In the wake of eBay's suit against Craiglist, we get a touch more fear and loathing from a newspaper about the online classifieds site and local bulletin board from the Times:

[Craigslist] is also a site that is deeply tied up with the fate of newspapers — indeed, many in the newspaper industry blame the site's founder, Craig Newmark, for the downturn in their classified-advertising business.

The Times pegs the company's revenue at $80 million to $100 million annually — a lowball estimate, from what we hear — and gets founder and chairman Newmark to admit he's never donated more than $20,000 to any particular cause. But it's the kicker that makes on wonder how enthusiastic a capitalist Newmark is. "We know these guys in Google and the eBay guys, and they are not any happier than anyone else," says Newmark. "A lot of money is a burden." $10 million, his estimated take from a deal with eBay to let them buy shares in Craigslist, must not be enough for Newmark to feel burdened. Give it away, Craig — you have nothing to lose but your chains! Not to mention the Times photo, in full below, which made me wonder whether Newmark and Lenin were separated at birth.

10:20 AM on Mon May 12 2008
By Jackson West
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8 comments

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narnio at 10:25 AM on 05/12/08
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"In the face of this expansion, Mr. Newmark is becoming more of a public figure, capitalizing on his success to promote causes that include supporting the Barack Obama campaign and financing investigative journalism - not, he insists, to compensate for any damage Craigslist has done to the newspaper business, which he calls "an urban myth.""
Oh c'mon!
ifstone at 11:03 AM on 05/12/08
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Craigslist does have a Soviet-style aversion to technological progress. Hey Craigy -- could you give us better search functionality? I'm tired of searching for Honda Accords and getting a bunch of Chevy Cavaliers with "Honda Accord" white-texted in their ads. And could you clear away some of the spam and scams?
Rachel Marsden at 11:56 AM on 05/12/08
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Comrade Newmark reminds me of every guy I used to help out of a locker in high school - or shove into one. Apparently he's afraid of my homeys Rupe and Billy O. God, I want to punch this guy in the face.

[img117.imageshack.us]
Rachel Marsden at 11:58 AM on 05/12/08
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( [img117.imageshack.us] )

Whoops. Pic didn't load. :)
Rachel Marsden at 12:09 PM on 05/12/08
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This thread can never have too much O'Reilly.
Koans at 07:52 PM on 05/12/08
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Not interested in money? I guess he has never been married.
133t at 01:51 AM on 05/13/08
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I'm judging this a close win for Newmark. Lenin gets big points for not attempting the comb-over. But, Newmark ties it up for coming up with something useful. Bathing regularly - tips it to Newmark.
bigdowro at 11:56 PM on 05/15/08
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Is Craig Newmark a Leninist ? Sorry that is the stupidiest headline I heard for years. Craig Newmark is not lumpenproletariat is he? He might resemble Mr. Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov but that's all. RTFM. Oops RTRB (i.e. the Red Book):

All reactionaries are paper tigers. In appearance, the reactionaries are terrifying, but in reality they are not so powerful. From a long-term point of view, it is not the reactionaries but the people who are really powerful. (ibid)