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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels August 11, 2004 Our View This one is going to get ugly A group of editors from across the country gathered for cocktails following the day's events at a recent conference. The discussion inevitably turned to politics and the upcoming 2004 election. Perhaps for the first time during the weeklong conference, a unanimous opinion emerged: Things are going to get nasty. Editors across the country are bracing for the backlash that will inevitably stem from trying to present unbiased news coverage of all the forthcoming campaigns, especially the biggest of them all, Bush v. Kerry for the White House. Taking a dispassionate view is tough enough, but reining in reporters who get caught up in the divisive nature of the campaigns presents another problem. Details such as story selection, placement, photos, captions and quotes will demand extra scrutiny - we know full well that the passionate followers of both sides have their magnifying glasses out and are ready to fire at will at the first sign of partiality. In addition to the in-house issues every newsroom must confront, the tidal wave of public opinion crashing on opinion pages is another force to be reckoned with. When passions get this inflamed, this early, it is clear the rhetoric is going to rise in volatility as the campaign progresses. Perhaps there are two simple things that Republicans and Democrats can agree on, the first being that much is at stake in 2004 and the second that fence-sitters are hardly welcomed. Make no mistake that this election will be a decidedly vehement If-You-Are-Not-For-Me-You-Are-Against-Me-Take-No-Prisoners affair. Debate will rarely be about the respectful exchange of positions. We expect, especially locally, a zealous crusade for the right, or the left as the case may be, that will tolerate very little dissent. It is safe to say we are braced, knowing there will be little we can do to please anyone. That said, we will stick to our conviction that the editorial page is for the readers to have the final say, that all opinions are welcome, and that with rare exception, we will try to find a way to print letters from all those who take the time to write us. We will on occasion be critical of the current administration as we have done in the recent past. We will also take issue with the Democrats where a consensus among the editorial board exists. Our editorials are not the right opinion, just ours. We encourage all readers to voice theirs as well. Finally, knowing it will likely do little good, we nevertheless ask that all take into consideration that the views of those on the other side of the political spectrum are worthy of consideration and respect, be they liberal, conservative or somewhere in between. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams