Why Are The Cable News Networks Providing Complete Coverage Of The Sotomayor Hearings?.......

[global1]

I know this is a historic appointment - but I would venture to say that most Americans unless they are political wonks are not watching the complete coverage. I also think that this takes the pressure off of the networks to actually report news and come up with material to fill the time otherwise. But I just heard that the Repugs might ask for even more time to question Sotomayor and now I'm beginning to think that they are asking for more time because they know that the event is telecast in its entirety. This just gives the Repugs a forum to be seen and heard on - more of a chance to mug for the camera and get more air time - to say something outrageous or to get soundbites for the RW hate mongers like Rush, Hannity, Beck, etc.

Am I being too cynical here?

[BlooInBloo]

1. (facepalm)

[global1]

2. Huh?....nt

[walldude]

3. Um... the republicans are making fools out of themselves

in front of a national audience. I think we need even more coverage. Not to mention this is a Supreme Court nomination, you think we ought to go back to 24/7 MJ?

[harun]

17. It doesn't seem to hurt them in their home states.

[WilliamPitt]

20. But they'll all get re-elected.

[drm604]

4. No, you're not being cynical.

I don't know if that's the reason the networks are covering it so thoroughly, but I do think it's likely that the Republicans are taking advantage of the coverage to get soundbites and create talking points.

[Occam Bandage]

9. "I think it's likely that the Republicans are taking advantage of the coverage to get soundbytes?"

Isn't that a bit like saying, "I think it's likely that the New York Yankees are taking advantage of this baseball game to score runs"?

[ananda]

5. The hearings are important.

However, there is other important news about torture,
Cheney, the CIA...

[Pirate Smile]

6. Because they should provide complete coverage and at least CNN is doing it. MSNBC isn't.

[MADem]

7. Because it's an historic appointment.

"Most Americans" don't watch cable every minute of every day, anyway.

You are being too cynical. People would be having a shitfit if this appointment wasn't covered, after the gavel-to-gavel Alito confirmation, with his tearful wife by his side wearing a suit made from easychair upholstery material.

You actually don't think that if there were "breaking news" of grave national import that they wouldn't interrupt the hearing, or "split screen" it?

In summertime, there's not much news, normally. A lot of people go on holiday...to include legislators.

[Occam Bandage]

8. They always do that. They did the same for Roberts and Alito.

Hell, Clarence Thomas's turned into a national circus.

[eShirl]

10. because Michael Jackson didn't die this week. n/t

[WI_DEM]

11. Why not? would you prefer more Michael Jackson stories?

[global1]

19. Not MJ - But What About Health Care Reform - What About CIA/Cheney Issues.....

to name a few - there are other important stories out there. With respect to the Sotomayor hearings - they have now turned into gotcha hearings. The Repugs are asking the same questions over and over and they are trying to get her to say something that they can make an issue of. If Leahy gives them more time to do that - I will be upset.

[zipplewrath]

12. Content, content, content

...this takes the pressure off of the networks to ... come up with material to fill the time...

I don't think most folks understand just how hungry the news networks are for content. Most of the excesses of the news networks are grounded as much in this problem as they are in ideology. To a great extent your local news broadcast isn't all that far removed from the problem either.

[jakefrep]

13. They need to do penance for their MJ coverage.

[WilliamPitt]

14. It's history

[scheming daemons]

15. They did the same with Alito and Roberts... and the Bork and Thomas hearings 15-20 years ago were...

covered ad nauseum.


After the Thomas hearings, I couldn't look at a coke can the same way again.

[NNN0LHI]

16. Sharks ain't biting?

[mmonk]

18. Because it doesn't contain anything they are trying to keep from us.

[JonLP24]

21. Well I only get CSPAN 1 so I actually like the fact the major networks are covering it

I wish they'd cut down on the commentary so I can hear more about what they are saying in the hearing but they are showing other news on the ticker.