Listening to Diane Rehm - I am just amazed at how the discussions get framed and responded to.

[NRaleighLiberal]

She has on three guests - Lynn Sweet, Ron Elving, and Greg Ip (he of the shortest last name ever). Someone calls in who captures perfectly what I am feeling - outrage at the Republicans, who, for 8 years, created this mess. Then they have the gall to stand in the way of what Obama is trying to do. (my analogy - if someone repeatedly crashes the car every time they drive it, why would you want to even have them in the car any more, never mind give directions...)

So the caller brings up outrage. The three panelists' responses - "well, we have to realize that the packages have different mixes of spending and tax cuts" and "well, we've done some polling and it shows mixed results". Another - talking about Obama's political capital - and a great comment - the Republicans apparently have taken the position that the last 8 years didn't go so well because they weren't conservative enough.

I can't understand this bullshit. It is as though the media everywhere has ear blinders on - they hear, but they don't hear. And my only conclusion - that they, in their collective souls, are deeply conservative, love the keep the rich rich and the poor poor idea - they are so deeply part of the problem - that they have become completely irrelevant.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

1. So in other words I shouldn't bother listening to the podcast today. nt

[NRaleighLiberal]

6. I always find it worthwhile, Diane is typically not the problem...it is some of her "experts"

and how they don't really respond to the nub of some of the caller's points. Whatever is convenient and not too supportive of the Democrats seems to be the rule.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

9. But that's how she disappoints me - the experts are usually tools. nt

[Mika]

11. Diane's show is THE home of the Heritage foundation & the Cato Institute.

Never heard a show with more of their shills on so regularly.

Can't listen. :argh:

[Alcibiades]

13. Yep.

Rehm is all the more dangerous because she makes them credible.

[hootinholler]

14. Usually the Cato institute is the 'left' representative.

And the Heritage Foundation or American Enterprise Institute or worse yet, both are the right.

It's been pissing me off for 8 years now. I wonder if anyone has the numbers for appearances on her show.

-Hoot

[marmar]

2. All issues are framed from a conservative POV in the MSM......

..... I've tuned out from NPR.

[Deep13]

3. "ear blinders"

Deafers? :shrug:

[NRaleighLiberal]

5. Yup. thought I'd invent a term today! earplugs, more boringly!

[AndyA]

4. I find it difficult to listen to Diane Rehm these days.

Despite her protestations that she wants to have a bipartisan show, she always seems to lean more to the right than the left. Out of 3 guests, 2 of them will be conservatives, and the one representing the progressive side will really be more moderate.

I think she's showing her true colors. NPR in general is getting pretty bad. What other station can spend 30 minutes talking about how someone cleans the dryer lint out of the filter?

[Kolesar]

7. I doubt that she ever had one of the antiwar demonstration organizers on

But she makes room for American Enterprise Institute pinheads to blather on about subjects that they do not have a deep understanding of.

[ProfessorPlum]

8. Thanks for bringing this up

I listen to DR every Friday for the "round-up". It is a completely predictable trotting out of the "conventional wisdom" from the denizens of the Washington DC village. They are completely engulfed by the weird forcefield that turns everyone who lives in DC into a supply-side powerful-fellator. (or fellatrix, as the case may be).

the CALLERS on that show are 80% right on, and every once in a while get through and make a great point, to which Diane and her panel shrug their shoulders, let it pass, and then get on the next talking point about how great and reliable the Republicans are and how weak and miserable the Democrats are.

It's appalling, but I feel it's my duty to keep half an ear on what "the villagers" are thinking between cocktail parties, so I can contrast it with reality.

[elizfeelinggreat]

12. I used to listen to her all the time

I truly thought her show would change after the election, that she was giving the conservatives so much leeway because of the administration, but that didn't happen. So now it's classical or happy music for me.

(I want my old NPR back and I'm not donating until things change.)

[Locrian]

10. business speak

I've noticed this increasing over the years... It's gotten really bad on NPR, MarketPlace is the WORST. It's obvious *why* though. They are swallowing the corporate culture lie that business is the only thing that matters.

The PEOPLE are starting to get it. But those in power or who make their living sucking off the spectacle dont GET it.

www.theyoungturks.com is actually one of the BEST at keeping it real as they say.

[ProfessorPlum]

15. Just listened to the whole show via the web

Awful. That woman from the Chicago Tribune was the worst. What a liar. And finally got to the caller at the end, full of righteous anger.

And all of the journalists started talking about the "polls".

[Ikonoklast]

16. Diane Rehm is the classic 'Washington insider'.

These are the very same people that she has cocktails with, the very same faces that attend the very same functions.

'Inside the Beltway' is not just a catch-phrase, it is a reality. These people form opinions, listen to, and are influenced only by those that are in the same cocoon.

They are the problem with this country. They are the self-reinforcing echo chamber that refuses to understand or even listen to the problems of the rest of the nation.

[ProfessorPlum]

17. Maybe real people

Like Democracy for America or MoveOn should start hosting some cocktail parties in DC.

[Ikonoklast]

19. Maybe a pot-luck dinner.

That's how a lot of political get-togethers are held.

I'd wonder what George Soros would bring, if invited?

[Greyhound]

18. Remember that almost everyone you see or hear in the media is a millionaire.

The exceptions are mostly in local radio in smaller markets.

So, these people have a specific agenda, the last three decades have worked very well for them and they do not want change.