Why the Dems (not you Joe) should boycott the Traditional Media.

I don't know about you, but I'm getting very tired of seeing my team playing defence all the time. I liked it when the Senate was closed down to show the country what a bunch of do-nothings the Republicans were on security, and I'd like to see the same thing done to the "operatives" that deliver the so called impartial news. Where have the journalists gone?

What I propose is an 8-day boycott. Why 8 days? Two Sundays in a row should get the message across, and any longer would be overdoing it. While we're at it, maybe we could put Faux News on probation, and force it to use just their Republican bias. They should be addressed as "The Official Media Organ of Republicans", at least until they prove themselves otherwise.

So come on team, let's play some offence. How about the Big Dog doing a YouTube that explains what a disservice the traditional media is for all Americans? It's about time the Democrats once and for all eradicate the myth of the liberal traditional media, or the fair and balanced media, as if that could ever exist.

•  Any other suggestions out there?

  by gakke on Sat Nov 18, 2006 at 01:40:50 PM PDT

  •  Yeah, an obvious one

    Gee, before a boycott, how about some confrontation? Is it so impossible that, for a change, Democrats get on the same page with some talking points and just confront these people with some facts? They don't have to be bullies about it, just show a little backbone and stand up for themselves for a change. With a few exception, the Dems aren't very good at this. A bit of assertiveness, if not taken too far, sends a strong message to the public. Part of the Dem image problem is people see them getting pushed around all the time. An avoidance response will not help.

    I don't think this is the time to be passive. All you are going to hear is "We invited so and so and they declined to appear"

    by crick02478 on Sat Nov 18, 2006 at 01:50:11 PM PDT

    •  Exactly

      By going on these programs and sticking to our guns, there's more of a chance to sway people's opinions. Those viewers aren't going to change their minds unless they see what the other side has to offer.

      by PatsBard on Sat Nov 18, 2006 at 02:10:04 PM PDT

      •  Few but us would notice a boycott

        because there are so few Democratic voices on the MSM anyway. We need more exposure for liberal ideas, not fewer.  

        by Danjuma on Sat Nov 18, 2006 at 07:42:30 PM PDT

  •  Set your TIVO and equivalent to Olbermann

    TIVO etc is monitored for ratings. Recording the good shows helps give them then numbers they deserve.

    by daulton on Sat Nov 18, 2006 at 01:54:55 PM PDT

    •  Keith Olbermann, the voice of sanity n/t

      by theark on Sat Nov 18, 2006 at 01:58:21 PM PDT

    •  and watch them.

      The shows only get full credit in ratings if you watch.

      Yes, TiVo knows what you watch.

      by uffdalib on Sat Nov 18, 2006 at 03:07:02 PM PDT

•  I kind of like this idea.

  Why not make it permanent? Let this monstrosity wither and die a richly deserved death. And something will take its place - maybe even actual reporting. I mean Jesus what kind of a scam is this? They sit there all well-coiffed, waiting for the supplicants to come in for the weekly hazing. It is past time to call bullshit.

  by melvin on Sat Nov 18, 2006 at 01:47:14 PM PDT

  •  I definitely like this idea.

    Just call it the "chris wallace" boycott. He's the poster boy of the fake news movement. I don't know about brit hume, but with that dawn-of-the-dead demeanor, it's hard to rank him as hihg-visibilty.

    by ucla grad102 on Sat Nov 18, 2006 at 04:35:27 PM PDT

•  FSTV rocks

  In case any of you have not watched Free Speech TV, please try to find someone that has Dish Network. Go to Channel 9415. I gave up on traditional cable as being anything but an obstacle for progressives to overcome a couple of years ago. It ended up costing me several hundred dollars to remove a couple of big trees and I still don't get all Dish Channels due to other trees I will not cut down. FSTV is so much better than the alternatives.
  Anyone who wishes to avoid spending cable money with the Fox TV crowd (I'm pretty sure Directv is also owned by the same person), or the overly Wall Street friendly TW cable should call Dish Network and switch. I had a letter published in the Nation in 2003 trying to get people to do this. Just be sure and tell them that you wouldn't be canceling if they carried FSTV.
  The programming on FSTV is incredibly powerful for progressives. Yesterday, for example there was a powerful documentary exposing a dirty secret of many prisoners in America. Apparenly millions of young men in prison are there due to non-violent, "war on drugs" reasons and a lot of these people get assaulted and viciously raped but never admit it, particularly once they get out.

  by ebiker on Sat Nov 18, 2006 at 02:05:22 PM PDT

•  terrible idea

  I feel your pain, but I disagree. You're never going to get coverage you like all the time.  That's just how it is.  

  Refusing to talk to the MSM would guarantee negative coverage for those 8 days. It also means more Republicans will get their message out, and given human nature even nastier coverage of democrats.  So it's definately an idea for cutting off your nose to spite your face.  

  Bottom line:  the more coverage democrats get the better, even if some of it is going to be negative.  It's free.  It's reaches voters.  We are better than they are.   Yadda Yadda.

  Here's what works:  Blogging; letters and phone calls; other forms of media activism from the bottom up.  

  by markymarx on Sat Nov 18, 2006 at 02:10:12 PM PDT

•  pIck something that kossacks will have

  a noticable effect on a product if they boycott.
  What could that be?  You could cut down on your cable to basic, that usually means a drop in company profit per household of $45-50 bucks. But the participation has to be significant.

  What about clogging the airwaves of call in shows with messages from kossacks to counter the right wingers whacko messages.

  by Valerius on Sat Nov 18, 2006 at 02:24:52 PM PDT

•  How about a media boycott of Joe ?

  by CTMET on Sat Nov 18, 2006 at 02:35:38 PM PDT

•  Instead, how about the dems pass

  the fairness doctrine again and make some very necessary changes to the rules governing media ownership?  That would do more.  And yes, the democrats need to stick to their guns and fight back.  Dean does it and it works.  And he smiles as he attacks.  Nice touch.

  by gmb on Sat Nov 18, 2006 at 04:49:03 PM PDT