The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is apologizing for its decision to run a haiku contest about its decision to not run the photos of two men sought by the FBI for questioning related to possibly terrorist-related activities involving the Seattle-area ferry system
The paper's "online reporter" Monica Guzman writes on the paper's "Big Blog":
The paper's decision not to run photos of the two Seattle ferry passengers sought by the FBI didn't take long yesterday to become part of a widespread debate that provoked readers around the country.
It also spread throughout the blogosphere. While most blogs pointed directly to the debate, some made some poignant comments about the topic of yesterday's Daily Haiku contest, a topic that -- considering the sensitivity of the issue -- was probably not the best we could have come up with.
While the Big Blog mixes fun and news on a daily basis, in this case we undermined a serious issue and a serious debate, and made it seem as if we in the newsroom didn't acknowledge its importance.
So thanks to all the bloggers who pointed this out. We agree it was a bad call and will learn from the experience.
P.S. -- We're not going to pick a winner.
That's okay. We know who the loser is. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Also, the people who depend on the P-I for information - the paper has shown that it cares more about protecting the sensitivities of the two mystery men that it does about the safety of the tens of thousands of area residents who ride the ferries each day.
—Bill Hobbs is author of Who Is Fred Thompson, a blog-centric look at the presidential candidate.














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Comments Policy
Dear Seattle
August 22, 2007 - 19:00 ET by MikeBDear Seattle Post-unIntelligencer,
In regards the issue of whether or not to publish the photos of the two persons of interest to the FBI, the best you could have done was to publish the d*mn photos.
Sincerely,
The potential victims if these two should be doing pre-operational intelligence.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
Haiku
August 22, 2007 - 19:40 ET by SarahAnnieMine was MM's favorite, according to her website, but I don't know how to register to post comments on it. Can someone please help me?
Nebraskans for War: Peace through Strength
Sarah, I hate to tell you
August 22, 2007 - 20:00 ET by MikeBSarah, I hate to tell you this, but both HotAir and MichelleMalkin.com only accept new posters only on occasion. Registration was open for a couple of days just a month or so ago, and then was closed again.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
Thank you for letting me
August 22, 2007 - 22:01 ET by SarahAnnieThank you for letting me know, MikeB, even if the news was bad!
Nebraskans for War: Peace through Strength
Once again, our enemies are
August 22, 2007 - 19:46 ET by gopsteveOnce again, our enemies are laughing at us.
We bend over backwards not to "offend," while the enemy plots to kill as many of us as they can.
Here goes my
August 22, 2007 - 21:42 ET by BlazerHere goes my haiku:
Moonbat barking,
in the night.
Do he bite?
Allright then, so I suck at haiku's.
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
Hilarious!
August 23, 2007 - 00:12 ET by stratmanHilarious!
For some crazy reason I imagined Eddie Murphy back in his Saturday Night Live days as Mr. Rogers saying your haiku.
Killing them with kindness isn't working. Time to get scrappy with the Donkeys.
Kill My Landlord
August 23, 2007 - 00:25 ET by stratmanNow I know why your haiku reminded my of Eddie Murphy as Tyronne Green, the ghetto's version of Mr. Rogers. He once recited a poem and one of you copied a line from the other. :-)
SNL used to be reliably funny. Kinda like Liberals nowadays.
Killing them with kindness isn't working. Time to get scrappy with the Donkeys.
stratman...
August 23, 2007 - 14:40 ET by LionKingWhen I read his haiku, the Eddie Murphy bit was exactly what I thought of also.
Damn funny! I love
August 23, 2007 - 08:29 ET by kathleenirishDamn funny! I love it!
Anyone who says they support the troops but not the mission is a liar.
Here's my entry
August 22, 2007 - 23:11 ET by Jim TreacherTerrorism? Ha!
Nothing bad can happen here
'Cause we recycle
In a moment you guys will
August 23, 2007 - 14:36 ET by MikeBIn a moment you guys will figure out why I don't write haikus or other poetry.
Seattle, Seattle
Against terrorists we battle
We give up
No, I won't quit my day job.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan