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The Chicken Cacciatore Project struck again Wednesday, in a smug response to a
Phoenix Files post — after what had been such a happy month or so without a
peep. And here we’d thought we’d slammed the coop door hard enough on him in
March.
Trouble is, when that rooster crows, he’s either 1) announcing that against his
better judgment and sage advice, some other chicken let the sun up; 2)
announcing that the coop stinks and just which other chickens are to blame for
it; or 3) announcing that he’s pecking a fight with some other chicken who’s
turned out to be, he’ll tell you plainly, just a dumb cluck who shouldn’t have
been allowed in the coop at all.
That Chicken’s a barnyard bully.
What we say and do at 225 Bridge is said and done publicly, and any public act
is bound to have someone disagree, to even take some hard shots at what you’ve
said. Every staff writer and editor is prepared for that, expects that, indeed
invites that; what we invite you to do in return, in letters, calls, blog posts,
presumes that you are prepared for that, too.
But just as every staff writer and every editor takes care to write responsibly
and with due respect not only to the other members of the public but also to the
very weight of the serious issues addressed, our invitation to respond presumes
that you will do likewise.
In that regard, the Chicken hasn’t yet demonstrated that he can work and
play well with others.
About the only truth, whole truth and nothing but we’ve heard from the Chicken
was his opening gambit: to make chicken cacciatore you must first have a
chicken.
That was such a promising beginning. It’s no accident, though, that the Project
has yet to release a good, complete recipe, of either the culinary or political
sort.
It’s been just plain saddening to see how such promise could be so quickly
squandered in the hands of a petty, petulant, puffed-up poulterer.
Posted by
G.E. “Skip” Lawrence
Phoenix Files post — after what had been such a happy month or so without a
peep. And here we’d thought we’d slammed the coop door hard enough on him in
March.
Trouble is, when that rooster crows, he’s either 1) announcing that against his
better judgment and sage advice, some other chicken let the sun up; 2)
announcing that the coop stinks and just which other chickens are to blame for
it; or 3) announcing that he’s pecking a fight with some other chicken who’s
turned out to be, he’ll tell you plainly, just a dumb cluck who shouldn’t have
been allowed in the coop at all.
That Chicken’s a barnyard bully.
What we say and do at 225 Bridge is said and done publicly, and any public act
is bound to have someone disagree, to even take some hard shots at what you’ve
said. Every staff writer and editor is prepared for that, expects that, indeed
invites that; what we invite you to do in return, in letters, calls, blog posts,
presumes that you are prepared for that, too.
But just as every staff writer and every editor takes care to write responsibly
and with due respect not only to the other members of the public but also to the
very weight of the serious issues addressed, our invitation to respond presumes
that you will do likewise.
In that regard, the Chicken hasn’t yet demonstrated that he can work and
play well with others.
About the only truth, whole truth and nothing but we’ve heard from the Chicken
was his opening gambit: to make chicken cacciatore you must first have a
chicken.
That was such a promising beginning. It’s no accident, though, that the Project
has yet to release a good, complete recipe, of either the culinary or political
sort.
It’s been just plain saddening to see how such promise could be so quickly
squandered in the hands of a petty, petulant, puffed-up poulterer.
Posted by
G.E. “Skip” Lawrence
posted by The Phoenix Files at
7:54 AM
32 Comments:
If there ever comes a time when there is a cacciatore recipe created by the King of the Peckers(which is just another chicken reference, of course), I would put money on it being unpalatable.
Beautifully written, Skip. Thanks for the morning laugh!
Oh, baloney. This shouldn't be about personalities -- it should be about the issues.
The issue is a legitimate one -- why did The Phoenix take a position for the Parking Garage based on conjecture from a campagin worker, instead of from the campagin itself and why did it claim that business taxes would be lost to the Borough when no such Borough taxes exist?
Answer those questions -- which focus on the issues of concern to the Borough and spare us the self-rightous screed on personalities.
Is it chicken to be anonymous or is anonymous the chicken
Mr. Lawrence:
I gather this is your answer to what local business taxes exist in Phoenixville. Or maybe it's your cogent financial analysis of the public benefit of a parking garage.
If there is going to be a reasoned public discussion, it needs to start with facts.
In that regard, I ask you to recall the financial data that I distributed last year to Council on the trash fee debacle and the budget discrepancies. I'm sorry if you think that calling Council's (and the public's) attention to those problems was not worthwhile.
Perhaps you'd prefer that we instead persist in error. I don't.
I have to cry foul on this one. It is sad when you get more accurate information about our community from private citizens on blogs, than paid professional writers at the local news paper. Let’s use our recent Planning Commission appointment controversy as an example. There were more people that weighed in on the subject on the private blogs, than were in attendance at the council meeting. And it forced Council to change the thinking on the subject. You might not send the chicken man on any diplomatic missions, and he might not be a guy to invite to a cocktail party to discuss politics with your close friends, but he sure has been entertaining and informative to this reader.
In the blink of an eye your business changed for ever. Perhaps instead of shooting the messenger, you should take a closer look at your business, so that it can continue to be relevant in the future.
Why don't you folks at the Phoenix do a little self analysis. There is more interesting news on the local blogs, more pertinent facts presented and most certainly more informed positions taken than the Phoenix has done or had in years. The only time you seem to get your backs up is when someone points at the wart on your nose but never when factual/proven actions by others hurt the community. How about....gee I guess our editor was ill informed on the business tax issue....so sorry....we still want the tax payers to buy businesses a garage just because we could use the parking ourselves. Or how about....we're just not equipped to do investigative journalizm because we may alientate a subscriber and we're desperate to keep every single one. Or how about, if I write like no one ever talks, I'll sound smarter than I really am, even if only 5 people in the whole town can figure out what I'm trying to say. Pretty amazing how you can lash out at the chicken but not at self serving politicians or developers. You people need to refocus. I sure can't figure out what your charter is. I can only hope your new owners can do a better job. New owners you say.....it's just a heart beat away.
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Right on.You are one funny attorney.
Yep, I'm on Mr B's side here. I don't always agree with his posts - but at the very least they provoke thought. Generally his information is outstanding.
@Suzanne: You forgot "Windbag" in your dissertation.
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
Mr. Lawrence:
I see lots of ad hominem harangue, but I still don't see anyone (you and your editor included) identifying the supposed local tax benefits of a downtown garage.
Facts got your tongue/pen/keyboard?
I comment under my blog identity, but in case there's any question, I have no problem signing my name.
Richard A. Breuer
Great job,Skip.This guy is like a bully.He cussed me out one time, i wasnt expecting it ,but i got right back at him .And guess what ,like a bully he became a chicken.The world is full of sad little men .Wish adults would grow up.Just because you dont agree with some one , DOESNT GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO CUSS AND CALL THEM A HOLES.I just wish it happens again.Ill go back to my younger days.Oh yes chicken< , women read the paper too.If it wasnt so funny , it would be a shame.
All of this is entertaining in its sadness. The one comment was right on the mark when he/she said that we get more pertinent information form the blogs. This is an absolute fact. We get a better sense of the scope of a lot of issue from the blogs that are lacking in any print article. I can understand the reluctance of Mr. Lawerence to accept this fact since he is the one under fire. What should happen is that he should see that the public is demanding a more in depth coverage of these issues and strive to give the public what they want. He does not do that. We get glossed of facts and a weekly column that is more of a "Grateful Dead Jam" of linguistics that a symphony of opinion.
I rarely think that newspaper editorial boards make their decisions without an agenda of some kind. It doesn't mean that their agenda is not positive but they are driven to influence. Remember the number of editorial boards that promoted the Iraq war in 2003? They made those decisions with bad information. I feel that the Phoenix is suffering from that now. There is a bunch of bad information both about the logistics of the Parking Authority and the parking problem we are facing.
This is a lot of money to be borrowing with the backing of the Borough's credit rating. I would ask that if you doubt that, go out and buy a Lexus for the owner of a downtown business, finance it, and worry tomorrow how you are going to make the payments if that owner can't. Essentially that is what we are doing. We just need a little sanity and I would have hoped in previous years that the paper would have been the outlet for said sanity but I believe that the blog are the ones we need to rely on.
Sorry Skip.
---Ell Toohey
Well again the Phoenix has it wrong. I am the truth and once it was revealed to me, it did set me free. I apologize to the Chicken Cacciatore Project that you have incurred the wrath for my postings; I just do not have the time, effort or energies to run my own blog, so I post on others to assist in getting messages out. I would ask you to consider are my postings correct? Is the information provided accurate? Am I sometimes harsh on those who deserve it; well that I will openly admit, yes I am! I am tired of the elected officials of this town, with their private agendas. We deserve better than that! I am tired of the elected officials that cause taxes to increase 30% in two years; with of course cuts in services.
I am also tired of a town paper that I would not use for TP. Instead of showing journalistic integrity and reporting on the news, (as we all know how many stories have been in the paper), Skippy and Patti are more interested in becoming the news! Could this be a reason the paper is so well represented on the NYSE (currently at $.26 as of close of business today)? Skippy has failed in his duty, is he any better than the elected officials that he reports on? Patti wants to discuss business taxes; hello they do not exist. She wants to state how Phoenixville missed out on a Presidential candidate coming to town because of lack of parking; DUH! It did not stop Edwards.
Come on folks, stop trying to create news and just report what is in front of you. It suits your lazy natures better.
By the way, Skip, Patti and the rest of the mismanagement that is called the Phoenix; by allowing Skip to post this personal vicious attack on a former Councilman, who has done nothing but attempt to save this borough from creating more financial misfortunes than the elected idiots can get us into, without having all of your facts in order, you have accomplished one thing...you have shown your true colors and the people who have left the postings that were decent have recognized what you have done! The reputation of the Phoenix was an honest hard working paper and in a brief moment of frustration and anger you sullied it. Congratulations!
Who in the pluto would say this??{I am also tired of a town paper that I would not use for TP.}?????Than read it.I just dont understand that if whomever would not use it for T.P. But its good enough to read. but you cant wipe with it??? I ,i dont know what to say .Oh ,now i do , if you dont like it , than why do you read it? Its a fine local paper. Hey i dont like chicken , so i dont eat it .Its so simple.Now tell the truth .........<0
"and the truth shall set you free" is of course the chicken man--as are the anonymous posts singing his praises. How stupid do you think we are, Richard? This time, you twit, you posted the same info under your pseudonym as you did on your blog. As you would say, "DUH."
I agree. Now yet another chicken man in disguise--Mr. Toohey. How lame. Thing is, RB, no matter what you and your imaginary friends post here about how wonderful you are, no matter how often you insist that your only personality is the chicken man, who will believe you? No class.
The local blogs that people refer to have no problem twisting the truth, leaving out facts, and trying to promote their own agenda.
Now that all the emloyees of the Phoenix have logged in anonymously and defended the paper, and accussed every other entry as being from Mr. Breuer, we still don't have a single answer regarding the mis information the paper published. There are currently no business taxes yet alone some that will increase to justify/pay for a parking garage and as we learned, politcal campaigns don't come here for lack of parking but for other reasons. Doesn't the paper have an obligation to print accurate information and not just make stuff up because it seems to suit their agenda? It's really nice that all the defenders will defend the papers right to print falsehoods and ignore every controversial subject that comes up. Truly amazing. Let's just ignore all that and kill the messenger, eh. Pathetic.
The only comments that are mine are those under my blog heading. I am neither "anonymous" nor anyone else.
Richard A. Breuer
No one believes you, chicken man, aka, "anonymous," aka, "and the truth shall set you free." No one else would stay up late at night and rise early in the morning to sing your praises....no one but you, you narcissistic whack job. It's a sad day when you run for local public office and no one--not even you--votes for you. Do you seriously believe anyone here cares what shares of the newspaper trade for on the stock exchange? Maybe you should post what The Phoenix pays to rent its building on Bridge Street. Or you could post the salaries of its employees (since you now believe they are all against you) and their personal mortgage information and whether they pay their taxes on time. That would really pay them back! And it would be good to know if any own real estate and where and how much they paid for each property. Come on now...you have nothing better to do with your time. Dig up some more useless information. I, for one, have all kinds of interesting personal info (social, economic, educational)--go for it. And by the way, I don't work for the newspaper, although I had a very interesting conversation there yesterday....
It would be nice Skip if you had written this in a font I could read without my magnifying glass.
Sorry I can't make any comment. I can't really read your blog.
I have no idea what this thread is about. Does it have something to do with editor Matson's post about in which she suggested Obama went to GV rather than Phoenixville, then seemed to imply that if we had a parking garage he would have come here?
And what is Skip trying to say?
I think Obama's demographic - wealthier, college-educated - fits in better over there in GV than in the more working-class, main street values Phoenixville.
The message I get from all this is that Obama and the Phoenix fall on the side of elitism, pie-in-the sky speeches and articles about "hope" at the expense of hard economic realities. Asking working people to pay taxes for parking authority and parking garage!
And Breuer has done better reporting and brought more news to light than has the Phoenix.
Cut the elitist bs, ridiculous "just between us" articles and give the working people something worthy of a newspaper.
I don't much care for Breuer's manner a lot of the time, but he does more for the town's understanding of what is going on than the phoenix.
To continue with this ridiculous bird-brained talk,
the phoenix has been in ashes for a long time - with Breuer you get bones but you also get some meat.
Breuer aint nothing but a PUNK.Who deserves all this trash being said about him. Maybe next time he will remember that he is not on the computer, when he runs he trap in person.And than shuts up like the a punk would.How can anyone who eld a public office, like being on council talk to anyone like a nut.Someday someone will forget that he is not worth it and shut him up. Chicken ,,, thats a good name for yourself. NOW SHUT UP! OR PUT UP!
the only saving grace is that with the paper going under, we can continue to get accurate news reporting from the local bloggers. those who are supposed to be reporting, instead of utilizing their resources for personal attacks, will be unemployed as this rag is going under. i have lost all respect for skip with the posting of this blog and the editorial and management staff for allowing him to do it. skip your integrity is gone, the respect for this paper has been demolished over a childish posting.
Still waiting for the answer to the questions raised by The Phoenix editorial staff:
"What business taxes can the Editor of The Phoenix show will be lost without a parking garage/gained with the building of a parking garage?"
"What reasons did the Obama campagin give for going to GV, rather than Phoenixille?"
Less rhetoric on personalities, more fact-based reporting, please.
Facts you ask for? Facts? The motto of the paper is we don't need the stinkin facts!
I've been diligently following the posts on this blog...I saw the "Chicken Man" once on the street, and I believe he may be a cross-dresser. Trust me: I have a knack for knowing this sort of thing...
I'm a little dissapointed. I was hoping that The Chicken...Project was Leo Scoda. Oh well.(sigh)
Leo does not have the cajones to write or post about anything that is controversial.
Ok, so now I am truly baffled. You allow the berating of a former Borough Official and allow it to carry on at length. Someone writes to you i an email and Skippy, Patti and Alex, all of you ignore them. An op editorial piece is printed favoring everything from one side (who ever heard of fair and balanced reporting?). Now you get your wish and have Billy Clinton coming tomorrow according to a report on a local blog, guess you'll be scooped again, by the way Patti, where will everyone park? Is there any journalistic integrity down on Bridge Street at all? There were far more parking spaces in town tonight than there are ethical journalists.
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