Examining minds want to know

What happens to Richard Riordan's promised weekly newspaper if he runs for governor in the recall free-for-all? The ex-mayor hasn't said publicly, but Matt Welch -- who helped Riordan put together the L.A. Examiner prototype and who says he would have a key role if the paper actually happens -- writes in a comment he posted today on Roger L. Simon's blog:

Riordan has *not* given up the idea of helping launch a newspaper. If he somehow opts against running for governor, he plans to pursue the project. I *assume*, though I haven't heard it from his lips, that he wouldn't attempt to launch something while running for guvnah, though the entertainment value of that would certainly be interesting.

Simon had lamented the possible demise of the L.A. Examiner, based on a comment Welch wrote on his own blog two days ago. That comment dealt with the status of the paper and of LAExaminer.com, the website Welch and Ken Layne began before Riordan's project came along:

LAexaminer.com remains our very own neglected stepchild, to be beaten, redesigned and used for cheap Riordan jokes at our whim ("our" pertaining exclusively to me & Ken). This has always been true. If Dick becomes governor -- and right now I'm hoping he does -- then I cannot currently fathom a situation where he would also be taking any role whatsoever in any publication called the LA Examiner.

LAExaminer.com has posted one entry since July 10. The original publisher of the print Examiner, Jane Kahn, has gone off to Distinction as publisher.