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Tired, Lazy, Unmotivated


 

Can we talk? 

I thought we were done with this photograph and all its variations. Enough, already. 


Image property of Baltimore Sun

I really loathe this one.

Image property of Baltimore Sun


And yet the Sun has dragged it out yet again for this piece about the upcoming primary.

In Howard County, only Democrats will get a vote in race for top spot, April Santana, Baltimore Sun

First of all, the title of the article is all wrong. Is the core of the issue that “only Democrats will get a vote”? No. The point is that the Howard County Republican Party didn’t produce any candidates for County Executive. 

That’s a big difference. The Sun’s title suggests something fishy is at work to give Democrats something that Republicans won’t get. It’s factually untrue and the framing is misleading. To be clear, the article itself lays out the issue far better than the title does. But: sheesh! 

And, another thing:

Interviewed for the article: Ken Ulman, Democrat. Trent Kittleman, Republican. Roger Hartley, academic. All three are white. Were there no non-white notables available?

Speaking of the all-white problem, let’s talk about this photo:


“Ex-Gov Ehrlich tells Howard County Republicans they still have a chance.” (Len Lazarick, Maryland Reporter, 3/12/2023.)


I don’t know what Mr. Ehrlich’s message was that evening but it doesn’t seem to have been convincing or effective. One of the current candidates for County Executive is a Republican who switched parties to run. I guess he didn’t think he “still had a chance” as a Republican. 

I wish that the person who was tasked with slapping a title on this piece (because it most likely wasn’t the reporter) had done readers the courtesy of just telling the truth. It’s supposed to be a straight news piece.

“No Republicans registered to run for County Executive in Howard County”

That’s it. That’s the truth.  The words carry no implications, judgement, or emotional weight. The article can explain the particulars. It’s so, so simple and the Sun just blew it.

And, for the love of God, can the Sun please stop digging up those Calvin Ball election night photos from 2018? Can they not afford up-to-date photojournalism anymore? It’s a bad look. It reads tired, lazy, and unmotivated.

There’s an editorial comment in there but I’ll let it go.


Village Green/Town² Comments 


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  1. Julia A. McCreadyMay 3, 2026 at 4:10 AM

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