Less than a week after Pat Lynch’s column excoriates the Gang at City Hall on their current grab for an extra $50 million a year in new taxes, his column is suddenly cancelled by the Democrat-Gazette. Coincidence, or has the management of the Dem-Gaz succumbed to political pressure from Mayor Stodola’s “Strong- Armers” and City Manager “Moore’s Mafia”? Are we witnessing the downfall of “Freedom of the Press” as the Dem-Gaz bows to strong-arm tactics from the powers at City Hall? Has Chicago style politics arrive in LR?
Of course it could be just another step into oblivion as the paper cancels a third popular column in the interest of, well of what? Frugality? First Oakley, then Sweet Tea, now Lynch cancelled and with whom are we left? Paul Krugman and Gene Lyons both of whom never meet a liberal line not loved and liked and written about.
What did the Dem-Gaz receive, or with what were they threatened, that compelled them to cancelled Mr. Lynch’s column? We’ll probably never know. Of course we’ll hear the cover-up cry; the usual suspects of excuses: “purely an economy move”, “new direction”, “offended the Editor”, or some such alibi. Like Mr. Lynch’s column is just too expensive in comparison to Mr. Lyons’; and Krugman’s is almost free, close to it value by the way.
The only way to convince its readers that it didn’t succumb is for the Dem-Gaz to “man-up”, and rehire Mr. Lynch prior to September 12th to further rip the covers off the tax proposal by the Gang at City Hall.
I’m taking bets on the likelihood that that will happen.
It’s really sad to witness the self inflicted wounds ensuring the suicide of a long time, successful independent newspaper, an old friend.
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