Those of us who veer all over the road, down through the ditches and occasionally into the corn field to find material aren't lazy, but we do have it easy compared to bloggers who pick a beat, cover it diligently and don't let themselves be distracted by the grass on the other side of the fence.
In fact, the good ones would have the self-discipline to avoid writing a sentence like the last one.
If there were such a thing as a Blog of Record in the First Congressional District, it would be A Bluestem Prairie. BSP covers goings-on in the First so well that it's a required stop for anyone, including metro reporters and state party animals, who wants a clear picture of what's going on there.
Readers of BSP knew Tim Walz was going to beat Guttnecht and charm Washington long before anyone else did. Not because Ollie Ox told us, but because she reported what was going on. What a concept.
The DM&E railroad loan was another story she stuck with, starting early on, and now we hear from her that the loan did not go through. BSP can't take credit for that, but who knows where the story would've been on the state and national radar over the last few months without that patient, focused local attention.
Hacks like Michael Brodkorb get the attention and the newspaper ink. Real writers like Ollie get to make a difference once in awhile.
