From fringe to crackpot?

Erstwhile and future minor candidate for mayor Walter Moore proves a lightweight in an email exchange with L.A. Times editorial page editor Jim Newton, blogged by Ron Kaye. According to Moore, the Times coverage of gangs and Special Order 40 is purposely skewed to advance the business interests of Hoy, the Spanish language paper owned by the Times. Moore seems to think he has discovered this unhidden affiliation, and wants the Times to "disclose its conflict of interest." Newton, rightly, points out that it's nuts to believe that concerns about Hoy drive anything at the Times, especially on the editorial page. "I have no idea whether they've taken a position. I don't even know who runs Hoy or how it's doing," he writes. Moore responds by flailing erratically, calling Newton "part of big business's propaganda program to boost profits." Okayyyy.... There are plenty of smart people on both sides of the Special Order 40 debate, but unfortunately, in some L.A. circles Moore's bumpkin ranting passes for informed discourse. Here's the weirdest part: the Times included Moore in its list of "prominent Angelenos" who commented on the issue in the Sunday paper.