I really wish I could figure out a way to destroy American News Media!

[trumad]

Here we sit, the Silent Majority, about to rear up and no longer be silent but yet we still have to have the 800 pound gorilla known as the American News Media. After we elect John Kerry to be President of the United States, I think that all the progressive organizations who fought to get JK elected should then turn their gaze upon the corrupt media.

IF NOT! Everything we do in the future to turn this country more Progressive will be for naught. As long as the entertainment news media continue to make a joke of our discourse, we ain't gonna get nowhere! MHOP

[UdoKier]

1. I have had fantasies about doing guerilla ops...

To blow up their antennas and take over their studios and such. :) Strictly FANTASIES, okay Mr. AssKKKroft?!?! I am a law-abiding citizen, but the Pravda quality of the media does annoy me no end.

[bryant69]

8. You and Ann Coulter would get along apparently

She said that her only regret about Timothy McVeigh is that he didn't target the New York Times building instead.

Not company I would enjoy being a part of, but to each their own.

Bryant
Check it out--> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[UdoKier]

19. Well, actually...

Even my fantasies don't involve hurting people, as Coulter's do. I added a smiley to make it more clear that it's tongue-in-cheek.

But many people's revolutions have involved the people taking over the State's broadcast apparatus, so I wouldn't dismiss such actions offhand as "evil".

Don't forget what Jefferson said about the tree of Liberty. Who knows when such a time might come again?

[bryant69]

22. I am pessimistic about any people's revolution

Preferring as I do, free speech, despite my disagreement with much of it.

Bryant

[UdoKier]

25. I'm not calling for one...

I'm just saying there are times when it becomes neccessary. If one really did come down, big time, you would have to choose sides. I for one, would be on the people's side.

[bryant69]

38. Why would I have to choose sides?

[Webster Green]

35. Real free speech would require leveling the playing field a bit...

Consolidation of the media has assured that for the most part, only one point of view will be heard.

[democrat_patriot]

32. If we had a time when

we knew the daily talking points came out - we could easily clog up the faxes with junk'mail'

Same with email. If they recieved 30,000 emails - how would they sort through them.

Especilly if we spoofed Repuke email addresses, put RNC and such in the subject line etc...

[sandnsea]

46. I vote sit-ins

We have to do something. A new President is only the beginning as far as I'm concerned. There is work to do in this country to take it back from the corporations and give it to our kids.

[madmax]

2. Thanks, trumad

I've been saying and thinking the same thing. We will have accomplished nothing if we don't do something about the stranglehold on the media.

You are so right on!!

[LittleApple81]

3. I HOPE WE CAN GET KERRY IN. The gatekeepers are all in place.

The media are one of the most rabid gatekeepers, and many Americans are either "fundies" beyond reason, selfish non-thinking people who believe they got a "tax cut" and that is the most important thing for them, or TOO LAZY TO SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH. Word of mouth is going to be EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT. I have been pleasantly surprised by some people I considered VERY republican... They are fed up with Bush, but these people DO read.

[cthrumatrix]

30. the media "took out" Dean..... he wanted the conglomerates broken up

He said it on Tweety show...b4 the Iowa caucus...the rest is history.

[SoFlaJet]

4. put it on ignore

as much as possible which is what a lot of liberals(like me)have had to do.When I see Tucker Carlson about to open his mouth I switch

[Webster Green]

11. That doesn't really address the problem....

When so-called "journalists" are constantly, actively rooting for the Repukes under the guise of "reporting " the news, we have a serious problem that needs to be fixed.

Ignoring the problem is not going to make it go away. They are fucking with our democracy.

[SoFlaJet]

39. God grant me serenity.....

to accept the things I cannot change,courage to change the things I can,and wisdom to know the difference.

There's a lot of shit these people say and DON'T say(like the circumstances w/Kerry's Iraq vote)so I do my own punditry-at the gas station in a store at the place I work 1 on 1 stuff,They fucked with the wrong guy when they took this Floridians name off the 2000 registry roll

[freetobegay]

5. I wish I could figure out how to get rid of all the

Kerry/Edwards haters here.

[playahata1]

28. So, has DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND

become KERRY/EDWARDS UNDERGROUND?

Is this the official Kerry/Edwards Fan Club site? Yes, I want the Frat Boy out of the White House today. However, I do not appreciate being told, as someone who is not 100 percent behind the Democratic Party ticket, that I am not welcome here.

I am voting for Kerry/Edwards in November, yes, but who are you or anyone else to tell me what to think, let alone who to vote for? To be honest -- and I do not care if a political candidate is Democrat, Republican, independent, Libertarian, Socialist, or Nazi -- I do not have enough faith in ANYONE'S ability to live up to his/her campaign promises. Peace.

[freetobegay]

36. I said haters (open eyes).

They are our nominee's. If you don't like them I don't understand why they are here. After all it has been said that DU is here to help them get elected. What part of that isn't understood?

ON edit: & please don't put words in my mouth! I did not tell you or anyone who to vote for or like/dislike.

[sandnsea]

47. In a word, YES

At least until Nov 2. The challenge in front of us is to get a new President. We can work on everything else AFTER that. Because there's no way we're going to get anything done with George Bush in office.

[seabeyond]

6. thinking thinking thinking

me too. i tell you went to bed late, again last nite adn thinking thinking thinking.........what to do to take down media. i kept seeing me in the crowd in boston and when tweety came out, take microphone and say,..........you are confused on kerry's 87b issue and position on war. firstly it is on his web clearly, secondly i have listened to many clearly tell you, which bring me to ask,........how stupid are you. if need be, i will clearly lay it out to you right now. yet i figure you really understand, that you do this to simply feed the stories

which is shamefull

[lovedems]

7. Have you noticed how they pat themselves on the back and say

things like, "we are making both sides angry, SO WE MUST BE DOING OUR JOBS!" Heavy pats on the back, big smiles, so proud! The thought doesn't seem to cross their minds that maybe they aren't doing their jobs if everyone is angry. It is amazing that they are so proud of themselves.

We need to change the laws so the media isn't controlled by a few corporate masters.

[Armstead]

9. Amen

The media is ruining this country.

Those who say "Just turn it off and don;t watch" are missing the point. The media is the filter that the vast majority perceive the larger reality through. As long as that filter remains silly, cynical and reactionary that is trhe reality that will shape the collective consciousness.

[smirkymonkey]

31. Thank you for saying that!

I agree that so many people are missing the point when they tell you to "turn it off". The crime isn't about offending my personal sensibilities, it's about supporting a totalitarian regime during a time when citizens rights and livlihoods are being eroded more and more every day.

They are more than complicit, they are equally guilty. I generally don't watch television anyway, but the majority of the American public consider their always-on TV set practically a member of the family. The powers that be in the media know they have undue influence over the public and use that opportunity to arrogantly whore for the plutocracy.

It's hate propaganda and it needs to stop.

[seabeyond]

10. saw kerry putting fearful cheney, gulliano, and police chief

comment on how fearful they are on screen tonite. and the part where chief says, fearful of terrorist, fearful if kerry is in office during terrorist, then bush sitting in classroom

and kerry saying, i would not have sat

feels like we need another big production on media..........mm style. dont know if him

[RodneyCK2]

12. I think the answer is in the MONEY...

We would need a big backer like Rupert Murdoch, but a democrat, obviously, to start a news network for liberals. I had high hopes that Al Gore was going to start one or did start one, but I haven't heard much about it lately.

From a more micro perspective, the only thing the single man or woman could do, I figure, was to either write columns/articles on the right wing, exposing the bastards. Get your own blog, that sort of thing.

Any other ideas?

[Tweed]

13. Don't watch them for starters

1. Go to independent web sites for news
2. Meetup.com now has a Fight Big Media meetup
3. Continue to educate your friends and families on how biased the media is
4. Read Robert McChessney's 'Rich Media, Poor Democracy'.
5. http://www.indymedia.org/en/index.shtml
This is a good website, but the supporters tend to be Naderites, anarchists, etc. They give good links and information though.

That's what I can think of for now.

[KansDem]

14. Last night's "Hope is on the way" speech by Edwards gave me this idea...

...in response to those bumper stickers in recent elections that read, "Irritate the Media: vote GOP," have a bumpersticker printed that reads:

Irritate the Media: Vote for Hope!:dem:

[MGKrebs]

15. I know you know this but...

protect internet rights!

Also, the spouse and I are thinking about the future with Kerry as Prezident. Since we can't trust the mainstream media to treat news as anything but entertainment, we want to begin to organize other ways to get the real news out. Also, we want to encourage people to respect news, respect democracy, and give it the attention it deserves and needs.

'Salons', continue meetups, host movie or even tv show viewings.
We have friends who have been hosting wine and book reading 'parties' for years now. It's a social occassion, fun, but can also be serious.

I think this would be a great thing for the ex-Dean groups who have stayed together to pursue. Disseminate alternative media. Facilitate citizen participation.

[MGKrebs]

18. and also,

we need the Fairness Doctrine back!

[Papa]

16. Someone beat you too it already. The Anthrax mailer.

That effectively muzzled the media to give them a free pass on Bush and his plans for world domination.

If we want to change the news media today, the only way I see is to stage massive organized protests outside their studios.

[napi21]

17. Oh, I duno, I think they're doing a good job of that themselves.

I listened to a panel discussion on c-span this past Sunday. There were reps from all the major press outlets except FOX. It was titled The Press and the Election and the panel had Brokaw, Jennings, Lehrer, Rather & Woodruff. The questions were pretty good, and the panel actually admitted they failed to ask enough probing questions before the war. Their excuse was they felt they shouldn't question a Sec. of Defense, or State after the tragedy of 9/11. But they did admit they were wrong AND this was a topic of much discussion in every new room!!!

They have an online vider available on the c-span site.
http://www.c-span.org/VideoArchives.asp?CatCodePairs=Issue,MP;&ArchiveDays=100&Page=2

It's listed about 3/4 of the way down the page.

[AndyTiedye]

20. CSPAN Seems to be All We Have Left for Unbiased Media

The Republicans own just about everything else.

I'm getting bumper stickers made up that say

WHO OWNS THE NEWS?

Anyone interested?

[UdoKier]

21. That is a total copout.

They knew exactly what they were doing when they ridiculed the protesters, when they ignored all the officials who quit in protest, when they ignored all the publicly known intel that contradicted Bushco's claims at the time, when they banged the drums of war like never before, when they accepted the terms of "embedment" - to become nothing more than PR agencies for the pentagon.

[napi21]

23. If there is no change, I'll agree with you.

It's really hard to tell since the shrub doesn't have Press Conferences, I know. I am presently willing to give them a chance for redemption. I'll be watching the commentary on the Pub Convention. I think that will tell the tale.

[John_H]

24. how many calls have the people posting in this thread made?

[donsu]

26. expose them - show their money trail - expose the religiously insane

ones, expose the pharms. etc., etc.

get the facts to americans other ways but the media

ideas are rampant

I recently told a Fox viewer that he was brainwashed. even in denial, saying this truth, sends lightning shockwaves through their minds.

it's very hard to learn you have been snookered.

[grasswire]

27. two actions would help

1. Start actively, in person, in real time, protesting at media outlets. Make it uncomfortable for these people to enter their workplace by having to pass protestors. Signs. Shouting. What they deserve is some well-aimed old tomatoes, but that might bring trouble. They are failing the people and breaking trust with their role in democracy. They need to be made UNCOMFORTABLE, and emails and phone calls ain't doing the job.

2. Support the development of the Citizens Bill of Rights for White House-Media Transparency. It's under construction at http://webdems.blogspot.com.

[Jose Diablo]

29. Sherman/Clayton Anti-Trust Acts n/t

[kerry-is-my-prez]

33. We need to pool together and buy them out. Buy the stock.

n/t

[sandnsea]

48. Now that's an interesting idea

I have $10. lol. Seriously, wouldn't it be awesome if we could figure out how to do this?

[tom_paine]

34. I agree trumad. I agree FULLY!

Can Liberty survive anywhere for long without a Free Press?

I fear we are about to find out.

[trumad]

37. Here's the thing....

I have very little power to organize like MoveOn, etc do with the masses...Oh sure I could design a web page and rumble a bit but it would take forever to get folks moving on this. Organizations like MoveOn, Take Back the Media, have the power to organize demonstrations against the news agencies and make it known to them that their shit is unacceptable.

We have hundreds of thousands protesting against the Iraq war but yet we have no one protesting against something that in my mind is far more dangerous. A nasty History will repeat itself in my lifetime if we don't get a handle on the corrupt lazy media. This DNC convention is a HUGE example of how bad it's gotten. The Dems in my mind made a gigantic blunder allowing Gillespie and gang to control the media at the DNC. :wtf:

Hell, the DNC gets all bent out of shape when a Pinkie unfurls a banner but they seem to be OK with Ralph Reed chatting with Tweety in Prime time in the middle of the God Damn Arena.

I say organize a million person march against CNN in Atlanta or MSNBC in New York. I say organize effective Boycotts of products that pay these networks to stay in business. I say have an organization like MoveOn promote and sponsor the damn thing. I say that gazing upon the media should be top priority after the election.... Is "I Say" like Send Me"? LOL

You get my point!

[tom_paine]

41. Where you gonna find 1,000,000 Imperial Subjects of Amerika

to do that?!?

Hell, trumad, how many Free Americans are LEFT in this Totalitarian Nation, you think? People who understand and cherish the Consitution and Bill of Rights.

People who would put Country Before Party.

Even IF many of the Good Germans who surround us actually felt that way, would they dare stir ther fat asses as long as the Cable TV was pumping on through and their apathetic, lives were otherwise untroubled?

You are correct, but I think the problem is Systemic and runs much deeper. Further we have seen how the Sea Changes forced on journalsim (if there even IS such a thing anymore) in Amerika have Systemitized and incorproated the problem so fully into the media that perhaps only the Jacobin soltion (not that I am advocating that...I am not) could create the kind of change you are speaking of.

[trumad]

43. We got that many for pre-war protests

we can do it again...

[tom_paine]

44. From your lips to God's Ears, my friend.

[Wind Dancer]

42. I couldn't agree more.

The media has created a serious danger to this country. I used to complain about the RW radio but I don't know how we can ignore the masses who believe the ongoing lies spewed daily on mainstream TV.

We now have a corporate owned media who could care less about free speech, much less a democracy. They are bought and paid for by this administration - we must find a way to confront this problem.

[Sabriel]

40. Acutally, I'm a teeny bit concerned about them come November.

Can a whole branch of industry go into therapy? Who's got a couch big enough? What the heck are they going to do after the election? (The schadenfreude is overwhelming me, can you tell??!!)

[trumad]

45. They will do what they did to Clinton to Kerry....

The shaifs (sp) and Olsen's of the world will simply re-tool and get back to their glory days of going after the Dem President. After all it was Clinton that launched their careers...

[Wind Dancer]

49. You can count on that!

[NewJeffCT]

50. agreed

That is what will happen if Kerry pulls off the upset & beats Bush...

Limbaugh has already implied that John Kerry had Senator Heinz killed so he could marry Teresa. How soon after inaugeration will they start the investigation into this? And, then, when the first investigation fails, they'll launch another and then another. (I think Vince Foster was up to 5 or 6 'murder' investigations.)

If one mid-level Kerry appointee has an apparent conflict of interest or something and doesn't recuse himself/herself quick enough, we'll get another round of investigations and the media will trumpet it as a sure sign of massive corruption in the Kerry Administration.

If one Kerry potential judicial appointee has written or said something that is even remotely controversial, it will be drummed into us that Kerry is pushing for a radical, activist judiciary that is way, way out of the mainstream.

[depakid]

51. Kerry needs to make media regulation a top priority

I think we're all in agreement that this is the linchpin for his success. He needs to find a smart and aggressive media lawyer to be his FCC Chairman and the Commission needs to immediately get to work putting together the evidence necessary to support far reaching administrative rules.

Clearly, the oligopolies need to be broken up- and there's ample evidence to support that doing so would be in the public interest. hell, the train wreck in North Dakota that went unreported by Clear Channel would be enough to bust them up by itself....

It's equally obvious that we need a vigorously enforced fairness doctrine and equal time rules that include provisions for state and local elections involving initiatives where one side uses their vast sums of money to drown out the public interest- How many times have you heard outright lies go uncontroverted because one side in essence owns all of the broadcast time? That has to stop- and it would be quite simple to do.

The list goes on and on. We need to reinstate the rules that required a certain amount of public affairs and children's' programming.

We also need to place limits on commercial time- on some Sundays, for example, almost every station except for PBS is running "infomercials" at the same time, effectively eliminating TV viewing for anyone who can't afford cable. These are not the media corporations airwaves to sell to the highest bidder- they belong to all of us- and WE give them licenses to use them. They owe us a duty to use them responsibly- and give us something back in return other than obnoxious infomercials (which, btw, were illegal before Reagan deregulated the media).

The FCC could do all of this by themselves- they could enact any one of the above rules, so long as it is rational and supported by a very small amount of evidence. And the beauty of it is that Congress would require a veto proof majority to overturn them- which they woulsn't get, because any of the above actions would be immensely popular.