Ralph Nader on today's This Week (ABC)

Ralph Nader will be on ABC's This Week shortly. We probably will not have posted any articles before it starts. So we thought it wise to be sure anyone dropping by had a heads up.

"We" is Ty, Jess, Ava and C.I. Dona and Jim are on vacation (out of the country). The rough version of the edition is done. All that's needed is typing and polishing and we're minuse four hands (Dona and Jim). We long ago released everyone else. What's probably finished already is a short piece that notes an e-mail, the TV commentary, a piece on sexism in the MSM and, yes, the speculation piece.

Ty pulled up the e-mails and a number of visitors are convinced we're not posting the speculation piece and that's why nothing's up. For us, on our normal schedule, we're not even late in posting articles. Newbies, take note, there have been Sundays where new content has not gone up until 6:00 p.m.

The speculation article is written. We'd like to do a note of some kind at the top to be sure that everyone grasps we're recording what was said, we weren't there. With the exception of stating that a document produced thus far is not authentic, we're not stating anything is true. We are noting what has been told in multiple interviews. "You're worried about your credibility!" scoffs one who accuses of us "chickening out". Credibility?

We had credibility?

Who knew.

No, we're not "chickening out." We need a better conclusion for a piece on war resistance during Vietnam, we need a better opening for the editorial and we haven't even given a thought to illustrations (we may not use any). Dona and Jim are not just sitting around each edition asking, "What have you got?" They're actively participating in the writing, they're actively editing Dona especially remains an editor until the last thing is posted -- saying, "No, that's not what our readers count on. Pull that, grab the notes, there's got to be something better." There's a reason she goes through three packs of cigarettes and two two-liters of Diet Coke each edition. Jim is very good at finding the note of grace in a peace and polishing it.

We couldn't "chicken out" on the speculation piece if we wanted to. We worked four hours on the first draft. To "chicken out" would require that we stay up past the time required for editing and polishing to do another feature article and we're not in the mood. We also have a dealine with Ty who leaves in thirty minutes. The edition will post. If we have to drink Dona's Diet Cokes and smoke her cigarettes, it will post.