Delaraba: 1; Newsday: 0

In what has blossomed into an epic battle of the bullies, Nassau Police Benevolent Association President Gary Delaraba wins the belt over his worthy contender, the Newsday editorial pages.

Here's why.

The Nassau PBA has launched a series of attack ads focusing on the Newsday editorial pages, claiming they are arrogant, bullying, one-sided and, in effect, a shadow government. Newsday Editorial Page Editor Jim Klurfeld's response (in Newsday, May 21, 2006) was a simple editorial-writers-are-paid-to-write-their-opinions type of answer.

Not so fast, Jim.

While it's true editorial writers are privileged to view the world from their bully pulpits, that doesn't give them the right to act like bullies. Nor does it mean only the doctrine according to the editor and his supporting apostles is all that's meant to appear in the editorial pages.

Here's where Delaraba starts edging ahead.

The Nassau PBA prez's bone of contention is that Newsday has failed to print his letters and opinions that range from offering a different point of view to outright contradicting the self-appointed gods of editorial privilege. Klurfeld's response, again in Newsday, was that Delaraba's writings were "inaccurate."

Given that Delaraba would be what is known as a "primary source" in journalism, it's hard to fathom how he could pen an opinion piece or letter that would be so erroneous it failed to have merit.

It leads inquiring minds to speculate: Perhaps the writings were one sided? Yes, but of course. Keep in mind: It's an opinion piece, and that's allowed. (That's also why reporters in the newsroom seldom open doors for editorial types.) Arrogant? Possibly. Bullying? Probably. Inaccurate? Doubtful.

In fairness to Newsday, we haven't seen Delaraba's alleged contributions. In fairness to Delaraba, we've primary sourced the Newsday editorial situation, and we're witness to the we-only-print-opinions-that-agree-with-us philosophy.

And that's where Delaraba scores, by bringing to the public consciousness the Newsday editorial pages' unconscionable behavior. Those in power are responsible for helping those who are not. Instead, we find those in power prefer to harness ideas and opinions in order to pretend they lead when, in fact, they manipulate the direction of the trusting herd.

But now, things are changing. Newspaper circulation, including Newsday's, continues to decline. Along with it, the power of the editorial. In fact, you could argue that the problem with newspapers in general is embodied in the Newsday editorial pages in particular: Out of touch, teetering on irrevelant opinions offered by a generation of writers that takes things like a permanent address for granted and the two-party system to heart.

When power starts to fade, bullies take to arm twisting, because the shouting now falls on too many deaf ears. The irony here is Newsday editorial pages, and Klurfeld in particular, are often rightly accused of being bullies. So, too, Delaraba. Even Newsday's Larry Levy referred to Delaraba as a bully back in 2005. Perhaps they're all scuffling to determine a new pecking order, but it's to no avail.

The problem with bullies is not that they're pack dogs, but that they're alpha-dog wannabes. True leaders don't huff and puff and threaten to blow your house down. True leaders only move the house when it's in the best interest of the village and do so, quietly, so as not to disturb the villagers.

Now that Delaraba's made his point so publicly, perhaps he doesn't have to spend as much of the PBA's funds as anticipated for this $20,000-a-week cable advertising campaign. Perhaps Newsday can use this as an excuse to take a hard look at what it is, and what it could and should be doing for this island.