It is indeed, sadly, "standard". That doesn't make it good.
> This instance only stands to you because it makes you uncomfortable.
It doesn't make me "uncomfortable". I think it's stupid.
> Own up to the specific reason for that instead of acting like the existence of "politics" in a general sense is somehow evil.
Politics are not evil. Including them in everything, when they don't need to be included, is just bad journalism. And by the way...I would say this if the mayor in question was on any side of the ideoligical spectrum. Would you?
> This instance only stands to you because it makes you uncomfortable.
It doesn't make me "uncomfortable". I think it's stupid.
> Own up to the specific reason for that instead of acting like the existence of "politics" in a general sense is somehow evil.
Politics are not evil. Including them in everything, when they don't need to be included, is just bad journalism. And by the way...I would say this if the mayor in question was on any side of the ideoligical spectrum. Would you?