Re: The greatest betrayal in our political history (Dec. 18, 2014)
On Wednesday, Dec. 17, we witnessed a political betrayal worthy of Shakespeare’s Richard III. (Is this why I always confuse Jim with Rick Prentice?) A brazen act couched, sold and spun in terms of duty, integrity and responsibility, which, in fact, exemplified the direct opposite of each of these.
On Thursday, I was doubly angered and saddened that Thursday’s Advocate lead editorial was by Tim Harper of the Toronto Star.
I’ve no ill will to the Toronto Star or the Daily Bugle for that matter. I was disappointed because the Advocate, as a leader in our community simply by its perseverance as a daily newspaper into the 21st century, lapsed in its fourth estate duty. In failing to editorialize, the Advocate only added to the milieu of cynicism in the entire political, public process of how we govern ourselves.
Maybe we are expected to feel ‘lucky’ simply to have a daily newspaper in a city of this size between the Tweedledee and Tweedledum of Calgary and Edmonton. Indeed, Mary-Ann Barr did first rate reporting on the cover page story. That does not mean we should not hold the Advocate to a higher standard; that we should not expect excellence at every turn.
Conveniently, Thursday’s cover page had a teaser for a review of HBO’s Newsroom, berating it as nothing but platitudes. There, on the top of the page, a summary of all we see wrong with the media; so fitting in this case, with its ‘pot calling the kettle black’ effectiveness; the layout man saying what the managing editor could not.
Imagine my surprise with Friday’s edition of the Advocate. Jim Sutherland went a very long way in redeeming yourself, your paper and your publisher. As it happens, I agree 100 per cent with the substance of his expression of betrayal; moreover I am pleased that, eventually, a strong voice in our community spoke directly with a tone of such candour and clarity (albeit over the 140 character limit).
Like waiting for Rex Murphy on Thursday night, in Red Deer, I’ll be waiting for Sutherland on Saturday, or Friday. I guess all is forgiven.
Andrew J. Poole
Red Deer