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| Reed Anfinson, new Morris paper owner (Minnpost image) |
The news coincides with the county fair. The fair got soaked on Saturday. The temperature is unseasonably cool, but that might not be a hindrance for the event. Lake people are less likely to want to hang around the lake. Traipsing around the fairgrounds is more pleasant when the temperature isn't real hot. It's amazing how our fair has grown so much in the last 50 years.
The big macro-level news event is the death of Jeffrey Epstein in jail. What a perfect scripted launching pad for conspiracy theories. Looks like Trump is countenancing theories that the Clintons are implicated. In the old days, when decorum mattered, we wouldn't expect our national leaders to wallow in the conspiracy theories.
It is totally plausible to think that Clinton and Trump himself could be implicated in the revelations coming out about Epstein. I mean, based on what we know about these fellows and how they can succumb to their hormones. If the facts draw in any of the big name politicians, then to heck with them and they can be discarded by all of society, thrown into prison, and why should we care or be shocked?
Why can't we move on with a new and younger generation of political leaders, regardless of ideology? Does Trump even have a discernible "ideology?" Or, does he just know how to push rhetorical buttons to get a certain large reactionary slice of Americans behind him? Yes, a rhetorical question.
Evidence is mounting that the great American middle class that was built and celebrated after World War II, might be about to implode. One might suggest the process is already underway. Trump's behavior shows that all he cares about now is the stock market. He feels that if those numbers stay stable he can continue selling his presidency. He feels it's essential to have the likes of Jim Cramer staying along for the ride.
Who's running the show?
Trump wants to hire TV stars all the time - by "stars" I mean people who have been able to sell themselves on cable news shows. It's a talent as shown by Stephen Moore. And Trump knows the public is ignorant enough to think these luminaries on TV are astute. They aren't necessarily stupid but they are part entertainer, a craft with at best a tenuous relationship with political wisdom. Maybe I'm being generous in saying that.
K.T. McFarland? Heather Nauert? Trump tried to get Stephen Moore on the Federal Reserve board. It's an immensely important position, far beyond what the typical American thinks. In order for Americans to wake up about that, it might take an earthshaking crisis.
Moore was in the news yesterday for suggesting the Federal Reserve board call an emergency meeting to lower interest rates by 50 basis points. The Fed just made a 25-point move. Trump was unable to "sell" Moore for the Fed board because of outrageously misogynistic comments Moore has made. Leave it to Trump's nominees. Up until now, way too many of us shrug or are amused at Trump's odd decision-making. What will it take?
It is accurate to say Trump and his people are trying to wipe out savers, people who believe in saving their money. What will be the consequence of that? What will be the consequence, in the end, of a drastic zero interest rate policy, or even negative interest rates? Can we keep saying the economy is doing "great?" Of course not. How will this all end up? Will America as we know it survive?
If Trump could have been implicated with Epstein, and if Putin is a protector of Trump, is it not reasonable to suggest as Joe Scarborough has, that the deed of Epstein's death was overseen accordingly? Will Joe even be on TV next week? Will a "deed" be done on him too? Will the Russians start doing their tricks on U.S. media personalities? I have wondered if this will come to our shores, i.e. the likes of assassinations via poisoning. It's not outlandish to consider, is it?
Morris newspaper in new hands
Let's get back on the micro story of the sale of our Morris MN newspaper. The paper has an item on the sale in its current issue. I suspect Reed Anfinson was forced into a premature announcement, due to word getting out faster than expected. Yours truly might have had a hand in that. As I immediately sent tips to statewide media.
Reed's phone probably started ringing. I imagine he is taking on a sea of details now, more than maybe he expected. Normally a sale is announced publicly by the selling party, right? But the current article seems contrary to that. A Forum official is quoted but it's someone lower than Bill Marcil Sr.
I found Mr. Marcil to be a nice and agreeable person. I had a chance to visit with him in my office in the old Sun Tribune building. Jim Morrison chided or teased me after Bill left, saying I had "chatted him up." Well, silly rabbit, I'm good at that! I often wonder if I should have been a salesman. Some of my closest personal friends have been salesmen. But I couldn't sell annuities LOL.
The Morris paper? It's fundamentally an "analog" industry regardless of how they tap into the world wide web. Analog means they still have to deal with lots of overhead and input, employees with their personalities etc. The digital world has allowed an end run around all of that. We've seen our school district decide to skip putting sports events on the printed calendar. "It's online." Well heck, anything can be put online. I expect that next year, the whole calendar will be online, and why not? Some people have to just be shaken out of their old habits.
Reed Anfinson comes here with an impeccable resume. Will this really help him sell his newspaper product? In a town like Morris, a sterling resume causes little more than jealousy, I'd suggest. Will we continue seeing all the Alexandria ad circulars with the Morris paper? The Alex paper is owned by the Forum which is departing as the Morris paper owner. The ad production work was shifted to Detroit Lakes several years ago, where the Forum is owner. That arrangement will now end. Everything will have to be in Morris, and that means the Morris paper can no longer "piggy back" on the Willmar paper's sports coverage. Willmar too is owned by the Forum.
The Morris paper has been printed for the last several years at Willmar, now it's going back to Quinco in Lowry. Will the new relationship with Quinco be smoother than before? I remember once bringing a certain issue to Jim Morrison's attention, and he responded "we have so many issues with Quinco, I wouldn't know where to begin."
I always enjoyed "scavenging" fried chicken from the refrigerator at Quinco after their Christmas party. I have vast experience in doing all that work. But I'm sure my service would never be wanted again. All my habits were groomed in a time when newspaper people could be like "cowboys," edgy in our approach sometimes. We learned our trade in the analog world with all its rather horrible limitations. I'm sure that at the "new" Morris paper, everyone will behave like they have their cheeks sucked in - it will be tight!
It's not that I can't continue writing about MACA sports - I most certainly will, and I'll try to do it better than ever. Keep checking my sites, and God bless.
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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