The Republic's EJ Montini is making up a story about Governor Brewer and we get to be there for the foundation stage. Montini likes to make up a catch phrase that he can throw into every column. The old catch phrase was "de facto Governor Russell Pearce..." This, of course, made no sense but that didn't seem to matter to Montini. Now that Russell is taking a one-year sabbatical from the Senate, Montini needs a new phrase. So he's writing a little fiction about Governor Brewer.
Here it is: Now that Jan Brewer has elevated her professional status from governor to savior,
This is, like I said, pure fiction. In fact, Montini himself has to concede the phrase is fiction in the very column in which he introduces it. Here's the concession.
Since Brewer declared in her State of the State speech that "Arizona has been saved" (by her, apparently),
"Apparently"? In other words, she hasn't "elevated her professional status from governor to savior..." She has simply said that Arizona has been saved. So the catch phrase is false.
Actually, even the word "apparently" is false. Here's the full line from Brewer's speech.
Arizona has been saved. And, you were a part of that great mission.
Brewer was discussing the state's fiscal condition and she gives credit to the legislature and then goes on to say that "we had a plan." That plan included Prop 100, for which she sought the approval from voters.
So there you have it. Governor Brewer said that the fiscal condition of the state was saved by the legislature, voters and herself. And she is, of course, right.
Montini is making up pure fiction and in his first column he had to run the disclaimer "apparently". In the future, he will not use the disclaimer, he will simply declare that Governor Brewer has "elevated her professional status from governor to savior."
It won't stop there...the national lefty blogs will read Montini's future columns and assume that he's not actually making it up. Since he's a journalist and works at the state's newspaper of record, they will read the phrase and assume that it's actually true. Then MSNBC producers will read the lefty blogs and Chris Matthews or Rachel Maddow will declare that Governor Brewer is an awful person with some sort of Messianic complex because she has declared herself to be the savior.
Brewer will say that she never called herself a "savior" and the comenters will snort derisively and proclaim that she's a liar. But we know who the liar is. We know that the statement is fiction...because we were here for the foundation.
Monitni is a fictional character. So what more could you expect? Apparently.
Posted by: RonJ | January 13, 2012 at 11:39 AM
Montini is worse than a liberal or Democrat hack. I can respect a hack. Can't respect this guy.
Posted by: RgP | January 13, 2012 at 12:18 PM
What I'm wondering is, where's Robert Woodman with a 2,000-word, unintelligible screed trying to spin this so it's all the fault of conservatives?
Posted by: PaulS | January 13, 2012 at 12:24 PM
To spend so much time attacking rhetorical devices in an opinion column is a little silly. I don't get any sense of irony from your commentary here, so I assume this really bothers you and you believe it is a lie. Montini's is an opinion column. He has a point of view on the governor and on Russell Pearce. A lie is something else, like if Montini said that Pearce was removed from office for capital crimes or something less exaggerated like the governor is considering changing her party affiliation to Democrat.
Full disclosure: I know Montini, although I haven't talked with him in years. We used to work together at the Republic. We even had lunch once. I think that's all the dark secrets I have in that regard. I am not the president of his fan club or anything like that. Take care.
Posted by: S. Caputo | January 13, 2012 at 12:55 PM
S. Caputo: We all understand Montini writes an opinion piece. It has been well said that you have a right to your own opinion, but not to your own facts. It would be nice if Montini would occasionally use facts (other than his own) in forming and writing his opinion.
It has been my sad experience to have met Montini on more than one occasion (thankfully not a lunch). He's no different in person than in print--only shorter.
Posted by: RonJ | January 13, 2012 at 02:08 PM
Ed Montini, the "de facto" spokeshead for the Democrat Party.
Wonder if Ed as criticizing the Obama-Messiah complex?
Posted by: chick | January 13, 2012 at 07:09 PM
Definition of SAVIOR
1
: one that saves from danger or destruction
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/savior
Hmm, If Arizona was saved, the person who saved her is a Savior.
Of course, as Robert Robb pointed out the governor's claim is premature.
Posted by: westsider | January 18, 2012 at 02:55 PM
Montini is at it again. Column about Sheriff he has to use his "de facto" Gov quote again. I guess old habits are hard to quit.
Posted by: chick | January 20, 2012 at 12:51 AM