The Minnesota Republican state convention begins tomorrow in Minneapolis. The Star Tribune has released its preview of what we can expect. Never heard of the reporter, Brad Helgelson. (What is that, Dutch?). Maybe he's new to the political beat. And maybe he'll be the next inductee into the pantheon of great Star Tribune political writers. People like …… well, give me a few hours and I'll think of someone.
But for now, I have to say he seems miscast as a political writer. Assigned to do a standard profile of two respected, accomplished, mainstream politicians as they attempt to get endorsed by a convention for the highest office in the State, he turns in copy that would have done Verne Gagne's promotions department proud. You want violent thrills and chills? Carnage? Scary villains? Brutal combat? Extreme positions? Apparently the Minneapolis Convention Center is the place to be this weekend.
Republicans as raging, scary extremists is the template in which reporters commonly mold the facts for articles of this nature. But, from the picture of Tom Emmer used in the article to the volume of the black-and-blue-and-purple prose, this maybe a new record for the Star Tribune in terms of template abuse.
To illustrate the ridiculous tone used, I've picked out some of the key emotion-laden terms and phrases used in the article "GOP Race Pits Outsider vs. Insider." For comparison purposes, I've also picked out some of the key emotion-laden terms and phrases from the article "Savages of the Year" on a recent mixed martial arts featherweight bout between Leonard "Bad Boy" Garcia and "The Korean Zombie" Chan Sung Jung. (Via The Bloody Elbow, aka The Star Tribune of World Extreme Cagefighting coverage).
Can you guess which terms came from which article?
Mystery Article 1
dueling
raging
collide
hand-to-hand combat
fiery
chest-thumping
duke it out
battle
nasty
hammering
bashing
taking jabs
lean and bald
angry
ignite
thick-necked, with a pudgy face
Mystery Article 2
feverish
chaotic struggle
dog fight
trench war
bullheaded
crass
unending assault
relentless hit-and-run campaign
thuggish
battle
punches
fury
demolishing
insanity
brawl
savagery
Which is which? Doesn't seem to make much of a difference.
The Star Tribune coverage of Republicans or The Bloody Elbow coverage of cage matches, six of one, one half dozen of the other.
But for now, I have to say he seems miscast as a political writer. Assigned to do a standard profile of two respected, accomplished, mainstream politicians as they attempt to get endorsed by a convention for the highest office in the State, he turns in copy that would have done Verne Gagne's promotions department proud. You want violent thrills and chills? Carnage? Scary villains? Brutal combat? Extreme positions? Apparently the Minneapolis Convention Center is the place to be this weekend.
Republicans as raging, scary extremists is the template in which reporters commonly mold the facts for articles of this nature. But, from the picture of Tom Emmer used in the article to the volume of the black-and-blue-and-purple prose, this maybe a new record for the Star Tribune in terms of template abuse.
To illustrate the ridiculous tone used, I've picked out some of the key emotion-laden terms and phrases used in the article "GOP Race Pits Outsider vs. Insider." For comparison purposes, I've also picked out some of the key emotion-laden terms and phrases from the article "Savages of the Year" on a recent mixed martial arts featherweight bout between Leonard "Bad Boy" Garcia and "The Korean Zombie" Chan Sung Jung. (Via The Bloody Elbow, aka The Star Tribune of World Extreme Cagefighting coverage).
Can you guess which terms came from which article?
Mystery Article 1
dueling
raging
collide
hand-to-hand combat
fiery
chest-thumping
duke it out
battle
nasty
hammering
bashing
taking jabs
lean and bald
angry
ignite
thick-necked, with a pudgy face
Mystery Article 2
feverish
chaotic struggle
dog fight
trench war
bullheaded
crass
unending assault
relentless hit-and-run campaign
thuggish
battle
punches
fury
demolishing
insanity
brawl
savagery
Which is which? Doesn't seem to make much of a difference.
The Star Tribune coverage of Republicans or The Bloody Elbow coverage of cage matches, six of one, one half dozen of the other.
