In a Turner Report post Friday, I criticized the Joplin Globe for its editorials about things that have nothing to do with Joplin or the surrounding area. The editorial that caught my attention was one praising South African leader Nelson Mandela, a worthy subject no doubt, but not when there are glaring issues that need to be addressed- issues that the Globe has been studiously avoiding.
Imagine my surprise today when I started reading the Globe editorial and found it was about a state issue that does have an effect on local taxpayers- Gov. Jay Nixon's extensive use of airplanes to travel around the state.
Under the catchy title "Nixon's Bumpy Ride," the editorial includes this passage:
Let's be fair. Governors need to travel.
People who are victims of natural disasters expect their elected chief executive to witness their plight and outline government's response. To his credit, we believe Nixon has reacted with both professional obligation and personal sincerity to those disasters.
And people throughout the state also want face time to hear, and question, the governor's agenda and priorities.
But let's also be realistic. Some of this travel- particularly some fly-around news conferences and bill signings- is a waste of fuel and taxpayers' dollars. An hour of flying time costs an estimated $650.
The governor would encounter less turbulence if he booked his flying time based on gubernatorial necessities rather than gratuitous ceremonies.
I had to hand it to the Globe Editorial Board. This is well-written and I loved the "turbulence" reference. I was ready to eat my words and praise the Globe for tackling an issue that would actually resonate with its readers.
Then I read the five words in bold beneath the editorial- The Jefferson City News Tribune.
I looked up quickly and noticed something I had overlooked at first glance. Above the headline were the other words "Other View."
The Globe did not have an editorial today- not one about Nelson Mandela and not one explaining to its readers what LGBT means.
The Globe Editorial Page, the page that should be providing the voices of local people on local issues did not contain a single word from anyone in this area, except, of course, from the Globe writers who provided the headlines.
The rest of this page included syndicated columns from Steve and Cokie Roberts and Jay Ambrose, the useless "Joke of the Day" by Argus Hamilton, a syndicated editorial cartoon, a quote and Bible verse.
The Globe Editorial Board must be saving the good stuff for the Sunday edition.
***
On the positive side, today's page one included three worthwhile stories, two from veteran reporters whose work I always enjoy reading and one from a college student.
The college student, Eli Yokley of the PoliticMo blog, offered an informative, by-the-numbers examination of Gov. Jay Nixon's decision to freeze spending in case the GOP-dominated state legislature overrides his veto and approves a drastic tax cut.
Wally Kennedy offers a look at some volunteers who have come back time after time after the Joplin Tornado and Andy Ostmeyer provides the daily bottom of page one feature with a story about the Missouri Fur Company, a living history group, that held an unusual 1840s type sale in the small Jasper County town of Waco today.
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