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Interview:
Howard Baer, Founder, Politics.com
: 18th August 2003
*In 2005 Howard Baer lauched TheAnonymousEmail.com
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In
keeping with Media Man Australia's tradition of
tackling any subject, we explore the world of
politics.
Howard
Baer is the Founder of Politics.com. I political
portal of sorts.
We
explore the political world, what makes Howard
tick, freedom of the press and more.
What's
your background?
High
school grad (barely). Thrown out of high school
and attended Cambridge
Academy, Cambridge, Mass for my senior year. Was
VP student council, Treasurer of the Drama club,
VP student newspaper and starred in the senior
play. Got involved in the investment business
at the age of 16 and have been in it ever since.
How,
why and when did you get your interest, and subsequent
break in politics and media?
Never
did. Was always a writer including "Howard
R. Baer's People, Places and Things", which
was pulsated in a local city newspaper where I
lived. Politics is not really what I do. I'm an
Investment Banker by trade.
What
are your aims and objectives?
To
launch my new Nutraceutical company. To make money.
To rebuild the Politics
web site. To live life to the fullest.
What
motivates you?
Any
challenge whatsoever.
What
media coverage have you received?
During
the election of 2000, when all the new political
websites were hot and heavy. I was called and
asked by the NY
Post how I intended to cover the election
for Politics.com. I told them I had no intentions
of trying to compete with CNN,
AP, etc
How
could an upstart website possibly hire enough
people to cover the entire country?
Impossible.
Well, Politics.com was the leading political website
at the time and everyone picked up on that news,
most saying that I was the only honest and realistic
person running any of the political sites. Everyone
covered it. Even Paul Harvey did a segment on
us. That was the moment of fame for Politics.com.
We also won the 2000
Webby award for the best Political web site.
What
effect has the current election in California
had on you?
It
has given me a few real good laughs.
What
do you look for in a good writer?
Truth,
entertainment, humor, honesty and controversy.
Where
do your submissions come from?
Various
places, but I'm not really happy with any of them.
Explain
freedom of the press?
Tough
one without looking like I have no idea where
my head is. This will take you beyond the freedom
of the press and to my thoughts on various things.
I think freedom of the press should have some
limitations, even if they are not written, but
assumed. There should be no privileges if anyone,
writer or citizen, has knowledge of certain criminal
events that could help put a killer or menace
to society in jail. There should be limitations
to freedom when other people can be hurt by someone
not talking.
I
think any American burning the American flag should
be jailed. I think other countries that we support
with food, money and military protection that
burn the American flag or allow their citizens
to do so should be shut off automatically. These
people go out and burn the flag, burn mock ups
of our presidents, then go home and eat the food
we put on their tables. Bullshit, that is wrong.
All Americans work their asses off for their wages
and should not have their tax dollars support
the animals in some of these third world countries.
If
someone wants to criticize our leaders, that is
fine as long as it doesn't get personal and insulting.
These things just make us look bad to other countries
that thrive on believing the Americans are idiots.
No question, some of us are, but not all of us.
I don't believe in welfare unless person collecting
is absolutely destitute or handicapped. Way too
many people in this country could be working but
choose to live off the rest of us. Put the capable
ones to work cleaning up our highways and parks.
Drug dealers thieves and murderers should be put
in prison with bread and water, not TV's and air
conditioning. Realistically, rapist's and child
molesters should be castrated, wife beaters should
be stoned, and murderers should be hung. (I can
go on with this if you like)
How
has the Internet helped you?
Makes
everything easier to handle.
Who
will win in California, and why?
Arnold.
A Reagan remembrance vote. Also has incredible
power behind him via the Kennedy's, etc. Plus
he is very likable.
How
hard do you work?
14
hours a day and weekends if need be.
The
biggest compliment you have received?
Came
from several women and you don't want to print
it.
How
are you perceived as by others?
Not
sure. Never asked.
What
do you to relax?
Ride
my Harley. Hang around with my wife. This is my
4th, she is 16 years younger that me and she is
fun to be around. Otherwise, I love to work in
my yard, which is 2 1/2 acres of very lush landscaping.
Was referred to by Fox
news as the Maui of Arizona.
What
other important information should our readers
know about you and Politics.com?
The
site is in very bad shape right now due to some
past financial and management problems. We will
be working to rebuild it over the next several
months.
...end.
Editors
note: An interesting, straight up, in your face
interview. We look forward to stayin in touch
and contributing to the good work of Howard and
his team.
Links:
Politics.com
added
in 2005
TheAnonymousEmail.com
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