By Ben Olsen
Sandpoint Reader
Bouquets:
• Three cheers to the stage crew and staff at the Festival at Sandpoint. It was surely a hot few days erecting the stage at War Memorial Field. If you attend the shows — even from outside the fence — please give a nod to the many, many people it takes to make it happen.
Barbs:
• Sen. Scott Herndon gets yet another Barb this week for his ill-conceived “just asking questions” videos posted to social media after the Army Surplus 1 arson suspect was arrested. Because the suspect, Jennifer Meyer, once rented a room five years ago from Steve Johnson (who has run for office registered as a Democrat and an Independent), Herndon recorded two repetitious videos in which he made several suppositions and innuendos about a political connection to the arson. In the videos, he claimed he was “merely raising interesting connections.” Never mind that those “interesting connections” had already been investigated by police and reported in the Reader, complete with an actual explanation from Steve Johnson himself.
I’m so over the whole “I’m just asking questions” schtick. It’s lazy and it doesn’t add anything to a story except fear, uncertainty and doubt. People who “just ask questions” are really phrasing their beliefs as a question in an intellectually dishonest attempt to appear unbiased. Asking questions is fine, but one must be willing to accept the answers when they are given, not just pump more nonsense into the ether to keep the ignorant base frothy. Also, it’s important to ask the right questions of the right people, not idly speculate based on half-cocked “research” without context.
To be clear: There is no evidence that supports a suspect lighting the fire for political reasons. When/if there is a motive to report we will certainly hear from our competent local law enforcement and relay the story accordingly. Unlike Herndon, journalists actually source their stories with facts, not just wild theories grown out of their neckbeards. Perhaps Herndon should concentrate on finishing his lame duck term as senator.