Tommorrow Will Be Like A Pre-Election Debate - Time To Man-Up On Online Polls

[Median Democrat]

The mainstream media has been playing weeks of GOP American Idol by giving hours of coverage to the new celebrities of the GOP. First, there was Sarah, we can't say good-bye if you never leave, Palin. Second, there was Eric The-New-Newt Cantor. Third, we are getting a healthy heaping of Bobby The-Boy-Wonder Jindal.

Following Bush's 2004 election, did the media give so much free air time to potential Democratic presidential candidates? Hardly.

So, its time to get ready to fight the mainstream media right wing spin, and hit the online polls and blogs following the President's address to Congress. Of course, the media and the GOP will focus on the largely symbolic attack the poor refusal to accept unemployment funding, which accounts to a tiny fraction of the overall stimulus. Yet, this tiny fraction will consume hours and hours of coverage in true wag the dog fashion.

The election was the easy part, but our job is not done. As FDR noted in one situation where a group came to him urging specific actions in support of a cause in which they deeply believed, he said:

"I agree with you, I want to do it, now make me do it."

We need to be ready to meet the corporate spin head-on or we can say hello to a GOP majority in 2011. Listen to the news shows and their 24/7 recitation of GOP talking points. Notwithstanding the utter failure of the past 8 years, the corporate media is still selling Bush's economic policies.

[Baikonour]

1. The past couple of days, I've seen a different tone in some of the MSM

Particularly on MSNBC. I believe it all started when Jindal and his other repuke cohorts decided to refuse the stimulus money. Now you have other republican leaders praising the bill (Crist, Schwarzenegger) and new polls showing Obama still has the American people on his side. I think some of the MSM is starting to realize that no matter how much shit they try to pile on Obama, most of Americans are going to see right through it. I mean, we're talking about a guy who survived Reverend Wright AND Bill Ayers, two scandals that could have ended the race for him - yet he walked away untouched. They're gonna have to do a WHOLE lot more than "omg he's spending too much money! not enough tax cuts!" because the American people ain't hip to that shit no more.

If Obama does as well tomorrow as he did with the summit today, I don't see the MSM or the repugs having much of a foothold against Obama whatsoever.

[goclark]

2. K and R

When he takes the stage and talks right to the enemy, it works for me.
He is honest to have an sweet little debate on national TV with McCain about a helicopter and sat McCain down looking like a fool.

I loved it!

I can't recall a President that ever did that and it is refreshing to say the least.

In other words Obama becomes his own Media - love it.

Of course he will have to pick his battles but this one sure was great.

[Median Democrat]

3. Obama Is The Anti-Bush, And Gibbs Is The Anti-McClennan - TP Repetition v. Discussion

The one small advantage that Obama and Gibbs have against the right wing propaganda machine that is mainstream media is that Obama thoroughly understands the issues. The RW talking heads only understand the issues on a superficial level as they recite from their list of talking points. Usually, the media quietly accepts these talking points without asking any follow-up questions.

In contrast, you have a President Obama who has been more than willing to have numerous press conferences and interviews, and respond to and explain his programs. Bush would have been hiding behind a mountain of surrogates, but President Obama has been his own best spokesperson with Gibbs second.

This underscores the tremendous advantage Republicans have with the media. The media quietly allowed Bush to avoid responding to tough questions, and those who did, like Helen Thomas, were frozen out. The media would never cut a Democrat such slack, as they faithfully spout right wing talking points at the President. Thankfully, we have a President who can more than capably respond to such soundbites.

[goclark]

4. You are right ~ it is shocking to see the difference

in the way the Rethug owned Media's response is for this administration.

They (Pat. B. and Co)continue to have "talking heads" that tell us what won't work with the Economy plans.

Do you recall the lead up to the War?

We only heard one side of the horror story.

Recall this economy mess ~ Not much of anything was mentioned until Obama took office and now all of a sudden, it's OBAMA's fault that we are in this mess.

Those dogs knew this was going to happen and they were silent!

They should be sitting at the Hague for what they have willingly kept quiet about -- they KNEW! :puke:

[Median Democrat]

5. The New Talking Point Is That Obama's Honesty May Be Causing The Downturn, Compare Bush's Lies

One of the new talking points making the rounds, including the quote from Bill Clinton, in which all his praise of Obama was ignored, and the media focused on Clinton saying Obama needed to be more hopeful, is the notion that Obama's honest discussion about the economic crisis is a cause of the crisis.

In sharp contrast, look at the Bush administrations's happy talk in June 2007, which did not exactly prevent the current crisis:

http://www.hud.gov/news/speeches/2007-06-25b.cfm

/snip

Adjustments are underway. Treasury Secretary Paulson confirmed this last week. He believes that we are nearing the end of the slump. Fed Chief Bernanke said virtually the same thing two weeks ago, and reported that there have been "no major spillovers from housing onto other sectors of the economy."

Well, that is good news. But it could take up to two years to work-off excess inventories of homes and to complete the market correction. At the same time, it could be up to five years before we see the housing market return to where it would have been without the dramatic up/down cycle during this decade. Many economists believe that housing market cycles tend to be roughly 10 years in duration. A 5-year run-up, like we experienced from 2001 to 2005, is usually followed by a five-year period of correction and recovery. This market cycle just began its correction last year. We will know that the correction is over when we see a steady flow of new home sales above 1.1 million units per year, existing home sales stabilizing close to 6.5 million units per year, and house price appreciation of close to 4 percent per year. We also need to see the inventory of homes for sale drop from its current 7-plus months to something less than 5 months supply.

So it is likely we may have already seen the worst.

/snip

[polmaven]

6. Can I Woman-Up on the polls?

Just asking....:hi:

[Median Democrat]

7. Eek, Sorry!!!

By all means, we should woman-up as well.

P.S. As a basketball fan, "man-up" is in reference to man-to-man defense, which now makes me wonder whether in women's basketball do they still refer to it as a man-to-man defense?

:)