What in the hell is up with Murdoch? What's up with Fox? Is There a Shift?

[David Zephyr]

As DU's very own IndianaGreen has pointed out, Murdoch really soured on Tony Blair and it is showing up in many different ways.

From Bill O'Reilly to other Fox "shows" there has been a recent pull back on attacks on Hillary Clinton, even to the point of discrediting her attackers.

Murdoch's papers broke the Downing Street Memos story in the U.K.

And recently, Bill Clinton has been lovey-dovey with even Roger Ailes.

Wes Clark signs on to Fox News today.

Finally, read this article from the New York Observer and then let me hear what you think.

I am so jaded that a million things come to my cynical mind so I'd rather hear from my fellow DU'ers...but even I have to admit that something is up of late.

http://www.observer.com/pages/frontpage5.asp

[Avalux]

1. It's simple -

Fox's ratings are way down. Ratings = $$$. Murdoch is not a stupid man and will do what's necessary to bring in the dough. He has no loyalty.

[Skittles]

10. in other words, he is a true whore

yes INDEED

[FreedomAngel82]

13. I'm very weary too but

I know that it's mostly about money. As sparosnare pointed out Fox's raitings are low which is showing Murdoch that people don't give a damn what his rightwing loonies have to say. I wouldn't be surprised if in the next couple of months we start seeing them go against the Bush administration. If more people are told on faux news to call their reps and complain about the DSM they might and then they might have to force Bush to resign but hopefully the democrats won't let him get away with that shit. I also wouldn't be surprised if people like Hannity, O'Reilly, Limbaugh etc. start going more in the middle of their righwing craziness and have more democrats on the air and less republicans.

[brettdale]

2. faux is not turning

Faux is not turning, they are getting worse with each passing day.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. ratings for fox have dropped over 60% since November

[FreedomAngel82]

15. Yep

It won't happen over night but I do think they'll turn.

[David Zephyr]

24. Can you provide a link to Fox's drop?

I keep hearing this, but can't find support.

[Quixote1818]

27. Fox's rating are still the highest of all the networks

Their ratings have dropped dramatically but they are still on top. If their is a shift it's not due to lack of good ratings it's either for sincere reasons or because Fox thinks it can increase it's ratings if they move closer to the middle.

[GetTheRightVote]

4. Fox is going down hill fast along with the GOP

:kick:

[Skittles]

12. I think FOX has become a joke

even their idiot fans know the "fair and balanced" schtick is bullshit

[FreedomAngel82]

16. Of course

And now the GOP are looking like loser's. Nobody wants to support a loser who will take you down with them. With these people they abandon ship. I think we're definitley seeing that. I give it a couple more months to a year.

[ElectroPrincess]

5. The Rats are jumping ship and the Survivors are doing "make-overs"

It's weird as hell, but one thing smarmy characters are (includes both politicians and big media player): SURVIVORS.

It cracks me up how they can turn on a dime. On the other side is the poor kool-aid drinking right wingers. They will blame someone else for being mislead.

Guess we should thank our lucky stars that even P.T. Barnum couldn't spin this fiasco enough to blame liberals or the Democratic Party. No, pigs still don't fly. ;)

[LightningFlash]

6. This is so simple, Faux is trying to save itself from bankruptcy...

Wes Clarke won't add anything to Faux but propaganda.

CIA veteran Ray McGovern said it best. "Rupert Murdoch is mad at Blair and mad at Bush. He's having his revenge, in an unknowing way...."

[Cha]

18. I would tend to pay attention

to what Ray McGovern says.

What pissed rupert off at the bush&blair pony show?

Whatever..I'm happy it's Finally happening!

[FreedomAngel82]

19. Interesting

I didn't know he said that. Do you know when? I would suspect that McGovern knows what he's talking about (I've come to trust him). That goes to show my suspecion that the faux news people will turn on Bush and his gang and Bush and his gang will have their day in court. I think now is just the beginning. It won't happen over night, no oh no, but soon we'll even have the looniest of rightwingers calling their reps demanding answers of the DSM and the looniest of rightwinger politicians (except for Frist and his ilk) wanting answers as well. Oh yes a nice show indeed. :popcorn:

[LightningFlash]

25. During the hearing he mentioned it.

It was also on his website too. Ray does live radio interviews now everywhere.

[David Zephyr]

26. What did he say?

I don't remember hearing this. What did he say?

[ithinkmyliverhurts]

7. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

Perhaps? Nahhhhhhhh.

[xray s]

8. This is indeed an ominous development

It may prove a pet theory of mine...that the jokes on us.

[Eric J in MN]

9. Bill O'Reilly wasn't supportive of the Swift Boat Liars, either (nt)

nt

[patricia92243]

11. Wes Clark signs on to Fox News today. WHAT?? Do you mean he is going to

work for Fox now. They will be his employer?

Please tell me I'm mis-understandng what is being said.

[Just Me]

14. Ummm,...pure capitalists,...

I once asserted that Murdoch is a damned fascist. The response was: "No. He is a capitalist. He would sell his mum for a buck. But, he is not a fascist."

I asked, "What's the difference?"

*LOL*

Here's the asserted difference without a real distinction:

A fascist has a political agenda. A capitalist profits off that agenda UNLESS the fascists are no longer profitable. Then, the capitalist "adapts" to profiteer off the fascist's fall. Capitalists are chameleons who don't involve themselves in changing the landscape but rather adapt to it.

Unfortunately, those so-called "capitalist chameleons" DO shape the landscape even if they deny it. They are simply profiteering off political landscapes no matter how that profiteering impacts humanity. They are the dealers of whomever happens to be the most profitable producer at any given time.

[David Zephyr]

23. I think I'm with you on this.

Good post.

[peacetalksforall]

17. Do you mean Colmes is going to tell Hannity what to do and say?

You mean they are going to get rid of the stupid sounding and vicious court jesters who appear throughout the day?

[VOX]

20. *That* is a universe I'd like to live in.

Won't hold my breath, though. :)

[FreedomAngel82]

21. That would be hilarious if true!

I'd love to see that! A sorta "nerdy" looking guy who proclaims to be a democrat (might be for all I know, who am I to say) tell a big-bad republican guy like Hannity what to do. And watch when the democrats start holding hearings of impeachment of Bush and Hannity will be cheering the democrats on the air and saying things like "I told you that Iraq war was bad, etc".

[zoeb]

22. I think the media is too controlled by neocons

and it's not boding well with the public. Hence, Faux's ratings have been down and to get them up is to trend back to a more liberal media. Too much bad publicity for Faux as righty shill network has caused many problems and, unlike Wal-Mart, Murdoch will try to get the upper hand before the reports really do his network in.

He's not the only one to swing with trends. There is Arianna Huffington and Dick Morris who swing against popular opinion or where ever the money takes them.
One thing that may save Bill O'Liely, and I'm betting you will see this, would be swing back towards progressive journalism. The only problem is he often makes up information to make his point.
:puke:

I forgot Bernie Goldberg and Clear Channel. It's about time Bernie swings back to the liberal he once was and I understand his new book hits at the left and right. Clear Channel, the largest radio station owner in the nation, and carries conservative talk, has started carrying liberal talk. So there is some really big changes in the air and I can't wait to see it.