The vast majority of San Diegans disapprove – way more than approve – the job performance of the U-T San Diego’s publisher, “Papa” Doug Manchester.
A new joint OB Rag – San Diego Free Press poll showed that 77% of over 100 respondents disapproved of Manchester’s job performance by giving him an “F” for failing while only 9% gave him an “A” or “B”.
Seven per cent gave Manchester a “D”, while 3% gave him an “Incomplete” and 3% said “Other”. Combining the “D’s” with the failing and incomplete grades gives Manchester an 87% disapproval rate.
Manchester, a hard right anti-gay, and anti-union Republican, took over the U-T San Diego a little more than a year and half ago. Manchester owns and has owned numerous large hotels in and around downtown San Diego and has built a veritable empire, becoming a member of San Diego’s esteemed Establishment.
Yet, over this time, Manchester’s extreme partisan politics have waded not only into the editorial page of the U-T, but also onto the front page, the news section. The articles the paper publishes have waged a daily campaign against San Diego’s most liberal mayor in history, whether through op-ed pieces, editorial cartoons, or the seemingly “straight” news pieces – Filner has been Manchester’s target since the primary election.
Manchester’s policies have overshadowed the ability of the monopoly newspaper to maintain an ostensible “neutrality” media stance locally. Many San Diegans have come to view the U-T as simply a propaganda organ for the Republican Party, losing all semblance of being a paper for all San Diegans. Manchester, his partner and editors have never accepted the defeat of their boy, Carl DeMaio, for mayor. They just have not been able to understand the changing demographics in San Diego and the political winds that these changes have created.
Manchester’s inability to “get past” last year’s election reflects a deep disrespect for the American political and electoral system. His naked efforts to try to get a “recall” campaign started against Filner – in office for only 7 months – now demonstrate in high relief his moral weaknesses as the chief sponsor of this City’s primary paper.
Some may question the thinness of the respondent numbers in this poll, yet the U-T San Diego today just published the results of their poll against Mayor Filner and were able to claim in a headline that “more in poll disapprove” of the mayor than approve – with only a mere 500 respondents! With only 500 respondents out of a City of 1.3 million, the U-T can claim their poll showed that “more San Diegans disapprove …” of the Democratic mayor than approve.
The joint progressive news poll had 20% of those numbers, so we are able to make similar claims. The “vast majority” of San Diegans based on our poll disapprove of Manchester’s job performance.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey, can I get in on this “joint” poll?
No, Joe, not that type of joint. Doug Porter, today’s editor at the SDFP told me in a text that Free Press readers are hating more than OB Rag readers. I responded that “our” readers are more “balanced” as they’re on drugs. Just kidding.
Those drugs, of course, being things like Valium, which keeps us “calmer” and more “balanced.” I do like how the poll you did on the U/T and Papa is cloaked in a very morally imperative, noble tone. If Papa Doug & his henchmen would spend more time actually being journalists rather than right wing jackals, perhaps the U/T might be worthy of more than just the bird cage liner it is for most people right now.
Cancelled the UT subscription when Papa Doug took it over and switched to the L.A. Times. The L.A. Times actually covers San Diego better than the UT does.
A joint poll from the free press and OB rag… Comedy. Considering the readership of these “newspapers” it is not suprising that they give an unfavorable rating to Manchester. Today we see many newspapers and MSM outlets in deep decline due to liberal bias and a complete lack of “fair and balanced journalism”. The reality is that the UT needed this infusion of reality (conservative ownership) to shore up its legitimacy in the face of declining readership. I find it refreshing to read a newspaper that’s ownership isnt the lap dog of Obama and his cronies. I think the OB should stick to its usual grab bag of pot legalization stories or reports on upcoming street concerts instead of wading into polls or questions on responsible journalism.
So liberal bias isn’t fair and balanced, but a conservative one is? Ha!
The U-T as the leading paper for a major city is an embarrassment. A puddle-deep shill of a right-wing mouthpiece written — and barely edited– for mouth-breathers who didn’t go to college. For right of center views, you’re much better off with the Wall Street Journal, Economist or LA Times.
When Manchester took over the newspaper— wait, I never had a subscription because the paper has always been lousy. I had always used it to cover the concrete in my garage when I changed the oil in my motorcycle. I had always used in in only the most important of paper mache projects. I read Mad Magazine for satire & Al Jazeera for news & RT.com for more news & the Guardian for more news, Bamford for when I want the crap scared out of me, & the Irish Times when I want to reminisce about political arguments my parents used to have.
And just where the hell is Bluffdale Utah?
Even most conservatives don’t like the UT.
Matt, think your reasoning on why newspapers are failing has nothing to do with a paper being liberal or conservative. There’s just too much on the internet to read and
that also slants one way or the other depending on one’s leanings. Any thoughts on whose side has more readers? Right now Pres. Obama’s got low rating, but whose to say that will be the same a year from now. The same for Mayor Filner’s rating status.
One person’s version of “reality” is certainly subjective, and I suggest you look at the LA TIMES or NYTIMES to see what neutral articles are out there that the U/T doesn’t touch. Their main section is totally useless; I read it for the local section and am disappointed even with that. The LA Times covers stuff from SD that is not seen in the U/T.
Papa Doc is his own person and has some axe to grind with his problems of doing things not allowed under city codes; i.e. having a helicopter pad without going through proper channels as one example and there are more.
NY Times and LA Times! You consider those neutral (reality)?
Both in decline with readership though… At least they have that in common.
As far as reasoning goes: If I can see a particular media outlet putting a coating of progressive/ liberal idealogy on everything they write then i know they have alterior motives. CNN, MSNBC, NY Times etc. Coincidently they are in decline.
Why is that? Maybe because people are tired of the same progressive rant about the same lame leftist talking points.
Call me when you see an article on how a gun saved someone from being robbed or killed during a burglary. Call me when someone writes a story about how a corporation has donated a large sum of money for the homeless or anything positive about christians. Then i would be impressed.
Is Matt open minded for reading a blog he does not respect? “Neutral” – interesting concept for media for people. I believe only the dead are neutral and there’s still corpse abuse. But let’s see Matt – Manchester buys paper and issues a press release declaring an agenda, and intent to be biase, contrary to every journalistic principle. But he’s not the interesting person – you are. I’m curious why you bother? Rhetorical dogma aside, what do you want from life (a favorite Tubes song) – if it’s healthy food, water you can drink (or swim in), air you can breathe, a sense of justice and empathy for our fellow humans and a future for our kids then you’re in the right place.
How does that phrase go again? Guns don’t kill christians, christians kill christians.
You know, I did read about a guy that prevented a robber from escaping. I think it was a motorcycle shop on El Cajon Blvd, & I think the owner interrupted a burglary by showing up in the middle of the night. The guy burgling the place was emerging w/ a shop rifle, & I think the owner popped him w/ a gun.
There ya go, a warm & fuzzy gun story. Amen.
*ulterior* I think you meant to say…… Alterior is not actually a word. ;-)
Guns, corporations and Christians…There’s SO much positive about that magical trifecta. I think we just wouldn’t know where to begin.
Jon – Sounds like a great book title. Damn. Oops, … I mean, darn!