Something Has Changed

[Justice]

The NY Times Apology and the associated coverage on various stations
The Letterman and Leno jokes about Bush
The tone of CNN and MSNBC
Imus
Fineman, Will, Dobbs other "true" conservatives
Zinni, Clarke, other former colleagues
Paul Zahn shaking Wes Clark's hand
Media questioning legitimacy of terra reporting

It seems to me that the wind is blowing differently. Paula Zahn conducted multiple interviews tonight, and permitted the democratic representative to speak in complete sentences.

The media is starting to awaken from its rip van winkle like sleep and in perking up is asking more questions, being more skeptical.

It is really interesting to watch.

[Poiuyt]

1. I've noticed that too

About fricken time! If we can get the media on our side, we can win this thing.

[ibegurpard]

4. I don't want the media on "our" side.

I just want them to be fair.

[demobabe]

10. the media is on their own side

they serve their own bottom line. whatever sells the news, that's whose side they're on - for the time being. ;)

[misanthrope]

15. "For the time being," my ass...

...try "always." I never cease to be amused at those who think "the media" is some monolithic entity that actually seeks to push an agenda based on political leanings.

"Profit" is always the point. And, like water, media outlets will take the path of least resistance to such.

Does the media keep harping on Abu Ghraib because they want to unseat Shrub? Hell no. The story is salacious, that's it, the whole ball of wax. You've got photos of sex and violence and scandal; that's tailor-made for Americans.

Sensationalism is the crux and foundation.

[movonne]

2. I'm not sure they woke up ... I think that all the books and all the

scandals they didn't have much choice.

[jpgray]

3. Bill Kristol dazed and defeated on the Daily Show proved it for me

*Jon Stewart* debated him into a corner, and Jon always tries to play very nice with his guests. It was amazing to watch, and Stewart even noted: "This is the most defeated I've ever seen you!"

[Justice]

5. Agree

I watched Hannity tonight with Carl Bernstein - Bernstein chewed him up and Hannity could not really muster a response. I loved it when Carl said - Sean, stick to the facts here.

Jay Severin (Boston RW radio) stopped in midsentence and sighed on Monday - said Bush does not deserve reelection.

[Webster Green]

12. That was great.....Jon turned him into a blubbering idiot....

He seemed utterly defeated.

[MisterP]

34. Jon didn't turn him into one;

he just revealed him as such!

[Syncronaut Seven]

6. Too little, too late

Keep your powder dry my friends.

[lapfog_1]

7. Yeah, even Chris Matthews

is letting the Repugs have it from both barrels every other night.
The tenor now is one of "pile on Bush" (just like it was pile on
Clinton after Monica-gate). Of course, all Clinton did was get
a BJ and then try to slip-slide around it (using the VRWC legal
definition of sex and saying, infamously - "I did not have sex
with that woman, Miss Lewinsky - and, thus, falling into the trap
they set). His fault, he should have either not done the deed, or
having done it, simply said "We had a consensual relationship, the
details of which are none of your business, but it was not rape or
sexual harassment". But he didn't. And the press piled on. Now
they are starting to pile on Bush... and they aren't falling for the
canards and misdirections Rove is throwing their way about Kerry.

About the only thing that the public (by way of Leno and Letterman
and others) thinks of Kerry is that he married a very rich woman,
and that he flip flops on topics and/or votes... and, other than the
occasional sandal joke, this isn't really hurting Kerry. If anything,
Kerry is being pushed off the boob tube by all of the scandals and
bad press that Bush is getting... and the "piling on".

[Virginian]

20. Correction: Sexual Relations

"I didn't have Sexual Relations with that woman -- Monica....."

I remember it as if it were yesterday. His statement was too specific and my reaction was, "OK, so you didn't get laid, what did you do with her?"

The Republicans would like for you to remember it the way you said.

He said he didn't have Sexual Relations, but he didn't say he didn't have a Sexual Relationship with her.

I think Hillary forgave him more because everyone else was piling on than she would have had it remained as it should have -- a personal matter between the two of them.

[Pobeka]

8. The media giants are losing in this bad economy too.

The average person spends money on food first, media second. I believe the media conglomerates are seeing their bottom lines taking a serious hit, and they want Bush out.

Murdoch and Scaiffe need this economy repaired, and they know Bush can't do it. Bush is a loose cannon which they intend to push over the deck.

My two cents, for what it's worth...

[havocmom]

9. Pobeka, your 2 cents make a lot of sense

One would hope other industries migh catch on that unemployeed and underemployeed but overworked Americans can't buy much.

[napi21]

13. no, Scaif, the nedia and all the others with lots invested in the

stock market are doing fine. Heck, the media always does well during campaigns. Where do you think all those millions spent on advertising is going?

I think the media goes after whoever they perceive to be losing. They smell blood in the water with Shrub. A little bad news, they shrug it off, but the shots are coming from all sides now, and they are the first ones to see it. Not to mention ShrubCo has shorted them on info for 3 1/2 years and they're tired of it.

[Pobeka]

19. The media makes their money a little at a time in high volume.

Impact that volume, and they notice. And, just as importantly, impact that volume, and the advertisers notice.

The Bush boys have skimmed as much cream off this pot of milk as they could, but now the pot's starting to sour. Time to get someone back who can produce the milk again.

[AnnitaR]

11. What's changed?

Well, lets not give the media too much credit here. They sure as hell don't deserve it. The main reason for the change? They just like to back the loser.

They have not seen the error of their ways and are now trying to fix it. They are not all of sudden becoming real journalists. They do not all of a sudden care about the truth.

Bottom line is that they just don't want to be on the losing team. They see the writing on the wall that Chimpy is done and now they want to be on our winning team.

Let's not give these guys more credit than they deserve here.

[napi21]

16. Boy Annita, Great minds think alike, huh?

I was amaized to see both your and my posts, sent almost at the same time and almost identical!

[AnnitaR]

24. LOL! We are quite brilliant aren't we?

I refuse to give the majority of the media credit for anything anymore! I miss the days when there were actually journalists around!

[PROGRESSIVE1]

17. So then can I expect the media to "Whore" for Kerry starting in 05'?

[napi21]

23. Probably for a while 'till they get a feel for the view of the public.

I suspect Kerry will have a honeymoon period, and will be supported until some scandal hits. I know, I said until. WE all know there will be something. It may be totally fabricated by the Pubs, but it will be there. Remember the accusations against Carter and how he got his $$ in peanuts? Carter had nothing to hide, and he turned over everything they wanted, and the scandal went away, but they tried! Trust me, they'll do it again!

[PROGRESSIVE1]

32. Well, Kerry like Carter is much smarter in these cases.

They won't hide their scandals unlike Clinton.

I would expect that JK's Honeymoon period would last until the fall of 2005!

[oblivious]

14. Maybe their orders have changed.

"The CIA owns everyone of any significance in the major media."
-Former CIA Director William Colby

Don't know if it's true, but it sure would explain a lot of things.

[readmylips]

18. Even my local newsrag is against the bush.....

The AZ republic newspaper has been printing more negative editorials and negative letters to the editors against bush.

One of my neighbors, a real repig elderly, made open comments about things not going well in Iraq and not well for bush. He's disappointed in bush.

Another neighbor told me that they're leaning toward Kerry even if they voted for bush before. They asked me who I was voting for. We had a long conversation about the bush failures and for sure, Kerry would bring new ideas and stability for the world.

Another neighbor, we had a long conversation about the Iraq Abu prison abuse, and how they feel disgusted about the whole bush incompetency. They didn't commit to voting for Kerry but they are leaning.

In all, it was quite refreshing for me.

[WillyT]

21. Should I Put A Poll In The Field ???

LOL!!!

:hi:

[seabeyond]

22. took them long enough but they are listening to what we all are saying

also they got an awakening with the pictures, and seeing all the lieing, and putting together all the times bushco has been called a liar. think it is sinking in

and reporters are starting to apologize for not doing better pre war. ny times i believe has been doing a big job on questioning reporting

[JSJ]

25. The mass media go...

..where there are consumers. A majority of polled respondents now dissaprove of Bushco- hence a shift by media to reflect the interests of the anti-Bushco market. Simple supply and demand economics explain it.

[Lindsey]

26. When Jon and Ken on KFI in L.A.

...started turning...I developed some hope - I'm still very cautious though.

[JSJ]

27. are they anti-bush and...

...getting airplay now? I don't know them because I'm eastside, but I don't think the media in my area have heard my economic theory yet which would explain the preponderance of right-wing crap still dominating the media outlets, here. Wait, there is a morning show out of Tampa with a couple of personalities who have started slamming the little prez regularly. Their following, I thought, was mainly 'necks and shut-ins, but they need truth, too.

[janx]

28. Nothing has changed with the media.

It's all $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

It's what they think will sell their commercials, that's all. I did graduate study in media. I'm not guessing here.

[Moloch]

29. I think that the media is starting to realize that

Shrub is not going to win in november and they don't have to slant and distort the news in his favor to gain certain access. What a bunch of sycophants. I can't wait for Al Gore's network.

[JackDragna]

30. Don't fool yourself.

The Republican party still holds all the cards, at least for now. They have more money, are better organized and always have the ultimate trump card: the ability to campaign on feel-good, no-nothing issues. When a party can get votes beating its chest and talking about Mom, the flag and apple pie and get the press to consider that sort of patriotic crapola to be real issues, that's a party of intimidating political strength.

Nothing has changed, other than the president coming down to earth from the high approval he had a while ago. It's going to take a lot to get people to actually pull the lever for Kerry when the chips are down.

[onecitizen]

31. It's true........

I think they KNOW they are partly to blame for this fiasco. I look back over the last 5 years and marvel at the ineptness of the American Press. Are they stupid or lazy or both?

[blm]

33. If Bush hadn't gotten caught in BIG lies, they'd still be covering for him

and some still are.