At Least 2 Florida Newspapers are Apparently Dropping Andy Marlette's Cartoon Strip

 

I read this morning that at least 2 Florida Newspapers are dropping the Sunday edition of Andy Marlette's cartoon strip.  One of them is in Gainesville, very near where Marlette is from.  Panama City is dropping both the daily edition of Marlette's comic and the Sunday version as well.

I don't read the comics regularly--and I never thought his Florida themed cartoon was funny.  Obviously I am not a fan of Marlette--a guy who's done dozens of cartoons of me --inappropriately insinuating I am a racist--while he, himself, is the white, entitled liberal that uses the N-word in his cartoons.  Several news outlets reported on this use of the N-word and his misogynistic attack on female staffers of the Governor a few years back.  Really sickening stuff.  Gannett just swept these scandals under the rug though--I mean he makes them money in his syndication, right?  Plus, he unmercifully and disgustingly attacked President Trump over and over and over for years on end while issuing all Democrats a pass--so this earned him a lot of "street-cred" with Gannett and other liberals who looked past and ignored his use of the "N-Word."  Ho hum is what they said then.

Meanwhile, if his Florida themed cartoon isn't making it in Florida now--I wonder what that means for it's chances elsewhere?

I wonder what happened there?

Andy Marlette Leaving the PNJ

 

Early this morning comes word that cartoonist Andy Marlette is leaving the PNJ.

And of course as he has done dozens of times for 15 years he features me in yet another cartoon on his way out the door.  LOL.

Speculation abounds.  Was he fired?  Did he push the envelope just a little too far last week with his racist BLM cartoon where he made fun of BLM and denigrated them?  Was it his misogynistic attacks on female employees of elected officials?  Was it his use of the "n" word in his cartoons?  Did he do something too stupid one too many times?  Was Andy Cancelled??

OR

Did he get (insert image of me doing a giant airquote) "Promoted" By Gannett or his cartoon syndication company?  You know, how some folks get these giant so-called "promotions" with more money and fancy titles and then are shipped away from enjoyable high-paying, high profile gigs to a cubicle somewhere in the bowels of the "Death-Star" of a corporate headquarters so they are "out of sight...."  Maybe it was one of those deals?

Who knows? we may never know.  Too many questions...  But you knew it had to happen sooner or later as this guy was so completely and 100% out of step with the center-right majority in this market.  How he lasted this long here is a real mystery....(wait, no it's not.  He blasted the last President mercilessly and unfairly, appeased, served, and pleased the liberal types in Gannett and the syndication company who hate conservatives by doing it--and got a syndicated cartoon strip for his efforts there which generates CASH money for he and Gannett!  Ka-ching!$)

I'm glad, at least, that his final editorial was classy, too. (but wait, it wasn't).

Angry, bitter, cynical, untruthful, sprinkled in with praise for his co-workers and loaded-up with a heaping dose of disdain, scorn, contempt, poison, venom and outright hatered for elected public servants.  That's what this moron's swan song editorial is.

What a total pox this guy has been on this area, in my humble opinion. 

After his dozens of cartoons where he disgustingly lies about me and actually "projects" by insinuating I am a racist and homophobic-----pardon me if I take a modicum of pleasure in this tool's departure.  "See-ya, would NOT want to be ya."

Inaccurate cartoons, biased jibberish editorials, out of step with the community and racist to boot.

Goodbye Andy and good luck.  You and all the rest from 2007 are gone now.  Gone, and I'm still here.

Buh bye.

Here's a line you can use on your next cartoon: "Don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya!

I Normally Don't Do it, But......

.....This time I did.  I Picked up the phone and made the call.

Yes, I normally do not return calls where the citizen is irate and yells at my aide(s) or is rude, threatening, or just plain onry in their call to our office.  I especially avoid the ones where they make a threat or an ultimatum.

Because, what is the point, right?  Obviously this individual--whoever they may be at any given time--has made up their mind and have picked up a phone and taken the time to call my office to enunciate the fact that:

1.) If I vote for "X"--they will never vote for me again or 2.) They will never vote for me again because of some "thing" I purportedly did or 3.) they think I am somehow engaged in criminal conduct or 4.) all of the above.

These are not every day occurrences, but these sorts of calls do come in from time to time.

And I normally don't do it, I normally don't call back--especially when they explicitly tell my staff "not to bother having Bergosh call back."  But this time, along with the "don't bother having him call back" --the individual actually left a name and number.  So I did call back--and I am glad I did.  I actually had a productive conversation with the original caller and one of this individual's relatives who listened in.

The setup was this:  I am apparently not worthy of continued support because of the state retirment plan others on the board take.  And the article in the paper was infuriating to this constituent!

So, again, I called her and asked her about it.

"Look, I read that article in the PNJ, and it made me so angry!  It's not right that the commissioners are taking an extra $40,000.00 per year over and above their $85,000.00 salary for a part-time job--and I am mad!"  She continued..."Look, I know you don't take that plan, but you voted for it and so I am not happy about that either!"

I listened to her speak, and there is no doubt she was angry and worked up.  So I listened, and then we had a back and forth dialogue and she listened as well.

"I understand you are angry, but that was not a news piece you read--it was an opinion piece from the local cartoonist, Andy Marlette.  And, it is full of lies, half-truths, and falsehoods." I stated flatly. 

"Look, that guy is constantly taking shots at me, he has for the last 16 years.  Cartoons, hit pieces, and flat out lies, slander, and libel about me and other elected conservatives.  He is a sack of garbage, a liar, a misogynist,  a racist, and he is not anyone who is trustworthy in any sense of the word" I explained to her.  "I'm astonished you even take the paper locally--it is so bad, they LIE so OFTEN and so many I know have cancelled their subscriptions!" I stated.  Then I asked her how, if I was such an horrible dishonest politician as Marlette insinuates falsely--"how in the world could I not have been ever accused of doing anything unethical, illegal, or immoral in the last 16 years as an elected official where my entire life exists under a microscope for everyone to examine?"

We talked for a while, and I asked her if she has seen the toxic garbage lies this same individual, racist liberal activist and conservative Christian-hater ---Andy Marlette---  puts out about our Governor, Ron DeSantis, and our Senator(s) Marco Rubio and Rick Scott.  "Yes, I have" she conceded.  "And yet you still support those elected officials though?"  At which point she expressed support for these men while also volunteering the fact that she is/was a Democrat that "votes for the person, not the party, and at the last election I voted straight Republican."  

Then I asked a rhetorical.  "So, you support those Republicans, and do not believe what the PNJ says about them---but the Republican Commissioners---you believe what the cartoonist says about us?

Then we talked at length about the FRS, the 401(a) the differences and the costs for both plans.  I went through the plans in meticulous detail, including the fact that these plans have been in existance in the county for 25 years, the commissioners did not "invent" these plans, and I have not voted for these plans.

We talked about all the employees and elected officials who have expensive pensions, the employees who retire with 100% of their pay for life, and also the exorbitant costs associated with the pension plan for constitutional officers like, for instance, clerk of the court Pam Childers--who's FRS pension costs to the taxpayer are nearly DOUBLE every year (nearly $80K) what the county commissioner's plans

On Real News with Rick Outzen This Morning at 7:45

 

I've been invited onto the area's #1 rated morning drive news/talk program "Real News with Rick Outzen" later this morning, at 7:45.

Topics that will be discussed include 

--the PNJ cartoonist Andy Marlette's latest ridiculous attack on me in response to my calling him out for his disgusting, racist use of the "N-Word" in his cartoons--and what the county has done to deprive PNJ of revenue subsequently for legal advertisements.  (And it is a big number--could be as much as $100K yearly going forward.)

-- The redistricting and calls by some for the censure of Dough Underhill for purposely putting out misinformation/disinformation/lies at his recent series of very sparsely attended town halls last week

--My priorities going forward into the next year as I once again serve as board chairman.

Should be a great show--and once I get the podcast back from Rick, I will post it here! 

What Could Possibly Go Wrong with This Plan?? Marlette Manipulation 33

 

Andy Marlette's cartoon in this morning's PNJ attempts to draw parallels between Republican leadership in Florida and locally with the acceptance of anarchy and lawlessness in Blue cities like Seattle and Portland.  To do this, he pictures the Pensacola I-110 under the bridge homeless encampment and tent city.  Of course, his equivocation on this misses the mark like most of his cartoons do consistently.  Cities like Seattle that allowed entire chunks of downtown areas to be occupied by lawless criminals had nothing at all to do with homeless individuals desperately clinging to existence in Pensacola Florida.  Out west, it was all about ideology and certain quasi-political groups like Antifa flexing their muscle, showing what they could and would do in cities run by like-minded politicians in places like Portland and Seattle.

The homeless encampment in Pensacola under the I-110 bridge, by contrast, is not a political statement being orchestrated by partisan activists---and that's the huge difference between what is happening here and what happens in Seattle and Portland.

Insidiously--Andy conflates the two issues even as he knows they are different.

The issue under the bridge in Pensacola is about folks who are truly down on their luck and are homeless and desperate.  Sure--there is dysfunctional behavior and some criminal activity taking place in the encampment.  Yes, much of it has not been discussed publicly for political expediency as the city desperately tries to make the problem disappear by dispersing it out to the county---which is a disastrous plan nobody supports and for which nobody has even bothered to properly plan for.

But the Seattle "CHAZ" debacle is nothing like what's happening in Pensacola, and Andy knows it.

Nope-- this issue is about the city attempting to move a stubborn eyesore problem out of their viewshed.  And meanwhile--noone has reached out to the county to obtain permits or permission.  The city hasn't attempted to explain this plan to county residents in Bellview who ABSOLUTELY do not want this homeless camp in their neighborhood.

They are just planning on doing it--which I will not support and which I will actively oppose.

So the picture, above, is much more apropos than what Andy presented.  He's making a political attack out of the desperation of the homeless whereas my rendition, above, is a humorous jab at the folks who are naive and believe they can just move this camp next to an existing neighborhood and such a move will not have devastating consequences on the area surrounding such an encampment.

Remember--they are not telling the truth about the dysfunctional activities going on right now around the current site under the I-110.  They don't want you to know about the problems assiciated with this tent city.  This way, they can pat you on the head, tell you everything is alright, and mollify you into accepting this campsite in your neighborhood.  See the way this works?

Unfortunately I see right through them and their plan.  Others do, too.

Fight the Power! Part I: How Do You Fight a Goliath?

When attacked unfairly over and over---It becomes time to fight back!  How about starting out by depriving the attacker of about $100K yearly in revenue?  It's like Matt Damon's seminal question in Good Will Hunting..."Do you like Apples?.....How about them apples?!"

No, this post isn't about the Public Enemy song.  (It's more about this Kid Rock Song!, but not really)

It's actually about something far more important; it's about fighting against something that many locally perceive as a "Public Enemy."  Our only local daily print newspaper, the Pensacola News Journal.

Hypocritical, biased, and unprofessional.  Many have cancelled subscriptions, which is good, but that doesn't solve the problem.

The PNJ are hypocrites.  They allow an employee to remain---no they PROMOTE the employee----- who uses disgusting racial and misogynistic tropes---including the "N-Word"  in his cartoons.  Disgusting and unacceptable in 2021 that this goes on unabashed.  Others get cancelled, this guy gets a Gannett promotion and a syndicated cartoon!?!  See--it's all about the money for these folks.  More on that later in this post...

Is this sort of garbage acceptable in 2021?

The PNJ endorses the cartoonist's behavior and they simultaneously, incessantly bash others and report half-truths and incomplete information.  

Is this sort of garbage acceptable in 2021?

They selectively disallow certain folks and elected officials(like me lately) from submitting letters or viewpoints to clarify positions and correct the misreporting.  It's all about message control.

They do the bidding of powerful, local business intersts and allies and carry the water of these selected individuals by tailoring "news" pieces to the whims and desires of these folks--and then--insidiously--- they write editorials that are scathing and based on the very source articles that are inaccurate and present half-truths to demonize those opposed---particularly elected officials.  Kind of a nifty little trick they employ, right?  Nifty if you are not the victim of it.

But what's the PNJ's objective?  It appears that the objective is to marginalize the voices with whom they disagreee, and to "amplify" the topics of their selected patrons to a level that does not represent the community's level of interest.

A vote goes the way they don't want it?---they demonize those who made the vote until it is rescinded.

Want a change in the makeup of a board?--they jump on the bandwagon to oppose those they dislike--with unfair, inaccurate characterizations and hatchet job cartoons.

Can't control the vision and initiatives of a duly elected body?--amplify small numbers of voices that want governance models altered.  

Because now It's no longer about reporting the what, when, and where,-----the facts.  

No.  Now its more about shaping the message and social engineering.  

And more to the point---it's really, at the end of the day, all about three things:  Power, Control, and MONEY.

Gannett and PNJ purposely promote their cartoonist--the guy who uses the N-Word in his cartoons-- because he generates MONEY for their paper.  It's all about the money.  As if this isn't bad enough--they then do dozens and dozens of cartoons insinuating elected officials (with whom they disagree) are racists!  Talk about PROJECTION!  

We have African American employees in our organization---including an African American member of the Board.  We have a significant population of African Americans in our community.  It's disgusting, disappointing, and unacceptable that this form of racism is tolerated.  That's about to end.  I'm not going to tolerate it, I'm going on offense.

Andy Marlette of Gannett's PNJ says you can trust him:    ---he'd NEVER use the N-Word in a cartoon!  Who are you going to believe?  Him, or your own lyin' eyes?

So how do you deprive a GOLIATH in the community of what they love and covet above all else, MONEY--when they hold a MONOPOLY on the daily print media in a community? 

Easy:  Go after what they covet, money.

Escambia County spends as much as $100,000.00 yearly purchasing "Legal Ads" and notices, required by law, in the Pensacola News Journal.

As of the end of last month---we are cutting off this gravy-train income source the PNJ has enjoyed

Gannett and PNJ Ethics Quiz

 

Andy Marlette, the PNJ and parent company Gannett are cashing in on their PNJ cartoonist's newfound "fame" with the publication of his syndicated cartoon shrimp and grits.  He is making the company money---but is it moral and ethical for him to use the "N-word" in cartoons?  What about his despicable, dehumanizing and misogynistic attack cartoon focused on a female employee of  Governor Ron DeSantis---with the intent of attacking the governor through his female employee?  The cartoonist loves to make accusations about members of the Board of County Commissioners' retirement programs--but at least our programs are legal as outlined in state statutes.  And they are moral and ethical---unlike some of the histrionics from Gannett and PNJ via cartoonist Andy Marlette.  And Gannett stands by while these transgressions occur by liberal, white, progressive and privileged Andy Marlette--who spent the last 5 years doing some of the most disgusting portrayals of our former president in the country.  Meanwhile, conservative cartoonist Bruce Tinsley's Mallard Fillmore does a couple of zingers directed at our new President, Joe Biden, and BOOM--he gets IMMEDIATELY Cancelled--with his syndicated cartoon being deplatformed in the Gannett publications.  Talk about double standards, feigned outrage over "morals and ethics" and rank hypocrisy.  These folks are the worst of the worst. 

Moral and Ethical?

Apparently, according to the PNJ, we must ONLY ask if something's moral or ethical if  it's something that suits their ideology and it's something they oppose.  If it's a horrendous practice like killing babies through abortion--something PNJ ideologically support--then the liberal PNJ  shifts away from the moral and ethical implications...and scream "It's Legal!"  See how that works?

PNJ and their "crack" two-person editorial squad are apparently hung up on the question, as it pertains to the county's 401(a) plan, of  "Yeah, well what about the moral and ethical implications of the plan!?!"

Suddenly, apparently, the legality of the plan is unimportant to the PNJ.  They've already determined in their collective pea brains that "they don't like it--legal or not!"

So along comes someone like me that recognizes that the seminal question---the most important question---is whether or not it is legal.  Once we know that--we can take appropriate action going forward to fix the issue if that is necessary.  But now that it is appearing more and more likely that our 25 year established 401(a) is in fact, legal,  the PNJ has a new standard beyond that which they believe we ought to be held to:  Is it moral, and is it ethical??--WHO CARES IF IT IS LEGAL!!

Funny how the liberal PNJ switches stances and standards depending upon the issue.....

Here's an EASY one.  How about abortion?  It is legal, and the PNJ is undoubtedly  pro-abortion based on their uber-liberal bent.  It is currently legal---but never does PNJ ever bother to ask if that practice, the killing of the unborn baby is "moral and ethical"  Nope.  Goes against their politics.  Let's see though--what is a more pressing issue: A.)  greater percentage points in increased dividends on a retirment plan for three county commissioners that ultimately costs the taxpayers no additional funds---or  B.) the killing of millions and millions of babies, legally, in the USA since 1973---including hundreds of thousands in Florida and thousands here in Pensacola?  (You know the answer to this question.....does the PNJ?)

What about this one.  PNJ Cartoonist Andy Marlette, a white liberal, privileged individual, uses the N-Word in his cartoon and there is no backlash.  In fact, he gets monetarily rewarded with a nationally-syndicated cartoon as he even goes after female staffers in Governor DeSantis's office with misogynistic, disgusting personal attacks designed to damage the Republican, conservative governor through and via these very staff members.  Are these actions moral and ethical, PNJ?  I mean, your parent company Gannett de-platformed the creator of the conservative cartoon strip, Mallard Fillmore, because of far less--and then did a gobldygook- laden, gibberish editorial attempting to rationalize and support this cancellation----but Liberal Andy Marlette does far worse and gets a pass?   Is this moral and ethical?  Or is this where liberals get conservative and say  "Yeah, but it IS LEGAL!"

And then there's this:  PNJ and their editors love President Joe Biden, even as his mental decline is accelerating while being actively hidden by the left leaning media.  Under Biden's disastrous leadership at the Texas Border--we now see a spectacle unlike anything I have ever seen in my entire lifetime.  I literally saw Biden's Border police, on horseback, whipping unarmed, helpless black people in a river, beating them back away from the border with what looked like whips (they were leather horse reins, apparently).  These desperate migrants were just trying to cross a river to get to America--and they get treated like this?  Now, all the black migrants are being shipped back to their home countries on planes while the other migrants, the caucasian ones, pour over the border and get asylum in America.  And Biden and the liberals fall over themselves to say this is LEGAL.  And compliant press fellow-travelers like Lisa Savage and Andy Marlette don't question this.  They say "It's legal!!"   (But hey, is it moral and ethical, PNJ?)  Imagine if president Trump had done this--would PNJ totally ignore this?  answer, NO.  But they love Biden, so he gets a pass on this reprehensible spectacle...

Hypocrites and frauds.  Ladies and Gentlemen ---I give you the two-person PNJ Editorial Squad and their patron along with the parent company Gannett!

How is This Okay? How Does Andy Marlette Get a Pass on This? Part II

 

Tonight the Governor's Press Secretary fired back at PNJ Cartoonist Andy Marlette's misogynistic, racist cartoons.  Her tweet was re-tweeted hundreds of times, and has now been subsequently re-tweeted by Matt Gaetz--and that re-tweet has been re-tweeted thousands of times.....

When I wrote part I---I knew it wasn't right.  A white, wealthy man flaunting his use of the "N-Word" in a nationally syndicated (Gannett) newspaper.

The clock might be finally, at long last, be ticking on Andy Marlette and the PNJ, however.

Because many have asked one simple question and received no good answer from Gannett or the PNJ:

How is it that white, priviledged liberal Andy Marlette can write racist, misogynistic cartoons left and right and never be called to task for it.  It is ridiculous!

In fact--he's been rewarded!  He's been given a lucrative, nationally syndicated cartoon strip recently.  Incredible, and unbelieveable.  He must make a TON of money for Gannett.

I know, I know, the first ammendment.

But why is it that Republicans get "Cancelled" for the slightest of infractions---while white, wealthy liberal elites like Gannett's syndicated cartoonist Andy Marlette can use the "N-Word" in cartoons and not be called out?

Well, again, this might be changing.

I've been calling him out for a while now.  

Looks like others are now catching on.  Apparently, Andy has insulted some powerful folks with HUGE online connections.

Late today, my phone blew up with texts about Andy Marlette being called out in the press and on twitter for his apparently racist cartoons.

Folks are tweeting about it--and some have thousands of retweets.  Some are being tweeted to the editor in chief at Gannett and to the Pensacola News Journal.  Good.  He needs to explain how he feels comfortable drawing such cartoons and using the N-Word.

Let's stay tuned and see if the match that's been struck starts a fire.

Calling Your "N-Word" Using PNJ Gannett Cartoonist......

"N-Word" Using Andy Laughs at you, laughing all the way to the bank with the PNJ..  He'll patronize you and tell you to "Press "1" to leave a complaint.......Maybe they'll get back to you.  Probably not....Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

On WCOA's Real News with Rick Outzen Yesterday Morning--Discussing Racist, N-Word using Andy Marlette among other Topics....

In 2021 in America--How is  wealthy, white, and privileged Andy Marlette able to use the disgusting racial slur the "N-Word" in his cartoons--how is that acceptable?

..........And the reason I was asked to be on the show was to discuss Monday's hatchet piece in the PNJ that was a complete character assassination attempt on me--followed up by a ridiculous, dishonest smear-job cartoon on Wednesday in the PNJ.  At one point, Rick even asked an open question of me--signalling he had never witnessed in 20 years covering local politics such a concerted attempt at discrediting a public official by multiple sources--including internal staffers in the county.  It was a surprising, thought-provoking question which I answered with specific reasons/explanations.  

The conversation was a good one  lots of topics--to include the former HR director's weak, feeble, and unsuccessful attempt at "blaming" me for her (and others) ineptitude in handling the Matt Selover case which led to a $200,000 settlement by the insurance company representing the BCC.  

Interesting conversation and back and forth between Outzen and I.

You can listen to it here

Trussssssssst Andy Marlette: He's not a racisssssssssssst.......

Andy Marlette Uses the N-Word in his cartoon.  Fake news media and others allow it, and reward it..

"Diversity" at the PNJ?

This email (above)  was sent, unsolicited, to members of the BOCC Friday evening.  It mirrors the sentiment(s) I have heard from many area constituents.  I wonder if Gannett and Gate House Media realize that this is how their local affiliate, the Pensacola News Journal, is percieved by the community they serve?  Or the larger more ominous question is obvious:  If it is profitable---do they even care?

 

Late Friday evening, the members of the Escambia Board of County Commissioners received the email above.  It was ironic as I read it the following afternoon as I had heard earlier from another dissatisfied PNJ reader while I was playing tennis in Milton Saturday morning.  The individual on the court expressed a lot of the same frustrations that the email above describes.  I can't help but wonder if the PNJ (and more importantly their corporate handlers at Gannett and Gatehouse, realize this is how they are percevied by many in this conservative community?)

My conversation with this area resident, a retired military veteran, started on an unrelated topic.

"Hey Jeff, how are you doing?"  to which I replied "I'm doing great, we are getting a lot done and making a lot of progress on a number of projects for citizens--although you'd never know that looking at the PNJ and their coverage of us."  At this, he walked over toward my court and said, dryly, "We all know, a lot of us stopped taking that paper because of that---they just don't tell the truth and they don't represent this community!"  I thought that was interesting to hear----especially  given Friday's unsolicited email from someone else which essentially echoed this sentiment.

I've actually heard that from a lot of citizens and constituents that pay attention to things locally.

And so I also see in this email from Friday evening (above) that this person actually sent it to the PNJ--as well as to the members of the BOCC.  It will probably NOT be printed, though.  Like several of my submissions that PNJ wouldn't print.  Or like Judge Tom Dannheisser's very timely article on Fatherless Families leading to more incarcerations locally.  That truthful op-ed by a local Circuit Court Judge last May was printed by Rick Outzen on his blog, but it was never printed in the PNJ--even though it was sent to them.  The message didn't apparently suit their narrative, I suppose.

At one point, the viewpoints and LTE's were handled at the PNJ by a gentleman named Carl Wernicke.  Now, he and I did not agree on a whole lot, but he always printed my submissions.  In fact, he once told me "Our unspoken rule on the editorial board is that we print all LTE submissions that do not violate our guidelines."

Looks like PNJ has definitely moved away from that policy.  

The shift seems like the pivot a lot of the mainstream media has made over the last decade and a half;  facts are unimportant, slanted coverage and political agenda's are the order of the day--particularly secular progressive pieces grounded in preposterous, outlandish, and destructive social justice constructs that actually "promote" racism toward asians and caucasians.  Sickening.

And meanwhile, outlier small local publications like the PNJ continue to make money and survive.  With white, privileged liberal cartoonist Andy Marlette  using the "N-word" with no remorse(he

The PNJ New Reporter Orientation Session Part I: "The Chain of Command" (a Parody)

Andy Marlette, his Patron, Lisa Nellessen Savage, and the PNJ put out ANOTHER non-realistic, untrue, and non-factual attack cartoon on members of the BCC  in today's paper; what's presented above, however, is far more apropos.......😏

 ANDY:  "Welcome aboard, CUB, and congratulations on being selected by GateHouse Media, Gannett, and the PNJ to be our next County government beat reporter!"  I know $22K, social security retirment program, our discounted pharmacy plan plus government subsidized health insurance is not glamourous--but hey, we all had to start somewhere"

CUB:  "Thank you, I'm like, really, really excited!!"

ANDY:  "Alright--do you have any questions for me, I mean, uh, US, before I have Lisa show you to your cubicle?"

CUB:  "Well, yes I do.  How come Lisa the editor isn't conducting this orientation--I mean---isn't she the boss, the editor?"

ANDY:  "I'll take this Lisa...Listen CUB, that's none of your business, but suffice it to say that I run the show here, not her.  I'm a big-shot cartoonist, and I bring a lot of revenue in for the company here, so although my title is "cartoonist"--I actually run this show and call the shots.  I'm a big deal!!  Although I am white and privileged like you are--unlike you I can even use the "N-Word" in my cartoons and not get cancelled!  I'm the man, so don't you forget that.   I've worked here a long time and I've had four or five editors like Lisa come and go during my time here..They're disposable but I remain.  It's because I'm talented, that's why they keep me here in this small market.  I bring revenue, I follow the chain of command, and I run this b*&%h!  You got any other smart alec questions CUB?"

LISA: "Actually, my role here is.......

ANDY:  "Shut up Lisa!  I've got this!  Don't speak until I tell you too, you got that?  I'm doing this orientation, and I run this show.  If I want your opinion, I"LL GIVE IT TO YOU!  Remember who brings home the bacon here, B*&%h!  If I leave, the Patron pulls his money,  and if "Rooms to Go" cancels their weekly full color ad--you know what happens---so don't push it.  Shut the F%&* up and let me run this, capeche!

LISA: "Yes sir!"

CUB:  "Uh, sorry, but you are being really rude and mean Andy, you are bullying her!  and I'm feeling very, very uncomfortable.....where is this office's safe space..."

ANDY:  "Look CUB, get over it.  This is a nasty business, and it get's ugly sometimes.  Get used to it.  Remember, all you have to do is a few things: Number One--only write unflattering stories about people we don't like.  Number Two---DON'T do any stories we don't approve of first---like telling the truth about locally elected politicians.  Remember--we control the message, not you.  You're nothing but a CUB, and you have to earn your stripes.  And three--and MOST IMPORTANTLY---always understand the chain of command here at PNJ.  Always.  Otherwise, I have to use this head chopper (laughs creepily). But Don't worry, cub, we only use this head chopper on folks who won't recognize PNJ's Chain of Command! "

*This cartoon and this story is a work of fiction.  Any similarities to persons living or dead, or actual events-- is purely conincidental

PNJ Article Twists Facts into a Knot and Mixes in Lots of Innuendo, Lies, and Hearsay....Disgusting

When a newspaper's content is dictated by advertisers and special interests and the resultant output is deliberately built on lies, hearsay, innuendo, and deception----there is a problem.   And truth, integrity, and honesty---along with readers--become  the casualties...

In what will be an upcoming Sunday morning hit-job by the PNJ cartoonist--once again important facts are left out, lies are told, truth is obfuscated, and good reputations are purposely impugned.   Some legitimate reporting by a PNJ columnist is contorted, taken out of context, and then jammed into this rant ostensibly to add a level of legitimacy, and to fit a defective narrative in order  to inflict damage on County Attorney Alison Rogers and multiple members of the Escambia Board of County Commissioners.

It is astonishing to me that they get away with it.  I'll do my part and call a liar what he is, a liar.  Andy Marlette is a dishonest liar. 

Interesting these Andy Marlette types proclaim to support free speech--they even put a blurb in their paper, an excerpt of the First Amendment.  Heck---Andy Marlette even uses the "N" Word in  his cartoons with no pushback by anyone to illustrate his ability as a white privileged man to say and do what he wants, whenever he wants, with no ramifications whatsoever.  Crickets....from NAACP and media.   No, wait,  Marlette not only uses the N-word in his cartoon and gives the finger to anyone who would criticize that despicable word choice---He actually gets rewarded with syndication $ for his dumb and non-humorous comic strip. Others get cancelled.  I guess If you're nothing bt a liberal tool that nobody knows about, cares about, or thinks is funny, I guess you are immune from cancellation.  

How about that?

Yet folks like Andy Marlette  hate when they, themselves, are called to task for the putrid tripe they put

Two Editorial Cartoons in One Weekend!!

 

Andy Marlette Shamelessly plugs his stupid, non-humorous comic strip, Pimp & Twits, at the Pensacola Beach Air Show July 10, 2021--with the same predictably disastrous results as PNJ's news, editorial, and features output and as equally dismal as PNJ's feeble attempts at subscriber growth and retention.....it all just ends in a fiery mid-air disaster......

Wow! PNJ Editorial Cartoonist Andy "Dandy" Marlette and the crack 2-person editorial PNJ team have been  busy little beavers this weekend, once again on the attack, lashing out at the hard working Escambia Board of County Commissioners.  We got two (2) cartoons this weekend, one on Saturday and one this morning.

Andy must be really, really lathered up and exercised to take a "Sunday" slot (the only day PNJ has any circulation over 200 readers) and pivot away from Trump, Rubio, Scott, and DeSantis---to attack us!

It's amusing

But the smaller and smaller number of subscribers PNJ clings on to must be wondering what his anger and venom is all about.  Around town at various social events I attend, I'm always asked "Wow, the cartoonist is always after you--what's up with that?" to which I simply respond, "He's an idiot, he is glib, everyone knows it, and I live rent-free in his head."

So yes, I understand Andy hates those of us that roll up our sleeves and do the difficult yet necessary (and often messy) work of local governance --work he himself couldn't do and couldn't handle---yes, we all get that.  Yes, yes we know he has a fixation on the BCC and yours truly in particular.   Yes we know he has been drawing cartoons about us that are stupid for years now, and yes we know he makes some money for the failing PNJ with his syndicated cartoons which help keep the PNJ financially viable.  (He punched his ticket by attacking former president Trump mercilessly over the last 5 years--which gave him "the creds", apparently, to have a nationally syndicated comic strip given to him--from which he more than likely makes a few bucks).  He uses the N-Word in his cartoons, so what says his employer?   It's not like he's someone that should get cancelled like the Bachelor host, right?  Yes, he hates Trump, makes money for the liberal PNJ, runs a recurring schtick that he's a "Republican" (yeah, right), and does as he is told by his local advertisers---- so they, in turn, ignore that messy piece of nastiness about Andy Marlette, a privileged white man who used the N-Word and flipped the finger to those who wanted to cancel him.  Apparently, he is untouchable unlike so many others who got cancelled for doing the same.  So, yes, PNJ keep him around because of that.  He's nothing but a useful tool.  For the money, and because he does the Patron's bidding unflinchingly.

But when he makes stupid cartoons about me and what I do, I'll continue to manipulate them and make them actually funny.  He really hates that which is also very amusing.  It drives him nuts but he can't do a damn thing about it!   So.............

Introducing "Pimp & Twits"

Introducing "Pimp & Twits!"

And now, with all of this ruckus in the backdrop--- stay tuned for a brand new, actually funny "cartoon" strip of my own based upon Andy's failing, stupid one that nobody reads and that isn't funny.  My version will be titled "Pimp & Twits"  ---Set in the fictional, Florida coastal fishing town known as "Patronville" Starring a meth-addicted, media-obsessed Crocadile who is actually a former human being known as El Patron ---but  who was tragically transformed into a Crocadile/human hybrid in a life-extending, youth enhancing plastic surgery procedure that went haywire in lab in Belize. In addition to becoming a crocodile, his mind became warped and he suddenly, genuinely believed he was loved by all, respected by everybody, and that all people would do his bidding universally. Surrounding the croc, affectionately known as "Pimp"(because he "pimps" everyone around him to do his bidding)  are his cast of cronies that run his deals and his games for him.....  Lisa and Andy, two simpletons that love to dress up like characters from Hogan's Heroes and play-act scenes from that 60's  show, two dimwitted

PNJ Editorial Board: Truth is their Enemy, Lies are their Stock-in-Trade, Propaganda is What They Are...

This piece of trash op-ed that will appear in tomorrow's edition of the PNJ is probably one of their worst yet.  Of all time. Tomorrow's garbage editorial is nothing but a haphazard, fact-barren ad hominem personal attack on four of the five elected Escambia County Commissioners.  And disgustingly, the most important, factual information is ignored in favor of a salacious attack on four of us.  The piece, most disturbingly, is built entirely on lies, rumors, insinuations and assumptions.

But it's foundations are lies.

PNJ Lie # 1.)  Janice Gilley was fired over the discussions of the 401(a) plan.  Not true, not even close.  (Hint for PNJ propaganda squad:  What did the ECAT union vote the week before the firing request?  Think.  You even covered it!  Nope, no mention of that... What about the almost $200,000.00 settlement that happened the same week--the second one based on harrassment in public safety?  nope, no mention of that even though your paper covered it.  What about the fact that the only other area printed newspaper publisher has openly called for Janice's termination for months now?)

PNJ Lie #2.)   An insinuation that the board and members of the board violated the Florida Sunshine law and "orchestrated" the firing for months.  This is a straight-up, bald faced lie and a fabrication.  If they think we did it,  have the guts to take your proof to the SAO and push for us to be prosecuted!  You are liars, PNJ editorial team,  straight up.  And this insinuation is a lie.  Shame on you both, Andy Marlette and Lisa Nellesen Savage.  You have no integrity.

PNJ Lie #3.)   That I purposely gave a "milquetoast" explanation of my rationale for firing Janice.  NOT TRUE!  roll back the tape and re-watch.  I said I didn't want to publicly discuss it.  "I like to praise in public, punish in private!"  That's what I said.  And when you try to sell the fiction that the other board members "couldn't muster specific reasons or a public explanation for their vote." That, too,  is a straight up lie and you know it.  Each of us with the exception of Doug intimated that we did not and would not make a public spectacle of a tough circumstance and would not "air dirty laundry"---out of consideration for Janice.  For you to accuse us of purposely being deceptive is a LIE.  Watch the actual meetings and what we said--instead of peddling lies and mischaracterizations.

To the PNJ "Editorial Board" that wrote this garbage:  The bottom line is this board has the authority to do what we did.  She works for us under a contract, we hired her.  Sometimes entities and leaders part ways--you know that.  CEO's and companies, Baseball teams and star pitchers, AND yes--counties and their administrators.  It's not personal for any of us so far as I can tell; certainly isn't for me.  It's business.  But it is disgustingly bizarre for you to use Janice Gilley as your straw man man here to attack us with lies and mischaracterizations.  You don't care about the truth, and you sure as hell don't care about Janice Gilley--obviously.  You are simply using her and this uncomfortable situation to aid in yet another attack on those of us who lead, regardless of what this is doing to her and her family.  I harbor no ill-will toward Janice, I think she is and was a great person.  Don't use her termination as fodder to attack, that's reprehensible.  Here is a novel concept PNJ:  Go back and do some basic reading on honor, truth, and journalistic integrity.  You have HUGE deficits in each of these areas and we all see it.

PNJ Shenanigans with the Truth Paint me in a False Light Deliberately

PNJ is always engaging in their machinations against those with whom they disagree, or with whom they dislike.  Or with whom their advertisers and patrons dislike.

As they have done in the past to me, they are once again painting me in a false light with actual malice.

How so?

After a recent meeting, there was hearsay that the PNJ ran with intimating some commissioners had said things that were offensive about our clerk of the court Pam Childers.  It was not true, and I categorically denied it at the time.  It blew over when the clerk herself brushed it aside and deflected when asked who said what and who heard what.  It was over.

But in their rush to publish that salacious, inaccurate article built on hearsay--they (PNJ) put my picture on the caption in the headline online---even though I was not one of the commissioners even accused of saying anything in the first place.  When called about the accusations---I was the only commissioner who even took the time to take the PNJ's call and give an on the record comment.

And then they did this to me.....  See screenshots of my conversation with Lisa Nellesen Savage below.

She tried to explain and to fix the issue--but this is at least the second time they've done this to me.

Coincidence?  

I don't think so, I don't believe in them.  Not with the PNJ.

PNJ's Local Preference Article and Editorial Miss the Mark

Two articles on local preference in the Pensacola News Journal totally missed the mark and ignored a very important fact--central to their "attack" on us.  Lazy, feckless journalism.....

In August of 2018 The Escambia Board of County Commissioners discussed local preference for projects the county was sending out to bid.  We discussed the topic and we agreed this was a noble aspiration--local preference.  Keep the money local--who woudn't support this?  We also discussed that we wanted to expand opportunities for small/minority owned businesses to contract with the county--and we would do this by widening the pool of qualified small business entities, women-owned businesses, service disabled veteran-owned businesses, and minority owned businesses competing for our jobs.  All of these goals were great, and the vote to affirm the county's commitment to these things was a 4-1.  It was discussed at a Committee of the Whole-- and subsequently we ratified the language from the discussion meeting at the following regular meeting.

We were so supportive of this (and I remain supportive of these goals, btw.) that we baked this requirement into our interlocal agreement with the city of Pensacola when we provided the additional funding needed to complete the ST Engineering Aerospace jobs project at the Pensacola Airport.

So there is no doubt that there is support for this concept from the county.  There is now, and always has been.  Everyone should have a crack at landing county contracts--not simply a select few.

Here is the information from that meeting.  And here is the language from the local preference resolution.

But there are a couple of things to remember and to clarify----especially as Jim Little of the PNJ writes an inaccurate account of what we actually approved.  And then subsequently the "crack" 2-person editorial board use Little's inaccurate piece to attack the county for "not following their own rule!"

But Wait!  We never codified this into an ordinance.  We adopted a resolution.  It was not a rule.  Because there are issues with a specific rule at the local level that would have to be fleshed-out.

#1--such a rule may not be lawful for many of our procurements if any federal grant money is used--as local preferential set-asides are not allowed at the local level with federal money according to our attorney. (although the federal government does use set asides in their own procurments....)

#2--the language itself is/was vague and aspirational--so even if passed as an ordianace (which it wasn't) it would have been difficult to enforce on a prime contractor.

So it was never added to our code of ordinances.  

This would have required two meetings-- culminating in a publicly noticed, scheduled hearing.  

But that never happened.  

I'm not saying we shouldn't--maybe we should, and maybe we will.  

Again--no value judgement on the merits--that discussion should happen.  My judgment is only on the PNJ for once again painting the commissioners in a false light, creating a straw man, and knocking it down in another attack on the county based upon a story that is not accurate.  

Jim Little often writes good articles that capture the essence of what is happening in the county.  Here, however,  he totally and completeley missed the mark.  I'm told he never even reached out to the county

How is this OK? Why Does Andy Marlette Get a Pass?

Andy Marlette used a disgusting racial slur in his cartoon that was posted on the PNJ Facebook page yesterday by a commenter to his editorial who simply asks--"Wait...Is this Okay, Andy??

Look--I don't support "Cancel-Culture."  I think it is a slippery slope.  Folks are imperfect, and times change.  And people change, as well.  Stuff gets taken out of context, lies are manufactured, inarticulate verbal slips end careers.  It is dangerous, it is scary. "Cancel culture"---It is the anathema of the 1st Amendment and Free Speech.  Especially when it only applies to some.  But when a person writes the N-Word in a cartoon and signs his name to it--and the cartoonist is a white man---wow!  How is this OK?  Why does Andy Marlette and the PNJ get a pass on this?

This disgusting, racist cartoon that is purportedly a product of white, elitist, privileged cartoonist Andy Marlette of the PNJ was posted on Facebook yesterday on the PNJ facebook site under the comments section--and it naturally piqued my curiosity.  Here is a picture from the link, below.

Andy Marlette used a disgusting racial slur in his cartoon that was posted on the PNJ Facebook page yesterday by a commenter to his editorial who simply asks--"Wait...Is this Okay, Andy??

Because when we live in a world where cartoons in books from 5 decades ago, penned by staunch liberals like Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel), are now verboten---how does a backwater, hack cartoonist like Andy Marlette get to use the racist N-Word in his cartoon--and NOT face any pushback at all?

I mean, right now many Disney classics from decades ago are being pulled from some screening service platforms because of perceived racist overtones.

Chris Harrison gets booted from the Bachelor after serving as host for 20 seasons with the show-for  not being agreeable enough with a host during an interview.  (Harrison even apologized, profusely, after the fact.  Didn't matter, he's gone, cancelled.)

White spring breakers who get to rap along with big celebrities get chastised by the PNJ and other outlets.

But Arrogant Andy gets a pass--for writing the word??

Look--I don't like and I don't support Cancel Culture.  But a public figure like Andy Marlette, a guy