Something different about Attorney Gate

[AValdoux]

This is the big first scandal that doesn't involve reporters covering for them. The lies about the Iraqi WMDs was helped along by the press. The Plame scandal was all about reporters and their relationships with the Bush Admin. Voter problems also showed they weren't paying attention or were being silenced by editors, it got a little better in 2006. The MSM skewed the coverage of those scandals to save their own butts. This story seems different.

They finally have a story that they can go after the White House for (30% approval). They can report the story without dragging in one of their own. Could this be the 'blood in the water' moment? Olberman & his ratings increase means dollars after all.


AValdoux

[mzmolly]

1. I don't get it honestly. But, I know they do love them ratings,

which could explain a few things?

[ThomWV]

2. My Theory

Here's what I think. The fired Federal Attorneys were all posted to large cities and they were geographically disperse, though generally all in the west. That meant that every one of them had at least one large local news paper that would have carried the story of their firing even if it had not risen to the bar for national news for the Television crowd. It was the combined newspaper coverage of each individual firring that forced the electronic media to carry the story. Otherwise it would have all faded out quickly. The smartest thing they could have done would simply to have fired one per week for two months. Nobody would have ever noticed.

[napi21]

3. Maybe, but this is also the FIRST ONE that has a number of Pubs

turing against them too!

[AX10]

4. We'll see. This is not the first time the media has latched onto...

a Bush scandal, only to drop the ball to appease the right wing. So far so good on this one. But the all the other times.....

[Jackpine Radical]

6. Well, the ther difference is that the Dems are (slightly)

in power & are investigating. CAN The press ignore it when the MAJORITY is running like a pack of wolves on ablood trail?

[AX10]

7. They cannot ignore us now. That is true.

But the media has a delicate line to balance. They don't want to piss off their corporate owners (who need to get in favor with the Democrats, which makes it all the more interesting) or the right wing nutzis who listen to hate radio for their information. At the same time, Democrats control the congress. They have real power.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. nice, insightful and interesting analysis. thanks!

(I'd say n/t here, but I don't wanna be freeperish)