It all goes back to January 6, 2021
I blame the Republican senators
The senators, who were hiding in locked rooms in the capitol building scared for their lives on January 6, 2021, because of the insurrection incited by the former president, forgot all about that day when it game to finding the former president guilty. It was gutless and self-centered on their part.
If the Republican Senators would have voted based on facts when they were asked to convict the former president of his second impeachment for inciting an insurrection on January 6, 2021, this election would be so much better for our country. Instead, they punted, thinking that there was no need to find someone guilty when they were no longer in the office. They hoped he would just go to the wayside like all former presidents before him. This was a major mistake that the country and the Republican Party are paying for in this coming election.
Because of the Republican senators’ gutless and self-centered action, the Republican Party now has a standard-bearer who prides himself in talking about the size of a golf legend’s genitalia and grabbing female genitalia and getting away with it because the women are attracted to his power. Because of the gutless Republican senators, we now have a person convicted on 34 felony counts running for president. Because of the gutless Republican senators, we now have a person convicted of rape and sexual assault in a civil court running for president.
For anyone out there who has not voted yet, and who does not want a shameless narcissist as president of our country, don’t be like those gutless Republican senators who refused to convict the former president of insurrection nearly four years ago. He is an embarrassment to the Republican party, the office of the president, and to our country. It is imperative that the former president not be elected. The best way to assure this, is by voting for Kamala Harris.
Devin Scillian on Journalism
Devin Scillian, who has been the news anchor at Detroit’s WDIV-TV/Channel 4 for three decades, is retiring from that role on December 13. He sat down with Editorial Page Editor Nolan Finley to talk about his career, Detroit and the future of broadcast journalism. Here is an excerpt that I found very interesting.
Q: You came into this town and took the seat of a beloved legend (Mort Crim). You’ve become that yourself now. What advice would you give the person who sits in your chair when you get out of it?
A: Mort was a guy who never allowed the ebbs and flows of fads in journalism to affect him. Mort did everything he could to stay the neutral journalist. I’ve watched a whole lot of people capitulate over opinion. I’ve already sent an email to the newsroom, to all of our reporters and producers, about how important this enterprise is. It’s not about saving broadcasting or even this station. It’s about saving this country. I’m a big believer in neutral, aggressive, focused, dogged, tireless journalism. And that’s what I’d recommend to anyone who comes after me.
Q: You have a reputation in this town as a journalist with considerable integrity, someone who played it straight down the middle. When we were coming up, objectivity was the standard. That’s changed. What’s the impact of that change?
A: I feel very strongly — and maybe this does make me sound like a really old man — about the role of the neutral journalist. I have thought before about getting a tattoo of a Swiss flag somewhere on my body because I’ve always believed my job is to be an aggressive Swiss. To play devil’s advocate with everybody…
I remember when Fox News came along, and they basically said it’s impossible for us not to have a bias; we’re just going to tell you what our bias is. And I remember thinking then, “Let me get this straight. You’re not sure you can keep your bias out of the news so you’re telling us what it is?” That’s a really weird flag to throw up because I’ve never felt I was in the opinion business. I know its an important component of journalism, that’s what you do every day, but I’m really not in the opinion business. I try to be in the truth business. I still think if we can keep our compass trained on that, when we finally come out on the other side of this crazy maelstrom that were in right now, where so much media is mistrusted, we’re going to be able to feel much better about ourselves.
Q: You started “Flashpoint” when you came here to take up more serious issues. Local news has been criticized for being sensational, for focusing on the sirens and fire alarms. Is there a place still in local news for a serious journalist like yourself who wants to dive deeper into issues?
A: I think there is. I have a lot of colleagues in this town who feel strongly about those issues, just like I do. I just happen to be the one lucky enough to have a vehicle that every week I get to decide exactly what I think needs a little more sunlight on it. “Flashpoint” has been a great, great joy for me. It’s been a challenge, obviously, in this era. People like you and me are trained to believe there are two sides to every story. It took me too long, and the American press too long, to realize that a lie is not a side. I have not had election deniers on “Flashpoint.” I don’t owe that opinion five seconds of my time and in fact I’m betraying my viewers if I do. I’ve got to be able to sleep with myself. I’ve got to be able to get up in the morning and look myself in the mirror and say I’m still doing this the right way.
A special day
It was a special day at the Detroit Free Press Marathon yesterday for the couple of Andrew Bowman and Sydney Devore as Andrew won the men’s race and Sydney won the women’s race. Bowman had a winning time of 2:17.47 and Devore had a winning time of 2:42.46. Bowman was able to greet his wife Sydney at the finish line. For their effort, they get my Orchid of the Day
Night and Day
Watching the performance of the Michigan quarterback in their loss to Illinois on Saturday and then watching the Lion’s Jared Goff’s performance on Sunday in their win over the previously undefeated Vikings was like watching me hit a golf ball versus Tiger Woods hitting a golf ball.
I had to stop watching the Michigan game at half-time because I couldn’t take it anymore. At the same time, I couldn’t get home fast enough from golf to watch the last quarter of the Lions game.
Michigan has tried three quarterbacks without any success, while Goff became only the third quarter back in history to have three games in a row with a quarterback rating over 150. During that stretch he has completed over 80% of his passes and averaged nearly 300 yards passing per game.
Feel free to share my blog with others. To receive the blog in your email, please use the sign-up button which is located at the bottom of the blog below the Video of the Day or send an email to me at thomasdbiggs@gmail.com and I will start the process for you.
Quote of the Day: . “It took me too long, and the American press too long, to realize that a lie is not a side. I have not had election deniers on “Flashpoint.” I don’t owe that opinion five seconds of my time and in fact I’m betraying my viewers if I do.” Devin Scillian
Orchid of the Day: Andrew Bowman and Sydney Devore the husband and wife who won the men’s and women’s Detroit Free Press Marathon. See Above story.
Onion of the Day: The former president for thinking it is OK to talk about the genitalia of deceased golf legend Arnold Palmer because he was campaigning in Palmer’s hometown of Latrobe, Pennsylvania. I could have spoken for hours about the contributions that Palmer had to golf and society. Talking about his or anyone else’s genitalia would never cross my mind.
Question of the Day: How many people do you know who would talk about another person’s genitalia when giving a speech in front of hundreds of people?
Image of the Day: Dan Campbell’s postgame speech following the Lions win over the Vikings.
Hi Biggsie, loved this blog! Of course it’s easy to love when we’re both sing from the same hymnal! To use one of my favorite expressions, the R Senators distinguished themselves by pooping the bed. Too bad they’ll probably never be held accountable for this dereliction of their sworn duty!