Are C-Span Callers Really Representative of the American Electorate?

[Sparkly]

C-Span callers scare me. Why are so many of them stupid and/or nuts?

There's the one in my sigline. One just called a few minutes ago irate that somebody 'tapped her phone.' Another yelled it's "praising terrorists" to point out abuse of detainees.

(And this guest, Tim Curran, is no better -- claiming Dean said Republicans are "the only white Christian party," misstating Dean's real point that they are a *monolithic* party!)

Whenever I've tried to call in, I can't get through. Who ARE these people who do get through? Do they represent America?!? :scared:

[BlueEyedSon]

1. That drunk guy was hilarious! nt

[ArkDem]

2. They are representative of people that have the time to call

then be put on hold and wait to be heard.

[tk2kewl]

5. Right!

If it were representative of the electorate, they would be calling and asking "Hey, what is the C-SPAN thing anyway?"

[BlueEyedSon]

3. "I didn't say Dean's GOP remark was false,

I merely said it could be spun into a media controversy for anti-Dem political gain by scum like me.... and we did!"

(paraphrase by BlueEyedSon)

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Only that portion that are not at work, and can sit around and watch TV

and have cable and would watch C-SPAN all day. It would seem to be a pretty narrow group.

[Skink]

7. No cable needed....

If you have roadrunner that is.:evilgrin: I took the cable ou but kept the internet and I get CSPAN.
They get about as many Neocon callers as the number of Neocons they interview. If they say spent less time interviewing the fringe elements of the Republican party the whackos sould stop watching.

[BrklynLiberal]

15. Right. It can be streamed.

[Cha]

24. Good point, Skink!

Suppose we have brian lamb to thank for that?

[Chef]

6. Callers

Mostly shutins with time on their hands.

[Larkspur]

8. When I tried calling in, I kept getting busy signals

I was on vacation that week so had time to wait on the day I tried calling in. That was 6 months ago.

[PsN2Wind]

9. Those that get "on the air"

on talk shows are only representative of who the screeners are willing to allow "on the air". Think Rush and the ditto heads.

[Sparkly]

11. Who are they screening out?

Are they screening out sane people? Or are the rejected callers even nuttier and less informed? (Hard to imagine!)

[MsTryska]

14. That's not true......

I'm not a shut in - i have a job, and i've gotten through the 2 times i've called so far. lots more itmes it's been busy signals tho.


anyway - all the screener asks is "when was the last time you called" and how you feel about whateve rissue you are calling on.

i thinkt hey do this to make sure no one gets on an opposing line because it's easier to get through on.

[BrklynLiberal]

16. What is to stop you from lying?

[MsTryska]

18. absolutely nothing.

that's why i'm saying they don't screen.

[Kansas Wyatt]

10. The White House gets first priority for calls to C-Span.

[Captain Hilts]

12. No, it's too 'self selecting'.

Like all similar fora, it skews male and older.

The C-Span folks make every effort to get a balance, but they've had a hell of a time fighting off phone banks, etc.

But all call-in shows skew male and skew older. In C-Span's case, MUCH older.

Even Diane Rehm notes that the vast majority of her callers are male.

[KharmaTrain]

13. Shall We Play A Game??? No It's Not Representative

The old axiom in talk radio was you'd get 1 caller for every 10 listeners. I suspect it's an even deeper ratio now.

Callers on these shows fall into several catagories:

The "regulars" - they have some bug up their butt and have ALL the network's phone numbers set up in speed dial on multiple phones. Once a month rule? Why bother...we just grab someone else in the house and have them get on. Most of these are the more rabid dogs out there. They beat the screeners with their many different numbers (can you tell the difference between a cellphone and handphone now??) and never stay in the same location...usually going from Texas to Florida to California and back again.

The "plants" - These are the ringers set to either prop up or trip up a guest. Most times they're the one who knows the goon from the AEI's speeches or follows the career or specific legislation of a wingnut congressman. Most of these callers are soft-spoken...and primarily women. For the trip up calls...these are the Archie Bunkers...like the one who tried to go after Rep. Conyers this morning. They spew a ton of hate radio talking points...and almost always have the daily blast-fax point to throw at the guest. Be assured either this guest is being set up for a gotcha soundbite later on during the day or the point the caller made will be heard on the radio dial later that day...then on the TV food fights at night.

The "hustlers" - I've noticed this group is growing lately. Usually someone with a website or some special interest they want to hype. These are the most creative people since they always get that website name in and have the unique ability of taking whatever topic is being discussed and somehow getting their website and special interest into the question for the guest.

I've watched WJ for years and never called in...and never will. I find it amusing listening to the calls...and in some cases, quite refreshing. I enjoy hearing the real rabid wingnuts and start my day knowing these assholes woke up as well and neef to be put in their place for another day.

Cheers!

[MsTryska]

17. hey now...i call in every once in a while....

i suppose when i do i tend to fall into the 'plants" group - except for our side.


i like to bring out the dirt when possible.

[KharmaTrain]

20. Seems Like There's Not Enough Of Us...

LOL

I love when I hear a well-educated caller...I can almost always tell they're a DU member. I'll bet I've heard your call and agreed with you.

Give 'em hell!

:hi:

[MsTryska]

22. i do my best......

they always look unsure when i get the dig in....

once was during the steroid hearings and i brought up jeff gannon, and another time was on Tom delay and his comments about no class.

[KharmaTrain]

25. I Love "Truth Squadding"

Every so often I find a little radio station with a local hate radio fest going on and I decide to drop in. Usually the host is the screener is the engineer is the owner's kid...and fun to mess around with. Or the bigger stations will have a screener/engineer who freaks out when I say where I'm calling from and then I play with them not only to get on, but to the front of the line...then the fun begins.

Most times ya start friendly...even a compliment on how they sound and how it's an honor to be on WPUTZ...then once the guard is down, ya go for the shorthairs and don't let go. LOL. Most of these guys have never or rarely faced an opposite opinion that can out talk or out spin them...or not let them get away with a cheap shot without a good one of my own. You'd think most shows would eject me into hyperspace pronto, but most don't...I think the host is paralyzed and fascinated...LOL. I always make sure my exit is before theirs...as much as possible...then sit back and listen as my call is chewed and rechewed for the remainder of the show.

I think I heard your DeLay comments...and, I'm sure you got the "sneer" from whomever the host was. They don't like when we pick on their favorites.

Cheers!

[MsTryska]

27. hey thanks for the tips!

i usually just get right to my point.....i'm gonna try reeling them in first next time.


although i've kinda been off calling for a while. and i'm only available for the first half hour while i'md rinkign the mornig coffee.

[KharmaTrain]

28. I'll Be Watching...

Bless all those folks who fight to call into WJ...I know it's tough and that getting through doesn't mean getting on. It's a daily affirmation to hear something that makes sense (a rariety on television these days).

My fun is dropping in on the radio stations...and almost always out of nowhere. I have a very identifiable voice, so I have to pick my spots...but when it happens, it's a lot of fun. Around here, we call it "hunting wild monkey".

I'd like to hear from others who like to do this same thing...maybe we can organize a bigger DU "Truth Squad".

Cheers

[MsTryska]

29. You know what.....we've got the people......

we may not have the funds...but we can organize if we understand the importance of it.


i don't see why we can't astro-turf as well as they do, except we don't have to lie. I love the Truth Squad idea.

[KharmaTrain]

30. There's Resources Here...It's Just Organizing Them

And yes, there's funds (actually this doesn't cost that much at all)...it just requires time, coordination and cooperation...commodities that are sadly in short supply around here.

Due to this place's interactivity and wide reach, it could be a far more effective resource for keeping track of what's going on in the media and having a bit of fun as well.

Too many here say to "turn it off" or ignore what's being said over the airwaves. It's that attitude that's allowed hate radio to become the monster it is. It's also the "conventional wisdom" that "libruls" don't call or listen to talk radio, but conservatives do (I've heard this many, many, many times...and it's true). Now, if they started to hear our voice on those smaller stations, people would start to feel our voice far more effective than sitting on message boards and blogs and bitching.

Maybe some intrepid soul has the time to herd the cats around here. LOL

Cheers!

[MsTryska]

32. Maybe we could get one of those DU groups started.

it's far easier to sit and bitch and moan, but those who really do want to do soemthing will come out of the woodwork. who's to say if we started this that a year from now, we wouldn't be a force to be reckoned with?

[KharmaTrain]

34. I'm Very Supportive Of The Idea

I work best behind the scenes...and seen many good ideas go down in flames around here between lack of interest and other personal games. But this could be a lot of fun...kinda like those teams that go into the casinos and break the bank.

Another idea would be to have a group here that keeps a running commentary on News programs, Talk shows and other things. I find myself regularly refering here while watching the tube and enjoy the comments of others in real time. I know there are others who do the same with various radio shows. Maybe this would be a good way of re-organizing GD Politics or a seperate GD area of its own. There's already a media forum, but that's more for organizing and alternative media rather than dealing with the talk shows.

PM me if you have thoughts here...maybe something can come of it.

Cheers!

[MsTryska]

35. Hee I was just coming here to gloat a little.....

check out what i emailed to PBS in regards to their DSM story today:

"I was pleasantly surprised to see your even-handed coverage of the Downing Street Memo hearings today. While Mr. McGovern handled himself well, I'm not as impressed with the gentleman from the American Enterprise Institute. Particularly when he said that in our country the President decided when to go to war, and in Britain they feel they need to get permission from lawmakers. I paraphrase his precise comments, but I must ask - Does this man not know that the president cannot go to war without approval from Congress? And that Congress is full of lawyers? That in fact their function is to make legislation?

I question any commentator that doesn't know these basic facts about our nation, and am very wary of the American Enterprise Institute, if this is the quality of their "experts".


Thank you for your time, and for your coverage of the Downing Street Memo, and others. You do us all a great service!"



i took a page from your book on this one. let me chew on the group idea a little bit and I will get back with you on ways we can do this...I do my best thinking while falling asleep and waking up in the morning. I'll get wiht you tomorrow!

[KharmaTrain]

36. Great Stuff...A Little Sugar...LOL

Remember, the first barrier to getting to these people are their own egos. Especially with a letter...they can pretty tell ahead of time (especially if your header says "Eat Shit & Die") what the note says. I love when you put a benign or even friendly header...then once you've got 'em...go for the throat. LOL.

Even better...Google the name of the person you're writing to...maybe you can find a college or collector's club or sex chat board or whatever they are/were related with...put that tidbit in the header...add a line or two of bullshit and have some fun. LOL.

I love going after AEI, Heritage and Cato Institute Zombies (they're all on the GOOP payroll) with their own conveluted think tank. Almost always these trained seals recite facts of their own studies (or one of their friends)...it's always a hoot to get them to verify those studies...who did it, where it was conducted...and don't let them off the hook. These asshats are masters of citing their own research to blow up their own lies. Shoot 'em down and expose 'em as the paid-for whores they are. This would be great to throw at Mr. Facist Friday, Brian Lamb.

Overall, I was generally pleased with the media coverage today...at least it was there. While I didn't like the spin most the corporate media...at least it's something and the story won't go away. At least I got to see Joe Wilson and Ray McGovern's testimony tonight.

Now off the surf various radio markets...give a listen in to see what the "vox populi" has to say.

Thanks for all your reponses...and cheers!

[stanwyck]

19. the dishonesty of the conservative

callers who call in on the Democratic line just irritates me so much that I've quit starting my day with Washington Journal. Instead of getting "fair and balanced", some mornings are constantly "unbalanced" people calling in with no real information, just "I support Bush 100". Meaningless. The callers have no grasp on the issues and don't care. It's rightwing radio talk.
I just don't engage anymore. It's like road rage. Nobody wins.

[peacetalksforall]

21. Repub boys - call them the valley boys - because they speak and

whine in the classic sing-song valley girl style - get in all the time. They all sound like they came from the same egg - irritated, panicky, hate filled rhetoric for Dems and needy people. Their anger is bursting out of their mouths. They try to sound so erudite and reasoned, but they're not good at it. Valley boy - Rovians.

They and the sucker* patriots make watching C-Span hard.

* = Sucker patriost (Praise Bush - keep on killing) ...vs... realist patriots.

Thank God for realist patriots who educate and make their case for the higher values.

I've had enough of the Praise Bush suckers who are actually suckering for the corporations and corporate benefactors.

We are in this war for the corporations. We don't have a vote because of the corporations. We have a corporate government. A corporate world that doesn't even bank here, launders their money outside the country, avoids laws here, and doesn't even keep the jobs here.

So I listen to what they all say hoping to get educated and deciding who is helping the corporation, purposely and stupidly.

[Cha]

23. One does wonder doesn't one,

Sparkly?!

I used to watch c-span(Washington Journal) for years and finally the callers who supported fascists made me mute every other caller. Now I just don't watch any of it..I got tired of it especially brian lamb Fridays.

I tried to get in for years, too..never not once did I make it.

Thanks for being out there trying and monitoring..all of you.

[Sparkly]

26. Definitely.

"Mute" is right -- everytime I hear those callers, my jaw drops. :wow: I sometimes have to wonder whether they're kidding. It's more outrageous than anything anybody could script.

[DemBones DemBones]

31. No, they're not representative, but

what I really want to know is how to get on the show as a caller. I've tried a number of times and never even had a call answered. Most of the time, I get a busy signal. Over and over and over and over, a busy signal. Once in a while, the phone will ring. And ring and ring. Then it will simply cut off.

:grr:

I almost never watch WJ anymore because the percentage of moron calls is way too high, some people get through time after time (even I can recognize some voices I've heard before), plus they never take my calls.

[MsTryska]

33. All i do is keep redialing on my phone....

soemtimes i get through, soemtimes i don't. it jsut takes patience.