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Misc: I'm sure there have been worse weeks
Republican legislators have been having a field day with some local bloggers, amounting to a tough week for cyber influence. And that’s not all that’s hurt us here in Northern Nevada this week, either.
It started with Dennis Nolan. As covered previously, Nolan had some comments that really put off Eric Odom. Then, Odom took exception to Cobb’s proposal to spend $300,000 in state money on a Veteran’s Guest House. Cobb wasn’t letting that fly, so he lobbed a few bombs back at Odom (and I’m going to say rightly so – more on that in a second). Also, let’s not neglect the very solid smack aimed at Disney (you know, the way Disney talks about how much help America needs, why did he waste his time with the Assembly – the dude should just run for president) Finally, and I include this because I know they’re connected, Friend of Odom Todd Zuccato wrote a pretty hardy rant about the woman in front of him at Winco buying a boatload of groceries with food stamps — then deleted it (I’ll talk about this more as well).
First, Ty Cobb. To someone just getting into this it might look like Ty was totally out of line by getting personal with Odom. I beg to differ. Odom worked with Richard Disney, who ran against Ty for the AD-26 race last fall. During the campaign, a website popped up that anonymously worked to destroy the character of Ty Cobb by getting very personal. The site had pictures of “his house,” posted his address, talked about his living arrangements, claimed he had been fired (he hadn’t), and called him a liar. The site’s anonymous personality even called him a “prick” in my comments. I deleted that. I spent a lot of time discrediting the site because I thought it was chickenshit and unfair for them to do that stuff.
I can’t say I know for sure who was behind that site, but I have a pretty good idea. My evidence is as follows: 1) a friend who works in politics told me he knew it was who I think (obviously he could be wrong, but I trust him), 2) there’s this post, and 3) a couple of weeks ago I followed a link in my visitor logs that led me to Richard Disney’s email – a Google Alert for Cobb Gobbler. Disney was tracking web mentions of his creation — a creation he started with the help of Eric Odom. I’d bet that Cobb knows what I do and has a pretty good idea that those guys were behind the site. As a result, he has a free pass to get really personal, if you ask me.
Now a bit on the removed post. I read it, but I didn’t have the foresight to take a screenshot of it. Granted, as I read it I shook my head at all the assumptions and, honestly, unfairness and racism that was oozing. It was an embarrassing post. And now it’s gone. In the time I’ve taken part in the local blogging scene, I’ve had several conversations with Todd Zuccato and came to respect his realness, at the very least. I lost a lot of that with the removed post. He may have had a very questionable attitude toward the person in front of him in line, but it was at least a look into who he is. Taking the post down can mean a couple of things about Todd. Either he is doing it for political reasons, which makes him less of a person, or he wasn’t telling the truth to begin with and felt bad about the characterization. Both ways are reprehensible to me. It’s weak. And, like I said, an embarrassment.
Update
The post is back up, with an explanation.
Update 2
It’s gone again.
Update 3
Todd has posted an explanation and retraction
I’m sure groups of people have had worse weeks, but this one certainly ranks up there as one of the better ones I’ve witnessed. I guess when you try to play the power game, the other players might want to have a say in how much of that power you’re able to grab hold of.
Comments
I tend to see it differently. For the first time these “officials” are having to confront us. In the past, as Dennis Nolan clearly stated, they’ve simply ignored us. I was in two Senator’s offices over the 354 phone calls that hit Nolan’s secretary and I had lunch with a city official last week over my blog post about the Mayor’s DUI.
Traffic is up past 500 again for Battlebornnews and once again, just like the district 26 race last year, we’re forcing them into a debate that they would have otherwise been able to ignore.
It’s not surprising that your wrong. But your opinion here seems completely oblivious to what our goals were in blogging Nevada to begin with.
I guess you just get your rocks off by attacking other bloggers. That’s always been your way to fame. Doesn’t change the fact though.
Eric,
I think I have a very good idea what your goals are in blogging — power. It’s your prerogative. It’s mine to say I see it. What issues had to be faced in AD-26? That Ty’s residence had to be proven. Didn’t Ty win by ignoring you and Disney and all your cries for him to participate in debates? He beat Disney so bad that Disney dropped out with some excuse about work. After not paying his webhosting fee (or so it seemed).
Say what you want about what your goals in blogging are. The result is you are always flexing your muscles and talking about how much influence you have. Always. That says you want the power to control these guys who work for all of us, not just you. I speak at the ballot box, and I have the faith in the system to trust the people I elect to do their jobs without interference from all directions. Call me naÃve if you want, but I’m just not here to try to make policy.
Cobb’s response also hits on a pretty interesting point. That point is that you guys aren’t taken seriously. I know, I know. You’re “forcing them into a debate.” Cobb could just as easily have ignored you, but it’s pretty obvious he has nothing to fear on this. So he came after you with a lot of good material. I’m sure there’s more where that came from, too. It’s not like you haven’t earned it with him. So yeah, say what you want about me attacking other bloggers. I guess it’s true. But when something happens that other bloggers are spinning their own way, it deserves what I think is an honest look. You don’t have to like it.
Todd Zuccato, Mar 20, 05:00 PM #:
You can say what you want about my post, it gets to the heart of the “welfare state” problems that we face in this country. Foodstamps should be a crutch to help less fortunate through tough times. Instead, they are being used a means to subsidize incomes of those who can afford food.
In addition, a crutch for those less fortunate should never exceed the buying power of the general population. I would say the majority of young families can not afford $350 in grocercies, so why should we provide that type of “assistance” to the less fortunate?
My post did make a lot of assumptios and generalizations, and I made no attempt to cover that up. Do I know that she was illegal? No, but I have some evidence that would support that assumption. Do I know she was an immigrant? Most likely. It would be tough to be born and raised here and not speak a word of the native language. For more than 200 years immigrants have been able to come to America to find work, shelter, and a better life. I don’t know at what point they started coming here looking for handouts, but it needs to stop.
I fully support legal immigration. My family came to this country over 50 years ago now. Legal immigration provides a means to come to this country and find all that you are seeking, while helping us weed out the criminals and freeloaders in the process. If not wanting the rejects, criminals, and freeloaders from around the world in this country makes me a racist, I guess I’m guilty as charged.
By the way, why did you delete Eric’s comment? Just curious.
KidFromVegas, Mar 21, 01:44 AM #:
Jerz…wow, I was completely wrong about you. I apologize for making an assumption about your association with those two in the comments I made on another blog. I also find it highly hypocritical that they often criticize anonymous commenters in their remarks after what they pulled with the CobbGobbler.
It’s okay, Kid. I’m sure I wasn’t wrong about you. But if you want to include me as a “friend” I’ll take it. I’ve always been who I am and true to it. Say what you want. I know me, and a lot of other people know me. Welcome to getting to know me.
P.S. I’m not in it to join alliances or impress people. I’m in it because I truly think blogging can change the way journalists do their business. Acting like a tool for any side is a failure.
VC Highlands, Mar 30, 02:40 AM #:
Glad to see things are still churning in the Reno Blogosphere!
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