Politics for junkies? Where?

Posted at 4:44 PM on May 23, 2006 by Bob Collins (3 Comments)

Caution, rambling ahead.

This year I find myself not reading the sports pages anymore. I think part of it has to do with the fact I don't have a fantasy baseball team anymore and part of it has to do with the fact I've finally given up on the idea that reporters and columnists who line up at the buffet table at the ballpark, are going to ask a tough question.

If there's a world where MSM has seen its future -- I hope -- it's in the large number of big sports fans -- the kind that like to talk about strategy and stuff -- that don't bother with the dead-trees anymore, because there are blogs and Internet mailing lists to accomplish the same thing (go ahead, try to get the information in the local papers' sports sections that you can get at The Hardball Times).

I'm sure the editors figure the dyed-in-the-wool folks just aren't worth catering too and that there really is a casually interested sports fan that's more important.

Sometimes I think the same fate awaits political coverage. You know what I wish the local papers would do when they print a story about a bill? Print the number of the bill! Don't get me wrong, I think they do a great job of the he said-she said portion of debate at the Capitol. But I'm not sure the "inside" stuff makes the paper (or the radio for that matter), for the same reason I can't find an article about the stupidity of bunting in the first inning. Somebody thinks nobody cares.

Wow, that's a lot of copy to get to this point. Read the feature article in last Friday's Session Weekly, put out by the Minnesota House of Representatives (link is pdf). It's called "Down In flames," and I think it provides a good glimpse of how legislation got derailed at the Capitol this year. In short, Republicans in the House thought they -- as the majority party -- should control what's in legislation more and Democrats thought that since the majority was by a single seat, legislation needs to have more of their imprint on it.

That's the nice version, anyway. The other version is a bit more vicious. It was a nice piece of work and if the local papers dumped the sports section tomorrow and put a politics section with this stuff in it instead, I'd read it. If not, I can always find it online.

* * *

Incidentally, in that same issue, there's a sample of Rep. Phyllis Kahn's quiz for determining suitability to be elected to the Minnesota House. She spotted me, "does money grow on trees?" but I admit "how much does it cost to rais a child through 12th grade?" got me. I think it's because the mind blocks out trauma.

Comments (3)

Did her suitability quiz include whether or not a candidate for the MN House has stolen campaign literature?

Posted by GOPWingman | May 23, 2006 8:18 PM

hi bob, im looking for a complete list of the retirees from the HOR. i saw an article from mpr that u linked to on the blog that discussed this issue but it mentioned only a few house retirees but it did mention all 8 senate retirees. i only have the names of 8 of the house retirees. could u or someone else direct me to a complete list? thank you

Posted by jcb | May 24, 2006 1:24 PM

I repeat, "Print the number of the bill!" This is essential for anyone wanting to read the full text of the bill and follow its progress.

Posted by Matt Abe | May 30, 2006 9:55 AM

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