I don't want to hear any bitching about the Cable Networks tonight!

[trumad]

Jesus folks, You hate them, you despise them, but yet you keep watching them. There are alternatives...

[donco6]

1. But bitching is what we do best!

You won't take that away from us. Never, I say!

Seriously, it's C-SPAN for me tonight, now that I found the right channel on my TV.

[Cybergata]

16. I'm watching C-SPAN right now

...and all my homies from New Mexico have just been speaking.

The talking heads aren't nearly as right wing as on the other networks. There are no commercials. Instead we get to see what's happening in and around the people on the floor.

:hippie:

[Kahuna]

17. Amen. I bitch. Therefore, I am.

:silly:

[tishaLA]

22. Yeah. I'm a direct descendant of

Rene DeBitchy.

[K-W]

2. Indeed, why do people patronize sources they despise, I dont get it.

Its like going to a restuarant that serves poisened food, just to complain about it. The restaurant doesnt care, you still paid for the food.

[Randypiper]

11. And the portions were so small!

[Snoggera]

3. Good point to make

It's almost like moths being drawn to a flame. I haven't watched cable news for many years, and know for a fact that I haven't missed one damn thing of any significance.

[Doug Decker]

4. trumad, it's not just DU....

people call me to tell me how bad it is, how they despise CNNMSRNCFOX. There is a masochistic streak in our country.

Don't watch!

:hi:

[DemBones DemBones]

5. Some people want to see what the evil ones are up to,

which is OK if they know what to expect.

If you don't want RW commentary, watch C-SPAN or PBS. Avoid FOX, MSNBC, and CNN like the plague.

[tom_paine]

6. Well said, sir!

:toast:

Though I cannot fault people for wanting to see what the Imperial Subjects are told, what Pravda they are seeing.

But to abuse yourself with it. Hell, if I lived behind the Iron Curtain of the Soviet Union instead of the Televised Curtain of Imperial Amerika, I wouldn't partake of Pravda anymore than I do hear.

Other than some VERY brief and rare watchings (and listening to DUers as well as chatting with my friends who still have the stomach to watch Imperial Pravda, I have shut that shit out of my life since my eyes first fully opened in April 2001.

[ronnykmarshall]

7. I hear ya!

Tune in to C-SPAN and just enjoy the show.

[Raven]

8. Try the radio.

Interesting to hear these speeches without all the hype and commentary. John Kennedy won the debates against Nixon among TV viewers but lost them among radio listeners. This time I think it will be the other way around.

[Catfight]

9. Exactly!

[Immad2]

10. Kick the cable "news" habit

and watch c-span. It most definitely is better for the blood pressure.

[Shopaholic]

12. Yes--but I love Keith Olbermann and Countdown on MSNBC

and I have to watch cable to see Keith! Last night they gave him all of 20 minutes in-between Chris Matthews' rabid commentary:wtf:

[KharmaTrain]

13. We May Know What's Happening Here, But Others Don't

Sticking heads in the sand against this media assault on our values and causes was caused by people saying "turn it off"...as if if you ignore it it'll go away. Nope, ignore it and get a dozen more Rush Limbaughs.

I constantly run into people who watch these channels and believe the shit their fed, unless I check then out for myself how do we know what they're saying or how to counter the lies that are being spread. The Rove machine is firmly spinning these networks and we have to spot the spins and call them out. The more this happens, the less effective their lies are gonna be as the "chicken little" syndrome will set in.

Look at how desperate the wingnuts are starting to get...and it's because we're starting to match their verbal fire with that of our own. We lay back and they'll file lie after lie that will go as "assumed fact"...sites like this and others that call out the bias are one of the few forums these lies can be spotted and outted.

[K-W]

14. That doesnt make sense to me.

Why do you have to hear thier lies to counter them. They are lies, you counter them with the truth. And how on earth do you plan to know the truth if all you listen to is lies?

I think groups like Media Matters for America monitering thier lies is all we need. A few liberals can moniter them, but there is absolutely no need for the rest of us to watch them when we could be watching the whole convention and getting to hear the democrats speak so we can take thier messages and spread them.

There is a big difference between ignoring them and not watching them. I dont think you make that destinction.

[KharmaTrain]

30. By The Time We Do It Your Way, The Lie Is "Assumed Fact"

Watch how fast a Repugnican spin makes the rounds...the Teresa Kerry "shove it" line is a perfect example. The "story" started with Drudge making a stink about it Sunday night...by the morning it was the lead story on the Cable channels and the Rove feast was on. By noontime, it Rush was painting Teresa as a dragon lady and others made her seem crazy. All this before you probably had your first cup of coffee.

Facts are great and wonderful and, yes, we have them on our side. I've never felt better about my core beliefs than I do now...and I admire the many others who are fighting like I am. However, this isn't about facts or even "what's right". This is countering a propaganda effort that is being purposely launched to smear John Kerry and embarass the Democratic party and anyone else who doesn't toe the corporate/Repugnican party line.

Ignore these spins at your own peril. This is what led to the creation of hate radio as people were too busy listening to NPR or not listening at all...it created an opening for the GOOP to get into millions of ears that have now gestated into a legion of dittoheads. You deny this has happened? Should we just pretend that they'll go away?

People like Media Matters and Snopes do a great job in following up with the needed information an informed person should have, and in a serious discussion is a great resource. However, when you've got minutes to get your counter point together, ignoring CNNservative and even Faux are perilous.

I live by the saying "know your enemy, since they won't ever take the same time to get to know you". It's served me very, very well.

[K-W]

32. Umm, and how does doing it your way stop that?

How exactly does you giving them another viewer rapidly counter thier popaganda. It seems to me theyve had no problem defeating your avid viewing so far.

You have yet to give me a single reason why I should watch that garbage. How it makes me better able to do anything. Only that it lets me know them better, which is true, but what does that do for me?

[KharmaTrain]

35. I Don't Care What You're Watching...

Sheesh. LOL!

The discussion here is about countering a lot of the lies that are coming out of Cable networks. They're happening and going to continue as long as there's not some people out there calling them out.

Many times now, a Rove spin or hit job is pointed out on this forum or similar ones...and you'll see a torrent of email that is generated to these networks from it. Sure it's not going to make an immediate difference, but it beats not letting these people know they're being watched. Look at how the right wing bullied the media into it's lapdog status...ignoring it is what caused a lot of our current problems.

Fortunately the Kerry folks appear to be very, very saavy about these things and have played the wingnut media like a violin. It started when they punked both Drudge & the Washington Times with then the New York Post with the Gephardt being chosen as VP. This week is being set up masterfully as well as there's precious little red meat for these assholes to feast on so far.

If you want to live in a bubble and avoid what the Repugnicans are saying, go for it...but millions of others are still hearing it, and many of us deal with these people and have to react or counter the lies they've heard. In some cases it can mean the difference in finally turning someone who had supported Bunnypants and is now ready to get rid of him.

[trumad]

18. Look..I'm not saying that we should not know thy enemy

I'm just saying quit coming here at DU acting all surprised and disgusted... I mean come on! We know already!

[CatWoman]

15. A FUCKING MEN!!!

:kick:

:kick:

:kick:

:kick:

:kick:

[bigwillq]

19. I actually thought CNN did a pretty good job

except the audio on their people is poor. The speeches were fine but everyone who was talking on the floor, it was hard to hear at times.

I also watched MSNBC for a short time and I think they were pretty good too.

[Sparrow]

20. sieg heil

DU is all about what YOU want to hear, right.

[trumad]

23. You better fucking kneel when you say sieg heil to me!

[CatWoman]

27. want me to kick his ass, Tru?

:D

[trumad]

28. yah

[SOS]

21. Don't watch, boycott advertisers, hammer them with email.

nt

[ClassWarrior]

25. Boycott their advertisers, hammer them with email...

But you gotta watch them to know which advertisers to boycott or what to email them about. Doesn't help to stick your head in the sand...

Incidentally... I believe that holding them accountable is the ONLY good reason to watch these snakes.

[K-W]

26. Not true at all.

Only one person has to watch to find that out.

Why do you equate this with sticking your head in the sand, that is a really bad metaphor. Choosing to watch cspan and hear ALL of the dem convention rather than hearing republican spin INSTEAD of democrats speaking is not putting your head in the span. It is listening to people who deserve to be listened to rather than giving liars and dissemblers another viewer.

[ClassWarrior]

29. Look below.

I watched CSPAN last night... and will the next three nights.

And yes, only one person has to watch. But until you, or I, or anyone else here steps up to the plate to organize a regular boycott post or a special forum, I have to do my research myself. And I believe in the value of opposition research.

But I do hear what you're saying about CSPAN. I prefer my convention coverage straight up. :toast:

[ClassWarrior]

24. CSPAN!!

I only turned to PBS (the lesser of many evils) when I was watching on a TV not connected to cable.

They had Cheneyin' David Brooks on there!! Yeah, liburl public TV... <blech!>

[Pathwalker]

31. On C-span tonite: 7:25 MAYA ANGELOU!

and at 10:15: Kids for Kerry. Please watch this wonderful young girl speak - she is just one of our bright hopes for the future. I saw her featured on CBS, and she is a ball of dynomite! Watch her - you'll just fall in love with her spirit!


:kick:

[Bill McBlueState]

33. AMEN!!

If you find yourself getting pissed off, turn off the damn TV. Seems like two-thirds of the threads today contain the phrase "So-and-so is such a whore!" Try to relax; they're just doing what they think their advertisers want them to do.

[ClassWarrior]

34. CNN VIEWER HOTLINE - 404-827-0234

Call 404-827-0234 and press 8 to talk to a live operator.