The non partisan lesson from Obama's meeting with the GOP.

[chieftain]

Yesterday demonstrated conclusively how supportive of democracy television could be had it not been turned into the main huckster for a consumer economy. The information content contained in that hour and a half far surpassed a month of cable news preening pols and bloviating pundits. It ought to spark a debate on how to create similar events and how to assure that the sophisticated communication assets we possess are harnessed to butress self government not just sell viagra.
MSNBC deserves huge kudos for turning over its Friday schedule to cover the meeting. It eschewed the standard TV practice of slicing and dicing complex issues into 26 second sound bites which only obscure rather than illuminate issues. Good on you Chris, Keith and Rachel.

[Strelnikov_]

1. KnR n/t

[liberalmuse]

2. Absolutely.

We desperately need more of this. I also like President Obama's even-handedness. Next to his stance on bipartisanship and cooperation, the extremists look really bad. The problem is, our media and just about everything in our culture props up the extreme as being a good thing, when really it's not.

[Clio the Leo]

3. We need to remember last night's coverage the next time we get mad at those three...

..... for saying something we disagree with about the President. Ultimately they, like so many of the critics here, support the President they just want him to do even better than he's doing. But ultimately, we're all in this big tent together.

And yes that even applies to stupid Ed. :)

[chieftain]

5. I am willing to put up with Mika and Joe, if

we continue to get the kind of programming we get a lot of time from MSNBC. With CNN emulating FAUX and the broadcast news looking more like Access Hollywood than Huntley/Brinkley, MSNBC with all its faults is an essential source of information.

[Gregorian]

4. There should be much more of this. The Repubs have nothing without their cloak and spin.

This removed it.

Furthermore, imagine if that has been Republicans giving a televised talk. Had that been Bush, he would have been impeached before his first term was up. The cry among the citizens would have been overwhelming.

I'm sickened by how much shit we've let pass by us. All of it in darkness, only to be falsely illuminated by things like FOX paranoia propaganda.

[chieftain]

8. The failure of our "journalists" is a key element in RW

success. FAUX invents lies while the rest of the media is content to be the GOP's steno pool.

[mix]

6. I agree.

Another "nonpartisan lesson" from this encounter is that our democracy, as evidenced by this face-to-face encounter and its strangeness, has become hollow and artificial, mainly due to the conservative corporate media that has decreed that only Democrats must face their critics, never Republicans. Obama finally tore through their BS and, of course, since they've been coddled and protected for so long, they couldn't save themselves.

This meeting also demonstrates that to revitalize our democracy, the Republican prophylactic has to be punctured.

[chieftain]

16. The RW occupies the biggest echo chamber in history.

FAUX in particular allows Republicans to thrive in ignorant bliss. The corporate media may be more pernicious as they reduce complex issues to non serious sound bites and perpetuate the myth that both parties are equally venal. It is no wonder that the great majority of the citizenry is either disengaged from the duties of democracy or are actively repelled at the prospect of participating in politics.

[treestar]

7. Very good point!

The media loves to think that it has influence and is in control. But now they have the power to just show up and let us think for ourselves.

And that would undermine the alleged power of corporations, too.

[chieftain]

9. Let's hope we have more of this type of coverage.

I can't picture the GOP allowing cameras in again but who knows. Whoever came up with the idea to ask for tv coverage is to be thanked. I doubt that the RW anticipated that development.

[chieftain]

15. The 4th Estate is doing as poor performing its function

in a democratic society as the GOP is at being the loyal opposition.

[grantcart]

10. MSNBC reran it again today

[chieftain]

11. I saw part of it again today. Great performance by the President.

Great commentary by the MSNBC trio. Just great TV, even on a second viewing.

[fadedrose]

14. I watched it yesterday and enjoyed it even more today...

Yesterday I was afraid the Pres would make some boo-boo or they would insult him in some way so I was nervous.

Today I enjoyed not only the remarks, but also Obama's facial expressions when Marsha (TN) and (especially) Jeb-Jim were making themselves look foolish using talking points for questions...priceless.

[fadedrose]

12. It was miraculous!! I mean...

the way that Rachel kept Chris from interrupting and talking over her or Keith. Wonder if we'll ever see that again :)

[chieftain]

17. Rachel is truly a miracle worker. n/t

[LatteLibertine]

13. I watched the break down of the event

on MSNBC too. IMO we need more of this. I doubt the Republicans will agree to it again. Most of them want to sit back and hope President Obama fails. In addition, they're highly interested in sowing discord in our party. Healthy debate among Democrats is fine and I hope we don't start advocating purity tests like the Republicans. Leave that to them, and encourage it.