The 24 hour "all news" cable networks are corrosive to our democracy.

[Atticus]

This is difficult to write without lapsing into "colorful" language, but I'll try.

Why do we continue to allow these idiotic "news readers" to create news instead of report it? Earlier today, I heard that towering intellect, Wolf Blitzer, commenting about how tonight's news conference was crucial to President Obama because if health care reform didn't pass before the August recess, his presidency could be crippled. That's not offered as an exact quote. I don't have a transcript, but that is, I believe, an accurate approximation of what was said.

Isn't this just empty hyperbole to titillate the "inquiring minds" who will, presumably stay tuned to hear the a.)good, or b.)bad news that "The Obama Administration Is In Peril"? If Congress leaves town without passing healthcare reform, will Obama still be President, for cryin' out loud?

And, now, after I thought I'd just watched an intelligent, thoughtful and downright encouraging press conference in which our president not only answered all the questions asked, but did so using complete sentences and an easy confident manner, I'm "treated" to the likes Howard Fineman and Chris Mathews. These guys apparently watched a different presser. According to them, he looked "tired" and didn't really say anything new or helpful about his healthcare plan and he should have been more like Reagan.

I'm sorry. I'm reasonably well-read and have a vocabulary that is adequate for most purposes, but the only term I can come up with for this nonsense is BULLSHIT!

Just report the facts and, if so moved, occasionally, some clearly labelled opinion if you have the chops. If you have time left over when that's done, play an old movie or teach us how to prune our roses or make enchiladas from scratch. DO NOT hype some imaginary issue to "fill" the slot. DO NOT exaggerate either pluses or minuses to advance the political agenda of the conglomerate that owns your network.

[Mythsaje]

1. I wouldn't worry so much about "colorful" language

If the OP requires it, then use it. Whether or not I do depends on my mood.

[laruemtt]

2. was thinking about this today

and the phrase "empty vessels make lots of noise" kept popping into my head. they talk and talk and talk and talk and say absolutely nothing of substance. and this is what they are hired and paid to do. truly breathtaking. rarely watch anymore.

[mopinko]

13. my dad always said- it is the empty cannon

that makes the most noise. whether there is an truth to that, i have no idea.

[Uzybone]

3. Yes. It has gotten much worse since the time Jon Stewart said they were hurting America

back when Crossfire was on.

[spanone]

4. it's tabloid journalism brought to teevee.

they have to make the mundane mechanisms of the political machine 'exciting' E! teevee 24/7

[excess_3]

5. better than... the dark age of television, when there were 3 networks.n/t

[Atticus]

6. You mean those "dark ages" back when

people like Cronkite and Murrow were trusted more than any elected official?

[excess_3]

10. exactly, how the US survived that time, I don't know

the narrow minded thinking that was typical of the era,
looks dangerous to me in hindsight

edit for spelling

[lxlxlxl]

14. people weren't slaves to the three networks thats why.

because in the 50s - 70s TV was treated as a novelty, not the norm.

there was more reliance on text and studying...no matter how fucked up things were back then, the people that fought had tougher odds against them, but they still did something.

as opposed to our country where they can drag the country into war, ignore a hyper explotatitive economy and then pretend its all obamas fault.

[Birthmark]

7. I agree.

The "news" channels and C-SPAN have seriously damaged our capacity for self-government.

[mitchum]

8. I spit on Roone Arledge's grave...

as should everyone.
He didn't pioneer the 24 hour cable news format, but he was instrumental in pushing television news as a revenue generator.

[LWolf]

9. I just had this same conversation with a colleague,

explaining why I don't watch tv news or listen to radio news/talk.

[Captain Hilts]

11. I gave it up. Newspapers paper and online are actually better and waste less time. nt

[lxlxlxl]

15. quarterly's and weekly's > 24 hour talk

it takes time to understand issues, and most of the 24 hour stuff is epiphenomenon or filler.

basically, your right...

[lxlxlxl]

16. where does du fit in?

i just come here to vent. i dont really learn anythign that useful. im sorry im not trying to be an ass or anything, but i just dont rely on DU for facts. just headlines and venting...

[TexasObserver]

12. Short attention spans. Poor reading skills. Little reading for knowledge.

and mpac uv txtng