Rightwing symposiums have such small attendance, and yet...

[SoCalDem]

We have them inflicted upon us practically NON-stop 24/7 on c-span.

I am always amused when the camera shows the audience, and there are always more empty chairs than people..and they are VERY SMALL rooms.

WHY does c-span cover these things endlessly?

I know that someone (maybe Brian (R), himself) considers these things "worthy" of coverage, but sheeeeez.. enough's enough!!!

I have written to Pelosi's office to BEG them to look into this . These lengthy presentations of BOGUS ideas and ideals are a major part of the misunderstandings we see in the press every day.

These so-called "experts" get LOTS of time to expound on their nutso ideas, and there's always a reporter or two there who then go back and write a story, that gets worked into the tv coverage.

RARELY is there a progressive/liberal panel (unless there are "minders" present), but when there ARE, it's usually ina HUGE auditorium with standing room only, so certainly SOMEONE at c-span should take notice and offer MORE of these.. I know we don't have 9,354 Think Tanks like republicans do, but somebody needs to get their ass down to c-span's HQ and raise some stink !!

It's as if the election never even happened. They are still giving hours and hours of time to panels discussing "media bias" and the "good things" happening in Iraq.

The people have spoken, and they repudiated these tired old ideas..

Please drop a line to Pelosi/Reid and remind them that the '08 campaign is already being spun and re-spun on tv..and our ideas need their turn in the spotlight.

[monarch]

1. I agree. n/t

[Government Mule]

2. Yasser Ubetcha

I often find myself either laughing hysterically or sitting dumbfounded at some of the preposterous ideas being presented on C-Span. Then I remember that it is a forum for ideas and should present various opinions. Then I get angry that a dozen people watching the political equivalent of a flat earth presentation have air time and that many authors with progressive ideas aren't allowed their equal share. There are progressive or liberal views presented but overall there seems to be a rightward skew.

[newyawker99]

10. Hi Government Mule!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[EST]

3. Actually, I have recently reached an epiphany on this issue.

I think they should show more and more of this crap, illustrated somewhat obliquely tonight on c-spin 2.

Johnathan Wills was there, debating Michael Shermer and selling books.

Wills' arguments are so vapid and pathetic that I suspect he drove more people to his opposition than he attracted to his point of view. Not exactly a parallel, I know, but I've seen many single acts, such as on WJ, wherein the authoritarian idjits are getting the same call-in nutter jerks every time and I can recognize several who call in many times each month.

I think the hosts often are quite aware that the calls are flagged as being out of bounds, but they take them anyway, otherwise the wingers would be way under represented.

By the way, Brian is an intractable fascist, thus the name of his wj show is Fascist Friday!

[SoCalDem]

16. I like to think of it as "Freeper Friday Funnies" n/t

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. I can't get too mad at C-SPAN

at least they are willing to cover the 9-11 Truth Movement, which is more then I can say for a lot of other people, supposed progressives included.

[Government Mule]

5. 9-11 Truth

Good Point.

[Cassandra]

6. They also covered Thom Hartmann...

when he spoke in Brooklyn at a book signing. Also Brian had Molly Ivins on for over an hour a few months ago. And they've covered Al Gore's speeches that the MSM couldn't be bothered to mention. Yes, he puts RW crap on too often (the camera crew is probably bigger than the audience) but he also gives our side coverage that doesn't otherwise show up on the radar.

[KoKo]

9. It's the "crumbs" they throw us...better than nothing, but shouldn't we expect

more? It's our airwaves. We used to own them, before the Bushies and RW took them over. It's time to bring ownership and presentation of diversity of opinion back into balance once again. :shrug: Crumbs are not enough to make a sustaining meal for survival.

[Cassandra]

15. Actually it's cable...

not the public airways.

[SoCalDem]

17. It IS cable, BUT..

This right wing crap is still shown in more abundance than anything else.

Some days, when I hear who's on WJ, I don;t even bother to watch..
There was a time I NEVER missed it.
And I would not mind so much if these freaks were IDENTIFIED with their philosophy so that they had to OWN up to it.

People say stuff like " well it IS the NYT"..with the inference that there's something wrong with it, and yet when have we heard about who owns/operates other media? a la.. Reverend Moon's Washington Times, or Rupert Murdoch's New York Post?

When right wing sites are referenced, they are just mentioned as "conservative"//but of course "conservative" is not said with that pejorative little sneer, like when "librul" is said.

[KoKo]

22. We paid for building the cable with our tax dollars. We pay for the cable with our

subscriptions.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. And did you see how many were in that audience?

Not an empty seat in the house!!

[conscious evolution]

7. I have noticed this

I also have been seeing that AEI is on C_Span a lot these days.I counted 6 differant AEI programs this past week.And I wonder how many I missed.

[KoKo]

8. I've noticed exactly what you are talking about. Thanks for posting

and that's a good suggestion to write and let Dems know about this. Remember the Media Matters or "Fair" study that showed how many "guests" on Washington Journal are Conservatives compared to Democrats/Progressives?

I've felt it's even worse after the election. It's like C-Span is being told to try to change peoples minds with propaganda so that Bush's numbers start to go up. Endless RW Think Tanks spewing garbage to empty rooms..:D
But, it gets out there so a C-Span watcher thinks those jerks are the "mainstream.

With holidays I'm only catching snippets but surfing view is so bad, I'm glad I don't have time to watch more....

First order of business for many of us has been Congress doing something about "real" media reform. We've let our two congressmen know and one of them has promised to put it on the agenda.

But, we have to keep after them.

:hi: Happy TG!

[leftofthedial]

11. the actual "conservative" movement in this country

is only a few thousand people. Their ownership of the media gives them a nonstop echo chamber and noise machine.

[pearl]

13. Serious Media Activism is needed

I have some experience in this area. We, the netroots need to consider bringing our
collective resources to focus on bringing reform especially to the broadcast tv media.
We have some incredible tools to begin with like media matters etc. but we've got to put together a package that can make the inroads into the cravenly establishment addicted to power
broadcast media.

[librechik]

18. we ought to be picketing CNN every day

I read a comment from a network executive and that is what he fears most--because it provides video to the competitors. I also am a proponent of impromptu media activism, i.e. dieprupting live news standups at media circuses, like sensational but stupid trials with daily reports--for example, sress like a clown and walk into the live shot yelling "media circus!" That would take a brave soul.

[w4rma]

14. Created (and run) by (the) cable (companies).

Created (and run) by (the) cable (companies).
Offered as a Public Service (to help promote their propaganda).

[EFerrari]

19. I know! It's so transparent, it's gobsmacking.

And these "authors" and "commentators" always resemble snake oil salesmen more than thinkers or writers.

[formercia]

20. I noticed the same thing.

I especially liked the Federalist Society one where Scalia was in the audience and when the camera panned to him, he looked like a scared deer in the headlights.Some reich wing indoctrinee of Bible Camp then proceeds to mezmerize me with some of his favorite opinions from Scalia...

Honest...I just happen to tune in by accident and suddenly found myself on an Alien Planet.

[Joanne98]

21. They should do more CSIS or CFR......

Or maybe RAND! Where the real plans are made!

[happydreams]

23. Perception Management. nt

[nedbal]

24. If you're against Cspans attempt at the fairness doctrine , then are you.....

for the fairness doctrine?

the fairness doctrine just imposes equal time...

Equal time that invariably will be used to spout partial lies. It won't guarantee rational balanced debate at all.

you can't have it all like the posters over at FR would like to see.

[SoCalDem]

25. I AM in favor of the FD. All we "need" is equal time .

And the same format.

3 hours with a panel of 6 right wingers all having uninterrupted time to lay out their "agenda" is NOT the same as a "shared" venue with right and left..especially since the righties have no manners and love to "eat the clock"..

[nedbal]

27. equal time.... . same format...."shared" venue with right and left.......

the shared venue concept on a regular basis sounds like it will have a short run... sounds boring if that is how the FD is to be followed.. I also have seen many a Leftwing symposium om cspan as other posters have previously mentioned. yes there are many Rightwing symposiums, Fair is only fair in the eye of the viewer. Depending on one's leanings, a camera cut away. a audio mike problem, and countless other happenings will cause one side to cry foul.

I can't say I watch cspan everyday, yet I see them as coming as close to "fair and balanced" as REASONABLY possible.

[nicknameless]

26. .

K&R