Jumping the Bush Ship. The updated newspaper endorsement story.

[gcomeau]

Well, about a week ago I posted saying the big news in the endorsement story was that Bush supporting pepers in 2000 were defecting en-masse.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1104353

Now 6 days later after the latest wave of Sunday endorsements I can update the figures.... and if some freeper lurker reads this I'm almost compelled to apologize for the ulcers it is no doubt going to cause.

Almost.

Sixty-nine papers that endorsed Bush in 2000 have so far (to my knowledge) declared their positions in this year's race. THIRTY-ONE of them are not repeating their endorsements. TWENTY-SIX are endorsing Kerry against Bush.

That's 45% that are not going to repeat their mistake of 4 years ago and 38% who are taking active steps to correct it.

And then you have the Standard-bearer Republican papers... the ones that will endorse a Republican candidate no matter what... and they're not sounding happy this year. Just read the editorials of the Indianapolos Star which calls BOTH candidates "unsatisfactory" and lashes Bush on all the things he has to fix in the next 4 years in the process of 'endorsing' him. The Austin American Statesman in Texas (Texas!) said point blank in the process of endorsing Bush that "Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz need to go." and "An erosion of civil liberties under the Bush administration also troubles us".

And, on a parting note... some more numbers guaranteed to make DUers smile.

The circulation, to the best of my ability to determine it, of the papers which have jumped the Bush ship: 2,700,000. And their editorials are, for the most part, truly an inspiring sight.

Bush has, in return, gained TWO papers which endorsed Gore in 2000... the York Daily Record in Pennsylvania and the Denver Post in Colorado. Total Circulation: 335,000. And what will those 300,000 plus readers be seeing? Not what you would call a ringing endorsement. The Daily Record came across as almost ashamed of itself and apologetic for endorsing Bush, and one of it's editorial board members published his own accompanying dissenting opinion tearing Bush's record apart. The Denver Post was also half-hearted in it's endorsement, supporting Bush with "unease" while saying several complimentary things about Kerry.

Total Gore papers from 2000 that have announced their positions so far: 53. 51 of them are going Kerry this time around. Defection rate for the shrub: 4%. And as mentioned, a very unenthusuastic 4%.

All that remains is to RAISE AWARENESS of this situation in the broadcast media. Get them to pick up this story. Fire them E&P link here:

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000683265

With a quick note on the situation.

-Grant

PS: geez, it keep updating. The article just added a couple more Bush defections!

[kaitykaity]

1. Great Ammo.

I keep hitting the FReeper that tortures me with this
stuff, and his comments are becoming more shrill and
obnoxious all the time.

Hee hee.

[Atman]

2. HEY FREEPERS!

"And then you have the Standard-bearer Republican papers... the ones that will endorse a Republican candidate no matter what... and they're not sounding happy this year. Just read the editorials of the Indianapolos Star which calls BOTH candidates "unsatisfactory" and lashes Bush on all the things he has to fix in the next 4 years in the process of 'endorsing' him. The Austin American Statesman in Texas (Texas!) said point blank in the process of endorsing Bush that "Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz need to go." and "An erosion of civil liberties under the Bush administration also troubles us".

I'd love to hear an explanation for this -- every time WE cry "civil liberties are being eroded," we get some stupid bullshit back from you about the liberal media. Well then, how do you explain such a statement from REPUBLICAN newspapers? Please, lurking freepers, have the balls to respond. Enlighten us dumb-ass Un-Americans...how is the "liberal media" forcing Republican newspapers to reverse their 2000 endorsements, or make such statements as the ones above. I've love to hear an explanation. I'm sure it is quite comical, and in these dark days of the Bush regime, I'm sure we could all use a good laugh.

[Lefty48197]

3. Even the right wing media is dumping Bush!

That's hilarious considering he owes EVERYTHING to them.

[gcomeau]

4. Small update and kick...

E&P has now added 2 MORE Bush defectors today at their tally:

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000683265

"Senator John Kerry continued his raid on newspapers that backed President George W. Bush in 2000, grabbing 22 new "flip-flops," as well as The Washington Post. He has now won over at least 33 papers that went for Bush in 2000, while Bush has only earned two Gore papers."

The exodus just keeps growing....

-Grant

[DemFromMem]

5. Bump that to 34

Noticed that the Chattanooga paper is not on the list and they defected today.