Blogger meister

Someone should check to see if 'Mr. Right', Jim Muir, is still alive, since his blog still hasn't heard that the Greens have heard. This isn't the first time, Jim has taken a powder, only to come back with a lame 'whip me with a noodle' apology. I think he may be ducking the futile task of defending President G.W. Bush's woeful job performance.

Two new local blogs have come to my attention. One conservative and one liberal. Longbranch stalwart and armchair philosopher Chuck Jines sent me a link to his new blog Conservative View, which has possibilities, but only one post so far.

At the gallery the other day, I met another blogger, a recent transplant from Philadelphia, whose wife specializes in Mass Communications. Mikal in Philly may want to change the name of his blog to "mikal in carbondale." He says he likes the relaxed pace of life in southernmost Illinois.

None of the local political candidates have blogs. Despite her internet savvy, candidate Jessica Davis doesn't have blog. Neither does candidate Sheila Simon. (Nor does unannounced candidate, Mayor Brad Cole, although I occasionally add items to The Cole Train, a blog a started on my own, as a repository for Cole-related news, much as I've done with Wendler's Golden Shovelings blog. Not much to it, but 'better than nothing'.)

Cole will reveal if he is going to seek re-election in his upcoming "State of the City" address on Tuesday, November 14 at the annual Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Here's a link to the official invitation.

Will Brad run? Does he deserve another term? Councilwoman Simon thinks not. She states her reasons for running "up front" in this interview with WJPF's Rick Gregg on the day she announced her candidacy.

Sheila used to have a blog, using it mostly as a listening post for comments on controversial issues. But because she is running for office, she stopped doing it. Go figure.

Candidate Davis ought to have time for a blog, and she appears to have decent computer skills, since she created her own website.

Candidates who doubt the value of a campaign blog should take a look at Saline County States Attorney, David Nelson's blog.

So here's the deal: on November 15 -- the day after the Mayor's State of the City Speech -- this blog will 'give the nod' to the candidates with the best campaign blogs.

I agree with the following statement (since I just wrote it): "If a candidate for Mayor can't write a blog, or have a volunteer(s) write it, or pay someone to do it, then that candidate does not deserve to be mayor."