These are dangerous times, and news organizations putting profits over democracy is a sure path to America ending up like Hungary with a corrupt, strongman “conservative” running the country...
This is so important and thanks always for the explanation of how things have fallen apart. The media is the fourth branch of government, and with those same former strict and sane guidelines, we might return to breathing above water. When all other branches have been nearly totally disempowered, perhaps media, with the greatest power to reach the people, can be the paddle for a clear view once again.
Since it's acceptable nowadays for Republican leadership to bust all norms to attract their increasingly radicalized base, Democratic leadership should also think outside the box to fire up their voters and dominate the headlines. Play hardball but in a more intelligent way than the do-nothing extremists on the right side of the aisle, who lie through their teeth on virtually every issue.
One simple tactic on the federal level is low-hanging fruit, easy pickings if only the septuagenarians and octogenarians clinging to power in the Democratic Party would find their spine hidden inside all that blubber (think red-state Jon Tester, the flabby one, and shit-for-brains Joe Manchin, the stubborn one, allying with the murderous crazies to vote against Biden's common-sense vaccine mandate). Do the unheard-of in the Capitol: extend the workday of cushy Congress-critter jobs to eight hours and the workweek to five days, like most American workers, and radically curtail the excessive recesses and ample time off with pay, i.e., taxpayers' sweat and blood -- UNTIL they pass meaningful legislation to protect voting rights across America, which wingnut state legislators are busily dismantling in preparation for their final coup in 2022 and 2024.
OMFG! Waah! You can hear the rending of garments and clutching of pearls at the mere mention of something so counterintuitive and alien to all that is considered right and proper in the halls of power. Put normal gridlock front and center as the main issue. Make 'em suffer and piss 'em off in DC while exciting the voters and the press across the land.
At this point, what the hell is there to lose? And really, isn't that what most everyday workers/voters on both sides of the divide would not-so-secretly love to witness? C'mon, who wouldn't immensely enjoy such a spectacle of rumpled, over-worked politicos actually trying to get stuff done to "revive" democracy. "Yeah, finally! Do your damn job, you worthless sonsabitches!"
And make the usual boring and depressing headlines a joy to read with the mainstream media gone wild.
The best part? Democrats would instantly change their image from wishy-washy spineless cowards to serious, take-the-gloves-off fighters and champions for the common woman and man struggling to make ends meet.
Besides, why give Republicans the opportunity to go home and conduct retail politics, at which they excel and Democrats suck?
Go with your strengths, not your weaknesses. It's called "exercising power," which "The People" (remember them?) tried to give the Democratic Party in nearly every election. It's called the "popular vote," ergo, populism. Schumer and Pelosi could do this with a stroke of the pen, if only...
Joe does have a media problem. He is old and BORING. Things were reasonable until five months into this administration. Once they turned on him, they just kept piling-on. Then along came Afghanistan where everyone but President Biden failed, and yet he was blamed. Our military brass screwed up, the Afghani forces and their president chickened out, and folks that were warned months before didn't want to leave their relatives and homes. What happened to the after-the-airlift blood bath that media predicted? There is a famine on the way instead. Who knows if the Taliban will let anyone help in that regard, but it should be a UN project, not just us. What a money-pit! I am glad the President decided we are done dying on that hill.
The very station I hear Thom's show on breaks for news that is pure right-wing propaganda. My local TV channel is owned by Sinclair. It's a sickening situation.
The new FCC chair took over Dec. 7th. Let's see what she does, but it really is up to Congress as Thom said. You can easily cut the cord these days, but it is impossible to cut the crap.
Thom you are great but I must point out you spend an awful lot of time on Trump porn, conspiracies and MSNBC coverage that is divisive and does not contribute to informing your listeners in a meaningful way. In addition, your assertions that Nancy Pelosi is a progressive, not allowing criticism of Biden and other Democrats, telling us that Bernie Sanders is "practically identical" to Hillary Clinton or that she was a "brilliant" Secretary of State...I could go on, but all of these things run counter not only to progressivism but truth, which whittles away at critical thinking and creates the dueling echo chambers we are dealing with today. While you still offer some insightful discussions and valuable history lessons, much of the time you are contributing to the low level of discourse and irreconcilable tribalism in our country.
This is so important and thanks always for the explanation of how things have fallen apart. The media is the fourth branch of government, and with those same former strict and sane guidelines, we might return to breathing above water. When all other branches have been nearly totally disempowered, perhaps media, with the greatest power to reach the people, can be the paddle for a clear view once again.
Since it's acceptable nowadays for Republican leadership to bust all norms to attract their increasingly radicalized base, Democratic leadership should also think outside the box to fire up their voters and dominate the headlines. Play hardball but in a more intelligent way than the do-nothing extremists on the right side of the aisle, who lie through their teeth on virtually every issue.
One simple tactic on the federal level is low-hanging fruit, easy pickings if only the septuagenarians and octogenarians clinging to power in the Democratic Party would find their spine hidden inside all that blubber (think red-state Jon Tester, the flabby one, and shit-for-brains Joe Manchin, the stubborn one, allying with the murderous crazies to vote against Biden's common-sense vaccine mandate). Do the unheard-of in the Capitol: extend the workday of cushy Congress-critter jobs to eight hours and the workweek to five days, like most American workers, and radically curtail the excessive recesses and ample time off with pay, i.e., taxpayers' sweat and blood -- UNTIL they pass meaningful legislation to protect voting rights across America, which wingnut state legislators are busily dismantling in preparation for their final coup in 2022 and 2024.
OMFG! Waah! You can hear the rending of garments and clutching of pearls at the mere mention of something so counterintuitive and alien to all that is considered right and proper in the halls of power. Put normal gridlock front and center as the main issue. Make 'em suffer and piss 'em off in DC while exciting the voters and the press across the land.
At this point, what the hell is there to lose? And really, isn't that what most everyday workers/voters on both sides of the divide would not-so-secretly love to witness? C'mon, who wouldn't immensely enjoy such a spectacle of rumpled, over-worked politicos actually trying to get stuff done to "revive" democracy. "Yeah, finally! Do your damn job, you worthless sonsabitches!"
And make the usual boring and depressing headlines a joy to read with the mainstream media gone wild.
The best part? Democrats would instantly change their image from wishy-washy spineless cowards to serious, take-the-gloves-off fighters and champions for the common woman and man struggling to make ends meet.
Besides, why give Republicans the opportunity to go home and conduct retail politics, at which they excel and Democrats suck?
Go with your strengths, not your weaknesses. It's called "exercising power," which "The People" (remember them?) tried to give the Democratic Party in nearly every election. It's called the "popular vote," ergo, populism. Schumer and Pelosi could do this with a stroke of the pen, if only...
https://www.pnas.org/content/118/50/e2102144118
Here's some more popular low-hanging fruit:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/4-day-workweek-congress-progressives/
Joe does have a media problem. He is old and BORING. Things were reasonable until five months into this administration. Once they turned on him, they just kept piling-on. Then along came Afghanistan where everyone but President Biden failed, and yet he was blamed. Our military brass screwed up, the Afghani forces and their president chickened out, and folks that were warned months before didn't want to leave their relatives and homes. What happened to the after-the-airlift blood bath that media predicted? There is a famine on the way instead. Who knows if the Taliban will let anyone help in that regard, but it should be a UN project, not just us. What a money-pit! I am glad the President decided we are done dying on that hill.
The very station I hear Thom's show on breaks for news that is pure right-wing propaganda. My local TV channel is owned by Sinclair. It's a sickening situation.
The new FCC chair took over Dec. 7th. Let's see what she does, but it really is up to Congress as Thom said. You can easily cut the cord these days, but it is impossible to cut the crap.
Thom you are great but I must point out you spend an awful lot of time on Trump porn, conspiracies and MSNBC coverage that is divisive and does not contribute to informing your listeners in a meaningful way. In addition, your assertions that Nancy Pelosi is a progressive, not allowing criticism of Biden and other Democrats, telling us that Bernie Sanders is "practically identical" to Hillary Clinton or that she was a "brilliant" Secretary of State...I could go on, but all of these things run counter not only to progressivism but truth, which whittles away at critical thinking and creates the dueling echo chambers we are dealing with today. While you still offer some insightful discussions and valuable history lessons, much of the time you are contributing to the low level of discourse and irreconcilable tribalism in our country.