Reprehensible

Radio edit: I’m tired of the he said/she said over the alcohol allegation because I have people I trust telling me both ways (in both e-mail and comments.) Had I known that would be an issue, I’d have skipped the mention because you can judge the video on its other merits, or lack thereof.

Not all of my readers have been with me for the duration of nearly five years I’ve done my site, but some may recall just how mad I was when a political candidate called bloggers a “cancer.” Two years later, that sentiment was repeated by Salisbury mayor Barrie Tilghman.

Every so often I have to be a (self-appointed) blog policeman and call out inappropriate behavior, and in a lot of cases it’s because of the same guy. I have pride in my craft and encourage others to be as responsible, but this rant takes the cake for vindictiveness and lack of character.

Okay, you don’t like the Brewingtons – we get it. Over the last three months or so it’s been an obsession of yours to try and wreck their campaigns (along with the local Americans for Prosperity chapter and anything else they’ve touched.) Yet the 2,486 votes they received are 2,486 more votes than any campaign of yours picked up, and I applaud them for at least stepping into the fray and attempting to make a difference. If you looked at what they actually stood for rather than the personalities, you may have found their platforms quite agreeable.

I didn’t call you Sideshow Bob on a previous post for nothing. Words mean things, and these words are a message for you.

I don’t know how many times you’ve claimed to be turning over a new leaf, but eventually the same old destructive tendencies come through. Is this really an example for a professional journalist to follow? (I use the word professional in the sense that you solicit for and have advertising on your site, not based on the quality of writing.)  If I were Bob Ehrlich or any other politician who has sat down with you I’d be embarassed to have spent time in treating you seriously once I saw this video. Maybe Andy Harris learned this lesson the hard way last time?

I’m not going to claim I ever went to “j-school” either but the one thing which has gotten me to the places I’ve made it to in this second career is integrity. It doesn’t seem like too many people back you in your stories anymore and in a case of your word against hers I’m not too sure I’d put a lot of money on your chances given some of the whoppers you’ve had to retract.

Let’s just put it this way: I’m glad I made the decision I did about three years ago to stay away from that mess. I feel no need to build myself up by tearing others down.

But I can understand why most of your contributors wish to go by assumed names. Maybe it’s time for them to consider washing their hands of the situation too.

I’m not going to be childish and suggest a boycott of advertisers, but they may want to ask themselves if that space is really worth it.

And to the readers: I find that I get better and more accurate news from other sources.

I’m certainly not the first to describe the site as a “train wreck” and there is an aspect of it which people have to see. But invariably train wrecks destroy lives and that’s the sad part of all this. How much of the collateral damage being caused is necessary? (That also goes for some of the “anti” blogs out there.)

Fortunately, the occasional barbs I’ve received from that direction haven’t been fatal and, in all honesty, while we both are local blogs I don’t consider him direct competition because I focus on the political side of news. Obviously we cover many of the same political events, but you won’t see me covering a car crash because I don’t find that sort of writing as interesting. Much of this whole blogging exercise amuses me because I like to be creative.

What I don’t like, though, is to have him depicted as a representative of all of us local writers. I link to about 40 local sites and almost to a person they don’t care much for you being seen as some sort of spokesperson for us. Maybe it’s time for people who really give a damn about the Eastern Shore to start looking at what they have to say.

As you see in the video above, this particular protagonist has little useful to add to the conversation.

Oh, just as an aside: why do you make political contributions from a Maryland address when you live in Delaware? I find that a bit shady.

Author: Michael

It's me from my laptop computer.

15 thoughts on “Reprehensible”

  1. As I view that video, I find myself feeling my pockets (to make sure my money is still there) and looking out the windows (make sure no one is peeking in). It really gave me this weird feeling in the pit of my stomach (you know that feeling, when you feel like something is JUST NOT RIGHT but you’re not sure what it is).

  2. Michael,
    As always you hit the nail on the head. I saw Julie that evening when I saw Julie that same evening when I delivered them (Julie and Mike) a copy of the numbers from the board of elections. Julie was not drunk and I spoke with her for about 15-20 minutes. I had also seen her several hours earlier and she was sober then as well.

    So I do not buy the whole drunk accusation.

  3. Joe is insane. Julie and Mike should be given a big huge thanks for running. This is why I stay out of politics.

  4. Michael,

    How dare you post this and challenge me. I run things around here and I will ruin you. Tick tock buddy. Tick tock.

    J. Albero, Esq.

  5. You are right. Albero should have never recorded that video. I did some checking and it seems that he never published it. Maybe he had a little better judgment after he recorded it? I’m also glad that you corrected the part about Julie Brewington being drunk at Republican headquarters on primary night. There was no question about that one.

    I know that you pride yourself on being fair. So I am curious why you want to go after Albero but never make any mention of the video recorded earlier in the year when she was obviously smashed? Or the posts she’s been putting up lately making all sorts of bizarre accusations like Albero peeking in her windows?

    What Albero did was wrong. What Julie is doing is pretty wrong too. Ditto for a few others. Where’s that famous fairness?

  6. “Shore Conservative” I don’t recall anyone asking me to take a breathalyzer at the GOP head quarters, so your anonymous accusation is not only irresponsible and disrespectful, but it leads me to believe that you fabricated this story and passed it only to your buddy, Joe.

  7. Unfortunately, it always seems like every time there’s an incident between Joe and Julie which blows up like this, I’m not there.

    I missed the Election Night gathering at the GOP because I had to write/video a report for Pajamas Media (I did that from home.)

    I missed the August Republican Club meeting because I was away tending to family business.

    Obviously I wasn’t sitting in watching Julie make the video you cite nor do I follow Joe Albero around to see if he peeks into windows.

    So I have to make my judgements based on the information at hand as well as those tendencies I’ve observed in the past. Have I seen Julie Brewington with an adult beverage? Well, yes I have, but her behavior was certainly in control at those times I have seen her. I’ve also advised Julie to have a little bit thicker skin in a previous post, but it could be that my advice is worth what she paid for it to her.

    On the other hand, we are starting to need more than fingers and toes to count the number of people Joe Albero has trashed on his website – and they’re not all politicians in the public eye. One can’t argue whether Barrie Tilghman, Gary Comegys, Louise Smith, and others merit criticism based on their political views and actions, nor can you exempt people who are in the public trust like Jim Rapp. That goes with the territory.

    But when innocent people who disagree with Joe (like John Robinson’s family or Jennifer Foxwell) have the guns trained on them, is that really adding to the level of discourse? I don’t think so.

    In all honesty, I think the concept of Salisbury News is great and would work superbly if someone else was running it. Joe did a lot of good over the first couple years he had it but that goodwill he built up has all melted away thanks to his numerous personal attacks.

  8. Well, see, this is what I mean. I have people I trust telling me both things. Someone isn’t telling the truth and once again it seems like these things happen at times I can’t corroborate the evidence myself.

    That’s why I generally stick to things I know.

  9. One has to question why anyone in the GOP would say that to Albero or to you, since obviously it’s not helpful and would be a rather difficult thing to prove. It all goes back to the collaboration I have made mention of on previous occasions. In any event, this whole thing and the people involved have been pretty disgusting. This is just one more instant that obviously there is some communication and collaboration with people inside the GOP and Albero and his personal assault on me and my family. In the end, it hurt the party. The question of if one has wine with their dinner or not, is petty and irrelevant and further shows the weakness of the local GOP.

    In any event, thanks for sheding some additional light on this matter.

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