my favorite topic - media bias

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by scottw

this entire post makes me wonder how you ever got a degree...what is an "ubber" catholic?...just wondering

Besides, without the umlauts that would be "ueber". He is our resident scientist, smarter than many, even if he has moved left over past few years (might have something to do with being married

single tirade about the genetic dysfunctions of Liberals

So in order to be a republican you need to tirade about liberals? Really?

Most people are fairly moderate yet the 20% on the extreme ends are what define the parties. How convenient. So if that's the brush we paint with anyone that votes democratic is a Code Pink, ELF, PETA, Union Thug?

And yeh, she wears 41 pretty well .

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by JohnR

smarter than many,

Not even close, but thanks for the compliment

Originally Posted by JohnR

even if he has moved left over past few years (might have something to do with being married

Not at all, I've actually moved a bit center from my youth, but like many on here, I am not defined by a party, and yes the fringe, unfortunately defines the party.

Lets get back to the original point that the media is call the tea-party right wing, and they are centrist, except for the candidates they support....

[spence]

Originally Posted by JohnR

So in order to be a republican you need to tirade about liberals? Really?

Sorry, should have used an emoticon to indicate sarcasm. It's a good book, a quick read but very accessible...I gave my copy to some guy on an airplane.

Most people are fairly moderate yet the 20% on the extreme ends are what define the parties. How convenient. So if that's the brush we paint with anyone that votes democratic is a Code Pink, ELF, PETA, Union Thug?

I think the conservative punditry has done an excellent job of giving people that impression. Less so when you reverse the picture.

What's interesting is that some studies show less than 20% of Americans would actually self classify themselves as "liberal" while over 50% or would self classify themselves as "conservative". At the same time, voters probably tend to average out in the middle.

This non-linear distribution on the spectrum is often exploited to present a picture which doesn't map to reality.

-spence

[RIJIMMY]

Originally Posted by spence

I think the conservative punditry has done an excellent job of giving people that impression. Less so when you reverse the picture.

-spence

I would say "more so" when you reverse the picture. Its exactly how you explain that most view themselves as conservaitves vs how the vote plays out. I believe a very large percentage of the population would agree with what the tea party stands for. But they will dismiss it without question due to the media spoon feeding them.
If O'Donnell is an example of a right wing endorsement by the tp, how many candidiates were supported by the wacky left and won? you'll never know because the media acts as if the wacky left doesnt exist. they define one end (far right) but NEVER the left!

[scottw]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

because the media acts as if the wacky left doesnt exist.

this is because they are in most cases

[spence]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

I would say "more so" when you reverse the picture. Its exactly how you explain that most view themselves as conservaitves vs how the vote plays out. I believe a very large percentage of the population would agree with what the tea party stands for. But they will dismiss it without question due to the media spoon feeding them.

It illustrates more that liberal and conservative doesn't map 1:1 to democrat and republican.

A large percentage of Americans would stand for what most parties believe in. A clean environment, good schools, strong defense, a balanced budget...who wouldn't want that?

But being a "grass roots" movement you have to take the good with the bad, it's really about the people and not the platform. From what I've heard about both notable Tea Party winners this week, I can't say "personal responsibility" come to mind.

If O'Donnell is an example of a right wing endorsement by the tp, how many candidiates were supported by the wacky left and won? you'll never know because the media acts as if the wacky left doesnt exist. they define one end (far right) but NEVER the left!

The difference here is that you don't have progressives upsetting mainstream Dems. You're trying to compare apples and tangerines.

-spence

[RIJIMMY]

Originally Posted by spence

The difference here is that you don't have progressives upsetting mainstream Dems. You're trying to compare apples and tangerines.

-spence

so, when Obama defeated Hillary, it was called out that he was left wing by the MAINSTREAM media? No way! The only ones screaming about his far left voting record was the conservative media and you know......only crazy rednecks listen to them.

[spence]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

so, when Obama defeated Hillary, it was called out that he was left wing by the MAINSTREAM media? No way! The only ones screaming about his far left voting record was the conservative media and you know......only crazy rednecks listen to them.

Obama wasn't running as a progressive, and I'm not sure I'd say he's governed as a progressive president. On many fronts, Obama's policy both domestic and foreign hasn't differed that much from Bush.

That's not to imply he's a conservative obviously, but compared to real progressives he's much closer to the middle when you look at the net.

-spence