Sara Miller McCune Shakes Up SBNP Awards
I wouldn't mind a second source on this but Craig Smith's blog today covers the behind-the-scenes story from the Biltmore last night where Nipper couldn't pronounce Léni Fé Bland's name correctly and Sara Miller McCune announced that she'd like to own the News-Press and then was confronted by Travis Armstrong following her speech. Here's a quote from Craig's post but the whole story is worth reading at the link above.
Wow. Knowing Sara's desire to own the daily, I thought she couldn't let an opportunity like this go. Smith goes on to say that TKA confronted her saying her comments were "rude". Interesting comment considering the many public officials who he's name-called over the last few years in his editorials.
Here's how McCune's acceptance speech went.
McCune was honoree number two, after Morris Jurkowitz and before Tom Thomas. She was introduced by Baroness Leni Fe Bland, whose name was mangled by von Wiesenberger who pronounced Bland as in "hand", whereas it shoud appropriately be as in the French pronounciation.
I'm humbled. Everybody told me to be brief. I have some notes here. I don't know if I can be brief. Let me say this. Next year, I hope to own the News Press.
Wow. Knowing Sara's desire to own the daily, I thought she couldn't let an opportunity like this go. Smith goes on to say that TKA confronted her saying her comments were "rude". Interesting comment considering the many public officials who he's name-called over the last few years in his editorials.
posted by Sara De la Guerra | 11/12/2006 09:39:00 AM
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29 Comments:
I was there. McCune is an old crabby woman - people who live as long as she has eventually lose the ability to be diplomatic in public and thankful or grateful for for being honored. Shortly thereafter, old women may also lose their minds and the ability to control their bladders. She was really a non-event and the other honorees were most gracious. LENO was absolutely terrific. It was really a great event.
As an inmate, can i say this?
PLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASE!
Speaking of gracious, anon 10:20, why don't you write a book on the subject, with a chapter on old women?
Eaxactly -- what's up with the sexism lately -- now people want to expose their ageism?
The anonymous Swiftboating smear cowards are quick to strike in an attempt at preemption, but it will not work again. Considering that Karl Rove is washed up for national politics, The Wendy now has hired him on the locally bloated consultant and lawyer payroll.
The Nelville moniker not working for you all any more?
Based on the Craig Smith Blog report, McCune actually was quite deft and, despite great encouragement and pleas to comment earlier in public and during her own Foundation event earlier that day, McCune kept her powder dry and fired off a quick blast where it counted the most.
That comment then and there by McCune, combined with the new Teamsters and their friends demonstrating on the street outside the event, means this is a long way from being over and forgotten.
Even though The Wendinator is trying to be the local Queen of Philanthropy, she ain't. After all The Wendy and her hirelings (including Von Cheeseburger) have done to cheat, lie, and steal from their employees and the responsibility as the Fourth Estate, they got a drop of retribution last night.
Bravo, Sara Miller McCune! You still got a pair of brass ovaries!
And we all so look forward to reading the pathetic drivel about this in the Travisty column on Monday.
And considering we all know who wrote the first comment, too keep up the demeanor, should the other side then lash out with homophobia?
Sara copped out by accepting and giving credibility to this dreadful award...at best McCune should have had Melinda Burns or Jerry Roberts accept on her behalf--that would have made a statement!
"Thank you, I'm going to buy you..." does not cut the mustard, given Sara is a pauper compared to McFlaw.
So, it all amounts to just another typical night of Montecito mingle...the rich and the famous patting each other on the back, while the forgotten are outside blowing away in the wind.
To Anonymous 1: Considering how her hosts treated her this week in the newspaper, I think Ms McCune was exceptionally gracious. Considering all that has gone on, she could have said a lot, but chose to be brief and to the point in accepting her rather hollow honor. Obviously you don't know or don't care how little respect or caring Ms McCaw has for anyone except herself.
Von Wiesenberger then gets up and says, "Sold! No just kidding, we're having too much fun."
Too much fun???
just plain mean and creeeeppppy...
If Craig Smith's account is accurate (and he usually is), the response from the so-called "fiance'" to Ms. McCune's comments is quite telling.
The reason no offer to buy the newspaper will be considered: "We're having too much fun."
That's about as honest a statement as we've heard from these folks.
On some level, this is nothing more than a perverse game being played by the uber-wealthy and their pathetic entourages. The News-Press is just another toy to go along with the yachts, the jets and the fancy cars.
Wreck one and you can just buy another, or move on to a new pricey diversion.
The fact that reputations, careers, institutions and the community are being chewed up in the process is of no consequence to these narcissists.
Why should they care? They live and act only for themselves and their own pleasure.
Anyone who thinks otherwise is seriously deluding him/herself.
Kudos to Sara---she took a risk, used her voice and still managed to stay graceful.
Can't wait for you to own the paper!!!
Of course there's a huge self-congratulatory element to all of this, though there could even be a worthy charity in there somewhere. Interesting that Wendy was willing to spend big bucks to bring in Leno to yuck it up; no doubt it would have been not just deadly, but tense without him. But there is relevance to this event, as demonstrated not only by the vigil/demonstration outside, but by the continuing discussion of the NP for the last four months. Miller was eloquent in tacitly referring to all the mess without detailing it, and then offering a real solution, a real ray of hope. Was Nipper serious or sarcastic when he said they were having too much fun? If the former, then the story of the deluded and predatory rich and out of touch continues. If there was some sarcastic tone to that comment, maybe, just maybe, they realize there are actually more fun things to do than needlessly, incompetently and maliciously run a venerated community institution into the ground.
As for McCune being "rude" to her hosts, in a grand way, that's exactly what the NP management has been to this community for the last period. It may not be possible to penetrate the shells of the class burdened by wealth not earned and profligately spent, let alone engage such people, but they need to understand there are consequences to their actions, and that has to be explained to them in public, not at cocktail parties at Hope Ranch. "Speak truth to power" may be a cliche, but it comes from somewhere real.
And while McFlaw may have more bucks than Miller, it may be that Miller was inviting others in that room to combine their capital -- combined, surely greater than McFlaw's -- to give her a way out, which she can take with dignity if she chooses.
just like McCune to mention Wiesenberger..
Jay Leno? Damn. Is he a friend of Rob Lowe’s, too? Wendy and Nipper may drool as they stare slack-jawed at Hollywood celebrities, but, cool, the News-Press is the new Sheriff’s Council.
Alongside Sunday’s HUGE HUGE picture of Britney and K-Fed wrapping themselves in the humanitarian flag of Thomas/McCune/Jurkowitz, there’s a P.O. box to send our hard earned pay or pension checks to the billionaire for the newspaper’s holiday fund.
But something was lost Saturday night amidst the hubbub of Spendy wasting a fortune on the $75,000 celebrity appearance, the dueling labor lawyers and the beefy security guys. Maybe Jay forgot to mention it. Maybe it slipped the Red Queen’s mind in her Sunday editorial.
WHICH of Wendy's furry animals is the public supporting this holiday season?
Publisher Arthur Saturday night about current management of the Santa Barbara News-Press:
“We're having too much fun."
…sort of like those kids who use a magnifying glass to melt ants.
TKA confronted her and said what? Talk about the pot calling the kettle rude! Today he offers yet another example of his infamous cut & paste efforts (read: lack of) in the editorial department, replete with RUDE in the form of an over-abundance of bashing, whining and name-calling of re-hashed rants we've seen time and time again. I can just see him hunched over his keyboard gnashing his teeth while hitting Ctrl X, C, V over and over again. Someone please find him another dead horse to beat.
Yes, in today's editorial, Travis is keeping us informed on the flawed "affordable" housing program (also know as the "stunted equity" housing program, for those who play by the rules). Yes, he IS repeating information to keep it in the spotlight--no other news outlet is holding the county to task on this important issue. THANKS BE TO TRAVIS and the NEWSPRESS THAT ALLOWS HIM TO SPEAK OUT!
hey, this is a random question apropos of nothing in this post. but a few days ago i saw an item on your blog regarding a salmonella outbreak around UCSB. was this post taken down?
There wasn't an item about that -- must have been somewhere else.
Mike Pinto should have said...
INOWWORSHIPTRAVIS...
DASWILLIAMSNOLONGERISTHESHININGPATH...
THANKSTOTHEGODSTRAVISWILLSAVEUS...
THEOTHERNEWSOUTLESTSMUSTNOTKNOWANYTHING...
SOMASOMASOMASOMASOMA...
Was Wendy at the Biltmore or not? I've read both..
KEYT video finally up; select size, full screen for best viewing.
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/4621421.html
Copy and paste the URL above.
Wendy was there (do you think Ms star-struck would miss Jay Leno?)...Nipper was MC...Martha Smilgis , Ms. Dish, was NOT there as she was dis(h)-missed by Nip and is no longer at the NP to report the gossip...another NP victim (Indy Blog, 3:41 PM)
Dear Big Fatty,
Why do you think no other news outlet covers the ridiculous topics Trav rants about?
Word from the dinner is that Wendy and Nipper are, actually, "having too much fun." Especially Wendy. She's radiant and energized about doing battle with her new union adversary. It's what turns her on. Compare the photo of her from the Biltmore/bouncer dinner against the bloated Indy shot of her last June.
blobabarbara...Santa Barbara Politics, Media & Culture
Such hypocrisy. Sara and most bloggers you are just a bunch of mindless whiners that are obviously jealous. This blog is such a blatant slam against the NP and management. It is sickening and embarrassing to others in SB. Grow up and do what this blog says you claim it represents. There is no productive talk of media, there is no productive talk of politics there is absolutely no talk of culture. There is only disrespect and vengeful, spiteful, childish gibberish. Say something of value or say nothing at all. Clean up your act Sara. This blog is not representing Santa Barbara's finest, far from it. It represents the bottom feeders.
Welcome to Club Anonymous 9:52 AM...but remember new members start at the bottom and have to write their way to the top.... but a good first attempt.
Anon 9:52 AM -- yes, you can challenge what I do and that is fine. I have no problems with that at all -- I don't agree with you at all, but that is fine!
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