Bad Pub for SLU

[Tonka]

-According to 2003 Census data, only 27 percent of adults over the age of 25 have college degrees.

-According to a 2004 article on Journalism.org, only 54 percent of adults read the newspaper each week.

Just as the "left-leaning" media outlets and higher education venues often teach liberal view points, conservatives often dominate radio talk shows and many cable news outlets.

The newspaper yes. The newspaper is a small fraction of media. Does it state what percentage watch TV and if so, how many have cable? I'd be curious to here that.

[ACE]

Heck, Michelle Obama got it for one off-color remark.

Exactly. Where was this so-called left wing media when it came to exploring Todd Palin's radical anti-American associations?

[Tonka]

Good question.

I wonder the same thing. I think some of it has to do with the party's own mismanagement and infighting in recent years, but a lot of it also has to do with the various voting blocs the Republicans have been able to build over the past 25 or so years. Those particular groups seem more unified in their ideals and more consistent in voter turnout than any easily-identifiable left-leaning groups.

As far as the more moderate Republicans who help them stay even, I think it comes down to a matter of taxes. People in the top x% don't want to have a 39.6% tax rate instead of a 35.0% tax rate, which is hard to argue with. I have a tougher time reconciling while so many moderates vote Republican despite the fact that they are nowhere near the brackets that receive tax cuts, and likely are in brackets that receive tax breaks from Democrats. This might just be a group willing to take their lumps on principle, what they would probably classify as 'Socialist' or 'redistribution of wealth.'

As for the media, there is no denying that individual members of the media are predominantly liberal in their political views. That's why they get into journalism- young, idealistic, want to change the world. It makes sense. However, they generally work for large, right-leaning corporations (as large corporations are wont to be) who are willing to let their journalists stay satisfied by subtly inserting their viewpoints while enjoying corporate tax breaks from Republicans. There are more liberal major news vehicles out there, but they are way more moderate and subtle in their political views that the right-leaning ones, which seem to be a more recent development.

In education, that's probably another reflection of a field that young liberals pursue. As far as I can tell, educators have always been liberal unless not allowed to by their institutions or governments. The correlation between the most educated states voting Democrat and the least educated states voting Republican has been very strong in recent elections. I would disagree with you that voters "put morals second" when voting and contend that a lot of voters put their own versions of morals first, which does not discount the fact that many voters are self-absorbed- you treat these two as mutually exclusive, and they are certainly not.

Pistol, thanks for the response. I had heard the largest voting block in the past 30 years or so was the black voters who have always voted Democrat.

[Tonka]

Exactly. Where was this so-called left wing media when it came to exploring Todd Palin's radical anti-American associations?

Todd Palin's radical anti-American associations - who? The Unions?

[Pistol]

Trademarked did make it sound like I was blaming only the dems. You are 100% correct that arguing without substance is a characteristic of politics in general.

I never said jokes about Mcain and Dole's ages weren't justified. Dole should've given up after his Brooklyn Dodgers gaff. All I am saying is that one bad candidate doesn't mean a party should strike the tents and go home forever. The death of the Republican party will not be caused by a weak candidate like Mccain as the Kerry campaign didn't kill the democrat party.

I agree with you there. It is rare that a candidate is bad enough to bring down a party to any serious degree. Heck, the more I read about Nixon, I'm surprised the Republican Party still exists and isn't one of those "history book" parties we read about in high school, like the Whigs. I think McCain (once again, not a bad candidate albeit much better in 2000) may have been the strongest candidate of the bunch on the right side and I also think that the Republican Party is going to retain a lot of strength; these tales of its demise are wildly blown out of proportion.

That said, this election may have signaled some sea change on the right and delivered another blow to the Republicans' overall strength and direction. After this administration, that is probably the natural result. They need to decide whether to continue this with-us-or-against-us mentality or try to regain the middle. The Democrats are more unified than ever but still not enough to shut the door on anyone.

[Pistol]

Pistol, thanks for the response. I had heard the largest voting block in the past 30 years or so was the black voters who have always voted Democrat.

That could be true, but they still don't vote in massive numbers despite how almost uniformally they vote Democrat. I think their older generations still feel a strong degree of disenfranchisement and younger black voters do not vote in high numbers- this election turned those numbers a good amount, but it will be interesting to see what sticks down the road.

I would also argue that their numbers are virtually offset by the approximately 25% of Americans who consider themselves "Evangelicals" and are predominantly white and Republican. This is also a subset of the population that votes consistently in huge numbers.

[Tonka]

That could be true, but they still don't vote in massive numbers despite how almost uniformally they vote Democrat. I think their older generations still feel a strong degree of disenfranchisement and younger black voters do not vote in high numbers- this election turned those numbers a good amount, but it will be interesting to see what sticks down the road.

I would also argue that their numbers are virtually offset by the approximately 25% of Americans who consider themselves "Evangelicals" and are predominantly white and Republican. This is also a subset of the population that votes consistently in huge numbers.

"I would also argue that their numbers are virtually offset by the approximately 25% of Americans who consider themselves "Evangelicals""

Good point

[SShoe]

I think you've got it. The left has papers, broadcast tv including pbs/npr, and most cable news. The right has Fox and talk radio.

In the past the broadcast networks and papers were THE power in information. They still carry the most weight but have been diluted by the "pick what you want to hear" cable networks and websites/blogs.

PS I'd guess that 54% paper reader stat probably is based on getting a copy not looking online. I've never paid for the post and read it quite often.....

The 54 percent figure is based on a PEW research survey, not subscribers.

I do not think that I would put NPR in the leftist camp. I listen to Diane Riehm all the time and I'm still not positive that she's a democrat.

While I might admit that there is a slight leftist lean amongst the main broadcast news, none of them are near as blatant as Fox News or talk radio, so the effect may balance each other out. The only cable TV news media source I consider blatantly liberal is MSNBC.

[Billiken Rich]

Exactly. Where was this so-called left wing media when it came to exploring Todd Palin's radical anti-American associations?

I guess they got side-tracked humping Obama's leg.

Todd palin? Seriously? That's what you're hung up on? Please tell me about the his involvement in the Alaska Independance Party. If "The Nation" couldn't smear him for it, I doubt you can

[ACE]

Todd Palin's radical anti-American associations - who? The Unions?

Not surprised you didn't hear about it. Helps prove my point. Not a lot of coverage of it in the so-called "left-wing" mainstream media. Todd was a registered member of the Alaskan Independence Party - a radical, anti-American group that wants to seceed from the U.S. Salin Palin addressed this group several times and heaped praise on them while Governor.

[moytoy12]

I guess they got side-tracked humping Obama's leg.

Todd palin? Seriously? That's what you're hung up on? Please tell me about the his involvement in the Alaska Independance Party. If "The Nation" couldn't smear him for it, I doubt you can

Isn't the fact that he was a member enough involvement?

[Billiken Rich]

The 54 percent figure is based on a PEW research survey, not subscribers.

I do not think that I would put NPR in the leftist camp. I listen to Diane Riehm all the time and I'm still not positive that she's a democrat.

While I might admit that there is a slight leftist lean amongst the main broadcast news, none of them are near as blatant as Fox News or talk radio, so the effect may balance each other out. The only cable TV news media source I consider blatantly liberal is MSNBC.

I'd still guess higher online readership.

NPR is predominately left. In my opinion, you need to listen more often.

I believe you are completely understating the continued power and slant of the broadcast networks. They are not what they were certainly. CNN and MSNBC are certainly left in my opinion.

I see you didn't cite the surveys showing who news men and women vote for.

[ACE]

I guess they got side-tracked humping Obama's leg.

Todd palin? Seriously? That's what you're hung up on? Please tell me about the his involvement in the Alaska Independance Party. If "The Nation" couldn't smear him for it, I doubt you can

Please answer this questions honestly. If Obama's wife was in an anti-American group that wanted to seceed from the U.S., you don't think the right-wing media would have had a field day with it? Look at the way they grasped at straws over Ayers. I hope the GOP continues to play the association game, while offering few ideas. It worked very well this last election.

[Billiken Rich]

Isn't the fact that he was a member enough involvement?

I've no idea what membership entails or really what the group stands for or what he did as a member. I find it hard to believe that the hachetmen sent a alaska to destroy the Palins would've missed anything interesting. I'm asking Ace to do the research and report back so that I can laugh at him again.....

In anycase, being nonimated for second hubby wasn't the first time Todd was proud to be an American.

[Billiken Rich]

Not surprised you didn't hear about it. Helps prove my point. Not a lot of coverage of it in the so-called "left-wing" mainstream media. Todd was a registered member of the Alaskan Independence Party - a radical, anti-American group that wants to seceed from the U.S. Salin Palin addressed this group several times and heaped praise on them while Governor.

Still waiting for your smoking gun. Please provide details on the AIP and Todds actions as a member of the group. Of I'm sorry you can't or won't. By the way the correlation would be biden's wife. The palins didn't say half the stupid things that old Joe did.......

[Postcard]

I've no idea what membership entails or really what the group stands for or what he did as a member. I find it hard to believe that the hachetmen sent a alaska to destroy the Palins would've missed anything interesting. I'm asking Ace to do the research and report back so that I can laugh at him again.....

In anycase, being nonimated for second hubby wasn't the first time Todd was proud to be an American.

Ya, I'm guessing if he was in an Anti-American group there probably wasn't a first time. Just a guess.

[SShoe]

I'd still guess higher online readership.

NPR is predominately left. In my opinion, you need to listen more often.

I believe you are completely understating the continued power and slant of the broadcast networks. They are not what they were certainly. CNN and MSNBC are certainly left in my opinion.

I see you didn't cite the surveys showing who news men and women vote for.

I listen to NPR almost every day, is that enough? I find it funny how anything that remotely represents a liberal point of view is automatically dubbed "predominately left." In my daily listening, I get both points of view on a regular basis, making we believe that NPR is one of the few news sources where one can get a fairly balanced report of the issues.

I'm sure that a larger portion of the media generally votes Democrat. Tonka asked why Republicans are able to compete in elections considering the general left-lean of the news media and academia. My answer is that there are surveys suggesting that only about half the population actually read the news and an even fewer number of people actually graduate from college, indicating that there are a large number of uninformed, uneducated people who vote for a particular group.

[ACE]

I've no idea what membership entails or really what the group stands for or what he did as a member. I find it hard to believe that the hachetmen sent a alaska to destroy the Palins would've missed anything interesting. I'm asking Ace to do the research and report back so that I can laugh at him again.....

In anycase, being nonimated for second hubby wasn't the first time Todd was proud to be an American.

You keep trotting out Ayers as some important issue, while your boy W leaves office in shame and your party drifts further into irrelevance. Who is laughing at who?

[brianstl]

Didn't read anymore tha the first page of this thread it sucks.

[Postcard]

Didn't read anymore tha the first page of this thread it sucks.

This thread has started to suck just as bad as that political thread.

You would know about sucking. I guess you couldn't have just avoided them. That would have been too easy.

[Billiken Rich]

Didn't read anymore tha the first page of this thread it sucks.

Yep it ought to be deleted. I forgot what it was like with the old off season board. No minds changed just a ton of useless garbage on bothsides.

[slufanskip]

Please answer this questions honestly. If Obama's wife was in an anti-American group that wanted to seceed from the U.S., you don't think the right-wing media would have had a field day with it? Look at the way they grasped at straws over Ayers. I hope the GOP continues to play the association game, while offering few ideas. It worked very well this last election.

Her employer did get a million dollar earmark secured by her husband right before she got a huge promotion ... probably just a coincidence though.

Let's face it, if they're politicians, they're crooks, if they aren't they get out. The entire freaking government needs to be reworked. It's either the republicans with so much money they can dictate the law, or many of the dems who just mooch off the government. Who takes care of the middle. I pay a larger percentage of taxes then either McCain or Obama as listed in their financial disclosures during the campaign, and I promise you, I don't make nearly as much as either.

[brianstl]

You would know about sucking. I guess you couldn't have just avoided them. That would have been too easy.

Just stating my opinion. Thought I was entitled to that.

[brianstl]

You would know about sucking. I guess you couldn't have just avoided them. That would have been too easy.

Nice job with the fourth grade put down. You are a comic genius.

[RB2.0]

Just stating my opinion. Thought I was entitled to that.

The only reason Obama hasn't been investigated is because the press won't do it. They have too much invested in the "Messiah." The put all their chips behind him when they openly diverged from any sort of journalistic integrity and support him.

Obama is no different then any Illinois politician, regardless of party. He's just as crooked. Look at Rezko. The writing is on the wall.

I love IL but our politics are awful...and now we have one in the Presidency. Lincoln must be rolling over in his grave.