On Wednesday, Dkos diarist
Thereisnospoon compared the influence of internet bloggers and unpaid volunteers vs. the Beltway Democratic political machine in the Connecticut primary..
That's not David vs. Goliath. This isn't even the NBA champions versus a rec league team.That's more like an ant vs. my shoe.
And the shoe lost.
If anyone needed a reminder of how ant-like the blogs influence on public discourse can be, just tune in to any TV or radio station over the last couple of days. As the media giants shift into ATATT mode (All Terror All The Time), the actual news presented has been viewed through a decidedly Republican lens and slathered with Republican talking points and attacks against Democratic phantom "positions" without rebuttal or even critical questioning from the cheerleaders.
Media powers like Hannity, O'Reilly, Scarborough, Beck, Matthews, Tucker, etc etc.. continue to be allowed to have unfettered access to an audience of millions of people only to make shit up and color the news with their own extremist opinions, along with the constant extremist smearing of mainstream democrats (and mainstream American viewpoints) by a couple of dozen professional well paid right wing apologists.
Virtually ALL the corporate non-print media commentary I have seen on the recent terror attack is reported through the lens that says this is a "good thing for Republicans" politically. I have seen NO questioning from the coporate media regarding the well coordinated timing of the Rebublican's political offensive against Democrats with the announcement of the newest terror plot.
Joe Traitorman is of course feuling and supporting this narrative.
Again, for what seems like the millionth time over the last 5 years, we are reminded that the majority of Americans have no friends in the corporate media, no one looking out for their interests, no one trying to get to the truth of this administration's drastic yet ineffective methods over the last 5 years and the lack of impact they have had on worldwide terror. I am frankly more frightened by the painfully obvious complicity and cheerleading of the media in advancing us to a truly world war than I ever have been of terrorist attacks.
While many have been arguing the case back and forth about whether blogs truly influenced the Connecticut primary, you cannot deny the power that the coporate media has to influence elections. Television news truly permeates the consciousness, as the TV blares its message not only in most homes but in bars, airports, restaurants and many other public places. I truly fear that two more months of ATATT coverage will prime the pump for the fence-sitters and fraidy-cats to vote Republican again in the fall.
Until someone with the money and access to a mainstream cable audience steps up with programming or a news channel to counter the extremists, we are truly an ant vs. a shoe in attempting to encourage sane, reasoned and mainstream ideologies in a populace constantly bludgeoned by the corporate media's fear hammer. It's an argument that many of us have been making for a long time, but an argument that still seems to be ignored by the majority of Democratic politicians. What would I like to see them do differently?
For one, refuse to appear on Fox News, and publicly state the reason, that Fox News supports right wing extremism.
Second, start making the argument that regardless of what you believe about who would be more effective in fighting "terror", voting for Republicans ensures that in addition to that, you will get status quo with the healthcare system, more tax cuts for wealthy individuals and corporations, more cutting of social programs, the likely dismantling of social security etc..
I would be blunt about it. The Democratic message should be.. "We think we can do a better job of keeping America safe than the Republicans can. We think that the Republican militaristic approach to combating terror is not the correct one. We believe that enhanced law enforcement, along with reaching out to our friends and creating new allies instead of alienating existing friends and potential allies would be more effective. If you don't believe that, and you think that the most important thing you have to worry about is being the victim of a terrorist attack, then by all means vote Republican. But if you are at all concerned about any other issues, like healthcare, schools, wage fairness, veteran care, retirement, alternative energy development, Republicans have nothing to offer you in these areas. Democrats are not a single issue party. We recognize that America needs more than to just be safe. We recognize that America needs to be productive, successful, respected, and hopeful.