The Hook

Awesome!

Guess Dave didn't get the memo!

Right on Stump

Apparently he did get the memo from the media monitors about the criticism from the Tyee though.

When one attacks the media............

..........one confirms that the original story is correct. If the Tyee is not telling the truth about the Deutch Zitrones, Mr. Hahn and BC Ferries can resort to the courts.

Ah yes, Mr. Hahn, the defense against libel and slander is the truth. Are we afraid to test the legal waters that the Tyee is not telling the truth?

No?

Why is that Mr. Hahn?

Could it be that the Tyee is correct and reporting truthfully that the Deutch Zitrones are gas guzzlers?

Thought so!

Would it be unfair to suggest, Mr Hahn

Would it be unfair to suggest, Mr Hahn, that you might take the expedient of calling Andrew MacLeod in the middle of the night when you want to get your 'message' across...I mean, it worked so well with Keith Baldrey.

Many of you may have missed this quaint little story about how Mr Hahn likes to massage the message....

http://pacificgazette.blogspot.com/2006/06/with-friends-like-these-who-needs.html

Very Interesting story, G West.

Sounds to me like there's a working relationship between Hahn and Baldrey. Maybe that is why Baldrey thinks it is a non story. Hahn has not called him on this. Maybe Andrew's number is not programmed into Hahn's phone.

The last time this kind of thing happened there was a BCTV reporter in front of a house with a deck just as the RCMP appeared at the front door with a search warrant.

For the record

That Baldrey opinion piece, linked above, was syndicated to all community papers across BC. When it appeared in the local paper, Burnaby Now, I forwarded it to Global TV. I questioned the integrity of their reporting on the basis that the CEO of the company who's flagship was on the bottom and was managing the media -- managing Global's primary political reporter. And by association they were guilty as an employer of KB after KB crowed about his cozy relationship with the CEO.

Now I never heard back from Global but was satisfied that at least his colleagues would know that people were questioning the quality and spin of the coverage.

Its a shame, I like Kieth, he's a good guy.
Like Bob Dylan said: Everyone has to serve somebody.

I must also point out the the piece linked by G West talks about how the press coverage was manipulated. It acknowledges the efforts of Chris Montgomery, who has consistently knocked down the doors of secrecy within Ferries.

If there are pats on the back to be handed out then that's the place to start. Without her efforts none of the issues being raised publicly here or anywhere would exist.

Maritime matters are quite complicated and quite tedious. The industry is small and people are not often cooperative. It was hard and unpleasant slogging, but it was carried out and stands up as a package of some of the finest maritime reporting anywhere in the world in the past number of years. Its worth revisiting many of these stories.

The Tyee has done a fine job of keeping these issues on the front burner and in the eyes of the public so Kudos to The Tyee and Andrew. Kendall Salcito also did a good job for The Tyee. She was good to deal with and grasped the importance of the situation of the day and what it meant in the life a publicly owned transportation company.

Its important for the readers and interested parties to keep it real. Only then can you judge the impact and the usefulness of the information provided. Regardless of the media.

more unexplained cancellations

http://www.bcferries.com/bcfservicenotice?id=84634

Thanks PeteL

And kudos too to Ross at the Pacific Gazette as well. Getting out the real 'story' is a collaborative effort...letting the paid media know they're blowing it is almost as important.

http://pacificgazette.blogspot.com

Why German?

I am sure it has been discussed before but why are these Ferries not being built in Canada? Even if they cost more, at least the money goes to Canadian workers and the profits to Canadian Companies.

It miight even be the start of a new business in Canada. We need a manufacturing base for our products.

Rumor mill

Ridership has so collapsed on BC Ferries that sailing will be canceled "due to mechanical failure" if loadings fall below 35%.

When I first heard this, I was skeptical, but now I think it is indeed fact. One wonders if Mr. McLeod can investigate this?

Was talking to a retired

Was talking to a retired ferry worker the other day and he said that some of the minor runs are having a real problem finding qualified crew members. It's so bad that crew members have to come in on their time off just to have the ship's sail. Of course these people are getting overtime and of course that's blowing the hell out of those particular runs operating budgets. About 15 years ago I knew a Ferry Captain who was so pissed-off with the out fit that he quit. Before that, he did an personnel audit and couldn't believe the amount of people who worked out of head office in Victoria. He found out most of that information by BC Ferry telehone book.

Imagine!

Imagine David Hahn claiming that the Tyee is a partisan, political organisation! OK, so it is bankrolled by a political organisation that receives money from the BC Ferries union, but what could that ever have to do with the the unbiased journalism of Tyee?

Oh, and that Mustel poll showing the Anti-Christ Demigod CEO Campbell 14 points ahead of Carole Our Saviour is also a fabrication of that evil, biased mainstream media.

It is a 100% certainty that Carole will win by a HUGE landslide and HAHAN will be sent packing. Utopia is but four months away.....

What are you talking about Wilf?

...so it is bankrolled by a political organisation

How many times is it necessary to have this explained to you?

Expain

Garth, explain to me that the BCFED is not poltical.

BALDREY

There was a time when Baldrey was fairly sympathetic to the NDP, and personally on friendly terms with Glen Clark.

In recent years he has been tending very much more towards the provincial Liberals, a progression not unlike that of Andy Orr in some respects. The difference is that Orr found Clark distasteful, whereas with Baldrey it's apparently James.

Explain to me Tyee funding

I just don't think you know what you're talking about.

Beers has explained the funding here at least a dozen times - did you miss it?

Rod.

Baldrey find politicians distasteful when they don't bow or recognize his power over them. Hold him in contempt for his biased reporting and he does the usual number on you. The Victoria Press Gallery really gets their noses out of joint if you don't treat them as something special. Clark had a measure of contempt for them and they turned on him. That they discovered to their dismay that Campbell was even more contemptuous must real grate these days. The only thing that keeps them from having their revenge is their publishers.

Rod Smelser...

You just might be right. A few weeks back while on the road, I heard Baldrey (CKNW?) state that the Libs should go after Carole James a la the Cons framing Dion in their political attack ads last spring.

In rebuttal, Palmer stated that such a strategy might backfire.

funny thing

I thought this discussion was about the incompetence and special pleading of the puppet CEO Campbell put 'in charge' of BC Ferries.

Why is it that certain posters - and guys like Keith Baldrey - can't seem to keep their eye(s) on the ball?

I see a couple more cancelled sailings today - and still the same 'no explanation' press release.

Does the guy have a death wish?

Wilf and Luke

Yes, we hear your constant cries that Campbell and Iggy are both on the verge of huge landslides.

And soon the Liberal banner will wave in all 10 provinces.

And shortly after that the UN will recognize the Liberal party of Canada as the greatest political party ever.

And no doubt Obama is planning on changing the name of the Democrats to the Liberals.

And of course you believe that in return for the Canadarm the US agreed to plant the Liberal flag on all moons and planets discovered in the future.

Keep dreaming boys, its good you both haven't succumbed to winter depression.

You know,

There have been more cancellations of sailings in the past 5 years than there have been since BC Ferries was first formed? And more every month. Definitely works better as a private company, doesn't it?

Sorry Happy. I don't have any proof to show you. Just going by my personal observations over the years :)