Why don't the Democratic Leadership in both Houses of Congress...

[Postman]

march their asses to the mainstream networks and demand accountability of the Bush Administration.

It simply cannot be done without "the press" because of the one party rule in Washington. The republicans have stiffled every attempt at uncovering the lies.

At this point in time, it is the press that is the only firewall between democracy and totalitarinism..the democrats can't do it.

From Pat Robert's unwillingness to investigate how the "intelligence" was manipulated (which he promised to do after the election)to the probable recess appointment of that crazy bastard John Bolton.

The Bush Administration is out of control. When are the Democrats going to get pissed off enough to DEMAND SOMETHING BE DONE?

[Pepperbelly]

1. They do ...

Every single day. They might get a little C-SPAN. Nothing else.

The sound of one hand clapping.

[KharmaTrain]

2. Also When They See There Are Others Listening

I watch the one minute speeches that Representatives can give at the opening of each House session. Rarely do I ever see comments about them here. These people are talking. Not even our own people are listening.

The problem is too many people talk, few listen. Just a lot of noise out there these days.

[FloridaPat]

5. How much time does it take to watch all these meetings? People

work. People can't afford cable. It takes hours just to get what news I do off the internet. To watch cspan all day to find out what's going on is impossible for the average person. Which is why we rely on the MSM. The Democrats need a person or group or company that keeps hammering and repeating their point of view. One minute on cspan is not enough.

[KharmaTrain]

10. You assume people are paying attention

Wanna bet you could get a room full of people...mention the name Karl Rove and most the hands would go up in name recognition...ask them about what they know about him and you'll get as many different answers as there are people in the room...or the "i don't know"...the tip off the person really doesn't care to be connected.

Mike Malloy addresses this topic wonderfully when he discusses the dumbing down of this country. He's been on this topic for 10 year that I know of and how the "Main Street Media" (I have no Main Street in my town, I call it what is really is Corporate Media) uses wedge issues to manipulate reactions. Yes, the Repugnicans are far better than this than Democrats and I'm glad for that. I'm not a lock-step thinker and feel those who call for a "Democrat" media are looking for their own vehicle that won't necesarily reflect all my interests and views.

People get what they need to know where and when they want it. Most people get their news these days from Jay Leno or Daily Show or Entertainment Tonight...and ratings say more watch those shows than news programs. What's that tell you?

I've watched dozens of attempts by Progressive and Liberal groups to organize media projects and they turn into ventures long on rhetoric and short on cash and work. If you can find a way to bring all these diverse people together to work together without their own egos and agendas superceding the goal of defeating Repugnicans, you will have lightning in a bottle.

[European Socialist]

9. they do-go through the motions.

What we need is 100 Galloways in Congress.

[ClassWarrior]

3. Ask them. Loudly. Often. They can't keep ignoring us if we're...

...loud enough long enough. Remember: In a democracy, when the people lead, the leaders follow.

NGU.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. that is in a democracy,

this has not been a democracy since December 12th, 2000

They speak but the corporatist press will not cover

[ClassWarrior]

7. I agree. The Corporate Media are largely to blame. But...

...it sure doesn't hurt to keep telling our Dems we want them to be vocal and fearless. Sadly in a few cases, the pink tutu hasn't fallen easily.

Howard Dean, however, has been a model.

Howya doin', btw, nad?? :hi:

NGU.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Oh doing fine, just had dinner

tummy fool, and just going how to raise some heck, and yes Howard has been a model...

[snot]

6. Problem is, as Ann Coulter said,

"We have the media now." -- see http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4201952 .

This is why, far and away, my top two issues now are election reform and media reform. And why I write hundreds of media outlets regularly to ask them WHY they're not covering specific stories that matter. I hope you'll consider doing the same, if you're not already.

We also need to support this initiative: from http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=109x21930 :

Democrats Move to Re-Regulate Media

<snip>
Do not expect the LMSM to report on this

<snip>
Two liberal House members who recently have been critical of what they view as attempts by conservative Republicans to take over America’s mass media and public broadcasting have now introduced a sweeping bill that would re-regulate radio and TV back to the days before the 1996 Telecommunications Act.

The Media Ownership Reform Act of 2005 (MORA) is co-sponsored by Reps. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y. and Diane Watson, D-Calif. In a written announcement, MORA is described as legislation “that seeks to undo the massive consolidation of the media that has been ongoing for nearly 20 years.”

The measure would restore the Fairness doctrine, reinstate a national cap on radio ownership and lower the number of radio stations a company can own in a local market. It also reinstates a 25% national television ownership cap and requires stations to submit regular public interest reports to the Federal Communications Commission.
<end of snip>

link
http://mediachannel.org/blog/node/189

[wli]

11. they'd be kicked out as if they were homeless bums wandering in

The reich wing owns the MSM outright.