Scott Boggio's apology

Boggio did the appropriate thing, even if a bit late, by apologizing for his DUI and taking full responsibility. He also did the smart thing by bypassing the press entirely and taking out an ad in the Billings Gazette (and presumably other local papers in his district)to do so:

To my family, friends, neighbors, and constituents, I wish to extend a most sincere apology for my total lack of good judgement that led to my DUI. I accept full responsibility for my conduct. It was an experience that I will never forget and will dedicate myself to never repeating. Unfortunately it is the people that I love the most that I have hurt the most.

-- Scott Boggio

Speaking of the press, Montana Headlines would make this postscript to our Sunday Roundup remarks on the Judy Martz comments. She stated in her speech that the press wouldn't report what she had to say, so of course the press dutifully did report what she said -- and it didn't come off well, in our opinion.

Martz is correct that the Montana press gives our governor a free ride, but the problem with the press is not a failure to report Republican criticisms. The problem is that the press doesn't do the hard work of investigating those criticisms to see whether they are based in fact or not.

The one piece that has been done was the one on Walter Schweitzer on which we have commented -- and that one probably wouldn't have happened had George Ochenski at the little Missoula Independent written about it, followed by Ed Kemmick picking up on it in his blog.

Martz has to be frustrated because of the detailed scrutiny that she got. What she doesn't seem to realize is that the press took her to the woodshed based on the public image she portrayed. In short, she made it easy for the Montana press.

Schweitzer, as we have said before, is a master politician. His public image is perfectly tailored and carefully scripted. In short, he makes it easy for the press to portray him positively.

It would take hard work for a reporter to dig around in the Schweitzer administration to find the things Martz is talking about, if they exist. And if the Montana press has either the inclination or the energy to do that, they're being pretty quiet about it.