Saying Good-bye. . . Finally. . . To McLean County Pundit
A note from Kathy Michael, Founder and Editor of McLean County Pundit:
UPDATED 11/5/2010
McP signs off, with thanks to all Readers, after 5 years of excellent Punditry.
Well today’s the day we close up shop, per my article below, and say the final good-bye to McLean County Pundit. It’s a sad day all around as we also say good-bye to the Brady campaign team and family as Bill Brady concedes the close election. (see following post)
We congratulate the many winners of the November 2 elections, no matter what your Party. To make the sacrifices to run for office, money and emotional, is to be commended. Congratulations to all of you; even those of you who lost your races. Thank you for having the courage to take part in our great Democracy.
And as Bill Brady said today in his concluding remarks, “Life’s too short to rule anything out.”
We wish you well.
(This website is now closed to all posts and comments. Thank you again loyal readers, contributing writers, especially Co-Editor Dark Knight, Smileys Pundit and Managing Editor JE Myers and the many other writers and participants. )
NOTE: Kathy Michael (McPundit) is no longer involved in any blog. The Being Downtown blog is under the sole ownership and direction of JE Myers. It looks like a great one, I’ll certainly be reading it with great envy and going through writer’s withdrawal pains! Best of success to a great writer, JE Myers!)
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It wasn’t an easy decision. I just told several folks recently, that McLean County Pundit would continue forever, and in fact, thanks to the incredible work, innovations and the added professional writing skills of Managing Editor JE Myers; we ramped up the design and added sister site, “Blue” McPundit. However, after much agonizing and thought, Wednesday, November 3, following our election results wrap-up and analysis, McLean County Pundit will close up shop.
On November 2, I will become the elected, McLean County Clerk. As most of the readers here know, I won the Primary Election over 3 opponents, and face no General Election opponent. A large part of the County Clerk’s duties includes overseeing the election process. Because this site is, for the most part, political viewpoints in nature; I don’t want to bring any kind of mis-perception to the election process here in McLean County. It’s been a painful decision as this site has been my passion for five years; and under the direction of JE Myers, we recently launched “Blue” McPundit and were going to be adding the Green Party and Libertarian Party, their own Opinion Pages with possible websites in the future; all in the effort to give a “fair and balanced” political voice for McLean County and beyond. (smile)
However, the potential for a perceived conflict of interest is just too great, and the office of County Clerk, its staff, and the public deserve my 100% attention.
Readers probably can’t fully appreciate what a difficult decision this has been for Kathy. As her webmaster since 2008, and her managing editor for the last several months, I know what this enterprise has meant to her. Kathy can appreciate how some people might construe her ownership of this business to be a conflict of interest. That takes a true sense of the public good. I know that Kathy is wholly dedicated to delivering SERVICE to the people of McLean County as Clerk. She has exciting, progressive ideas on how to “do more with less” and make doing business with the Clerk’s office easier for everyone. So even though the nearly 25,000 readers a month are going to be losing Kathy Michael’s voice as “McPundit,” 150,000 McLean County citizens will be gaining her as a dedicated Elected Official with an even greater “voice”–in helping to defend fair elections, promote more voter participation, and realize taxpayer savings. I join McP in inviting SOMEONE to step up and take this wonderful not-so-little blog site to the next horizon. Please contact us for details—Kathy on sales details, me on technical insights if need be. Thank you Kathy, and thank you loyal McP readers for this opportunity! –JEM
Say it ain’t so!
This has been a terrific filler of a political news void. I really doubt even if someone buys it, they can duplicate your sources of information; most of the time, dead-on. I will be going through withdrawal, but refuse to read the boring coverage of the local media. booorrrinnnggggggg. . . . . . . Good luck in your new job.
maybe the Pantagraph would buy it and then they’d own something people would actually read.
If Pantagraph bought it they’d be buying a REAL Writer in Myers, a REAL Political Expert in McP, a Real Wise Curmudgeon in DK—and a website that actually LOOKS GOOD, loads fast, and is easy to read!!! Better think about it, Pantagraph!
I read this blog every day; but never comment. I so wish we had this type of blog in every county, to give all sides to isses, and have the ability to “whisper” what’s out there, that regular media can’t (or won’t) talk about; more legally liable I supposed than blogs. I think this will leave a great void; I hope you will reconsider. Your “whispers” are especially good because it’s obvious your sources are the insiders; and this is not just unjust gossip but based on a good semblance of fact; which helps the public “get it” a bit better Anyway, this is a loss for us; but thank you for all the time you have put into this effort and best wishes.
I’m like Springfield Reader; have never commented, but read daily. Not only from an information source, the professional layout of this blog caught my eye; and as an avid political blog reader, is one of the best/professional sites in the State. I have nowhere else to go for information this thorough; I, like Springfield, hope you change your mind.
I hope you change your mind; there is a need for this blog; but regardless of your final decision; thank you for the great information, well-written posts by all your writers, esp. JE and Dark Knight (whom I have grown to love to hate and hate to love); and others. Smileys Pundit will be missed; I’m getting a bit depressed from the withdrawal I’ll be going through. Best wishes.
Job well done. How about not closing shop but taking a vacation and re-evaluate down the road? I hope you choose that option; this is a fantastic news site, especially on local issues and the new Whispers section. Also loved the A Renee critque and was so looking for more. The problem with the Pantagraph and WJBC is they can’t ever do a critique section like that because of fear of loss of ad revenue; that’s what has made this site to valuable. Thanks, whatever your choice, but do think about just a vacation.
Oh mercy, I’m so bummed. Especially when I read that you were considering adding third party sites; so needed here, any county really. Please reconsider; but thank you none-the-less. This had to be a lot like work!
This is a very serious loss! I am stunned! The contributions of McPundit have been enormous in recent years and elections. The void has been especially big since the Pantagraph has generally not covered most local elections.
Agree Tari. I think we all vote, tell McP to go into semi-retirement, and re-think this decision down the road.
This is a definite loss for all readers. Best of luck to Kathy.
unfortunate. best to everyone. adieu
- Gumball f/k/a Ozy
Yes, unfortunate is a good word; one of the most informative and best laid out sites in the state; blogs can simply be gossip and one-sided opinions of an uninformed blogger; this one is not that and much more. Perhaps you will reconsider down the road when your office is running smoothly; this is afterall, your freedom of speech to do so; don’t let your enemies deter you. In any case, thank you for your contribution to fill a much-needed news void.
Please reconsider down the road; don’t sell it; you can always change your mind; and then if/when you do bring ‘er back, expand in include more counties like ours we need a better view of all sides in politics and business up our way; thank McP. Please just go into semi-retirement for now!
You will be missed. Good blog.
Wow. I thought all the morons had been cleared out of here. Snuck back in, eh?
Anybody want to see me work some technical magic?
(Dusting hands off) There ya go! POOF.
Very nice site! is it yours too
I put this off long enough..I have mixed feelings here, and will miss this site. Your political position should in no way interfere with your right to free speech. When I Voted Friday I looked on the ballot several times and Nowhere did I see McP on it. But was proud to make my mark next to Kathy Michael..(CONGRATS!!)
I think you should let the site continue, But step out of the limelight and let DK and Jay take over. I’ll miss the local scoops the most. Now we have nowhere to gripe about those issues without being censored by the pantie paper.. You’ll be truly missed..
Don’t close it down nor sell McP; way too much time and I imagine, money, involved; and everyone can tell this is your true passion. Kudos on wanting to give your all to your new office; however, you have a right to pursue this as long as you keep the two separate; and that will be easily proven; you’re going to get knocked around anyway by your enemies, might as well do what you love in the process. I hope you change your mind; don’t sell; don’t close; just “retire until a later date. . . . ” In any case, thank you for the good read, and the spot on political views; and ditto for all your writers; including the annoying DK, the wise Smiley, and the very talented JE.
I think I agree with most that you reconsider. Put her on “vacation”; and see how your office shapes up; and your time commitments, etc. This is what you do in your own time, just don’t put a target on your back. Talking about issues without endorsing candidates, although you should be able to do that as well but probably wise not to, is needed not just in this county, but elsewhere outside other media who are less prone to take on any type of controversy due to ticking off advertisers aka $.
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