The KERRY Revolution Won't be Televised

[AVID]

There was a post last night that discouraged me. I can't remember the exact title, but it went something like this, "How many "real" people watched Kerry last night, and were they influenced."

Although there are plenty of times during the day when I feel warped by DU, most of the time I feel enlightened, grateful, and certainly obsessed with DU, this election, and the media.

However, that question stayed in my head yesterday, and I wondered if the DNC was all just one big preaching to the choir. Yes, that is the point of the convention - lay out the platform for the party, nominate the candidates, and get energized to elect a president. But did any "swing-voter" or undecided wacth? It baffles me that such a person even exists, but then again, I'm a DUer.

I run a small business, so I come into contact with many people during the day. I have two kids active in camps this summer, so I meet and chat with other parents - I get around town quite a bit, however I didn't hear one person mention the DNC, Kerry, *b, and or any other ideas, issues, or news from Boston.

My business is non-profit, 501(c)3 so I don't talk politics around there, but I was discouraged by the lack of enthusiasm of the general public and other parents - just out and about down.

I AM encouraged when I see posts asking for help "de-bunking" a neighbor, family member or friend - I have my on going debate with my mother (I almost have her - an important vote in Georgia)

The lack of interest is not surprising when CNN viewers get more coverage of the "revolutionary" sound system they used in their "nest" directly on the floor. Wolf Blitzer commented yesterday in his wrap up of CNN's coverage - "We no longer have to stay outside the ring and watch the convention - now we are on the floor, in the midst and creating convention news ourselves." That about sums up the problem - the news heads have become the news. The only impression I have of CNN coverage is hearing the echo of a speech in the background over wolf's shoulder, becoming frustrated at not being shown the event, and switching to C-SPAN. By Wednesday, I had stopped surfing channels - so I missed the "fuck" on camera, Candy Crowley's breakdown of backstage activity, and Hannity's romp around the floor.

The networks ran less than 10% of the activities, and Fox - well fox has its own RW base, and televises opinion all day.

Kerry's message won't be televised - I must speak up more in public, with other parents, and neighbors.

[BootinUp]

1. I had the same feelings

about the news coverage, and it is true that the convention coverage was terrible. But apparently Kerry's speech was watched by 24 million. Thats not too bad. Also the undecideds that don't pay much attention won't be watching the republican convention either. They only start watching towards the end of the campaign.

[readmylips]

2. I asked a repig neighbor...did you watch...

some of the convention, democracy in the making? He said that he was not interested in watching blacks in any form or shape. I said, Is the real America too good for you? He was lucky I didn't run him over with my lawnmower.

Another neighbor said that she watched some but she would not vote to get a foreigner as First Lady. She added that Laura is a fine lady and doesn't meddle in how her husband runs the country. She knows her place. This woman hates Hillary at any cost because rush limpballs tells her so.

[librechik]

3. overheard a bunch of hospital workers talking about it

The lead guy was obviously a repig and kept smirking about the balloon incident. Everybody else liked that story too, and made the guy tell it over when somebody new showed up. That new guy said he had better things to do than watch. One girl said her mother in law sat through the whole thing, can you believe it?

They said something about how it was pathetic that Kerry was emphasizing defense so obviously. (a lot of these people are exmilitary)

So, I like the mother in law! What a buncha ignoramuses!

[Hoping4Change]

4. But others are watching. Canadian journalist SLAMS AMERICAN NEWS MEDIA!!!!

FYI the Globe & Mail is the equivalent to the Washington Post in that it is the Establishment newspaper but has way more integrity.


Patriot game, media shame
LAWRENCE MARTIN
Globe & Mail



"In his speech at the Democratic convention, Jimmy Carter noted how the Bush administration had willfully generated public panic over terrorism. Statistics show that, last year, acts of terrorism killed 300 to 400 people, ranking it so far down the list of dangers to livelihood that it is barely visible.





The threat of terrorism certainly shouldn't be minimized; but it also shouldn't be exaggerated by a cowed media to fit the White House agenda. For anyone who looks at some of history's worst threats -- the German military machine that killed tens of millions, the Soviet Union with a nuclear arsenal that could have turned this continent into rubble -- the terrorism of today, though George Bush has seeded so much more of it in Iraq, isn't anywhere close.




As journalists have been duped so often, admittedly duped, how can anyone say the media system in America is working?



In times of foreign crises, the press doesn't report. It is politically exploited. It is supposed to reflect truth and reality but, by treating politically motivated White House words with face-value reverence, it is distorting that truth and reality and succumbing to patriot games.



"At the Democratic convention this week and the coming Republican fest, rest assured of one thing: No one will mention a crux issue -- how patriotism supplanted journalism in America."







http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPSt...

[Fla Dem]

5. I know how you feel

In the circles I move in, there are very few instances when any mention is made of the election and/or the candidates. I'm not sure this is much different from other years. I think there was a lot of general discussion during the Clinton elections because his escapades (real or RW conspiracy) were all over the news. I also think the RW talk programs have had a profound effect in making any reasonable discussion of issues impossible. Most commited Repugs spout chapter and verse what they have been brain washed to believe by Rush, Hannity, Boortz, O'Reilly etc. They are not open to accepting any other viewpoint and just want to yell their scripted venom at you. I know I will not discuss any political subject with anyone with whom I do not know their political standing. One, I do not want to get into a shouting match, and two, probably not going to change their minds. Most of my discussions are with family and friends.

You are right about the DNC Convention. For the most part preaching to the choir. But I think the introduction of Elizabeth Edwards, Teresa Heinz Kerry, and the Kerry family was a first step toward people getting to know them. I also think Kerry's speech was an important first introduction to people who haven't paid all that much attention to the primaries. Not everyone is so focused on politics like us.

There are very few voters who have not already made up their minds. There may be a few Dems who are scared about the war on terror and think it's best to stay the course. Those you may be able to convince that Kerry will do a better job or at least as well. And there may be a few moderate Repugs who think Bush has gone way over the top with his religiosity influencing his decisions, his poor fiscal management, his handling of the war. If Kerry can impress them they might come over to the light. Then there are only about 10% of registered voters (this election a very low percent)who feel no strong alliance to either party, but look at elections like a buffet. They pick and choose either by issues or personalities or a combination of both. Whoever gets the most check marks on their list they'll vote for.

C-span is always your best bet for getting comprehensive campaign coverage. I actually like to watch an event as if I'm there and not have some 2-bit self proclaimed analyst telling me what I should think.

Also, don't forget the debates are coming up. IMHO this is when most undecideds and fence sitters make their decisions. Nixon lost to Kennedy in the debates, Regan beat Carter in the debates, Clinton beat GHWB and Dole in the debates, and GWB exceeded expectations in the debates, which if he hadn't, the election would never have been close. So I'm waiting for the debates. That's when the rubber will meet the road.