this...

Crawford, Texas
Home of George W. Bush
Paperweight

[dweller]

43. whazzit look like?

a lead bullchip?

wouldn't that be fitting.
dp

[Career Prole]

44. They've got a picture of the memorial paperweight accompanied by

the text here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Cute, ain't it? :evilgrin:

[flordehinojos]

13. Thank God to The Lone Star Iconoclast for speaking the truth!!!!!!!!!

They'll have hell to pay once Poppy and Mommy Bush get drift of their editiorial.

[progressivebydesign]

14. "TINY".. I KNEW The Bush media couldn't report it fairly...

.. it should read PAPER IN BUSH'S HOMETOWN ENDORSES KERRY!!! but instead, they are minimized..

[TexasSissy]

16. You should read their editorial!

It's amazing. You can find it at http://www.iconoclast-texas.com/Columns/Editorial/editorial39.htm

It may be a tiny newspaper, but heck, that guy can write! He should be giving Kerry advice on what to say, the editor puts everything so succinctly and passionately.

[arikara]

22. The link isn't working

They must be inundated right now.

[Career Prole]

24. That's probably what happened to the banner ad I posted above.

You're right. Those poor folks probably are taking a lot more hits than their server's used to.

[TexasSissy]

38. Yes. Try again later. Sorry. The editorial is making the Net rounds,

and it's a tiny newspaper. The server probably can't handle it.

I wish I would've cut and pasted part of it. Well, actually, I did in a bipartisan forum. I can cut and paste to here what I did there. I'll go get it and come back.

[TexasSissy]

39. HERE'S PARTIAL QUOTE OF THE EDITORIAL

http://www.iconoclast-texas.com/Columns/Editorial/editorial39.htm

Kerry Will Restore
American Dignity
2004 Iconoclast Presidential Endorsement

Few Americans would have voted for George W. Bush four years ago if he had promised that, as President, he would:
" Empty the Social Security trust fund by $507 billion to help offset fiscal irresponsibility and at the same time slash Social Security benefits.
" Cut Medicare by 17 percent and reduce veterans' benefits and military pay.
" Eliminate overtime pay for millions of Americans and raise oil prices by 50 percent.
" Give tax cuts to businesses that sent American jobs overseas, and, in fact, by policy encourage their departure.
" Give away billions of tax dollars in government contracts without competitive bids.
" Involve this country in a deadly and highly questionable war, and
" Take a budget surplus and turn it into the worst deficit in the history of the United States, creating a debt in just four years that will take generations to repay.

These were elements of a hidden agenda that surfaced only after he took office.

The publishers of The Iconoclast endorsed Bush four years ago, based on the things he promised, not on this smoke-screened agenda.
Today, we are endorsing his opponent, John Kerry, based not only on the things that Bush has delivered, but also on the vision of a return to normality that Kerry says our country needs.

Four items trouble us the most about the Bush administration: his initiatives to disable the Social Security system, the deteriorating state of the American economy, a dangerous shift away from the basic freedoms established by our founding fathers, and his continuous mistakes regarding terrorism and Iraq.

President Bush has announced plans to change the Social Security system as we know it by privatizing it, which when considering all the tangents related to such a change, would put the entire economy in a dramatic tailspin.

The Social Security Trust Fund actually lends money to the rest of the government in exchange for government bonds, which is how the system must work by law, but how do you later repay Social Security while you are running a huge deficit? It's impossible, without raising taxes sometime in the future or becoming fiscally responsible now. Social Security money is being used to escalate our deficit and, at the same time, mask a much larger government deficit, instead of paying down the national debt, which would be a proper use, to guarantee a future gain.

Privatization is problematic in that it would subject Social Security to the ups, downs, and outright crashes of the Stock Market. It would take millions in brokerage fees and commissions out of the system, and, unless we have assurance that the Ivan Boeskys and Ken Lays of the world will be caught and punished as a deterrent, subject both the Market and the Social Security Fund to fraud and market manipulation, not to mention devastate and ruin multitudes of American families that would find their lives lost to starvation, shame, and isolation.

Kerry wants to keep Social Security, which each of us already owns. He says that the program is manageable, since it is projected to be solvent through 2042, with use of its trust funds. This would give ample time to strengthen the economy, reduce the budget deficit the Bush administration has created, and, therefore, bolster the program as needed to fit ever-changing demographics.

Our senior citizens depend upon Social Security. Bush's answer is radical and uncalled for, and would result in chaos as Americans have never experienced. Do we really want to risk the future of Social Security on Bush by spinning the wheel of uncertainty? (snip)

In those dark hours after the World Trade Center attacks, Americans rallied together with a new sense of patriotism. We were ready to follow Bush's lead through any travail.

He let us down.

When he finally emerged from his hide-outs on remote military bases well after the first crucial hours following the attack, he gave sound-bytes instead of solutions.

He did not trust us to be ready to sacrifice, build up our public and private security infrastructure, or cut down on our energy use to put economic pressure on the enemy in all the nations where he hides. He merely told us to shop, spend, and pretend nothing was wrong.

Rather than using the billions of dollars expended on the invasion of Iraq to shore up our boundaries and go after Osama bin Laden and the Saudi Arabian terrorists, the funds were used to initiate a war with what Bush called a more immediate menace, Saddam Hussein, in oil-rich Iraq. After all, Bush said Iraq had weapons of mass destruction trained on America. We believed him, just as we believed it when he reported that Iraq was the heart of terrorism. We trusted him.

The Iconoclast, the President's hometown newspaper, took Bush on his word and editorialized in favor of the invasion. The newspaper's publisher promoted Bush and the invasion of Iraq to Londoners in a BBC interview during the time that the administration was wooing the support of Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Again, he let us down.

We presumed the President had solid proof of the existence of these weapons, what and where they were, even as the search continued. Otherwise, our troops would be in much greater danger and the premise for a hurried-up invasion would be moot, allowing more time to solicit assistance from our allies.

Instead we were duped into following yet another privileged agenda.
Now he argues unconvincingly that Iraq was providing safe harbor to terrorists, his new key justification for the invasion. It is like arguing that America provided safe harbor to terrorists leading to 9/11.

Once and for all, George Bush was President of the United States on that day. No one else. He had been President nine months, he had been officially warned of just such an attack a full month before it happened. As President, ultimately he and only he was responsible for our failure to avert those attacks.

We should expect that a sitting President would vacation less, if at all, and instead tend to the business of running the country, especially if he is, as he likes to boast, a "wartime president." America is in service 365 days a year. We don't need a part-time President who does not show up for duty as Commander-In-Chief until he is forced to, and who is in a constant state of blameless denial when things don't get done.

What has evolved from the virtual go-it-alone conquest of Iraq is more gruesome than a stain on a White House intern's dress. America's reputation and influence in the world has diminished, leaving us with brute force as our most persuasive voice. (snip)
*******************
What's missing: There are some paragraphs talking about Kerry's plan for Iraq and how it makes sense. Among other paragraphs. I hope this doesn't go against the rules of pasting too much of a copyrighted article.

[Career Prole]

45. Just in case they make you trim it down I C & P'ed what you have here

just so I can read it again (and again). Thanks for grabbing it before their server drowned. :hi:

[lebkuchen]

25. that webpage isn't coming up for me

Do you have an address for them, for snailmail?

[PROGRESSIVE1]

18. "Lone Star Iconoclast" should be renamed "The American Patriot"!

:kick:

:)

[WillyT]

23. Ya Know What This Means... We Can't Send Him Back To Crawford !!!

They don't want him either.

Ya think Kennebunkport will take him back? How about Leavenworth???

:bounce::evilgrin::bounce:

[Career Prole]

26. We need to know!

That way we can have the tar and feathers waiting...

:evilgrin:

[CitySky]

27. Look, the only job for which is PROVEN himself qualified

is Iraqi Minister of Intelligence -- his reports sound just like the other guy's! Just don't tell him the cameras aren't running & he won't hurt anyone.

I am DELIGHTED to hear about the Crawford paper. Thought the whole town had been declared a "no-free-speech" zone, as folks have gotten booted for wearing anti-Bush gear while the Prez is in town... glad to be proven wrong!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

three cheers for the First Amendment!

[Dhalgren]

28. No, don't put him in a military prison!

There's too much discipline there. Put in "Sing-Sing" or Folsom or Attica or some place where the inmates know how to treat a purdy lil thing like that...

[WillyT]

32. LOL !!! - So... I Guess The Hague Is Out ???

:shrug::evilgrin::shrug:

[VegasWolf]

61. I thought Kofi said he was a War Criminal. n/t

[bear425]

31. I heard the Hague wants him... n/t

[AspenRose]

33. I vote for Baghdad

since * never finished his military service, anyhow.

[SammyWinstonJack]

54. Leavenworth works for me

Perfect place for the criminal.

[despairing optimist]

62. How about Greenwich Day School?

He loves to read The Pet Goat ever so much.

[DFWJock]

29. That damn

liberal media in Crawford. Why do they hate America?

[Bridget Burke]

34. They're obviously out of touch

With the "Heartland".

Edited to add: From an article in the Texas Monthly (last year), some in Crawford are pretty sure he'll sell the pig farm as soon as its not needed as a backdrop. If he loses, he'll move to a gated community in the Metroplex & Crawfordites will get their town back.

[cliss]

30. heh heh he he heh heh

No comment needed, except....heh heh. This little community had better watch it step, though......Ole George can be mighty vindictive..

[ninkasi]

35. I really hope there are more pockets of sanity like this

I feel very encouraged to know that even here, in Texas, there are patriots who are willing to stand up and speak out to stop this deranged, corrupt, arrogant, and lazy frat boy.I am a 5th generation Texan, and believe me, my whole family is very, very opposed to everything the * creature is doing.

I hope the editor of the paper gets tons of positive feed-back from grateful Americans, since it can't be easy to stand up for the truth in a town that small. Maybe this will sway some undecided into the Democratic camp, and that this will be reflected in the results of the election.

[Disturbed]

37. Backbone.

Pleased about this. Maybe there is hope after all.

Maybe Texans know more about the Bush Crime Family than most Americans, eh?

[AspenRose]

58. Considering he's not even from Texas in the first place....

We (a displaced Texan here) have every reason to be upset with what he's done to the state, and to the country.

[txindy]

67. Here are some earlier Letters to the Editor

listed on the Iconoclast's site:

http://www.iconoclast-texas.com/Columns/Letters/letter38.htm
http://www.iconoclast-texas.com/Columns/Letters/letter36.htm

There is local support for the paper's position. The ones with the biggest mouths, though, make it on the news and they aren't supporting the paper, to put it mildly. I was really impressed seeing the editor on the news. Very laid back and very determined. A mite surprised, too, I don't doubt. All the attention! Media calling from around the world!

[MagickMuffin]

40. Just saw the story ABC Now news

This is the new ABC news 24 hour channel.

They did an interview with the editor!

Editor was asked if he was concerned about the response from local residents.

He replied No not really.

CNN headline news just lead off with the story, it was short but Sweet

Also GMA is going to have Kerry on tomorrow monring...

edited to include CNN report

[/img

[progressivebydesign]

41. Editorial comes out tomorrow... a birthday gift for me!

THANK YOU Lone Star Iconoclast! WHat a thoughtful gift for my birthday!! I LOVE it when someone turns down the koolaid, and speaks the truth. How utterly American of them!!! This is one instance when size doesn't matter.. it doesnt matter that it's a small paper, the impact is much bigger.

[Career Prole]

60. Happy Birthday tomorrow, Caliphoto!!

:party: :toast: :party: :toast: :party:

[T Bone]

42. Finally someone in the MEDIA GROWS a SET ! Let's subscribe to it

Damn. this is great. All of us who are able ought to subscribe to it!
Who would have figured that besides CBS and the daily Show, that the Crawford paper would be the one media organ to grow a set of NADS?

woohoo

:kick:

[Moderator]

46. Kick

:kick:

[Paradise]

47. Emailed 'em! :) n/t

[0007]

48. While the majors show their bias, this little rag will lead with the truth

[Moderator]

49. Kick

:kick:

[Career Prole]

51. As T.S. suggested earlier, do read that endorsement statement!

(as soon as their server gets a breath of air!)
http://www.iconoclast-texas.com/Columns/Editorial/editorial39.htm

Compare it to those of the major dailies or your own paper...this man hit a gigantic homerun.
:kick:

[SalParadise]

50. KERRY NEEDS TO WORK THIS INTO THE "DEBATE"!!!!!11

Sorry for the shouting, but good god - if Big John whips out this bannana during the debate, the chimp is sure to go apeshit!

Please, please, please - oh, God - PLEASE!

[FightinNewDem]

52. Like father, like son

The same thing happened to Poppy in 1992 when the York County Coast Star, the weekly paper that covers Kennebunkport, endorsed Bill Clinton.

[Ksec]

53. How bad do you have to be for yer own home town to turn you out?

[VegasWolf]

55. Yes! Heard the mayor is endorsing Kerry too!!

[delete_bush]

56. They're being selfish,

just want their village idiot back for the tourist dollars and liquor sales he would generate.

[Moderator]

57. Kick

:kick:

[AlFrankenFan]

59. hehehe AWESOME!

It would be irony, stupid irony if that, if a small Massachusetts paper endorsed Bush :eyes:

[txindy]

63. Crawford people reacting on local news

Of course, they're only showing the * supporters. What. A. Shock. Anyway, they are just appalled, dontcha know?! Didn't even read the editorial, one said. (Another shock) Just up and declared, "This should not happen here!" Another woman, elderly, holding up a B/C card (what IS that thing, anyway?), says that she couldn't believe the Crawford paper would endorse.... "Oh! I can't even say the name." Waves her hand in dismissal. Another says she doesn't want the world to believe that all folks in Crawford feel that way. Too late! Because...

On to the editor. He has been a very, very busy man! Answering calls from the NYT, I think he said the WP, couldn't quite hear the rest. A lot of papers and media outlets calling to ask for details. Details?! He laid it all out for him in a sparkling, highly-detailed, and cogent editorial, people! Pay attention! Sheesh.

Subscriptions being cancelled. Advertisers leaving. Or so it is claimed. We'll see.

[scarface2004]

71. good, join the texans

who hate bush s punk ass club!

[Ilsa]

64. Where do I subscribe?

I wish my hometown paper would stand up for a Dem like this, but everytime they do, they get so much hatemail that their subscriptions drop by 10%

[txindy]

66. Here ya go...

http://www.iconoclast-texas.com/
[e-mail]

Lots of huffing and puffing from subscribers on the local news. At least, they claim to be subscribers.

[VegasWolf]

65. TINY, I guess the West Texas girl's comments re "little peashooter" were-

correct. Oops My bad. Tiny was referring to the size of the newspaper.

[sattahipdeep]

68. crawford texas.......population 705

This info was for 2000....

average household size 2.71

average family 3.23

out of the 705....375 are over the age of 16

94 over 65

11 people over 85

median income 38,015

49 people r below poverty level

they only have 277 houses

17 r vacant

of the single family owner occupied
homes (167) the median value is 51,300

17 r vacant.....

31 black.....4 indians....88 % white


http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ThematicMapFramesetServlet?_bm=y&-geo_id=16000US4817564&-tm_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_M00279&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U&-_MapEvent=displayBy&-_dBy=140&-_lang=en&-_sse=on

[Career Prole]

69. I just sent a letter to the editor of the Iconoclast...

Dear Sir,
Thanks to the internet I read your endorsement for Senator Kerry today. I was quite favorably impressed both with the quality of the writing and the logical and factual support you provided for your position.
Quite a reaction you've gotten, eh? I heard there were a few people saying they were going to cancel their subscriptions. If you would be so kind, please e-mail me back with the price of a yearly subscription. Way out here in Taylor County we still value the truth whether it goes against our preferences or not, and if it takes a day or two longer to get my news through the mail I don't mind. I'd rather wait a couple of extra days for the truth than have distortions and outright lies delivered fresh to my doorstep every morning. If you don't have mail subscriptions, please sell me a subscription anyway and have it delivered to a local school. It would serve them well.
Thank you for your courage and your candor.
You represent the very best of what the American press was meant to be.


I hope they gain double the subscriptions they may lose over this.
:kick:

[Katha]

72. Awesome letter!

They really are brave for doing this, aren't they?

[Career Prole]

73. Takes a lot of guts in that particular town and no doubt.

I just hope their advertisers don't bail on them.

[struggle4progress]

70. Now that IS good news!

:kick: :party: :kick: