Posted on 10/17/2004 6:01:28 PM PDT by SmithL
TAMPA -- In a break with tradition, The Tampa Tribune, a Republican standard-bearer for decades, refused Sunday to endorse anyone for president for the first time since 1964.
The newspaper has solidly supported every Republican presidential nominee since 1952, except for Barry Goldwater, but withheld its endorsement this year, calling the decision "achingly difficult" and blaming shortcomings of both candidates.
Editors instead published an unusual full-page editorial with harsh criticism of the war in Iraq and President Bush's economic policies.
"President Bush told us that he was 'a uniter, not a divider,' but shortly after taking office, his administration took a sharp right turn that has divided this country," the editorial said. The newspaper said it was "deeply disappointed" with Bush on federal spending, the budget deficit and the recession.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
If this had actually happened, I'd be happy.
I'm not happy.
It is tantamont to a lie. When I was told about the endorsement I wrote back and said it sounds like a change in editorial staff. Sure enough it was -- a liberal is now in charge.
Here is another uncommitted bunch.
This is from post 7 in another thread
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1248032/posts
by Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek
Winston-Salem Journal
"So we offer no endorsement. We urge our readers to weigh what they know and what they believe is important, and vote for the candidate who they believe can best lead the United States in these perilous times."
----
Of course, my reading of that last paragraph would leave only one logical choice, GWB.
These people seem to think they have some purpose in life other than filling the space between ads for tampons and used cars.
Is there disappointment that Bush spent too much, or too little???
Like Kerry, whining about deficits, then in the next breath whining about 'underfunding' education, when funding went up almost 40% in 4 years.
A 'non-endorsement endorsement?' How nixonian! Like the famous 'non-denial denial,' it is utterly useless. Who would continue a subscription to such a rag?
ARGGGH
I had this type of exchange many times this weekend with "old line" Republicans here in NJ. My reply to them, just as it is to any conservative is this:
This just may be the most important election of our lifetime. People are trying to kill us and we have one party who thinks they can be battled with sanctions and alliances. By you not voting for W, you are giving a vote to the Dems. You may think you are being true to your conservative (or Libertarian) convictions but you really are undermining mine and your safety. I hope you can hold your head high when you are going to the funerals of your family and friends who were killed by the Islamo-Faciasts. If I were you and I didn't vote for W, I couldn't bear to look anybody in the eye whose children would be killed by Al-Queda's operatives.
We don't live in a perfect world and we rarely get a perfect candidate. The essence of out democracy is to come up with a consensus candidate. W is that candidate. Kerry's election will mean innocent American civilains will die.
From the Tampa Trib, same editorial
http://tampatrib.com/News/MGBU3UEHF0E.html
"Neither can we endorse Sen. Kerry, whose undistinguished Senate record stands at odds with our conservative principles and whose positions on the Iraq war - the central issue in this campaign - have been difficult to distinguish or differentiate"
LOL
That's pure BS. The "dividers" are the likes of Daschle, Leahy, Durbin, Reid, Kennedy, et al.
F the Tampa Tribune. Or the Tampa Rag. Whatever.
Couldnt tell honestly....
the double talk in this campaign Kerry is running is amazing....
I've definately noticed this. The paper has taken a leftwards turn recently. Several of my friends have also mentioned this to me.
Of course, it's still better than the St. Petersberg Times which I am sure will enthusiastically endorse the "moral and nuanced" Kerry. That paper isn't allowed in my house. My kids know better than to bring it home.
WELL SAID!
Thanks! What is with these non-endorsements?
LOL!! Heard they endorsed Kerry today. When I told my friend to boycott the Tampa Tribune, he said that the St Pete Times was very liberal.
>>>>"President Bush told us that he was 'a uniter, not a divider,' but shortly after taking office, his administration took a sharp right turn that has divided this country," the editorial said<<<<<
This paper needs to study what happened a bit better, Shortly after his election Tom Daschle and the Democrats started denying Bush's appointees the right to take their jobs. It wasnt Bush who divided this country it was the Dem party.
Speaking of divisions the Dems have cried about the iligitimacy of George Bush from day one , now they have launched a campaign to denigrate the National election coming , staged lawyers all over the country to convince people that the elections wont be credible, The Democrats are treading on dangerous ground , many Americans will be ready to literally fight if the Dem voter fraud is as bad as I think it will be.
Why not endorse no one? I see serious shortcomings in both candidates; as do many Americans. I'll still be voting for Bush because I think he's has fewer shortcomings, but I can easily see how someone could be dissuaded from voting at all.
"I can easily see how someone could be dissuaded from voting at all."
If they were morons, sure, it'd be a cinch.
They don't come any more liberal than the SPT. If they can Bash the Bushes, they do so on the top of the front page. The historic day of the Afghanistan vote, the headline was something about "irregularities cause vote problems."
They are as bad, if not worse than the NY Times. As left as they come.
You are welcome.
"What is with these non-endorsements?"
see 37 above. Apparently cwd26 has the real answer.
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