BFEE used to eliminate brave Dems with bullets, now media just uses YOU

[blm]

by ginning up some ridiculously manufactured 'controversy' to make YOU neutralize the Dem voices most willing to speak out with the truth.

This whole ginned up 'controversy' over a dropped pronoun and all the talking heads saying it disqualifies Kerry is all about NET NEUTRALITY issue in January when Kerry comes in and head up the committee dealing with it.

Corpmedia needs Dems to feel no urge to support him on this, just like they did with Alito filibuster, DSMs, and Iraq withdrawal - and they are using all the peripheral, even MADE UP shit they can throw at him and get alot of craven Democrats who see Kerry as an obstacle to push at him, as well.

And look how many Democrats will go along with the feign-feign and give the corpmedia exactly what they want - a Kerry with NO CONSTITUENCY and no allies for big issues just as they did on IranContra and BCCI and CIA drugrunning - and WHY? Because he's a truthteller - and now they no longer need bullets to deal with truthtellers. They have fearful Dems - Dems afraid of calling the media for their constant lying so they GIVE IN and hope that they can at least settle for a nonthreatening coverup Democrat who has a chance of being allowed through the gauntlet.

Think about all of those who complain about spineless Democrats and then turn around and fear the media EVEN WHEN they know they are lying.

[The Magistrate]

1. In Other Words, Ma'am

Many Democrats do not prefer Sen. Kerry for their Presidential candidate in '08, despite the fact that you like him a good deal.

That really is about all this hector and bullyrag boils down to, is it not?

[Lars39]

2. And you just blew whatever neutrality you might have on the topic.

[The Magistrate]

15. Sen. Kerry Is A Spent Force, Ma'am

He is not going to get the Presidential nomination of the Democratic Party in 2008. My view, that he would in fact make an excellent President, is quite immaterial to that judgement of the likely outcome of the primary campaigns. The fact of the matter is that he is a lousy campaigner, and there is no cure for that....

[LittleClarkie]

19. Be that as it may, the subject is not his candidacy, which hadn't been announced

rather, it's that the media and the Republicans have the power to blow any gaffe WAY out of proportion. They did it with Gore, they did it with Dean, and they continue to do it with Kerry.

We should not help them by agreeing with them. Gore is a far better man than I knew about when I was a sheeple. Dean didn't deserve to be done in by a directional microphone. And Kerry merely dropped a pronoun in a speech he'd given a hundred times.

Woe to the next candidate, perhaps one you may be hoping you'll get a chance to vote for, that the press decides to take down.

And I'm afraid we'll still be here if Kerry decides not to run. We support him either way. I'm sure some were hoping we'd go away in that event. No such luck.

[The Magistrate]

24. What You Are Refereing To, Ma'am

Is part of the terrain on which the fight is conducted, and people who cannot negotiate it successfully are useless. People who know they are being watched for mis-steps must avoiding making them.

[blm]

21. Then you and James Carville can laugh about it over cocktails in Jan 2008 instead

of wasting your time undermining him - he's so lousy then that makes it especially easy for preferred candidates, doesn't it? Gee - why the stepped up media campaign against someone so hopelessly inept?

[The Magistrate]

27. Why That Date Particularly, Ma'am?

And do you find that you actually get much mileage in debate over suggestions of affinity with people you view as bogey-men?

It has always been hard for me to see any value to that technique.

[blm]

37. I have no technique or skills as you well know by now - I have earnestness and I

can earnestly say that alot of people certainly seem to want Kerry to not even show up at the starting line, even though they complain that he's a terribly poor runner.

If he's so bad, there should be no complaints about him adding to the compettition or debate.

But this was about net neutrality and the way media manipulates Dems into striking down the voices of their own making it all the easier for them to have their way.

[The Magistrate]

41. And The Problem With That, Ma'am

Is that it is tantamount to accusing everyone who does not share your enthusiasm for Sen. Kerry of being mere dupes of the media, and not having thought through their own views, from their own knowledge and experience and meditations on the matter. People who are addressed in belittling manners like that are not persuaded: they are only angered.

[blm]

57. Yes, Magistrate, and I am sure it is all just onesided. Coldly onesided.

I couldn't even imagine falling for a media lie that was made against another Democrat - even one who I would battle with on serious issues, like the trashing of the White House story. I knew it was made up the second I heard it, and clearly understood the reason the story was created.

Sorry, but that is the way I am wired. I fight lies - ESPECIALLY lies against the Dems I support - It just has been VERY combative around here because the lies against Kerry seem to increase since the general election instead of decrease.

[The Magistrate]

65. And Again, Ma'am

You simply repeat the assertion that people who disagree with your views on some political figure or other here do so only because they have "fallen for media lies."

It is a sterile line of arguement: it gets you nowhere.

[blm]

72. and you are SO considerate to point out your disappointments regarding my

behavior, but I do so worry you may be needlessly troubling yourself on my account. I don't matter enough for you to be so concerned.

[MH1]

25. Ha ha ha....think back to late 2003.

I'm too lazy to dredge up a link, but everyone had Kerry counted out then, too.

As for being a "lousy campaigner" - hardly. Gore was a lousy campaigner, both in 1992 and in 2000. Yet now everyone here wants to crown him. AND I don't count Gore out either - he could do much better this time around, and I would be happy to vote for him if Kerry isn't a choice. Meanwhile, Kerry was drawing huge crowds - like nothing I EVER saw for Gore - and has still been packing venues.

This latest shit should blow over. However, at least a couple insider Dems have showed their hands and how they don't WANT it to blow over. They'd rather take Kerry out of competition for 2008 then speak the truth that they damn well know and defend another Democrat. I'm utterly disgusted with them.

And I suspect you don't care, but your own stock just dropped considerably with me. Eh, whatever.

[SammyWinstonJack]

32. A "lousy campaigner " that if Ohio had had a fair election process

would have won that state and ultimately the Presidency. I think RFK Jr. proved that. But who cares about election fraud, both in 2000 and 2004.

[The Magistrate]

34. Perhaps, Ma'am

And perhaps he might have won several other states, and made that point moot, if he were better at the work....

The fact remains he did not obtain the office he sought, unfortunate as that is.

[blm]

40. Or if the DNC had not collapsed party infrastructures years earlier.

Kerry had to go into 2004 with the DNC party infrastructure he had - the old failed targetted state strategy led by an indifferent to 2004 Terry McAuliffe.

[The Magistrate]

43. Now That Brings Back Old Times, Ma'am

You were of the view, if recollection serves, that this was done deliberately in order to prevent any Democrat winning a Presidential campaign in 2004? Some ultimate expression of evil on the part of President and Senator Clinton, was it not?

[blm]

62. Neglect due to disinterest in 2000, 2002, and 2004 I would say.

.

[The Magistrate]

64. Political Parties, Ma'am, Are Of Course Known For Wanting To Lose Elections

They are organized specifically for the purpose of failing to secure office, and the power that comes with it. Serious students of the subject are unanumous on that point....

[blm]

71. Heh....and then there is that other motive - stupidity for giving in to polarization

so you care little if your party has no Dem headquarters at all in say....Horry County, SC. Though I did hear that a woman tried running it out of her home for a time.

[madmusic]

74. Sure there is: speech and acting classes...

to loosen him up. He's got it, but is stiff, like Gore was before he relaxed. Hollywood is good for the soul.

typo

[ThomCat]

45. You're talking about someone

who has never, ever been neutral, and only pretends to be polite about it. :eyes:

[Lars39]

51. I've come to realize that.

I think it needs to be pointed out as often as it occurs, too.

[The Magistrate]

67. Please Feel Free, Ma'am

To make any reply to any comment of mine at any time and anywhere it takes your fancy to do so.

[The Magistrate]

66. Honestly, Mr. Cat

A casual observer might draw the conclusion you do not like me very much....

"It is wrong to divide people into good and bad: people are either charming or tedious."

[ThomCat]

69. A casual observer would be right.

I've actually paid attention to some of the stuff you've written.

[The Magistrate]

70. Only Some, Sir? You Wound Me Deeply, Indeed You Do....

"Who has no enemies has no friends."

[blm]

5. A latest response to the latest MEDIA ATTACKS on Kerry who certainly generates

alot of heat in the media for things that don't rate a one line story - and none of you think it at all strange and treat it as if the corpmedia is doing Dems a great service by attacking Kerry and getting him out of your precious way.

No, Magistrate, all is fine - and just like IranContra, BCCI, CIA drugrunning and terrorist banks, net neutrality and expansion of corporate media is just another conspiracy theory that pesky Kerry is going to deal with and conspiracy theorists like me think that corpmedia will try to impose THEIR view of Kerry yet again.

Nothing for you to worry over - so please feel free to ignore this conspiracy theorist.

[The Magistrate]

12. Doubtless, Ma'am, Senator Kerry Himself

Would be flat amazed to know all you are certain he would do if in power. So long as these things dwell only in the future's mist, they can be passionately believed: the actuality, Ma'am, you would find far different, should it ever come to pass.

Your reference to bullets earlier, though, puzzles me somewhat: are you one of those who subscribes to belief the kilings of the Kennedy brothers was arranged by the elder Bush?

[blm]

16. We're just conspircy theorists, Magistrate - just like Cheney has said.

Nothing to see here, sir. Nothing to worry your grand mind with the likes of us.

[The Magistrate]

17. And Yet, Ma'am

You do not answer the question posed concerning the murders, but only liken me to Cheney....

That hardly advances any possible dialog.

[beachmom]

22. I believe "they" refers to those who don't want honest brokers

or truth tellers in power. I am not a conspiracy theorist (re: JFK and RFK) but I do follow what BLM refers to. Kerry makes the powers that be uncomfortable. They like the status quo, and he's shown in the past that he will fight them if they're doing wrong, like Iran/Contra and BCCI. Currently, it is his withdrawal plan from Iraq. The entire media seems to agree that Iraq is a mess but that we can't leave. As a U.S. Senator and the former presidential candidate, Kerry's voice is most inconvenient. Also, he doesn't even have to run for president to hold true power -- as BLM says, he will be the chairman for the committee that will deal with Net Neutrality -- that's real, and that's going to happen, and he sides with the netroots. Big Cable and the rest are none too pleased with that.

Why is it a leap to wonder if the corporate media doesn't have it in for him due to the above reasons? Why isn't George Bush catching half the hell Kerry is for screwing up a war, as opposed to a joke? These are compelling questions that do need answers.

[The Magistrate]

33. We Will See What He Does With The Chairmanship, Ma'am

Then there will be something real to discuss. At this point, there is no reason at all to believe he will act in accordance with the hopes expressed at the start of this thread, and no grounds to denounce those who do not share the views of his most fervent supporters as dupes and shills. Mo one here is required to share anyone else's view of any person or political matter, and everyone is free to express their own views.

[madfloridian]

35. Your post worries me. We are helping the media bring down a fellow Dem.

I guess I should not say that, but it concerns me. I have seen this stuff happen to too many of our Democrats here.

The media is deliberately bringing down one of our own, and this forum is helping them.

I may have my post deleted, but I am heartsick at what is being done here.

A website puts up a popularity poll, and we all fall for it.

I just feel kind of sick inside.

[The Magistrate]

42. That Is Not What We Are Doing, Ma'am

We are expressing differing views concerning a national political figure: that is one of the purposes of the place.

[sniffa]

38. oh for christs' sake

wiLL you just stop it with your fake manners.. ma'am.

[ThomCat]

46. LOL!

I love you! The silly language and pseudo-intellectualism really does get very, very old.

[The Magistrate]

48. It Is Very Old, Mr. Cat

"And I lift my glass to the awful truth that you can't reveal to the ears of youth, except to say it isn't worth a dime."

[ThomCat]

50. I haven't been called young in many years

but whatever act floats your boat. :rofl:

[The Magistrate]

52. As They Say, Sir

"You're only as young as you feel."

[cali]

3. blm,

you are really going off the deep end here. Honestly, it's beginning to look a bit unhinged.

[blm]

8. What isn't true? You think media isn't playing this party?

.

[bleever]

4. They sure are spending a lot of time cutting down a guy

who supposedly was a "loser" at the bottom of the popularity list.

Kerry scares them, hence the PR push. I think you're right that the keystone may be getting Dems to play along.


ed: Recommended.

[glitch]

7. Ain't that the truth. We all need to see it for what it is and be encouraged.

If Kerry were really a non-contender they wouldn't bother. And I think most people see through the media posturing, regardless of whether they want him for president or not.

[mom cat]

10. I believe that the media is scared not only about net neutrality but also about

media consolidation. They are making an example of him so show what power they have to make or break someone. This is so reminicent of all the flap over the "Dean scream". Again, this is a media driven event over an insignificant issue designed to skewer, not enlighten.
I have been angry at Kerry since he (in my opinion) conceeded too soon. However, I think that this current anti=Kerry campaign is over the top and needs to be resisted by all of us.

[blm]

13. It's over the top and should be making Dems question what lies beneath

and instead they are sheepishly accepting to ride the tide that was completely CREATED by the corpmedia.

[mom cat]

77. Surprized?

I'm not.

[NobleCynic]

6. That seems a bit of a stretch to me

The average person does not pay attention to what happens in committee, and anyone who does is informed enough to have already made up their mind on the issue.

[blm]

14. They don't want net neutrality to have any significant voice.

The more they marginalize the better.

Kerry will also be looking to overturn the FCC ruling that allowed media expansion.

Media HAS its reasons - and it's not all about 2008.

[NobleCynic]

29. Maybe, but how Kerry polls shouldn't affect how he runs his committee

Maybe you're right though. They could be playing it this way not to hurt Kerry so much as to make an example of him in order to intimidate the others on the committee. Still, there are too many other factors for me to consider this theory all that strong.

[blm]

39. This has been going on for some time over media expansion, too.

You may think this ridiculous trunping up of any story against Kerry is happening in some vacuum, but it isn't. Been ramped up since June 2003.

Kerry Seeks to Reverse FCC's "Wrongheaded Vote"

Commission Decision May Violate Laws Protecting Small Businesses; Kerry to File Resolution of Disapproval

Monday, June 2, 2003

WASHINGTON - Senator John Kerry today announced plans to file a "Resolution of Disapproval" as a means to overturn today's decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to raise media ownership caps and loosen various media cross-ownership rules.
Kerry will soon introduce the resolution seeking to reverse this action under the Congressional Review Act and Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act on the grounds that the decision may violate the laws intended to protect America's small businesses and allow them an opportunity to compete.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Kerry expressed concern that the FCC's decision will hurt localism, reduce diversity, and will allow media monopolies to flourish. This raises significant concerns about the potential negative impacts the decision will have on small businesses and their ability to compete in today's media marketplace.

In a statement released earlier today regarding the FCC's decision, Kerry said:

"Nothing is more important in a democracy than public access to debates and information, which lift up our discourse and give Americans an opportunity to make honest informed choices. Today's wrongheaded vote by the Republican members of the FCC to loosen media ownership rules shows a dangerous indifference to the consolidation of power in the hands of a few large entities rather than promoting diversity and independence at the local level. The FCC should do more than rubber stamp the business plans of narrow economic interests.

"Today's vote is a complete dereliction of duty. The Commissioners are well aware that these rules greatly influence the competitive structure of the industry and protect the public's access to multiple sources of information and media. It is the Commission's responsibility to ensure that the rules serve our national goals of diversity, competition, and localism in media. With today's vote, they shirked that responsibility and have dismissed any serious discussion about the impact of media consolidation on our own democracy."

[smoogatz]

9. Oh for Christ's sake.

Kerry is the freaking CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE. I get it now. My God, here I thought he was the junior Senator from Massachusetts and a failed presidential cnadidate. How naive I've been!

[blm]

18. No, smoo - believe the corporate media has YOUR best interests at heart.

Even without Kerry heading the committee on net neutrality - the media really is just HELPING you mock a preferred target because they are your friend.

[smoogatz]

20. So let me get this straight--

we're either with Big John or we're against all that's good and decent in America. That about right? Seriously, you guys have got to calm down--you're starting to get those little flecks of foam in the corners of your mouths.

[blm]

23. Have you tried recommending that to the frothing media who stepped up their

attacks on Kerry AGAIN recently or is it really so odd to you that there are some Democrats who fight LIES and distortions about Democrats they admire and who support the battle they are about to take on with the corpmedia?

[smoogatz]

28. You're not doing that, blm.

You're not calling CNN's 1-800 complaint line, or dashing off scathing emails to Fox News. You're posting about it here, on DU. You're attacking DUers for not sufficiently worshipping junior Senator from Massachusetts (and failed presidential candidate) John Kerry. Which makes you look slightly deranged, as I said.

[blm]

47. That's not true - I've handled antiKerry posts for years - the latest round of media attacks

are over the top and completely out of proportion yet they are being used maliciously by people here and it is exactly as the corpmedia intends.

I think it is interesting that you think I look deranged for noticing that the media has stepped up some very unfair lines of attack on Kerry, yet many of you would agree that media has used this very same tactic in the past against other Democrats.

I contact media and have long been a proponent of contacting the media and did so even when Clinton was being lied about last September even though I am no Clinton fan. PT 9-11 was over the top in blaming Clinton - no complaints from any of you that I speared that one.

This manufactured outrage over a dropped pronoun in a joke is a low point for journalism - Olbermann said so, Friedman said so, Maher said so - MANY said so - why so many on DU use it to kick and kick and kick to the benefit ONLY of the corpmedia is the mystery. A corpmedia that wants net neutrality and media expansion to go THEIR way, not YOUR way.

[smoogatz]

49. Oh my God.

YOU "speared" PT 9-11? All by your little self? Wow--I had no idea you wielded such power, dude. Lordy.

[blm]

59. Didn't say I did it by myself - that's ridiculous - Pitt and I and others stayed on it

from when we first heard of it. Why the urge to be snarky about it? It should be no surprise to anyone that DU activates over media lies.

[smoogatz]

60. And Media Matters, and Kos, and Atrios, and Digby

and Clinton, himself, and a hell of a lot of other people with an actual audience and actual influence. What you've got is a wildly inflated sense of your own importance--that's why the snark, for God's sake.

[blm]

63. That's YOUR twist - I stated what happened here on DU. Why pretend

that I was referring to more than DU?

Glad you crack yourself up, but here at DU we do take our media activism a bit more seriously.

[smoogatz]

68. You know, I'm going to do us both a favor and put you on ignore.

Either you're a hired shill or you're delusional--either way, there's no percentage in trying to reason with you.

[beachmom]

26. Absolutely not. You should support the candidate you want.

The point is proportionality. WHY is he being so incredibly dumped on? For a joke? For one flawed poll? It's all very weird. And don't forget Walmart's attack on John Edwards. So, no, this has to do with why the corporate media is going after someone who botched a joke, while that time could have been spent on the man who botched a war.

[smoogatz]

31. It was the timing, for God's sake.

What, a WEEK before what was shaping up to be a historic midterm rout? And Kerry gives the wingnuts the crack they need to change the subject for a few days? It wasn't just a minor gaffe, it was spectacular--right up there with "macaca," almost. And the business about corporate media having it in for Kerry, while it may be true (though he seems to do a fine job of screwing up all by himself), doesn't explain why even NPR spent quite a bit of time on the story.

[blm]

36. Feign - Feign. You have to INDUCE outrage over something so MINUTE.

That dropped pronoun wasn't deserving of a oneline reference in a story, let alone being blown up as big as Clinton's dropped pants.

[smoogatz]

44. Of course the outrage was fake.

The story was not that Kerry insulted the troops. The story was--and this is obvious to all but the truly delusional--Kerry fucked up. He handed the right-wing a weapon, again, with which they proceeded to bludgeon him. Again. In fact, Kerry apparently can't not fuck up at the most inopportune possible moments. THAT was the story, and you know that was the story--but because you're a Kerry shill you'd like us all to pretend that the REAL story is the media conspiracy to silence Big John, because, you know, he's really, really important. Oy.

[blm]

61. Kerry dropped a pronoun in a joke - THAT is your idea of a serious fuckup? Oy.

Leno and Letterman get paid MILLIONS of dollars to not fuck up jokes and they do it almost every night - now THAT should be a crime when you're getting paid THAT much to tell jokes.

[Blue_In_AK]

76. Good luck with finding that perfect candidate

who never flubs a joke, misspeaks, sighs, gets a little too excited or commits any other little social faux pas. Good grief.

[Lars39]

54. "even NPR"...NPR has swung to the right and has been for quite a long time.

[Old and In the Way]

11. I wouldn't pay too much attention to this, blm.

Who knows who'll be running and what will be the issues will be? I doubt that manufactured outrage will even be remembered 2 years from now.

At the end of the day, JK will get his chance to make a case in support of his candidacy. I'll be considering all the options and the media blow-up won't factor into my decision. He may not take it this time, but, if he doesn't, perhaps he'll get the AG slot. Now wouldn't that be interesting?

[lonestarnot]

30. not I said the black sheep!

[Bucky]

53. I shouldn't bother to ask, but exactly what Democrats did the Bush family have killed?

[smoogatz]

58. You're right.

You shouldn't have asked...

[David Zephyr]

55. They did it to Howard Dean. They did it to Kerry.

They'll do it to who they don't choose.

[ecstatic]

56. Your loyal & unrelenting defense of Kerry's record is starting to make me think twice

about condemning a potential run in '08.

Keep up the good work. You may singlehandedly change negative perceptions people hold of Kerry, right here on DU! Or you might manage to get tuned out completely but that's always a risk when ramming a specific point home.

You've certainly convinced me on his record, but I'm still not convinced that Kerry can set up an effective CAMPAIGN. That is my concern.

[roguevalley]

73. true or not about the media, the perception of him is loser. He might

be the next Jesus Christ but it won't matter. I personally won't vote for him again. Not because he isn't a good man, but because he's unelectable. Perception true or not, that is how it is. I am also not willing to see if he learned his lesson about campaigns. Telling that joke sort of tells me that he hasn't. If that makes me a commie, so be it.

RV, born dem, living dem, will die dem

[Blue_In_AK]

75. Thank you, blm

My feelings exactly. John Kerry has fought hard for us for decades, and it makes me pretty sick to see the way even our own keep trashing him for really trivial things. He is still my favorite presidential contender.