Help me target Tweety (re: danger of neocons)

[moggie12]

I’m posting this to ask DUers to bombard Chris Matthews today with e-mails about the neocons and PNAC: Maybe it’s a crazy plan, but I think the first step in getting more Americans to understand the lunacy of invading Iraq is to educate them on these PNAC maniacs – I bet less than 10% of Americans have ever heard of “neocons” and maybe only 2% have ever heard of PNAC.

My "plan" involves encouraging Tweety to talk about the neocons and PNAC this weekend, when he hosts the “Iraqi Election” coverage Sunday night (more people than normal may be watching the news -- the media is hyping the election like it's the Super Bowl or something).

Here’s the theory on targeting Tweety: Ever since Bush’s wacko Inauguration speech, Tweety has been sounding the alarm about Bush (he’s a little late to the party, but at least he seems to finally have woken up to the madness).

If you think this is worthwhile, here the link:

The e-mail link is right under the “Hardball” logo at the top:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/

Your e-mails will be most effective if you use a polite, “mainstream” tone, complimenting Tweety about his show (I know, gag…..) and asking him to talk about the neocons and PNAC. (Cursing Bush and the neocons out – or using terms like “warmonger” and “fascist” – will just get the e-mails dismissed).



This is my e-mail:

RE: Talk about ‘neoconservatives’

"Chris,

I’ve been watching your show a lot more lately, ever since you started talking more about what’s going wrong in Iraq.

I am frightened that Bush’s policies seem to be driven by a bunch of “neoconservatives”. The PNAC group (Project for the New American Century) is particularly scary. Please talk about the neoconservatives and PNAC on your shows. People listen to you -- maybe more Americans would understand what’s going on if you talked about the heavy influence the neoconservatives have on President Bush. I also wish you would have people on your show who strongly oppose the neoconservative agenda: For example, Brent Scowcroft and a lot of other Republicans argued back in 2003 that invading Iraq would be a terrible mistake (McCain and Hegel, too, I think). I really think it’s important that Americans better understand that it’s not just the “left wing” that opposes what we’ve done in Iraq (and that Bush may be planning to do in Iran and other Middle East countries ....... Bush's Inauguration speech was scary).

Keep telling the truth, Chris. If prominent media people like you start discussing the neoconservatives, maybe we can have a more intelligent debate in this country about our foreign policy.”



I got kind of wordy, like I usually do. Just 2-3 lines would probably do it.

Any comments?? What do you think??

[FrenchieCat]

1. I think that a concerted effort

in sending messages to the media are always a good idea. The problem is to actually get people to do it.

We would only need one hundred or so letters to really cause them to go "mmmmmm".

I will write a letter today to Chris Matthews.

[babylonsister]

2. Done, moggie12.

I'm no writer, but I sent Tweety a piece of my mind, gently of course. :hi:


I usually watch "Hardball" nightly and have enjoyed it, but none more so than lately when you seem to finally be 'getting it' regarding this administration and the danger they're putting our country in by being so hawklike. Bush's inauguration speech was very frightening indeed and I think more people need for that to be spelled out to them.
I believe the neoconservative agenda and the PNAC group in particular are very dangerous and have entirely too much influence on this admin. I'm hoping you will host guests who will talk about their opposition to this agenda and promote the idea that the invasion of Iraq was an ill-advised mistake from the get-go, based on faulty information just for starters. I'm very concerned about the mounting death rates of both American soldiers and Iraqis, and fear that this country will invade elsewhere if this admin has anything to say about it .
I think there needs to be some heartfelt discussion from both sides to try to resolve this mess. I agree with Robert Redford's view that only one side is being heard in this country and that needs to change. I'm hoping you will continue to help and inform.

[RadiDem]

3. A Question for you Hardball Watchers

I haven't watched it, or any other corporate media talking head shows ( except for Keith ) since Nov 3.

Isn't Tweety still fawning over Chimpy and his band of criminals like a giddy schoolboy ?

[FrenchieCat]

4. I dont' watch it either....

Unless someone is on that I want to hear. Last time I happen to catch Tweety, as I was channel surfing, he was in full Military "regalia" "this land is your land" mode....with a bunch of soldiers behind him. Guess one was supposed to get the "feel" that he was in Iraq reporting on the election...when he's really at some base in the U.S.

So phony!

[moggie12]

9. He's changed his stripes lately

I think Bush's Inauguration speech shook him up -- I was watching the Inaug coverage and he literally looked pale and shaken after he heard all Bush's sword-rattling. Ever since then he's been sounding more anti-war. When he had Robert Redford on the other night, Tweety claimed he was "further to the right regarding the war" than Redford. (Redford looked at him like he was nuts....)

[grasswire]

5. here's a producer's contact info

Dominic Bellone: 202-824-6706.

I also have Tweety's phone number. I found it posted somewhere; he is listed in the media directory in Washington known as the Yellow Book.

I'm not going to post it here, though, as some freeper types might make fake calls to discredit DU.

[moggie12]

6. Do producers take calls from the public?

He won't be mad to get calls from us little people???

Do you happen to have his e-mail??

[grasswire]

7. "take calls"?

I don't have the e-mail. Phone numbers for news executives are published all the time on message boards and directories. Be brave! If you are timid about it, call after business hours and leave a message on the voice mail.

[fooj]

8. KICK! KICK! KICK!

:kick: Moggie12-check out the PNAC memo sent today! I think it's posted in DU Late Breaking News! You'll have takers there! Peace!

[McCamy Taylor]

10. GE isnt amused by the idea of the US invading Iran. Few are.

On the other hand, the MSM doesnt like to bit the administration hand that feeds it either.

You realize that the administration has decided not to fight for the relaxation of media ownership rules that FCC CHairman POwell gave the MSM in 2003 as payoff for their help in selling the invasion of Iraq. I guess since the inauguration is over it doesnt matter if they turn over the exit polls now, so there is nothing the MSM can do to retaliate. Ill bet they MSM is hopping mad. They sold their souls and are getting nothing in return. Sucks being suck ups to the White House.

[AlwaysDemocrat]

11. Sent a note to Hardball

McCaffery is a guest tonight and he signed the PNAC letter mentioned in another thread.

[moggie12]

12. Thanks for the info re McCaffery

And thanks for doing an e-mail ....


And welcome to DU -- nice to have a new action-oriented person around here :hi:

[Al-CIAda]

13. Done -eom

[Fleshdancer]

14. I found an interesting website for research:

Profile on Gary Schmitt, Executive Director of PNAC:
http://rightweb.irc-online.org/ind/schmitt/schmitt.php

Daniel McKivergan, Deputy Director. Did you know this guy use to work for good ol' John McCain??? Interesting.
http://rightweb.irc-online.org/ind/mckivergan/mckivergan.php

Ellen Bork, Deputy Director:
http://rightweb.irc-online.org/ind/bork_e/book_e.php

Thomas Donnelly - odd, his profile on the PNAC website mentions nothing of his connection with Lockheed Martin Corp. Must be an oversight I'm sure. :eyes:
http://rightweb.irc-online.org/ind/donnelly/donnelly.html

Reuel Marc Gerecht, Director of the Middle East Initiative. Scary, right? Gee, is this the right person for CBS to hire as a consultant on Afghanistan??? Damn that liberal media.
http://rightweb.irc-online.org/ind/gerecht/gerecht.html

This list is nauseating enough without the inclusion of William Kristol, Robert Kagan, Bruce Jackson, Mark Gerson, or Randy Scheunemann. You can do your own search on these guys on the site I linked to...a great site by the way, my first time there. I can only read about these people in small spurts though for the sake of my own sanity. ;)

[Al-CIAda]

15. thanks -eom

[moggie12]

16. Thanks for posting that info about PNAC

They're one big happy family, arent they? I've seen articles about the Democrats/progressives getting their act together and building an empire of think tanks/magazines, etc. to counters the enormous structure the RW has built. They better hurry up....

[moggie12]

17. IT AINT TOO LATE TO DO THIS!!-

A couple of lines to Matthews can't hurt -- these shows count how many messages they get in on various issues -- just saying you would like to see him talk about the neoconservatives is all that's needed........

[John_H]

18. wouldn't it be great if our "SURROGATES" did this on TV, if we

actually had an effective surrogate operation in the democratic party? A startlingly novel idea, i know. But we might be able to pull off the technique of effective stay-on-the-points, confront the host's bias on air, surrogate strategy. After all, the rethugs have been doing it for years.

I think the e-mail Tweety idea is excellent-- as long as it is accompanied by a second email to the children who run the dem's surrogate operation urging them to get their heads out of their asses.

[moggie12]

20. Yes, it would be "great" if we had some kick-butt Dems on TV

You're right, it's like the Dems have a college intern using a typewriter and a mimeograph machine while the Repubs have a giant, garbage-spitting media-manipulation operation.

A few weeks ago, when Barbara Boxer was taking on the media, I did a post asking DUers to send e-mail to the station she was on (it was CNN, I think) thanking them for giving her so much airtime. When a Dem does get out there and tell it like it is, I think it's good to back them up by whatever means possible.

[ginnyinWI]

19. good, but it's spelled Hagel-- Senator Chuck Hagel n/t

[Digit]

21. kick