Inside the Collapse of the New Republic • Hacker News Board

Re: Inside the Collapse of the New Republic

#61

Post by accolade » Sat, Dec 13, 2014, 11:10 PM UTC

escape_goat wrote: post #25

There is something deeply tragicomic about Vidra's role in this. I know nothing about the man, and it would be too easy to disparage him on this basis of this report; one should presume that he has management and organizational skills well suited to an executive position, and one should not forget that he seems to have been completely hamstrung by the owner's ill-fated activism and engagement with the magazine, whate…

Excellent comment. I made an account just to say thanks for those great insights.

Re: Inside the Collapse of the New Republic

#62

Post by mturmon » Sun, Dec 14, 2014, 4:33 AM UTC

refulgentis wrote: post #18

mturmon wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems to me that Hughes has surrounded himself with sycophants. This would also explain why he was so upset when his husband's political campaign ran into trouble. He was not used to the criticism. Hence his dismissive attitude toward the writing staff. My hometown paper, the LA Times, also became a money losing proposition, and was sold by the impatient heirs of the founding family to Sam Zell, a Chicago billiona…

The comment about it being okay to watch porn at work rang untrue to me, and I found a primary source that indicates a much milder story, that still itself was a myth: http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2008/02/words_of_chairman_...

Sam Zell visited the LA times newsroom, where he made the comments I quoted regarding "pussy."

Then, he went to the LA Times printing plant and made the comments I mentioned regarding watching porn: http://www.bulldogreporter.com/dailydog/article/turmoil-la-t... So I feel that my facts are not significantly different than the truth.

Also, reviewing the sources, he told the reporter -- a reporter from his own paper -- "fuck you" from the podium, rather than "motherfucker." That one was caught on video. There's much, much more on Zell; don't rule anything out by the ordinary sanity checks.

I find him a fascinating character. Utterly repellent, of course. He illustrates the emptiness of the rebel posture, when isolated from any sense of ethics or dignity. Did I mention that he's had The Eagles, and Fleetwood Mac, play at his birthday parties? It's that rock and roll rebel spirit ;-).

Re: Inside the Collapse of the New Republic

#63

Post by spopejoy » Sun, Dec 14, 2014, 4:57 AM UTC

rpenm wrote: post #30

You'd think neoliberals would welcome a little creative destruction. I hope writers like Cohn, Beutler and Ioffe land on their feet, but I'm shedding no tears for TNR.

It's true, I'm mystified that TNR gets any respect at all. I've always equated them with neoconservative/hawkish Democrat ideology, lockstep allegiance to Israel, support for the invasion of Iraq etc etc. It's funny because when Marty Peretz bought it in the 70s he pretty much kicked everyone out. I don't know what politics Hughes has but here's hoping it's to the left of Peretz/Weiseltier.

Re: Inside the Collapse of the New Republic

#64

Post by smcnally » Sun, Dec 14, 2014, 9:53 AM UTC

dragonwriter wrote: post #60

georgeoliver wrote: post #5

As someone not in the business of tech or journalism I'm left to wonder why Hughes didn't anticipate the editorial staff's reaction to Foer's firing. Going out on a limb, is it possible that tech workers are more likely to go along with the whims of management, and journalists have more stake in their institutions? Or is it that due to the nature of their cultures tech workers have an intrinsic adaptability and journ…

> As someone not in the business of tech or journalism I'm left to wonder why Hughes didn't anticipate the editorial staff's reaction to Foer's firing. Especially after he was pretty directly told by one of the senior editors about earlier appearances that Foer might be on the way out that "For a while there it seemed like Frank was leaving and us senior editors were like, I guess we’re leaving, too!" I mean, there's…

Others share your surprise. From the piece: "Another said, “He was shocked. And I’m kind of shocked that he was shocked. He was trying to make sense of it all.”"