Another possible factor to add to why Bush was able to get away

[zbdent]

with this win.

Radio and TV are "free", a newspaper costs you money.

Radio and TV don't require paying attention. Much of the info is now delivered in bite-sized morsels. Kinda like microwaved chicken McNuggets.

A newspaper (although still somewhat limited) requires an active involvement in the process. Sometimes you have to pay attention to get the rest of the story, because it's continued on another page, and sometimes the real meat of the issue is late in the story. Essentially, grilling a steak for dinner.

Actual research involves time, travel (for resources), resources, and reading. A full course meal with soup, salad, entree, dessert, and coffee.

Americans are lazy (I'm an American, and yes, I'm lazy. But I've been paying attention, and I love to read). They don't have the time or the effort to study the issues, much as the two-income families who are earning barely enough to keep their insurance covered (if that) and pay the bills, and then get dinner ready for their kids who are at school.

And, finally, isn't newspaper readership down? Like I said before, reading a newspaper takes active involvement and paying attention. And who has time for that now?