They had the money, and they spent it lavishly. Of course, GOP led efforts in the Supreme Court have made it possible to pour money into elections, most of it “dark”- that is from sources un-trackable and un-reportable.
The halo effect. Tip O’Neill said that all politics are local. Not last night. All politics were national. 6 years of negativity about the President paid off. Every election was a test of Obama’s popularity.
Promoted all GOP in the quest for a Wave Election so the GOP can claim a Mandate instead of a Close Call. Thus they won some seats in the House, Senate and Governor’s Mansions that were close, and even some that favored the Dems.
Use the heaviest media campaign in midterm history to play to the folks who really hate Obama and Democrats and love slapping them down.
Utilize Dem reluctance to stand up for what they have done, and what they want to do.
Undermine the Dem meme that the GOP is a “do nothing” party with “no public plans regarding what they wll do” The Dems lacking the money to punch back in the media, and the will to do so were easly neutralized.
Count on one simple fact: Dems are lazy voters. They lack party discipline. The unions used to bring it but they are a sliver of what they once were. Further, vaunted “ground games” work in safe districts bt not in ones that are up for grabs. There is a saying: When All is Said and Done, a lot more gets said than done. The Dems are models for this.
Promote the message: “Don’t bother voting.” In fact that has been a very direct GOP media message. They have made it to Hispanics, to the unhappy middle class, to students, to Blacks- each with a pitch appealing to their points of complaint with the current administration.
Dems are not loyal/disciplined. Big spending on the other side reinforces why they should be unhappy. “What have the Dems done for you?” By implication, “we” will do better. Far left groups assist in this by their attacks on the Democrats, in the person of the president. Did you see the Hispanic protests and heckler at two Obama events this weekend? Yes, they will be FAR happier with a GOP Senate…yeah, right.
Count on another simple fact. Much of the base in both GOP and Dems are ignorant. They do not, as a body, know how government works. They do not know the candidates, party performance, issues, or strategies. They have impressions from ads, tv talking heads, and their friends. They have vague ideas from the same sources. They have their own internal biases. All of it comes down to a gut reaction which leads them to either vote or not vote, and if they vote, to vote “from the heart.”
Repress, suppress the vote. Create a maze of requirements to exercise the franchise. Under-resource the voting apparatus in areas that lean Left. Launch a scare campaign targeting “fraud”. Use state office holders to enure that these measures are not impeded.
This is 2010 Part 2. Perhaps the GOP will be better at government than I think. Perhaps the Dems will learn some valuable lessons from this shellacking. Perhaps both parties will find the common ground to govern for the the people.Perhaps the people will come to realize that John Adams was right: “What is most essential to the integrity of a republic is that its citizens be well and truly informed.” John Adams
I doubt it. I doubt it all.
A common theme here is that non-support of the Prez is “racist.” Of course this is true in some cases. All groups have racists among them, and the greedy, self-serving, and small-minded. No exceptions. We all have to accept this. But over-stating it is misleading; the President’s performance and policies did the Dems in. Ignore this, and learn nothing.
A clinical clear-eyed analysis of why voters voted the way they did, what policies they approved and which they opposed, is the first step to knowledge.
True. It wasn’t entirely racism that cost Dems in the Tuesday election.
Dark money and Citizens United had a huge amount to do with it. The Koch brothers and their PACs had a huge amount to do with it.
Now the task ahead is to reverse Citizens United. And to reform campaign financing.
So it was racism, dark money, Citizens United, and the Kochs. Not a single legitimate force at work, and not a single shortcoming on the part of Democrats (except in their inability to fend off these evil forces).
Like, got it.
Naxos, with regards to racism, you’re not recalling what we have all witnessed over the last six years. To begin, the blatantly racist declaration by many in the GOP that Pres. Obama wasn’t a legal American and that his birth certificate was phony and he was actually a Kenyan and a secret Muslim. This was a mainstream Republican belief and continues to be for many Republicans.
There have been the disgusting racist signs at Republican and Tea Party rallies as well as spread around the internet, showing him as an ape or monkey or using such racist imagery as this (apologies to all for showing the following offensive images but hope they make the point about the rabid racism out there against Obama):
[img]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7-2Spm3qlhE/UH8Vr3jTyvI/AAAAAAABBsk/_Q3Er_b3X_s/s1600/obamabucks3.jpg[/img]
[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Pymxl-koOo/UH8WTrwgFKI/AAAAAAABBtE/mINGtdR4Y70/s1600/obama_racist_chimps.jpg[/img]
[img]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9cp0jvui76k/UH8WYyWmDYI/AAAAAAABBtM/u0fNfuEGC8U/s1600/Obama-Renig-Sticker.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.orangejuiceblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Obamacare-Witch-Doctor.jpg[/img]
To discount the deep reservoir of racism out there in some white people against a black man who offends their sensibilities by daring to be President of white people too, is to justify it.
Hi AdLib, remember all of these and more. They remain just as sickening and are hard to ignore unless you are being blatantly disengenuous, or have been living in “Pleasantville” for the last 6 years.
Kalima, you know the old saying, “Are you going to believe me or your lying eyes?”
We all jointly experience reality, we’ve all seen the MSM dominated since Obama started running for the Presidency, with a wide range of racism.
From trying to portray him as an angry black radical and potential terrorist by tying him to Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers, to alleging he’s a Kenyan, Muslim, socialist anti-colonialist who hates white people, to portraying him as, “not one of us”. Not to mention all the racist words and images Republicans have offered.
Hey, I would be embarrassed too if I was a Republican but wasn’t racist but trying to just deny reality didn’t happen pushes one down the hole with those Repubs expressing racism (and it never works to claim that what a nation has seen never happened).
Playing the “Ostrich” game is not going to work for them, this went worldwide, it’s written in stone for the history books and like speaking words that offend the majority of others, once said, they are out there and you can’t take them back. If I remember correctly, there was little genuine distancing from these prime examples of racial hate by RW politicicians until they were forced into it by the loud public outcry. For me looking in from the outside, it was/is shocking, an America I wished I had never seen, but I did.
Thankfully, not all of us have collective ADD.
I have no idea how to quantify the reserviors of racism out there. If you wish to characterize it as “mainstream”, I chave no basis for comment.
naxos, if you were to read up on it, you’d find that The Kochs are very much key organizers and contributors of Dark Money, supported the Citizens United case and ruling and are likely the ones exploiting it the most and they have financed ads that promote racist resentment towards Obama.
So it is actually a very easy to comprehend situation if one does the research, though there are disparate forces out there, The Kochs and their allies are a central financing and strategic force behind the Republican party grabbing more power and influence (and the Kochs are substantial stakeholders in the GOP, financing many of their politicians who owe them because of that). I challenge you to find any substantial political figure, even on the GOP side, that refutes that The Kochs are key players in all the areas noted above.
I apologize. I forgot to include misogyny and religious fanaticism on that list.
I wish I were as articulate as you, Murph. Thanks for a great comment that touches on everything I believe to be true. Well done! (as usual)
Most appreciated. How kind.
Great article Murph. You nailed it!
The Democrats put their best player on the bench – President Obama. The man who beat the Clinton Machine. The man who beat Romney’s money and the Koch’s. The man who knows how to win, because he won TWICE. President Obama and the WH are calling out the Democrats who distanced themselves from the President and I’m glad. It’s not what he wanted. He went where he was invited. But some didn’t invite him so he didn’t go. BTW, they lost. For two years, the Democrats have failed to hail the accomplishments of this administration. They didn’t want to get to close to the black guy. Some even pandered to the racists. They still lost. At some point those of us who are Democrats and proud to be Democrats are going to learn the lesson we should have learned in 2010 and now in 2014. BTW, if you so desire mosey on over to Stonekettle Station and read Jim Wright’s last article. He stands with President Obama and calls out those Democrats who act cowardly.
Sabreen, I agree! They should have embraced the President and touted all the accomplishments.
Like these:
“This country has made real progress since the crisis six years ago. The fact is, more Americans are working. Unemployment has come down. More Americans have health insurance. Manufacturing has grown. Our deficits have shrunk. Our dependence on foreign oil is down, as are gas prices. Our graduation rates are up. Our businesses aren’t just creating jobs at the fastest pace since the 1990s. Our economy is outpacing most of the world.”
His words at the press conference on Wed.
Murph, if the Dems had touted all of those accomplishments there might have been a much better outcome.
I think so….blue doggism haunted them…GOP lite does not sell.
Telling isn’t it? It appears many democrats are of the same opinion as republicans when it comes to the black guy in the White House. They would rather cater to the “I do not support having him in the White House” crowd rather than celebrating the fact that diversity is a good thing and every citizen of this nation that can qualify should be as welcome in that position as any other citizen. Truth will always come out, and for those who constantly praise the democratic party as savior of the minority, this should be a wake up call. As long as the minority is not the majority this attitude will continue. When minorities in this nation begin to rise up and vote for their best interest in overwhelming numbers, when the census changes which will be soon and more minorities are voting than is the majority, you will see a change in behavior, and maybe even attitude. I sure hope we have a different party to vote for at that time, a party that supports all the people of the nation equally, and not just those they feel can keep returning them to Congress or the White House.
Monica, I join you in perspective here. Dems seemed embarrassed by the man who put many of them into office in 2008, and 2012. I was astounded. The GOP needs party discipline in this if it did not have voluntary enthusiasm.
Although I expected this turn of events (though not as dramatically, and with much better news from the governors which never materialized) I am truly angry at how many of my fellow Dems walked away.
The President was clear in his own message and he did not duck out from under it:
“This country has made real progress since the crisis six years ago. The fact is, more Americans are working. Unemployment has come down. More Americans have health insurance. Manufacturing has grown. Our deficits have shrunk. Our dependence on foreign oil is down, as are gas prices. Our graduation rates are up. Our businesses aren’t just creating jobs at the fastest pace since the 1990s. Our economy is outpacing most of the world.” His words at the press conference on Wed.
Do you find it curious the fact that most of the progressive issues on the ballot passed with overwhelming numbers? Peter Drier did a great write up on this. The article is worth reading if you have the time.
http://billmoyers.com/2014/11/05/corporate-triumphs-progressive-victories-roadmap-democratic-revival/
Just read Mr. Wright’s commentary. I could not agree more. The Dems ran scared. They were gutless. They had the look and feel of losers. They did not think they could win. They didn’t
That is now I see it as well.
JMB..meanwhile on FB, there is an outpouring support to the President! MILLIONS…..
I went there after you wrote that….that is a story worth telling so I am….thank you.
Wink wink.Go to whitehouse.gov!On FB, of course.
Read the article. Excellent. I just saw Wright on Al Jazeera America and he really stands tall on this.
Mark Pryor tried to appease the NRA and they poured a ton of money into his opponent’s campaign to thank him.
Sorry I missed him Murph. I’ve never seen him. But I read his articles.
GOP Lite did not sell…yep.
Great article Murph, only thing is, the politicians are no longer doing anything on either side, unless you call acting doing something. Big money, dark money, and billionaires in this nation are in control of politics and government. ALEC writes our laws while politicians pander for money to make ads/commercials for the MSM, heavy makeup, acting tutors the works.
Billionaires spend millions in order to reap the benefit of deregulation, lower taxes, and a method to turn the millions they spend into billions once their actor/actress candidate is placed in the role he/she is to play. We continue as citizens to believe we are voting for actual candidates that will fight for our best interest…LOL!
Got millions to donate to a candidate? If so your wishes will be their command. Have only a few dollars and problems you need to have solved? Donate your few dollars, spin the wheel and hope for the best….I’ll give you what is known as a word to the wise…..Getting your demands met under those circumstances are the same as if you played the lottery…well no, let me take that back, you probably have a better chance of winning the lottery with the few dollars you are donating, and that way you can fix the problems you were hoping to have your candidate fix. 🙂
HI MA your post is correct again.
I hope you send a note on the music soon by e mail. I really value your opinion.
Friends always The Ghost!!
Hi RSGmusic,
I have been really busy lately, and haven’t really had time to give my full attention to the music. I will get to you as soon as I am able with my opinion. I can say I like what I have heard so far. 🙂
OK MA, Glad you like what you have heard so far.
when you get time is fine.
with friendship The Ghost.
I like your tunes too!
HI Murph, thanks your opinion is well respected by me.
You can find more too listen to on this link.
https://soundcloud.com/userghost
Hi there….I have not been responding a lot here of late…too caught up in many other events. I wanted to say that I always regard your very complete and heartfelt response very highly. I am planning on catching up in the next few days!
HI Murph thanks.
Yea i thought you where busy!!
prosper always!
Well as I said I’m a Democrat and not really looking for another party. Democrats have given us Social Security, 40 hour work week, sick leave, vacation leave, safe working conditions, ended child labor, Civil Rights Act (although some Repubs did vote for it), Voting Rights Act, women’s rights, healthcare, GI Bill etc. etc. etc. All these things have benefited black folks as well as others. I know there are those who say black folks are in such terrible condition. Evidently they didn’t live before 1960’s. We still have the largest middle class than we ever had. But it is certainly true that when America gets a cold we get the flu.
Just about everything beneficial to the public has been brought about in modern times by the Democratic Party. We are a big tent party and I for one like that. I’m no purist. I know in a country with over 300 million people many are not happy. I don’t buy into the theory that the Democratic Party uses black folks. Sure some representatives only show up at election time, but they don’t all do that. The representatives I’ve had in Maryland have sincerely tried to meet the needs of the people. I know the Party isn’t perfect, but I also know people are not perfect. So unless a movement is started and really builds quickly, I don’t see a third party in the near future. If fact, in every election since Nixon, every time a third party enters a presidential race the Democrat usually loses. As much as I would like to think that this country is as progressive as a Bernie Sanders, it’s not. The Progressive caucus is only 12% of Congress. This country is far from being a socialist country like Bernie Sanders and others would like.
I’m pretty pissed at most elected officials in the Democratic Party. I think they wimped out, including socialist Bernie Sanders. The didn’t stand up to the Republicans and they didn’t tout their accomplishments. So here we are. It is what it is. The fight continues.
I also consider myself a democrat, not because I enjoy being a party loyalist, but because the democratic party has most often been on the right side of the issues since I became old enough to vote. I always try to vote my best interest so naturally I, being African American cannot go along with the republican platform period.
The republican platform hasn’t always been this way. As a matter of fact, the republican party was once the democratic party and vice-versa. During the 1860s, Republicans, who dominated northern states, orchestrated an ambitious expansion of federal power, helping to fund the transcontinental railroad, the state university system and the settlement of the West by homesteaders, and instating a national currency and protective tariff. Democrats, who dominated the South, opposed these measures. After the Civil War, Republicans passed laws that granted protections for African Americans and advanced social justice; again, Democrats largely opposed these expansions of power.
Sound like an alternate universe? Fast forward to 1936. Democratic president Franklin Roosevelt won reelection that year on the strength of the New Deal, a set of Depression-remedying reforms including regulation of financial institutions, founding of welfare and pension programs, infrastructure development and more. Roosevelt won in a landslide against Republican Alf Landon, who opposed these exercises of federal power. The democrats of today have stood by and watched the clock be turned back on these things. Bill Clinton and the republicans got rid of Roosevelt’s regulation of financial institutions, they also rolled back the welfare programs and tried to gut many social programs including social security…in some small measure they succeeded to do that as well. This was collaboration between the democratic and republican parties, not just the republican party. So, I think both parties bare a taste of watching.
Anyway, sometime between the 1860s and 1936, the (Democratic) party of small government became the party of big government, and the (Republican) party of big government became rhetorically committed to curbing federal power.
So for me, party name is just that, a name. I try to keep an eye on the politicians in the party those who have my interest and the interest of the nation in mind when they legislate or propose or support an issue. I know the republican party today is more for big business and does not give a rats behind about the middle class the poor, minorities of any kind or women whether minority or majority. Republicans definitely do not look upon women as equals but more like chattel. Republican attention is focused on the robber barons, the wealthy 1% of the nation who they feel make this nation what it is so as long as the party functions in this manner I could never vote for anyone in that party….this is what leaves me with only one choice.
Do I wish I had another or other choices? You bet I do, and if another party came along that performed like the democratic party did under President Roosevelt I would have no problem throwing my support behind that party. History has taught me that parties can change at any time that is why it is important to remain vigilant and be ready to make the right move if the party decides it no longer wishes to be the party you think it is. Hopefully the democratic party will learn this time from their mistakes, hopefully we won’t have to see what happened in this election and in the mid-terms in 2010 happen again, maybe the third time will be the charm and democrats by then will have their act together. I believe that as long as we have Citizens United, democrats will be running scared, less worried about their constituents and more worried about their personal lives and their jobs. Sad commentary I know, but I personally believe it to be true.
The Democratic Party under FDR interned 1000’s of Japanese citizens. Yeah, put them in concentration camps. Eleanor Roosevelt championed civil rights. Her husband not so much at first. He instituted Social Security, but it didn’t include black folks and many women because it didn’t cover domestic jobs and other jobs occupied by women.
The Democratic Party has been evolving. FDR managed to get the government jobs programs because the Democrats controlled both houses. But I believe just as in nature nothing is born grown, neither was the Democratic Party.
And yes I know all about the history of both Parties. I know about the southern strategy and why the parties are exactly what they are today.
After what happened in Tuesday’s elections, it appears some in the party are beginning to degenerate. I truly hope the party does evolve, and the mistakes by some politicians in the party are not repeated in future elections, as I said, at the moment it is the only choice many of us who care about the nation, the planet, and humanity have. 🙂
Your hopes…my hopes.
This is the balancing act the party’s play.
When all is said and done, a lot more gets said than done and that is so much the case in politics.
Ignore the slogans, the rhetoric, the platforms, look to legislation. By their deeds will you know them.
Exactly, very well said Murph.
Good summary of party history. The flipping of polarities is a big part of their history. Labels mean little. Platforms mean little. Only legislation tells the tale.
I like the tone of your statement. I like its particulars.
While the Dems have their failings, as a whole, they have stood with more of the everyday people more of the time than have the GOP.
The failure of the Dems in 2010 and in 2014 to walk away from their legacy and their promise and to stand for election as a sort of GOP lite is beyond reprehensible.
As to third parties- the system is a duopoly – alternative candidates with more than a token following are spoilers. Nader ruined Gore and Perot ruined Bush for example.
Gore won Florida, the Supreme court ruined Gore. 🙂
AP: A vote-by-vote review of untallied ballots in the 2000 Florida presidential election indicates George W. Bush would have narrowly prevailed in the partial recounts sought by Al Gore, but Gore might have reversed the outcome – by the barest of margins – had he pursued and gained a complete statewide recount.
I personally believe Gore won, but was not willing to tough it out, not willing to fight the machine that was the Bush family, after all Daddy Bush had been President, Vice President, and Director of the CIA…a steep hill to climb if you know what I mean. 🙂
“We must make our choice,” warned the American jurist Louis Brandeis nearly a century ago, writing on the state of American society. “We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few—but we can’t have both.”
This review from the Kennedy School is worth looking at:
http://harvardkennedyschoolreview.com/americas-new-gilded-age-a-review-of-chrystia-freelands-plutocrats-and-christopher-hayess-twilight-of-the-elites/
America’s New Gilded Age: A Review of Chrystia Freeland’s Plutocrats and Christopher Hayes’s Twilight of the Elites
I think you find your clear thinking reflect in and supported by both works. Do you happen to either or both. I have them on my bookshelf. The predictions therein are uncanny.
Thanks for your comment.
Thanks for the link Murph, I agree 100% with their ideology. Christopher Hayes is a favorite of mine, don’t know too much about Chrystia Freeland, but I intend to learn more. Thank you!!!
Monica, that lottery is a tax on those who play it. I call it a voluntary tax I choose not to pay. The odds are against you for sure.
HI Murph! Ya an excellent article and is says it all.
Perhaps 54 senators for the GOP i missed badly, ONLY good news now is minimum wage increases victories. well the candidates. ACA was not promoted enough, So I will say it for you ( you told me so. )
LMAO Way to go Republicans voters??? GOP billionaires spend approximately 4 billion dollars dollars to gain nothing?
If they can change the rules to 50 They lose filibuster power in 2016 they must have because they have to defend 26 seat and only 10 for the dems pretty safe. They could lose 10 seats in 2016. Then have no filibuster power. Nothing get done again for 2 more yrs.
As for the dems seems they voted GOP showing a a lack of respect for this president. YA Dems are still a little bit racist.
Hispanics felt betrayed by Obama and too many did not vote of even voted republican. Obama never had a bill on immigration so the Hispanics choose to live with a GOP led immigration bill. This loses many becoming citizens and the spending power and tax revenue involved. Both in the 100’s of billions.
The LGBT community voted to much GOP for what reason i do not know.
THE WAR ON REPUBLICAN WOMEN CONTINUES.
ALL red states and the nation.
PRO life bills will cause MORE DEBT by the billions so you will have to pay MORE FEDERAL AND STATE Taxes OR create MORE DEBT?
You could just drop Pro life and the red states spend NO money and nationally NO Money?
Republican Women are Now less safe a long with all other women in the red states.
PRO life = 2 lives lost, both republican children and mother.
Pro choice = one republican life lost. Republican women you will lose all YOUR MONEY. Which is better for republican Women?
Of course you can be pro life any way because Pro life is a choice is an option under Pro CHOICE.
Again if you drop pro life bills YOU CREATE NO DEBT and DO NOT HAVE SPEND ANY MONEY Saving Billions.
WAY TO GO REPUBLICAN VOTERS CREATE more DEBT YOUR RED STATES are already BROKE any way?
Tax the rich less and big corporations will bring many more states to run much debt and credit rating down grades a spiral to great debt. All the Red states will lose more income for the two other tax brackets, I did give you plenty of links on this so they are not included. IS there extremely broke!
Prosper always Murph
A synthesizer can create any instrument made and others that have not been created yet.
I need to get back to writing new original tunes in a new direction.
CD project called ( Keep it simple )
The Only hope is Obama vetoes freely. I am not sure he will do this enough. Filibustering will be tricky. The GOP may even filibuster their own bills the dems must in the senate.
The Senate PASSED a bi-partisan immigration bill. President Obama said the bill wasn’t perfect, but it was a good bill. Boehner refused to bring the bill to the floor. And President Obama said Boehner told him he still won’t bring it to the floor. Hispanics are mad at the wrong person, if they’re mad at President Obama. Here we go again. They want an Executive Order. Just like the LGBT community wanted an Executive Order to end DADT. Neither seem to understand that the next president can rescind the Executive Order. President Obama understood the only way to repeal DADT was through Congress and he was right. Hispanics need to understand that Congress writes the laws. An Executive Order is not a long-term fix. The President will probably end up having to do an Executive Order regarding immigration. But he knows the next president can overturn it.
HI Sabreen60, Yes i agree completely on executive actions being not a long term fix. I tried to explain that to Hispanics here in Houston. YA they did blame the wrong person. I did ask them if they thought the GOP party would help them? Ever single one of them said no.
long life Sabreen60!!
The First Amendment bullshit crap in this country has deteriorated and so far from what your Founding Fathers meant.In Europe, SLANDER IS SLANDER and there is a reason F*chtheNews is not allowed in Canada and most European countries .They have blocked this monster Murderous Murdoch from the get go just like we blocked Monsanto GMOs..
Great post,MTS. Shared.
Agreed EXFAN!
Also shared.
hugs again!!
It’s all over FB and today I’ve posted it on whitehouse.gov, altogether with MTS’s Why I think President Obama is a good President!
It’s all over FB and today I’ve posted it on whitehouse.gov, altogether with MTS’s Why I think President Obama is a good President!Hugs back.
OK EXFAN!!!
DID you listen to the songs added. THe rest you have heard before.
Not yet. Stealing time from my job…LOLOLOL and still have other 68 emails to open.I’ll let you know!
OK my favorite nick name i will wait. New rain is classical. the other are jazz mostly. Do not know if you like Jazz?
Point on Murph as usual ; thing is it’s going to remain a money game; there is no way democrats can compete in a money game .The thing I noticed more in this election than past elections is the way the press started doing exactly what their millionaire owners wanted ; I’m thinking word came down from on high; want a career in the media here’s what you have to do become part of the propaganda system .CNN NBC ABC all following FOX’s leadership.
Excellent point Dbos,
Isn’t it interesting how the right wing shows like Fox have NO left wing commentators and all of the other shows, CNN, NBC, ABC and the rest have a mixture of both right wing and left wing commentators, although I have to admit some of those on the left wing shows are heavily disguised to appear to be liberal or progressive when nothing could be further from the truth. 🙂
HI MA
——-
I have to admit some of those on the left wing shows are heavily disguised to appear to be liberal or progressive when nothing could be further from the truth.
————
Yes totally true!!
Live long and prosper MA
It is all a search for ratings.
Widened appeal supposedly widens their base.
There is enough of a right wing base and Fox is diverse enough as a corporation that it does not need to provide something that is really fair and balanced. For the so called liberal media the effort to expand their viewing base for ratings is paramount.
There is probably just as much of a left wing base, but the left tends to do a bit more thinking, a lot more scrutinizing and haven’t really learned how to walk lockstep, and thank God for that. 🙂
Your point is extremely well taken. I had not considered it quite as clearly as you have. Since reading this a couple of days ago I noted how rarely, and when they do, how softly, the corporate media speak about the power of money. It has now, more than ever, the feel of some sporting contest where the result is fixed and the color commentators know it but they pretend the race is legit.