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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control

The Shermanesque elevating of a spat

"Going Richard Sherman" might become the go-to phrase for someone who elevates trash-talking with a long-time adversary to a whole new -- and more public -- level.

Consider this posting by Portland City Commissioner Steve Novick the city of Portland's website.

Going Richard Sherman on the Oregonian

The Oregonian has spent the past couple of weeks trash-talking the city council. They've written things like: "you have to wonder sometimes whether the Portland City Council actively pursues mediocrity..." They've had a "live chat" on "Does Portland deserve a better city council?" They've repeatedly crossed the line between criticism and contempt.

And so far, the members of the City Council have kept a dignified silence. But after watching Richard Sherman's post-NFC championship game explosion the other day, I've decided, the hell with that. Let’s have some fun. If the Oregonian wants to trash-talk, let's trash-talk. Let's give the fans something to talk about. Because we can do it better than they can. We can out-trash-talk the Oregonian on the field, off the field, or in an alley.

You want to talk about mediocre? A paper that only delivers four times a week, now that's mediocre. You want to question our commitment to jobs? Seriously? The paper that specializes in firing people - good people like Ryan White and Scott Learn - wants to talk about jobs?

We're the best City Council in the league. And we're not going to be bullied by some sorry Orange County right-wing publisher. We'll be here after you're gone, Mr. N. Christian Anderson III - after the Newhouse family wakes up and realizes that it's economic idiocy to try to foist a Fox News paper on a progressive readership.

And don't think for a minute that anything you write will have any influence on us at all. Lions don't concern themselves with the opinions of sheep.

COB!

Commissioner Steve Novick

City of Portland, Oregon 

Clearly, Novick is entitled to his opinion of the Oregonian and make comparisons with their business practices vis-a-vis the city's. But he may have forgotten a basic rule for all politicians, a version of which goes like this:

Never get in a war of words with someone who buys ink by the truckload if you buy it one Bic pen at a time.

 Can't wait to see how this one plays out.



The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.