The following link will bring you a summary/insight posted by Dr. Stephen Cohen January 18, 2019. I strongly urge you to read it for much that is disturbing and related to WBAI is currently unfolding in the distant corners and crannies of Pacifica.
Here, Dr. Cohen puts his considerable wit aside and takes a good look at the mess incompetence and greed have generated.
Here, Dr. Cohen puts his considerable wit aside and takes a good look at the mess incompetence and greed have generated.
How Dr. Cohen sees it.
Here is a pertinent attachment.
And here is the disFaction's amended/expanded letter of complaint as filed with the California AG.
While there is indeed much that is disturbing here, it seems to me that there's little new, at least to those familiar with Pacifica and/or this blog. I'll note that I've only sampled and skimmed the materials presented, so that characterization may be inaccurate and/or unfair.
ReplyDeleteI'd suspect that these materials will be perceived largely and simply as a dump of various negatives presented by a partisan faction, and I'd question how much that might hope to move the AG's office to look into the allegations seriously. Why would they?
The factor in the mix that might matter, and which ought to have been emphasized above all is evidence as to serious financial impropriety and malfeasance.
To my eye, while that's in there, its overwhelming importance is half-lost amidst less important concerns with bylaw adherence, election details, etc.
If they really want to stir things up, a simple suggestion: Put out to all the conservative advocates and outlets, and then in turn the orthodox, credible news outlets, the evidence of financial impropriety, possible theft, and tie that to a claim that in the past Kamala Harris, then AG and now Senator, chose as a fellow-traveler, to ignore Progressive Pacifica's indicators of serious financial and other impropriety and illegality.
The only hope for reform at any meaningful level I can see is if a hornets' nest of scrutiny were to fall upon Pacifica. At present they're so invisible/inaudible/inconsequential that they sail merrily along in their self-generated little ol' shitstorm.
My take, for what very very little it's worth...
~ 'indigopirate'
Headlines in Alternate Universe:
DeletePacifica scandal engulfs Harris Prez Bid
Harris Defiant as Pacifica Scandal Grows
Harris Forced to Withdraw from Prez Race
There is nothing new here but it does show the dysfunction. There are documents here which are supposed to be confidential. This will just reinforce the sense of paralysis on the board by upping the ante.
ReplyDeleteBoth sides are going to extraordinary lengths for...what exactly? One faction just wants to maintain the status quo and the other seeks to join Dan Coughlin and his MNN empire.
I think your points are excellent and insightful—AS ALWAYS (don’t run yourself down, or negate the value of your Pacificanonical insights!!)
ReplyDeleteThese people are self-important clowns!
ReplyDeleteThey never tire of writing pompous complaints about
the opposing faction. Why don't they put part of
the energy required for this buffoonery into producing
interesting radio programs?
I think they are not as set on making interesting radio programs as they are on whatever power and money can be derived from controlling Pacifica. Of course, there are some who to some extent are fueled by ideology, but I believe the most obvious motivator is recognition by a community that doesn't give a rat's ass for them. Most of these people are of no importance to anybody but themselves and, perhaps, next of kin—they have no legacy to leave, they have nothing to contribute to society, so they fantasize and hope that gullible will buy into their fantasies.
DeletePacifica is the last dangling rope to which they can cling, and they have reached the end. Still hanging on, but getting nowhere. It's all pathetic and increasingly disgusting.