C-SPAN has been running a program on Repub 527s...so depressing!

[Wordie]

They are re-playing and discussing a lot of the "winning" ads, such as the one with the girl whose mother was killed at the WTC on 9/11 who Bush hugged, and the Swift Boat guys. I've been watching it and getting more and more depressed, so I decided to log back on and tell everyone here. It may be nearly over, but probably will replay. :(

Still, its probably worth watching just to think of what might be done better next time.

[jamboi]

1. If its the one I saw before, it has Dem too. Something to learn from exper

ience.

[Wordie]

3. Maybe they had the Dems on first. I've only seen Repubs. There were

some ads that I hadn't even seen. I'm not in a battleground, so that may explain it. Whew...these guys were relentless. AND I can see better now why people did vote for *. There was such an appeal to the emotions!

[RaulVB]

2. Depressed???

Man, I am incensed, fuming after listening to that whole load of lies and the human pieces of shit spreading it with straight face!

[Wordie]

4. Well, I've certainly been feeling the angry response too, but on a sleepy

Sunday afternoon, I just don't have the energy for much anger. That's just me though, and I hardly think in this aspect I am representive of most Dems.

[Mike Niendorff]

5. Want some real fun?

Go here :

http://www.opensecrets.org/527s/527cmtes.asp


In a nutshell : based on current disclosure data, SBVFT spent over $22.4 MILLION attacking Kerry. And that's NOT including wall-to-wall airplay on the "liberal news media" (yeah, right) that went on and on for literally months. Propaganda campaigns don't come cheap, it appears.


For further eye-opening fun, the people who funded SBVT are listed here :

http://www.opensecrets.org/527s/527cmtedetail.asp?ein=201041228&cycle=2004&format=&tname=Swift+Vets+%26+POWs+for+Truth


A few of the highlights are :

Contran Corp : $3,000,000
Perry Homes : $2,900,000
BP Capital : $1,500,000
Dain Rauscher Inc : $250,000
Chesapeake Energy : $250,000
Crow Holdings : $100,000
Yancey Brothers Co : $50,000
Pondient Corp : $25,000
Clements O'Neill Pierce : $25,000
Romano Enterprises : $25,000
Gulf Coast Asphalt Co : $25,000
Valentine Research, Inc : $12,000
Hunter Engineering Co : $10,000
Ranger Governance Ltd : $10,000
Southern Plastics : $10,000
Phillips International Inc : $10,000
Ironwood Capital : $10,000

(also, over $4 million of its funding is still unidentified (ie : occupation information is still listed as "requested")


MDN

[grumpy old fart]

6. How 'bout a ban on all ads, and only allow debates?

All ads are some amount, if not totally propaganda. If only we could force a series of say, 10, debates so all the issues could be thrashed out, revisited, vetted, in front of a national audience. Would that help?

[bones_7672]

7. In other words, no "free speech"?? n/t

[grumpy old fart]

10. the trouble with free speech....

is that there are just too many damn stupid people.....there is no real solution is there? We get the government the majority deserve?

[Wordie]

8. That idea certainly has its appeal. Less ability for lies and

misinformation to decide the election. I think the McCain Feingold legislation tried to make a difference, but the 527s just popped up to get around it. So no matter what is done, the danger will be that someone will immediately find a loophole, and off we'll go again.

[Higans]

9. Yes it is interesting how they brag about how any one

can get their message out. like the Swift boat veterans. Yet they won't say anything about this what is the biggest story in history.

[grumpy old fart]

11. We could get the fraud message out also.....

if we are willing to spend multi millions on ads. It's all about the money.