The Left Coaster: Comment on Failure of the Media

Comments: Failure of the Media

What you are describing is not a failure of the corporate press/media, at least not when you look at it from the point of view of the owners of the corporate press/media. The stories that are published or broadcast, or not, as well as the manner in which they are published or broadcast, result from conscious decisions by people who are know exactly what they are doing.

The corporate press/media is not an institution that serves the public. It is the instrument of the ruling class that owns it. It is not and cannot be neutral on any political question of consequence.

Similarly, what most progressives characterize as the failure of the Democratic Party is not failure, ignorance or incompetence. It is instead the result of conscious decisions by the leadership of the party.

The 'leadership' of the Democratic Party is neither composed of nor financed by people who are in any way similar to the people who make up the Democratic Electorate (that is, people who vote for Democratic candidates and, in general, support the policies of the Democratic Party). Although there are genuine progressives in the party, and some progressive policies are advocated by Democrats, the top of the party is just as much an instrument of the ruling class as the Republican Party.

The Democrats are the mediators of the conflict between the ruling class and the working class, but when push comes to shove, the interests of the ruling class are always paramount. (See, e.g., the bankruptcy bill, the invasion of Iraq, welfare reform, health care, education funding, and so on.)

Unless and until we progressives recognize that the corporate press/media and the Democratic Party are not really "on our side," we will not begin to build our own institutions and we will not have anything more than marginal impact on government policies.

Posted by James E. Powell at December 30, 2005 01:50 PM

What he said....^

Posted by emal at December 30, 2005 02:08 PM

I know that the corporate press is not on our side, because their interest is profit, not responsibility, not reporting, not truth telling.

I don't know of any way to change them, save from within, by the press working class, i.e. reporters, or by a new institution of reporter, i.e., the modern day pamphleteer, blogger/reporters.

It is a failure of those who write the stories, IMO, because they are too concerned with their position, their access, their prestige, their next fucking book deal.

Yet there are examples of those who do their jobs, like Sy Hersh, like Knight Ridder, who needs an infusion of non corpse cash to keep them in the world of journalism and not transcription.

And that push can go the other way, given a proper push. Its happened before, and it can happen again. So here's to a New Year of pushing and shoving!!

Posted by Duckman GR at December 30, 2005 02:54 PM

The problem with the Democrats is the PARTY stands for nothing other than obstruction. The entire party is obsessed with IMPEACHMENT and SCANDALS rather than putting forth a platform the American People will vote for.

Posted by ROOF at December 30, 2005 03:02 PM

The problem with the Republicans is the PARTY stands for nothing other than corruption. The entire party is obsessed with BLOWJOBS and OIL rather than putting forth a platform the American People can live with.

Posted by iamcoyote at December 30, 2005 03:06 PM

Good on you iamcoyote!

Posted by Anjha at December 30, 2005 03:10 PM

Heh.

Posted by iamcoyote at December 30, 2005 03:12 PM

The problem with the Democrats (and who really believes there is only one problem?) is that the PARTY doesn't obstruct the Republicans often enough or forcefully enough to make a difference for the millions of Americans who have no voice in government. The "leadership" of the party is obsessed with hanging on to their high-income, high-status (albeit politically neutered) positions. The "leadership" appears to have no memory of or allegiance to the progressive vision of America that made the Democratic Party the dominant political party in the middle of the 20th century.

Easy illustration No. 1: John Kerry. And not because he is an exceptional example, but rather because he is typical. Read Kerry's history and watch Going Upriver. Then consider his intelligence, the depth and breadth of his education. One thing is clear: In 2002, John Kerry knew exactly what was going on, he knew that invading Iraq was not going to make life better for Americans and that it was morally wrong and bad foreign policy. Yet, he made a conscious decision not to stand against it.

Easy illustration No. 2: The Democratic Party leadership, 2000. They stood idly by while the Republicans stole the White House. What was their calculation? That their futures would be brighter with Al Gore out of the way? That George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, and the crooks and bigots they bring with them were not so bad? I don't know the answer to this one. You tell me.

What we have seen from the Democratic Party in the last twenty years is not a series of strategic and tactical blunders, but a series of strategic and tactical decisions that worked out exactly as any reasonable, intelligent observer would predict. The few that fight against the Republicans are marginalized (See, e.g., Howard Dean. And just wait to see how fast they pile the dirt on Feingold if he looks like he has a snowball's chance at the nomination in 2008.)

Posted by James E. Powell at December 30, 2005 03:42 PM

--------------------

You mean like fighting the terrorists instead of being concerned that we're violating their civil rights?

I beleive we had an election on that issue last year and you lost. And just recently Pelosi said there would be no unified plan on the war in Iraq next year.

Now that's a plan for you.

Posted by David at December 30, 2005 04:00 PM

Of course its the media. Damnation, watch TV for one hour. No matter the channel, its brought to you by the oil industry or some industry that benefits from the oil industry. TV is the propaganda arm of the oil biz. Why in the world do you think the lockstep pundits preach about "bias" in the media that does not exist? It's PR all the time with a purpose.

Posted by nlacey at December 30, 2005 04:01 PM

David, you're proud of being an idiot, aren't you? Well, good for you, don't let the smart folks get you down.

So, in the 4 years Bush has been doing his illegal wiretapping and "fighting terror" where are the arrests? Why are the few people who have been arrested on trumped up charges now looking to find out whether the "evidence" against them was obtained illegally? Which would put them back on the street - the opposite of "fighting terror."

And aren't you cute pretending that we're fighting for the terrorists' rights when you know full well we fight for our own, and yours, by the way, even if you don't think it's valuable.

Finally, Kerry lost the election. I didn't. And I didn't lose my right to voice my opinion whenever and where ever I decide to give it. If you're so anxious to live in a dictatorship, get out of my free country. You're ruining it for decent folk.

Posted by iamcoyote at December 30, 2005 05:08 PM

David, Once again, Pelosi was reiterating what the repukes will do. Why do you always make it sound as if it's a Dem. plan when words are twisted by FAUX news?

Posted by bbtb at December 30, 2005 05:17 PM

A challenge for your Ms. Make a matrix of the commercials on the various media; i.e which producats are advertised on which media; i.e TV, Newspagers, Internet, Radio. Stop watching/listening to the "news" and start watching the commercials. The commericials are driving the news not the news driving the media. This is not rocket science. I'm one of those dumb folks from a red state.

Posted by nlacey at December 30, 2005 05:22 PM

The only faliure of the media was when they were not successfull in shoving corperate facism down our throats.

All their other percieved faliures were by design.

Posted by SnarkyShark at December 30, 2005 05:39 PM

Via Daily Kos, more good news on the media.

How many national news figures i.e. the Russerts, Matthews, Roberts ect., are part of the "kewl kids klub" and went to the same private schools and summer camps as little Bush and the other establishment politicans they fawn over?

Posted by rlp at December 30, 2005 06:22 PM

rlp, none of them. Those guys are all wannabes. They're total starfuckers. That's why they can be bought off with a ballgame or golf trip.

Posted by iamcoyote at December 30, 2005 06:31 PM

I don't know if this has been covered or not but....I saw P.J. O'Rourke on Tucker Carlson's show and he actually admitted that some of today's media darlings are on the government payroll. It wouldn't shock me if they were padding their pocketbooks. What's a little payola for good press?
What suprised me, was it came from a repuke.

I can't reiterate it enough, it is up to the blogs to keep the media honest now. No one else will. They bury every important political issue and bring up the latest disaster or missing white girl in a heartbeat.

It is truly sickening. I read part of the local republican rag and then it's onto the computer for real news and articles.

Posted by bbtb at December 30, 2005 07:21 PM

Yawn..... boring subject and comments.

And as to Anihja . . .I'm beginning to change my mind about you.... now you are celebrating iamacoyote's asinine comments. Read his posts. They are factless and devoid of substance...
Find something to believe in, base it upon facts, defend it until you have found a truth more convincing and then change your position.

Don't lie with the harlots, merely because you have been screwed over by the democrats all your life and you know no better.

that applies to Republicans....which I feel are better but only better.

I'm a conservative libertarian..... Bring me a plurality or a majority and I'd jump ship in a minute.

Posted by Carpediem at December 30, 2005 07:45 PM

bbtb, I'm with you. I haven't watched tv "news" for years. Mostly because it's old news. Why wait for 6pm, when you can have the news of the world this instant?

Posted by iamcoyote at December 30, 2005 07:51 PM

Bring me a plurality or a majority and I'd jump ship in a minute.

So what you're saying is, "show me a bandwagon, and I'm on it?" Wow, how... uh... independent of you...

Posted by iamcoyote at December 30, 2005 07:56 PM

"And as to Anihja . . .I'm beginning to change my mind about you.... now you are celebrating iamacoyote's asinine comments." posted by Crappy
*******

Do you really think that I am trying to impress you, Crappy? Your ego really is enormous.

As for iamcoyote, IT WAS FUNNY. And, I respect him.

Also, please spell my name right A-N-J-H-A

Posted by Anjha at December 30, 2005 08:01 PM

iamcoyote,

You're probabally right about most of them, but Cookie Roberts is the daughter of two congresscritters. You can't get much more elete than that.

Posted by rlp at December 30, 2005 08:11 PM

As for iamcoyote, "I respect him", also!

So carpe have your ever been to a Little Feat show? Winterland Arena, San Francisco, 1975 or 1976, I think.

Posted by bbtb at December 30, 2005 08:11 PM

Do you really think that I am trying to impress you, Crappy? Your ego really is enormous.

Yep crap-man thinks were all just bit players in his little movie.

He also thinks he will get to be in the club and not shipped off to the cheap-labor camps.

Posted by SnarkyShark at December 30, 2005 08:13 PM

rlp, Cokie Roberts brother is Thom Boggs, head of Patton-Boggs. Powerful lobby group. Google that someday, see what they do. Oh, and Rove's attorney, Luskin, works for Patton-Boggs.

Posted by bbtb at December 30, 2005 08:15 PM

I suspect that although Cokie and her cohorts may have gone to the "good" schools, they definitely are NOCD. At least to the Bushies and the Prescotts. Which makes them desperate and fawning, yet they still have "access."

bbtb, I saw Little Feat, but I don't remember where or when!

Posted by iamcoyote at December 30, 2005 08:21 PM

bbtb,

Thanks, it just gets more incestious the more that you dig into it. We live in a country with rigid class lines and about half of all Americans think that they or their children are going to be in the elete soon!
Un freaking believable.

Posted by rlp at December 30, 2005 08:22 PM

I'll get to my point: Patton-Boggs represents Repukes or Dems., lots of white collar crimes and business acquisitions. Plain and simple they are in it for the money. Whoever pays the most. I just heard they opened a branch in Qatar.

An old girlfriend, who went to Stanford, was roomates with Hale Boggs III girlfriend. Went on some trips to Tahoe with the Boggs family.
Interesting for a landscaper at that time.

Posted by bbtb at December 30, 2005 08:43 PM

Anijah (sic) too lazy to look

I'm not concerned that you are trying to impress me. But sometimes, ever so often, a young man filled with grandious ideas of a utopia, comes along. Searching for the real truth. They question not only my comments, but comments made by their friends and relatives....and even themselves.

This enlightened position impresses themselves... and when I see it in users of this site, I relish in it. Because, for the most part, I see nothing but hate, anger and inbred pessimism.

I would really, really, hate to live in the America that these liberals believe that America is.

I guess I'd rather live in my pipe dream that we are a wonderful country with wonderful people who have wonderful ideas that don't always agree, but for which, they are still allowed to express those opinions.

My opinions is that an American controlled by the liberals of this Country would be exactly the opposite. Oppression of any thought that might question their openness. Castigation of any that might query their "tolerance".

I'm scared of those liberal elites that know all to well what and how I should think and feel.

I feel the same about Republican Theocrats, but I don't fear them, because I know them and they will never ever have the authority to take control of our Country. Why? Because we would not ever stand for it.

Liberalism though, is something that creeps in and sucks the life and breathe out of you slowly, without you knowing. Things that "sound" so good and kind, evolve into greater evils. The intent was always good, but the effects are evil.
Generally a socialistic state, where individuals are treated as members of a group, scares me.

Talk about 1984....

I'm not white, I'm not male, I'm not quasi-protestent, I'm not an educated elite.... I"m just a damn American, trying to raise a family that continues the traditions of Freedom to all peoples of this Earth without the "do-gooders" telling me how stupid and dumb I am because I work 75 hours a week and saved my money to produce a product that hires others to work for me and thereby makes me more money than most.

I love American Enterprise, Capitalism, and Freedom.

So, no, Anijha(sic) don't concern yourself with my impression of you. Concern yourself with YOUR impression of yourself and how you fit into this world.

Back to burning home movies on my Lightscribe DVD.

Posted by carpediem at December 30, 2005 09:32 PM

Liberalism though, is something that creeps in and sucks the life and breathe out of you slowly, without you knowing.

Way to much Rush Limbaugh.

Why? Because we would not ever stand for it.

Uh, excuse me? As it stands now, all of your sides SCOTUS nominees have to be vettted by the American Mullahs.

While you were scaring yourself silly with idiotic visions of what liberals are, the whackos(Republican Scanlons words, not mine) have already hi-jacked your party.

The good news is that is going to Dover school board your party right out of power.

But it isn't becuse of you guys, its in spite of you guys.

Posted by SnarkyShark at December 30, 2005 10:32 PM

At least you admit you live in a fantasy world.

America is still a wonderfull country, which is why we have to fight you good germans so hard to keep it that way.

But you are right about you living in a pipe dream.

Posted by SnarkyShark at December 30, 2005 10:36 PM

Dear SquirrellyBark,

Be careful what you ask for, because you just might get them.

Being a trial attorney, or at least pretending to be one on this blog, and in being an agnostic who is for the de-criminalization of drugs, questions the use of the death penalty, and really could care less if you burn our flag or pledge alligience to God or our Country,
I can assure you, or not . . . , that I am very much convinced that the Theocrats of the Republicans will never manifest itself into more than a small voting bloc, sort of the like the gay rights activists on the Democrats side. (The Main Street Media plays both of these blocs up big time, but they represent a small percentage of the total.)

However, the general family and national values of America still make me side with the Conservative party. Being a liberal means I have to apologize and feel ashamed every morning that I wake up merely for being a white Euro-American. I'm not, and I don't think we should think of our selves in this hyphenated (sic)way.
(Actually I am an African-American.....I kid you not.... we all are. I'm an australiapithicus, which means, basically, we all came from darkest Africa. Some of us can dance and some can not.)

I'm an American that still is proud that we are the only real last hope for spreading some type of Freedom throughout the world, without fearing that we are somehow oppressing others.

I'm proud and happy for that. I'm ashamed that we didn't kick ass in Rwanda under Clinton, I'm glad he went into Bosnia but ashamed he left in disgrace in Somalia, and glad we have helped Afganistan and Iraq in their fight for freedom.

Freedom has worked everytime its tried.
Liberalism has failed everytime its tried.
The two are not compatible....They are opposites when taken to thier final conclusion.

good night from the EST.

Posted by Carpediem at December 30, 2005 10:52 PM

(Actually I am an African-American.....I kid you not.... we all are. I'm an australiapithicus, which means, basically, we all came from darkest Africa. Some of us can dance and some can not.)

Uh...we had this conversation before. You were slowly getting drunk and ended up with some sloppy diatrabe from you that was racist as hell.

You generally seem like a pretty decent guy, but Im afraid you are completely wrong about the theocrats. They are exactly what you fear about liberals.

Well well, we find some comon ground. I agree with everything you said here. If Bush would have sold Iraq purely on the merits I might have supported it just for that.

But that would have meant leaving as soon as Saddam was deposed. But are motives were not pure, and now you see the results.

without fearing that we are somehow oppressing others.

Might want to study the results of our noble deposing of a freely elected Alendale in Chile.

Im pretty sure all those diseappered felt kind of oppressed. Untill they were killed, then they didnt feel anything at all.

Wanting to live in the warm glow of American exeptionalism is a nice goal. Its what I want too. But we have to actually live it, not wax poetic. The reality is quite different.

Being a liberal means I have to apologize and feel ashamed every morning that I wake up merely for being a white Euro-American.

I'm white, male and I dont feel I have to apologize for a damn thing and no liberal I have ever met has made me feel that way. I have encountered some militant vegeterians, but I wear my wheres the beef T-shirt with pride. Guilty consience perhaps?

Liberalism has failed everytime its tried.

Oh, you mean like when our secular liberal forefathers founded America?

It hasn't failed yet, but your party is working on it.

Posted by SnarkyShark at December 30, 2005 11:27 PM

Once again, the far-right takes a stand on who and what we are, and in that context, comes the absolute goals and belief system of their own party.

"My opinions is that an American controlled by the liberals of this Country would be exactly the opposite. Oppression of any thought that might question their openness. Castigation of any that might query their "tolerance".

Tell me something Carp, under whose administration did this Country do better? Clinton or Bush? Yeah, that's what I thought.

"I'm scared of those liberal elites that know all to well what and how I should think and feel."

You have got to be fucking kidding me. How do you people live with yourselves? Your pResident questions those who disagree with his policies and calls them unpatriotic. Well, so much for your "openiness." This is the most secretive administration that has ever controlled the WH, and you talk to us about "openiness", and you and your party support that secretiveness. Why do you think people keep secrets, you idiot?

"Tolerance?" Your party has never been known as the party of tolerance. Tolerance only comes to those who are of like mind and exactly like yourselves. Diversity scares the holy shit out of people like you and your party. The meaning of tolerance is sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own and the act of allowing something that you do not agree with. That concept is one that you and your party cannot even begin to grasp. No one has ever been guilty of calling your party the party of tolerance.

Liberalism means freedom to be different.
Conservatism, in your world, means think like I do, or go to hell.

Posted by Judith at December 31, 2005 02:39 AM

"It hasn't failed yet, but your party is working on it."

Snarkyshark, that's the best line I have heard in a while, and oh so true.

Posted by Judith at December 31, 2005 02:47 AM

"Liberalism though, is something that creeps in and sucks the life and breathe out of you slowly, without you knowing. Things that "sound" so good and kind, evolve into greater evils."

Oh, you mean like your leader's

Social Security Scheme

The Patriot Act

Spying on Terrorists

The Bankruptcy Laws

Tax Cuts for the Rich

War in Iraq

and those are just the ones off the top of my head.

Posted by at December 31, 2005 08:44 AM

Above by me.

Posted by Judith at December 31, 2005 08:44 AM

Hmm...what evil effects are you talking about? Freeing the slaves? Giving women the right to vote? Ending child labor? Health regulations? Passing programs to make sure the poor and sick get medical care? Equal pay for equal work? Ending segregation? Ensuring safe working conditions? Protecting the environment? Please, stop me when I get to an evil effect...

Posted by Blue Jean at January 1, 2006 10:02 AM