Ray Paulick's Odd Blog

[steward]

http://my.barackobama.com/page/communit ... xingtonRay

This struck me as a little weird on a couple of levels. First, someone in his position should probably be a little more discreet when indulging in politics. Second, he comes off as a gushing pollyanna about a politico who, in recent days, has compromised his earlier positions and torqued his own followers. Ray, darling: BO is a standard weasel in the great American tradition.

[Equipoise28]

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/LexingtonRay

This struck me as a little weird on a couple of levels. First, someone in his position should probably be a little more discreet when indulging in politics. Second, he comes off as a gushing pollyanna about a politico who, in recent days, has compromised his earlier positions and torqued his own followers. Ray, darling: BO is a standard weasel in the great American tradition.

Is Paulick self-employed now? Seems like he's spending a lot of time on this and Paulick Report.

[Patuxet]

I would hope that the moderators would stop such sneaky political candidate bashing before posters end up talking about John McCain's abandonment of his crippled and loyal first wife and stuff like that.

[steward]

The issue is Ray Paulick and his questionable decision to go public. He could have discussed politics to his heart's content anonymously on a neutral or bi-partisan message board. Instead, he chose to endorse an individual on the candidate's own site.

Now Paulick will forever be known as a rabid partisan. Many people will reflexively develop earwax to his future pronouncements. Most big league journalists attempt to claim neutrality in order to protect their reputations as fair arbiters. Once spent, always gone.

BTW, the original post said nothing about BO's stances or politics (nor any personal cheap shots), only the glaring reality of his recent "flexibility" that his rabid supporters note and that Paulick failed to foresee. It's supposed to say something about Paulick and HIS faulty judgment. So, when RP blogs support for a particular political issue (for example, a national racing czar), we'll immediately fairly conclude two things: a. it's coming from a big-government supporter; b. it's from somebody that was naive as hell.

[Pete]

Hi Folks,

Isn't there supposed to be a tradition in this country of tolerance and the ability to express ones' opinions?

Ray Paulick is entitled to his opinion and he's expressing it on site that's clearly partisan and not The Bloodhorse.

I also think that there's a clear distinction between The Bloodhorse and general or political news media.

You don't have to agree with him but I don't see any grounds to question or attack his professionalism.

Regards,

Pete

[steward]

There's also an equally old tradition in this country that, once someone shucks their neutrality and enters the political arena, they're fair game. It's perfectly legal for RP to do what he has done, as long as he is adult enough to realize that he will be subject to reasonable comment.

This topic is apt for a horse racing board because people like Paulick have promulgated a national political position as a solution for some (imo) pretty minor horseracing ailments. Knowing what we know about Paulick's political leanings now, it's pretty easy to understand where he's coming from in a generic sense.

What struck me most by scrolling through his blog was his simplistic view of the political world. I can't understand why somebody who is uncomfortable with a Richard Dutrow is so euphoric about a politician so intertwined - both politically and financially - with a criminal scoundrel like Tony Rezko. RP's gushing for BO comes off like a candidate for Miss Teen Ottumwa trying to answer the question about how she'd change the world. Now that his guy has committed wholesale political somersaults on the major issues, it makes Paulick's words look like that of the greenest political newbie, and someone who I wouldn't trust in areas where some sophisitication is called for.

[Equipoise28]

There's also an equally old tradition in this country that, once someone shucks their neutrality and enters the political arena, they're fair game. It's perfectly legal for RP to do what he has done, as long as he is adult enough to realize that he will be subject to reasonable comment.

This topic is apt for a horse racing board because people like Paulick have promulgated a national political position as a solution for some (imo) pretty minor horseracing ailments. Knowing what we know about Paulick's political leanings now, it's pretty easy to understand where he's coming from in a generic sense.

What struck me most by scrolling through his blog was his simplistic view of the political world. I can't understand why somebody who is uncomfortable with a Richard Dutrow is so euphoric about a politician so intertwined - both politically and financially - with a criminal scoundrel like Tony Rezko. RP's gushing for BO comes off like a candidate for Miss Teen Ottumwa trying to answer the question about how she'd change the world. Now that his guy has committed wholesale political somersaults on the major issues, it makes Paulick's words look like that of the greenest political newbie, and someone who I wouldn't trust in areas where some sophisitication is called for.

Good point. However RP probably knows a lot more about horse racing than politics. IIRC he has always been a racing journalist, not a political correspondent. So his views on racing may be a lot more nuanced than his opinions about BO.

Also you have to consider he **may** be looking for full-time work. And it's conventional wisdom that the media are in the tank for Obama. I know that's pretty cynical, maybe I've been living in this town too long.

[steward]

Here's a small excerpt of Paulick's attack on Hillary Clinton. It's so juvenile that it's painful:

You have helped turn many of the faithful in the Democratic Party (mainly older white women) against the presumptive nominee, Barack Obama...not because they disagree with his policies, but because you have incited them to spew the same venom as you and your operatives. Aren't you proud?

http://my.barackobama.com/page/communit ... Ray/gGB9yL