Staten Island Advance has some sort of meltdown after editorial endorsement of Grimm over Recchia

An odd article in the Advance sums up the Michael Grimm – Domenic Recchia race for Congress in Staten Island [and in Western Brooklyn]

—   BASICALLY, HOLD YOUR NOSE  —   IT STINKS  —   Yet, somehow, the editorial writers decided to recommend a vote for Grimm anyway

Maybe, the editorial folks at the Advance and silive.com were embarrassed that they actually endorsed one of these candidates and this was their guilty squirmy dance

You see, the Advance did do an "Editorial" endorsing Congressman Michael Grimm for re-election [see it discussed below]   —   Then, Brian J. Laline of the Advance did an odd Apologia for that editorial [see that discussed below, as well]  —  It's all a bit strange

Some people will see this post and say that I buried the lead.  Maybe, they are right. However as far as I’m concerned, it’s the Staten Island Advance that made themselves the main story by endorsing either one of these two jokers ( Sorry for the comparative slander on all other “jokers” of whatever description).

S.I.  ADVANCE ENDORSES GRIMM IN SPITE OF MANY STATED REASONS NOT TO DO SO !

Frankly, in a bit of a surprise, the Staten Island Advance endorsed Michael Grimm for re-election, even though the Advance has said several times in editorials that the 11th District deserves better than Grimm and that he is a “sometimes hot-headed Republican incumbent who is facing a 20-count federal indictment.... [and s]tories about Mr. Grimm's extra-curricaular activities are numerous....” ( See “For Congress: Advance endorses Michael Grimm (editorial)” by Staten Island Advance Editorial [Dept.], 10/30/14. SI Advance/ silive.com [http://www.silive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/10/for_congress_advance_endorses.html#incart_most-comments]).

The Staten Island Advance made this editorial decision in spite of myriad stated reasons mitigating against endorsing him, because “Mr. Grimm is still the best practical choice for Staten Island....”  In other words, it's pure pro-Staten Island parochialism and pandering to its Staten Island readership (All Brooklynites in the 11th CD, including Brooklyn Republicans, please take note of that). Given all that they said, if this paper’s editors had any integrity, they would have withheld any endorsement for this congressional seat.

MY HEADLINE STORY  —   ABOUT THE ADVANCE’S STRANGE GRIMM-RECCHIA ARTICLE  —  A LOT OF IT ABOUT THEIR OWN EDITORIAL ENDORSEMENT

About an hour after the folks at the Advance made their endorsement of Grimm, they put up another rather odd article about the race for the congressional seat for the 11th CD. As I mentioned above in one of my sub-headlines, maybe the editorial folks at the Advance and silive.com were embarrassed that they actually endorsed one of these candidates and this was their guilty squirmy dance (See “Countdown to Election Day: In Grimm-Recchia race, voters face difficult choice” by Brian J. Laline, 10/30/14, SI Advance/ silive.com [http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2014/10/countdown_to_election_day.html] [laline@siadvance.com] ).

This gives you a good taste of what Mr. Laline had to say, “... Election Day looms and our next congressman will be chosen, no matter how low voter turnout. It's a race with a national spotlight shining on it. No matter who wins, we will be the darling of stand-up comics across America. ***  You know the choice: An indicted congressman, or a Democratic challenger who has a lot of trouble making himself understood.....”  If that weren’t bad enough, right nearby is this bold-faced caption for a photo from the Grimm-Recchia debate: “...Grimm will step down 'if unable to serve' ”

THE ADVANCE'S APOLOGY FOR THEIR ENDORSEMENT OF MICHAEL GRIMM

“The editorial team at Staten Island's main news source -- the Advance and silive.com -- faces the same dilemma [as the voters]. It has been suggested we don't endorse either man for Congress, or we encourage a write-in campaign. ***  I don't for a second think Staten Islanders hang on our every word and vote the way the newspaper endorses. But I do think it's important for the editorial team to share its thoughts after analyzing the race.  We try to see through the incessant silly mailings, ads, stupid TV commercials and meaningless jabs in a race where critical issues have been an afterthought. So today, we offer our thoughts in the campaign for Congress in an editorial.  I have no doubt we will face intense criticism from many. If nothing else, there is passion in this race. ***   Of course, we wish Mr. Grimm did not have a 20-count-indictment floating over his head. We wish Mr. Recchia conducted a more intelligent campaign. ***  But this is the hand Staten Island has been dealt. A decision must be made. Make it.  Even if you are holding your nose while you do.”  [I have to ask  —  Were these last few instructions to the voters or to the Advance's writers themselves, or maybe both ?]