It's a rag not even suitable for wrapping rotting fish.

to those poor fish.

A notable Fredericksburg-area Dem is famous for this quote:

"I would not line a bird-cage with the Free Lance-Star for fear that someone might accuse me of animal cruelty!"

This is the same newspaper that refused to publish a story about the local Commonwealth's Attorney (Harvey Latney) in Caroline County receiving campaign contributions from defense attorneys or a story about a defense attorney soliciting donations to Latney's reimbursement fund for money stolen by his secretary!

They only published the story after a blog (mine) and the Richmond Times-Dispatch published something first!

Journal (at least until Murdoch gets his claws on the news department): very conservative editorial page; news coverage generally tries to portray no bias

Free Lance Star: editorial page, at least in terms of the editorial boards' own opinions, will surprise you with their grasp on reality; news coverage features GOP candidates getting all the front page and positive coverage play

Case in point: The Pollard/Stuart state senate coverage.

News department kicked off the reporting when the match-up was first finalized by using a file pic of Pollard, heavily bearded, looking like he had just joined the Weather Underground. Stuart, of course, got modern day pic. Then last Sunday, who got the front page campaign story, with pic: Stuart. Surely Pollard had been out campaining on Saturday too, but no mention of him.

Editorial page the board refused to endorse a candidate, saying they thought both of them had run in effect a dirty campaign.  And they endorsed Edd Houck in the other local state senate race.

That was Jonathan Pollard -- the convicted spy! FLS put Albert's name under the picture of a convicted spy, who is absolutely no relation to Albert.

Media General owned operation? That pretty much says it all.

If you admired Norman Mailer go to  http://rickhowellspe...  for a fine recap of Mailer's work and life.

Josiah (Joe) Rowe is the publisher.

Price Jett Jr. the GOP write-in candidate for Stafford School Board (supposedly a non-partisan post!) received fabulous coverage, several articles, daily fawning LTEs, etc. He spent almost $3000 in campaign funds at the FLS (I know because I saw the check). Patricia Mancini who won only got 2 LTEs (out of several submitted) and one was published after I called up and complained to Paul Akers. They did print a non-defamatory article about her Friday before the Election Day, at least, but we had to call and complain about that, too.

I don't suppose we'll be reading the story about how Saturday night as the canvassing was completed and the election was certified Bill Howell and Scott Mayausky were screaming at the Election Board about how Price Jett's supporters were being short-changed because they couldn't figure out how to cast a proper write-in ballot. The story as I have heard it involved threats to call the Sheriff to clear these overwrought elected officials from the premises. Tell it to the voters in West Palm Beach FL!