Tierney Gets Results! (Never Again...)

John Tierney, now relegated to irrelevance as a TimesReject columnist, got results with his Sept 6 column titled "The Magic Marker Strategy":

We can learn more [about disater preparation] by listening to men like Jim Judkins, particularly when he explains the Magic Marker method of disaster preparedness.

Mr. Judkins is one of the officials in charge of evacuating the Hampton Roads region around Newport News, Va. These coastal communities, unlike New Orleans, are not below sea level, but they're much better prepared for a hurricane. Officials have plans to run school buses and borrow other buses to evacuate those without cars, and they keep registries of the people who need special help.

Instead of relying on a "Good Samaritan" policy - the fantasy in New Orleans that everyone would take care of the neighbors - the Virginia rescue workers go door to door. If people resist the plea to leave, Mr. Judkins told The Daily Press in Newport News, rescue workers give them Magic Markers and ask them to write their Social Security numbers on their body parts so they can be identified.

"It's cold, but it's effective," Mr. Judkins explained.

Mr. Tierney's column was effective as well - in readying for Rita Gov. Blanco of Louisiana has adopted the line, as has a mayor in Texas.  Blanco first:

Governor Kathleen Blanco minced no words in telling any holdouts in the largely abandoned city to leave, suggesting they mark their bodies with identifiers so authorities can determine who they were if flood waters claimed them. ''If some people insist on staying -- perhaps they should write their Social Security number on their arms with indelible ink," she said.

And from Texas:

Tharling says that the 1,000 or so die-hards who refuse to evacuate are being given permanent markers and asked to write their Social Security number, next of kin and a phone number on their arm or across their abdomen — so that returning officials can identify their bodies. 

Tierney will never have this clout again.

MORE:  My official prediction is that the new Times Select will go down alongside "New Coke" as one of the great corporate belly-flops of the era.  What, exactly, is the marketing pitch - "Pay for the opinions no one else is talking about"?  Good luck.

That said, the Times decison to stifle their commentariat may be a great thing for the Dems, if it allows voices of reason to emerge.

STILL MORE: Excellent point from blogger "Tom" - picture the reaction if Bush has said what Blanco did.  The outcry might even make people sign up to read MoDo's reaction.

Naah.

Comments

[Patrick R. Sullivan]

'My official prediction is that the new Times Select will go down alongside "New Coke" as one of the great corporate belly-flops of the era. What, exactly, is the marketing pitch - "Pay for the opinions no one else is talking about"? Good luck.'

Maybe that's what got Krugman to whimper like a spanked puppy today.

[kim]

I've a great idea. Since TimeSelect is not public then don't let Public Editor Calame interfere. It could get really fun.
==============================================

[Norman Rogers]

Who would pay to read Bob Hebert or Maureen Dowd? John Tierney always has something to say -- as does David Brooks on occasion. Paul Krugman is damaged goods and only appeals to the Bush haters.

How can they possibly make enough money from subscriptions to pay their upkeep? Even worse, this project will expose the limited appeal the Times' op-ed voice has for print readers as well, and newsprint isn't getting cheaper -- and ad revenue is shrinking.

[kim]

Ahem. Information is a growth industry. A rising tide floats all boats. Except those with massive gaps in their structure and cargos of deadweight.
==================================================

[cathyf]

I'm still fascinated that the NYT has adopted the exact inverse of the only successful newspaper pay site, the WSJ. At the Journal the opinions and editorials are free, and it's the hard news and financial data that you have to pay for. Maybe it's because I'm from naturally modest rural midwest America, but the idea of asking people to PAY for the right to hear you pitch your opinion is a bit rich. Especially when you are not charging for the production of straight news, which is something we expect to pay for here.

cathy :-)

[richard mcenroe]

Kim -- "I've a great idea. Since TimeSelect is not public then don't let Public Editor Calame interfere. It could get really fun."

Hey, then maybe Steven J. could get a gig there and SHOW us all what a real liberal looks like...

[Tyro]

Cathy - I'm from the not so modest mid-atlantic region, and I think that it's a bit rich as well ;)

[Christopher Fotos]

-What, exactly, is the marketing pitch - "Pay for the opinions no one else is talking about"?

Brilliant!

[ShoreMark]

Cathy: "Especially when you are not charging for the production of straight news..."

You're being intentionally funny there, right? :-)

[Zainuddin Banatwala]

Those whom the Gods wish to destroy, they first drive mad.

[kim]

Unfortunately, I have occasion to remember alta kaka with permanent markings on their forearms.
=================================================

[Synova]

I wrote my SSN on my infant son during an evacuation. A few others gave me odd looks and asked about it. They figured it was a good idea once I explained. I don't know if anyone else marked their children, though. Farther on the Navy took pictures and made ID's to hang on the kids necks or pin to the backs of their shirts.

I can have SF horror flick dreams but nothing actually counts as a nightmare unless it's not being able to find my babies.

[Francis W. Porretto]

As odd as it seems that the Times should choose to charge a hefty price for something no one appears to value, now and then this gambit does increase the market for the thing under discussion. At least for a little while, until people recover their senses.

[Diggs]

How unbelievably insensitive! A BLACK magic marker, used to help recover bodies? Yeah, LIGHT SKINNED bodies only! This is clearly an evil racist republican plot to make sure the graveyards are filled only with whitey.

[vch]

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