Waterloo For Fox News?

[babylonsister]

http://www.newscorpse.com/ncWP/

Waterloo For Fox News?
Filed under: General, Healthcare, Propaganda — Mark @ 7:47 pm


Fourteen months. Fourteen long months of the most venal, histrionic, sensationalized, dishonest, and relentless crusade of disinformation, and what do they have to show for it?



Fox News has been the official campaign headquarters for opposition to health care reform. They dispatched their top personalities to headline rallies and protests. They consigned thousands of hours of valuable air time to anti-reform politicians and pundits. They converted their studios into Republican platforms for electioneering and fundraising. They adopted the Tea Party "movement" so thoroughly that they even rode along on its bus tours and branded its events as Fox enterprises.

And they lost.

Fox News is fond of reminding everyone of their ratings dominance. Although the cable news universe is comparatively tiny (Fox News has less than half the viewers of the lowest rated broadcast news program on CBS), Fox incessantly boasts that it is the leader in the space. But the fallout from the health care debate ought to demonstrate precisely how little that victory means in the macro world of politics. If the number one cable news network cannot sufficiently move public opinion to produce a legislative victory after fourteen months of persistent propaganda, it would be folly to regard them as if they were some formidable bastion of power or influence. Yet that is exactly how they are regarded by their patrons in the Republican Party (and many in the press).

snip//

The good news from all of this is that, as abhorrent as Fox News is, it ought not to be viewed as a Goliath that will crush any opponent. They gave it their all and came up short. They huffed and they puffed, but the House stood strong (oh wait, that was a wolf). This is the clearest evidence yet that Rupert Murdoch’s empire is a paper Fox. However, that doesn’t mean that it should be neglected. It can still bark ferociously and the other members of the media pack continue to give Fox more credence than they deserve. And for these reasons we must remain vigilant and prepared to respond to the deceitful and unethical practices of this phony pseudo-news enterprise.

In the long term I continue to believe that an informed public will reject Fox’s brand of shallow and divisive disinformation. And looking back, the health care debate may one day be perceived as a turning point. It may be that this long, sordid affair will be the battle that turns the war for responsible journalism to favor reason and truth. It may be Fox News’ Waterloo.

[Ian David]

1. Whipping teh crazeh into a frenzy of batshit failed to stop health care reform.

But maybe they didn't REALLY want to stop it after all?

[malaise]

2. The more hate they spew

the more they lose. Keep hating Fux.

[KharmaTrain]

3. Not Quite Waterloo...

David Frum was right about President Obama having more political capital and skill than Clinton did that helped push this bill through. While the GOOP does come away with nothing, there are some who came away with a lot and Faux is one of them. They, along with rushbo, filled the power vacuum within the GOOP hive and were very successful in spreading misinformation and stiring up a lot of the shit we've seen over the past year. They also profited handsomely with millions of dollars in healthcare ads and now are salivating at all the revenge issue advocacy ads that are sure to flow their way in the upcoming election. Nope, Rupert's not licking his wounds, he's counting his profits.

The rushpublican Waterloo was Election Day, 2008 when they lost all their remaining power after being in control of everything only two years earlier. They're still in denial about how far from both reality and their chances of returning to power. The health insurance reform bill will fade from the front pages now and they'll find another issue to smear and distort...that's what they do.

Frum is a voice in the wilderness in his own corrupt party. You can see the tire marks from multiple bus runs on him. The GOOP is feeling good about itself, thinks its gonna rebound and retake one or both houses this Fall...thanks to the Faux Noise and hate radio filter most of them live in, they've against made a massive miscalculation.

Our goal is to really make 'em feel the pain come November.

[babylonsister]

4. I honestly don't think the 'goop' is feeling good about itself;

I think they're privately shitting bricks.

Conason had a good article about this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=240529

Why Boehner is angry -- and Republicans should worry

[KharmaTrain]

5. The Difference Between The Party And Faux...

Watching Boner's shitfit on the House Floor the other night was a classic. I'm expecting Jon Stewart to do a major treatment on it. You are right...the rushpublicans aren't feeling too good about letting this one get away. Their trenches were overun and they've had to retreat...the obstruction game no longer is working, they can't say "nothing is getting done". Markos had a great point last night when he said that many of the GOOPers are afraid...of Faux and Rushbo than they are of supporting their agendas. But they're totally compromised and giving the likes of Bachmann and King and the other really unhinged the center stage. The one who looks like he's in total withdrawl is Cantor...he's looked like a beaten pup as of late. Boner has no soul...he's out to milk whatever he can for himself.

My point is Faux is high fiving themselves these days...viewership is up and while the bill passed, their mission of misinformation succeded...the hordes on the Capitol steps were testimony.

Ya know, I don't see many shitting bricks yet...they're reading their press clippings and are over-confident that they will win control of one or both houses in November. The RNC is still blind to the teabagger mess that will soon rip the party to shreads in the primaries and could run some third party candidates. All were so amped up with this stop Obamacare "debate" that they're just starting to realize they got steamrolled. Reality still hasn't set in...but with the rushpublicans, their ability to defy gravity and reality is astounding.

:hi:

[katmondoo]

6. Love this. Maybe we should call Fox News Freak news

instead of Faux News

[Wednesdays]

7. "I continue to believe that an informed public will reject Fox..."

That's the problem. As long as there's total corporate (including Fox) domination of the media, there's never going to be an "informed public."

[Submariner]

8. Airheads and Friends in the morning

staffed by a weather guy, a pageant queen dressed like a tramp, and a buffoon followed by pole dancer-like eye candy news readers until the racist crying man-baby conspiracy theorist shows up with his blackboard at 5:00 pm.

After a 2 hour break from that jerk we have two sex perverts; the racist Captain phone sex who wraps a body part in bread products (falafel) who has a toe sucking perve sitting across the table.

To round the night off everyones favorite racist hate TV host who pals around with white supremacists, followed by Ms face-lift who sucks up to Bible Spice so she can go snowmobiling with Tawd.

If that isn't the most sickly line-up on TV, then I don't know what is.

[The Midway Rebel]

17. I do not have cable TV or a sattelite dish so I don't get Fox

So, thanks for that brilliant and hilarious summary of what I am missing!

:D

[winstars]

24. DITTO!!! n/t

[get the red out]

9. Fox will live as long as Murdoch does

But he is an old man. I don't know what might happen once he passes. I suspect that until that time, and he will probably live to see 100, Fox will make a lot of money as a constant scar-fo-mercial because it's viewers are addicted to that type of adrenaline rush.

[spanone]

10. ministry of republican propaganda

[Kingofalldems]

11. Time for the FCC and or appropriate agencies to get involved

And yes, Fox news fan, there is jurisdiction here. Fox news is broadcast on the hour and half hour over the airwaves. Airwaves that belong to the people.:shrug:

[brooklynite]

12. Remember this from David Frum's "Waterloo" piece

Talk radio thrives on confrontation and recrimination. When Rush Limbaugh said that he wanted President Obama to fail, he was intelligently explaining his own interests. What he omitted to say – but what is equally true – is that he also wants Republicans to fail. If Republicans succeed – if they govern successfully in office and negotiate attractive compromises out of office – Rush’s listeners get less angry. And if they are less angry, they listen to the radio less, and hear fewer ads for Sleepnumber beds.

[Kablooie]

13. No, this is big win for Fox. They flourish on manufacturing outrage. It's their essence.

Losing makes their job much easier.

Not much outrage if they won. Losing, on the other hand ...

[apnu]

14. Fox is just preaching to the choir.

Only Republicans watch that channel. And they do so religiously just as they do with Rush.

So, of course they didn't sway opinion. Middle and Left America are not watching.

[Gwoppi]

15. Why just Fox? They're ALL guilty " (a rant)

I see little difference between Faux and the other news networks. Each of them has contributed to degrading our political parties and processes into a football match for sake of ratings, and even though I work in television, I would advocate arrest and sedition charges in a more perfect world. The so-called "news media" has comported itself treasonously and against the integrity, the interests and the safety of the Republic, and it's sad commentary on modern times it has for this long gotten away with it. In my dreams I see their executives testifying in front of a months-long Senate Subcommittee with plenty of evidence, no defense attorneys, and Dennis Kucinich chairing.

(I'm also going to go out on a limb and court strong possible negative DU reaction here by getting the following off my ee ittel chest: I'm no fan of KO, Stewart, or Rachel either; because I appreciate what they do, but imho they're corporate-paid steam valves designed to voice public outrage so the public will not. After all, why risk loss of privacy and public approval by standing up and ripping Glenn Beck a new one when Jon Stewart or Rachel Maddow just did it for you? By keeping them in place and paying them to be your public outrage monkey, you disown your own personal outrage, pin it on a surrogate, cheer when the public outrage monkey says what you wish you had the balls and public forum to say, then go about your sheeply little business by not becoming a populist leader saying these things in public instead of on television - therefore becoming a valid threat - and continuing the nice, nontoxic-to-corporate-America status quo.)

I hope no one flames me for saying it, because darn it, it needs to be said. Television has tamed us. Tamed each and every one of us. Would George Washington have stood up to King George if there had been a white-wigged corporate lackey on Revolutionary News Channel 1 boldly braying, "You, King George, sir, are the worst person in Britain"? I want to say yes; but working in television myself, and aware of its power - and that nothing you see on it is unintentional or random - my conscience forces me to say we can't know for certain. He might have, but a substantial portion of his militia and their families might have not.

And that is exactly why Rachel, Keith and Jon are here earning corporate paychecks on our side, and why Beck, Limbaugh and Palin earn similar corporate paychecks over there on theirs. Don't imagine this isn't all a game. I work in it. (And yes, I know I've said it twice.) It's rigged, folks. It's time to take the risk and become our own Maddows.

:rant:

[Swamp Rat]

16. Because FUX Noise is not owned and operated by human beings

[The Midway Rebel]

18. Thanks for posting and welcome to DU!

I agree with much of what you write.

It is all about the ratings and what sells advertising and brings in the revenue.

Politics in America is often not about left v. right or D v. R. It is driven by what sells books, newspapers and ad space.

Even here, in our beloved DU.



:hide:

[Gwoppi]

22. Thanks for the welcome!

Two years of hardcore lurking, but Obama nailing that HCR bill done' brung me out the closet!

As long as there are plenty of drinks at the bar, I'll enjoy it here :hi:

[Scurrilous]

19. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Johonny]

20. why wouldn't they just report that they won the debate?

It's not like their viewer would know the difference. They always declare victory no matter what happens. They never lose, just ask them.

[Kingofalldems]

21. Kick this for Fox lover(s) to see

Regulate Fox. Do it now.:shrug:

[samsingh]

23. kick - fox should go bankrupt