corrente

No, I am not for a minute suggesting a pullback in the campaign to, politely and effectively, tell advertisers on Sinclair stations of our feelings on the matter of their fascistic tendencies and overall scumminess. This is a tactical matter, not a stragetic one--a flood of envelopes, even postcards, will have the impact we want and at the same time show concern for retailers' predicaments.

(via Minneapolis Star-Tribune*)

An Internet-fueled political clash led to headaches Tuesday for an Arden Hills furniture store.

Partisan callers tied up the phone lines at Carroll's Furniture after a "blogger" reported that the store had pulled its TV advertising to protest plans to run a documentary criticizing Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

"We're getting calls from both sides, praising us and telling us to go to hell," said Aaron Rosenthal, who works at the store, owned by his son, Scott. "I don't give a darn who wins the election. I just don't want my phone to be tied up."

Scott Rosenthal could not be reached for comment. His father said he didn't know whether the store had actually pulled its ads.

Aaron Rosenthal said, "We're trying to run our semiannual sale," he said. "Do I need to be tied up with all these idiots from the political parties?

"The ones who call me the most, who aggravate me the most -- I'm going to vote against their party."

*A note on the Star-Tribune, they're registration-required but you can read one story per day without triggering the form demand. I have another one to post in a moment (Blogger willing and the creek don't rise) so if you think you'd rather read that one, don't click on this.