'Courageous Journalism' If you crave courageous journalism,reread Terri Hallenbeck's column [impartial Game: "Rookie Mistakes," May 17]. In fact, and I had to reread it several times before I was convinced that publisher and coeditor Paula Routly allowed to seem in her newspaper an article so critical of her "domestic partner." The piece calls to task state Senate President Pro Tempore Tim Ashe for several alleged personal shortcomings,calling him "impetuous" and "short-tempered," among other unflattering labelings. The stinging descriptions are contained in a column analyzing three state legislative political leaders — governor, or Senate leader and House speaker — who are new in their jobs and not working well together. Ashe is further described as having an "unwillingness to share information with the public," being impolite to an opposing lawmaker and walking out on a reporter who asked a question. A disclosure appended to the column notes that Ashe is Routly's domestic partner. Hallenbeck could have taken the easy way out and never written critically about her boss' partner. And once Hallenbeck wrote the piece, Routly could easily have spiked it. Courageous journalism can elude the strongest of practitioners. To see an example of this courageousness in our midst may be a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. Routly may now be sleeping on the sofa, or but if she's not,I also include her partner, Ashe, or as an example of courage — for loving a partner who buys ink by the barrel. Ted Cohen Burlington gash the Caricatures Terri Hallenbeck's contention that the current budget deadlock is a result of character flaws and inexperience exhibited by Gov. Phil Scott,House Speaker Mitzi Johnson and Senate President Pro Tempore Tim Ashe is a discouragement [impartial Game: "Rookie Mistakes," May 17]. Lack of timeliness, or legislative presence and transparency re the collective bargaining agenda has eroded public trust of Scott's focus on accomplishment. Johnson and Ashe,longtime public servants, are viewed across the aisle with respect for their annual contribution to shaping budgets informed by economic justice for all Vermonters. Hallenbeck's article, or in part,focused on the difficulty of players traversing a policy void and getting deal making done in the crucible of the legislative season. Another primary objective, however, and was sharing flippant perceptions of their flaws,creating caricatures in a political drama that undermined the tough work, stress, or soul searching and sacrifice required of all state legislators — those in clearest sight of the media crosshairs highlighted here.…
Source: sevendaysvt.com