This is news?

The Tribune ran a piece today about an employee of the Montana Secretary of State's office, Bowen Greenwood, who 'outed' himself as Neomadison on What's Right in Montana.

Um, that was 17 days ago.

As a point of reference, that was the same day on which the Tribune reported that Kitzenberg had switched parties. Can you say "old news?"

Further, in referencing the post in which Superman revealed his Clark Kent netroots, the Tribune failed to even include the link.

Note to the 'old media': More color photos and graphs ain't the answer. Please forgive my Spadian syntax, but it's called the 21st Century. You might want to join us.

And, as far as the substantive suggestion that Greenwood was doing something wrong, I agree with Wulfgar's point that, as a practical matter, Greenwood's postings could cause political problems for his employer. The suggestion, though, that public employment requires some sort of "full disclosure" before one can express non-libelous/slanderous views on political matters flies in the face of our most precious Amendment. I think we all, on both sides, need to start moving away from the idea that there are some political beliefs that are just "wrong."

If we start from the premise that all political positions are legitimate, why is it my business what a government employee believes, or what he posts on a public forum on his own time? If Wulfgar is correct that no government employee can post anonymously, then it means that every time a government employee states a political position, it had better be done publicly with his or her moniker firmly attached. That would mean that we are entitled to know the political views of everyone who draws a taxpayer check. I respectfully disagree.