The Mainstream Media & its Aversion to Substance

No Surprise (0.00 / 0)

"Thus, in their aversion to substance, the mainstream news outlets in particular are assisting a presidential candidate who not only holds egregious policy positions, he also holds almost half of America as outside of his sphere of concern."

With the upper echelon of media corporations being members of the Romney/Ryan designated class to receive tax benefits it is not surprising that they subtly assist their election chances.

---

by: glennbear @ Sat Oct 13, 2012 at 13:59:55 PM UTC

And, of course, no mention either (0.00 / 0)

of the constant smirking of Ryan and Mitt Romney.  Mitt looked bleary eyed, but no mention of that.  Mitt sipped of sentences going nowhere, tangled up policy, and performed like an empty-headed buffoon, robotically reciting what was programmed into it.


There's nothing in the middle of the road except yellow stripes and dead armadillos (Jim Hightower). PS I'm on Twitter here.

---

by: KathyinBlacksburg @ Sat Oct 13, 2012 at 16:09:41 PM UTC

It's a race to the bottom, as the media (0.00 / 0)

desperately tries to stay in business by appealing to the lowest common denominator (e.g., dumbing things down BIG TIME, sensationalizing everything, always reporting the outlier, desperately trying not to anger the right-wing bullies), and the consumers of said media become increasingly misinformed. How do we stop this vicious cycle? I'm not sure, but am interested in ideas.

Follow me on Twitter. Follow Blue Virginia on Facebook and Twitter.

---

by: lowkell @ Sat Oct 13, 2012 at 17:41:57 PM UTC

Dumbing down (0.00 / 0)

I totally agree, the GOP primary debates attracted HUGE audiences of the same people who faithfully watch "America's got talent", "Dancing with the stars", etc. etc. ad nauseum. Media bean counters saw the ratings produced and pushed the general election coverage in the same direction. The GOP/Rove machine well knows that with the viewing audience showing signs of brain death they can get away with lies and misinformation which not only fires up their base but also pleases the mass media. The GOP poll jump after the first Presidential debate was not so much an indictment of Democratic positions but rather a "performance scorecard" of reality show contestants instead of Presidential candidates. Conversely, the Romney "hidden video" coverage helped the Dems so much because it was just the sort of thing that the low information/Jerry Springer watching crowd could relate to. American elections have unfortunately moved towards entertainment talent shows orchestrated by the media and Rupert Murdoch is laughing with glee.  

---

by: glennbear @ Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 13:46:47 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Why Republicans smirk so smugly so often (0.00 / 0)

We have previously noted the smug smirks that show up so frequently on Republican faces (not just the male faces, either), at all levels from Wall Street masters-of-the-universe to Romney and other party leaders, right on down to local GOP office holders and even campaign workers and lowly supporters. They all have a secret: they are certain they know something the feckless Democrats and other naive losers do not: the world is rigged in their favor. Why are they so certain? Many reasons, here are a few:

1) God told them he loves them best, only their religion is Right on God, and they alone are Saved; or

2) They have the inside track on making money because they understand economics and finance, whereas most people are too lazy to do what's necessary (not What you know but Who you know); or

3) Only they really understand human nature: all other people are inferior, being wimps, foolish, lazy, undisciplined (especially true if they also happen to wear darker-than-white skin);

and, most important of all at this moment:
4) Their side controls bodacious resources, which can be deployed instantly to overwhelm opponents, including control of  electronic voting machine software, which is already being rigged to tip the election in swing states like Ohio---- there is absolutely no doubt that this power means they will win the election

If you were Romney-Ryan, wouldn't you smile at the thought that your opponents can natter on all they want, but when the votes are counted, they are secure in the knowledge that their votes will be there, however many they need? Just like the overwhelming majorites that tinhorn dictators can manufacture in their fake elections, Republicans know in their hearts they will pull it off when they need it (only doing it perhaps a little more subtly than the tin-horn set, because they can afford to use expensive modern psychologically based advertising and mind control, plus they own an obedient base with the submissive authoritarian-follower mind set).  

---

by: Teddy Goodson @ Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 15:18:25 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Rigging ? (0.00 / 0)

I am not questioning the veracity of your claim Teddy but do you have some sources supporting it? Given their history I would not put it past the GOP/Rove machine to pull such a stunt but without further sources/claims it sounds too much like one of the conspiracy theories/excuses used by the right for poor electoral performance. We do our cause no favor by using the GOP tactics and run the risk of alienating the elusive undecided voters if we are making spurious claims.  

---

by: glennbear @ Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 16:32:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Agreed, I've seen ZERO evidence of anything like that (0.00 / 0)

and would STRONGLY advise against throwing around conspiracy theories at all, let alone without any serious evidence.

Follow me on Twitter. Follow Blue Virginia on Facebook and Twitter.

---

by: lowkell @ Sun Oct 14, 2012 at 17:03:20 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Take a look at (0.00 / 0)

http://www.dailykos.com/story/... as well as Greg Palast's new book "Billionaires and Ballot Bandits." Understandably, present moment documentation is, by its nature, not available, but there is pretty strong evidence of past monkeyshines, and the same visible circumstances are present today. Sorry I did not put up the links, mea culpa.

Also, given the incredible amounts of anonymoua iuse money gushing from Super PACs, almost all of it being spent to support ultra-conservatives, and what we have lerned about the unprincipled machinations of Wall Street take-over artists, it really does look like the plot of a blockbuster novel, IMO. I tend to believe that Democrats, ever the optimists, are a bit naive and make the perfect mark for a con man.

---

by: Teddy Goodson @ Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 16:08:53 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Link is broken. (0.00 / 0)

n/t

Follow me on Twitter. Follow Blue Virginia on Facebook and Twitter.

---

by: lowkell @ Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 16:27:24 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Corporate media (0.00 / 0)

Since all we have basically is a corporate media there is not going to be anything but smirks or something else on democratic candidates. In my neighborhood it is mostly Romney/Ryan signs and I am thinking have any of these people actually paid any attention to their conflicting statements. I guess not.  

---

by: Jim B @ Sat Oct 13, 2012 at 18:01:37 PM UTC

What about Ryan's smirkiness? (0.00 / 0)

I found Paul Ryan's smarmy smirks to be much more obnoxious than Joe Biden's smiles and laughs. Ryan looked like he was trying to feign respect but actually held Biden in haughty contempt. His cockiness and arrogance was un-watchable. I had to leave the room to calm down several times.  

---

by: richmonder @ Sat Oct 13, 2012 at 20:16:31 PM UTC

Agreed. Ryan was utterly insufferable, as was Romney (0.00 / 0)

against Obama, yet the media COMPLETELY ignored that! Yet right-wingers continue to claim the media is biased in the LIBERAL direction?!? It would be laughable if it weren't so maddening, dangerous, corrosive, and false.

Follow me on Twitter. Follow Blue Virginia on Facebook and Twitter.

---

by: lowkell @ Sat Oct 13, 2012 at 20:25:26 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

What are the chances the corporate media will report this? (0.00 / 0)

"Mitt Romney and Bain Capital continue to move good, American jobs overseas for big profits. Watch and share the story of Sensata workers in Freeport, Ill., to see how selling out American workers and moving jobs to China continues to line Romney's pockets."

Follow me on Twitter. Follow Blue Virginia on Facebook and Twitter.

---

by: lowkell @ Sat Oct 13, 2012 at 21:56:35 PM UTC

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/12/1143834/-Will-H-I-G-Owned-E-Voting-Machines-Give-Romney-the-White-House (0.00 / 0)

---

by: Teddy Goodson @ Mon Oct 15, 2012 at 23:13:03 PM UTC