Friday, February 06, 2009

Std-Ex Editorial: That Weird Database Idea

Another fine editorial in a growing long line of fine editorials

We don't want the morning to slip by without directing our readers' attention to another fine editorial, in what's growing to be a long line of fine editorials from the Standard-Examiner's new editorial page editor, Doug Gibson. This morning's editorial opines on the recently-brewing "Sinner's Central Database" flap which has also consumed substantial electronic ink, right here at Weber County Forum. Here's today's Std-Ex editorial link:
That weird database idea
As is becoming the constant pattern, Mr. Gibson delivers today's concise and lucid analysis and opinion in his usual most craftsman-like fashion, and then drills down, laser-like, to his final common sense "closing" point:
There are several proposals for liquor reform. One even allows for bars to keep a database of drinkers that would only be temporary. But that’s not necessary. In our view, the easiest solution is the best. Get rid of the “private club” rule, ditch any ideas of law enforcement databases or cover charges, and have bars and restaurants check IDs, just like the rest of the nation does it. It works pretty well.
Nice job, Mr. Gibson. We couldn't have said it better ourselves.

And what say our gentle readers? It really is as simple as that, isn't it?

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Time for some quick thinking Utah mixologist to devise a cocktail yclept "a Waddoups." With vodka maybe. And all across Zion, if it becomes popular, year after year, summer and ski season, in tacky blue-collar watering holes and in the toniest of ski lodges, we will hear "I'd like a Waddoups straight up, and one on the rocks, please." And touristas, hearing the name will... and they will... ask "A Waddoups? Why is it called that?"

And we will tell them.

Simple justice.

Anonymous said...

Rudi: Quick, a contest to capitalize on Curm's great idea for a Walloping Waddoups cocktail! We haven't had this much fun since we tried to name the Junktion.

How to make this uniquely Utahn drink? Maybe the principal ingredient should be a few ounces of a famous local brewpub concoction such as Polygamy Porter ... with a shot of Valley Tan thrown in. But under pain of arrest no more than 1.5 ounces.

Anonymous said...

Consistent with Waddooups clear-thinking mind, I'll suggest the sole necessary ingredient:

Everclear

An added benefit of this fine concoction for the "weight conscious": it'll actually chemically remove the "gut."

heheheh.

"Walloping Waddoups". Yeah, that concept is good.

Anonymous said...

I think it's high time the The Standard admitted that they erred, and backed THE WRONG Mayoral candidate in the last election.

That's all in the past tense, I think.

OK; so they screwed up. That doesn't mean they have to continue digging themslves into the deep hold they've already dug.

With today's news about Godferey's secret misappropration of Emerald City CIP funds, Godfrey could be shacking up with his buddy "Southwick" in "da joint" fairly soon.

The truth always comes out people, so long as we have a free press.

This latest must be driving Std-Ex Sunduskey appointee "publisher," Lee "squirrel patrol boy" Carter totaly up the wall.

Nevertheless, the Standards is reporting some of the facts, at least, which is good.

Something of an improvement, lately, I think.

Anonymous said...

Responsible investigative journalism takes time: time to develop sources, connect the dots, double and triple check facts.

Given the sorry state of print journalism in this illiterate century, we feel lucky to have any fourth branch of government here in northern Utah.

We are closer to having the Deseret News as our only local paper than many are aware.

We also feel fortunate to have a public university full of tenured professors willing to speak to power.
And yes, associate profs as well. ;>

As for the Standard Examiners op ed endorsement in the last election cycle, we personally thought the slate of candidates was a bit thin.

We would like to unofficially announce councilperson Wicks as the person to beat for the office of mayor.

Anonymous said...

Curm,

The Mayor was asked if Republican State Senator Greiner was in the best interest of Ogden to remain as Chief of Police. I am not disputing that. The Mayor said it was, but once again Mayor Godfrey is wrong!

Greiner is a liar when he said he doesn’t oversee federal grants, even the S E proved that a chief of police does over see federal grants but they were soft the way they reported it. However Greiner may be telling the truth, because republicans don’t work for a living. Any other Chief of Police will tell you they take the responsibility of overseeing federal tax money very seriously.

The citizens of Ogden City are not responsible to pay the $200,000.00 fine. Nowhere in the judge’s decision did it say that the taxpayers were to pay the fine. The case is not the (Federal Government vs. Ogden City Taxpayers), it was the (Federal Government vs. Greiner). The federal government made it very clear that he cannot hold both positions.

The citizens of Ogden didn’t vote for him to be State Senator, it was Davis County that put him over the top and they elected him.

The S E did no investigative reporting. The Mayor is to terminate Greiner for violating the Hatch Act. The city council holds the purse; it is their responsibility to demand the termination of the law breaking Republican, so the taxpayers won’t be burdened with the fine, because Godfrey will try to use tax money to pay the fine. It will be each city council person’s responsibility to budget for the fine, because Godfrey will demand the taxpayer funds to pay the penalty. Each city council person should know that will happen. But the SE and their republican buddies like it when they bend over the taxpayers for their self-indulgent interests.

Republican Senator Greiner who is also the Chief of Police of Ogden City should resign from both posts. Because he will not, it is the duty of Mayor Godfrey and each city council person to demand his resignation. It is the duty of the Standard Examiner to do the proper investigative reporting of the facts!!!

Curm you should be ashamed to be defending these actions!!!!

Anonymous said...

Isn't Republican State Legislature Brad Dee in violation of the Hatch Act also? He oversees federal funds to Weber County because he is the Director of Human Resources.

Anonymous said...

We see JG having breakfast at Karens; usually about 10:30 in the morning. He never looks that busy, perhaps being the police chief of Ogden is more of a shaking greasy-money hands and kissing Hispanic babies type of a job?

We know Republicans work for a living, as anyone in the club will tell you: keeping the left wing kooks away from the doors of power is hard work;
just ask the Pinkerton boys.

Anonymous said...

Where Is The SE:

First, you wrote this: Curm you should be ashamed to be defending these actions!!!!

At no point did I defend Greiner's actions or the City administration's in this matter . If you think I did, I have to wonder how carefully you read my post. You should have noted that I said in it didn't much like the Mayor's answers to the questions, and that I said Ogden did not need a part time police chief.

All of the undisputed facts you include in your latest post were in fact reported by the Standard Examiner. You don't want the paper to report. You want it to demand the resolution to the problem that you favor. That's a very different thing.

Furthermore, you can insist over and over that facts you dislike are not facts, but that does not in any way change them. For example, you wrote: The citizens of Ogden City are not responsible to pay the $200,000.00 fine. Whether you like it or not, whether you think it's right or not, if the ruling on Greiner's ineligibility is sustained on appeal, Ogden is responsible for returning the grant money for the program Greiner administered while he was also a state Senator. I don't much like that either, but it is so. My being unhappy about it doesn't make it one iota less so.

As for this: The citizens of Ogden didn’t vote for him to be State Senator, it was Davis County that put him over the top and they elected him. That's true, but so what? His election district, specifically crafted by the Republican legislature to guarantee a Republican victor, includes areas of both counties. You... and I... can whine til the cows come home about how unfair it all is, and that those who know Greiner best [Ogdenites] did not vote for him. That won't change the election district for his seat by one inch or one voter.

Anonymous said...

Republican State Representative Brad Dee is not violating the Hatch Act. Republicans don't believe in "Oversight" or "Checks and Balances"

Anonymous said...

That is a pretty broad brush with which you paint.

Lets use a spray gun.

Republicans believe in Oversight by a bearded white guy in the sky, and believe in Checks and Balances: writing themselves Checks, and fudging the Balance sheet in their favor.

Anonymous said...

RJ,

You got that right!

Anonymous said...

Curm,

Once again your right. What do you think about Rep Dee. Is he in the same boat as Greiner? He, being the director of Human Resources for Weber County should oversee the federal grants.

In your opinion is he in violation of the Hatch Act?

Anonymous said...

Where is the S.E.,

You hit the head on the nail in regards to Greeiner the Wiener.

Republican Senator Greiner who is also the Chief of Police of Ogden City should resign from both posts. Because he will not, it is the duty of Mayor Godfrey and each city council person to demand his resignation. It is the duty of the Standard Examiner to do the proper investigative reporting of the facts!!!

Anonymous said...

Where is the SE:

In re: Dee. I don't know. I don't know enough about the Hatch Act as it applies to the County job Dee holds. Someone knowledgeable about the law and how it has been customarily applied to County officials will have to take a stab at that one. [Note: knowledgeable about how it has in fact been applied, not how I might wish it had been applied, or think it should be applied.]

Anonymous said...

http://www.sao.state.ut.us/reports/08-CIT-1.pdf

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