Overheard [in comments]:

But the Hearst owned Chronicle has historically veered as close to the right as they possibly could, without pissing off the natives. The tories who sold them the paper did likewise. What adds insult to injury, as far as I'm concerned, is that they're the only game in town, and they're chickenshit to the core. They scream poverty, yet publish a paper geared toward Arkansas shitkickers. They could make money hand over fist if they wrote for the people of this area. But with owners like Hearst, that's a pipe dream.

Don't get me wrong- there is real talent that writes for that rag. The aforementioned gentlemen [Matier and Ross]; the great columnist, Jon Carrol; and a sportwriting lineup that is as good as it gets. But the reactionary whiphand that drives the paper will never change.

It's a crappy, crappy newspaper, unfortunately. The only thing I'd disagree with above is about the "sportswriting": it's ungodly bad. I like Carroll though.