There’s a curious and twisted form of homerism on display right now at Power Line, where readers have been falling over themselves to first nominate and now vote for their hometown newspaper as the “worst newspaper in the United States.”
I don’t doubt that there are legitimate criticisms to be made about most or all of these papers, but I also don’t doubt that the examples provided are not nearly enough to make such a drastic judgment. Indeed, while a couple submissions refer to specific grievances, the post is characterized by allusive grumbling and generalized complaints. Which gives me an idea…
Can you match the newspaper with its corresponding critique? Answers in the nomination post at Power Line, as well as below the fold. No peeking!
| a. Los Angeles Times | 1. “Farther left than the Guardian, but without the snappy prose.” | |
| b. The Oregonian | 2. “All around worst paper, general purposes” | |
| c. San Francisco Chronicle | 3. “Not nominated by any readers, but a paper that few will dispute belongs on this list.” | |
| d. Washington Post | 4. “Relentless liberalism, then spiteful revenge pieces.” | |
| e. Kansas City Star | 5. “Slavish liberalism (probably all those gummint workers).” |
Answers: a, 2; b, 1; c, 3; d, 5; e, 4
For what it’s worth, the Oregonian did endorse a Republican candidate for state governor. That should at least put them on level with The Guardian in the liberalism department.