They need to keep elections close, because they make their money off advertising at the margin, in the “battleground” states. That would be why they never advise voting drives, never seek to bring in non-voters, etc.

The hair is only the beginning. And the more they do that, the more I like Edwards.

Now, if only he had a plan to restore Constitutional government….

No authoritarians were tortured in the writing of this post.

The same kind of seething dislike and disrespect that was lavished first on Bill Clinton, then on Al Gore, then on John Kerry, and now Edwards.

It’s a special kind of animus, and it’s happened with such regularity that it has its own memes and rituals.

In case anyone thinks Clinton doesn’t belong in this category, although no one would disagree that the press went after him, except for wingers and Republicans, please remember that Clinton’s 1992 campaign was the most progressive one I’d experienced in literally decades. He went full-throttle at Reaganomics, calling it a failed political theory, he insisted that it had enriched the rich, undermined that middle class, and ignored the poor, working and non-working. He talked about national investment, he talked about creating jobs by investing in our beginning-to-crumble infrastructure…and not just talked…his first budget proposel, though it skewed toward deficit cutting, did include money for investment and job creation, included an entirely reasonable gas or oil tax, I forget the details, one that would have helped with revenue plus it would have been in essence a carbon tax, that was shot down by bluedog Democrats from oil producing states, Senator Boren, anyone….but most astonishing, he raised taxes on the top incomes in the country…

I’m on board with Edwards, but I worry about the press he’s getting…we all should…

Thanks for the post CD…I hadn’t realized he polls so well against Republicans…and I love Ian too.

…how the fact that Edwards is a winner against ReThugs doesn’t get much corporatist press play.

It’s all about a couple of ’centrist’ losers.

The Hill

and…

Obama.

it to be about the “muslim/nigger” and the “feminazi.” what better way to turn off ’moderate’ voters too confused by decades of misinformation about women and nonwhite legistators?

sure, i’d like a black man and woman to be #s 1 and 2 (and 3, 4, 5…50000) top officials in gummint. just for the change! but do i think that the a)money and b)voters and c)media will come out and treat hilbama fairly? even if they were to 1) completely embrace my values or 2) totally repudiate me and mine in the name of winning? hell no. edwards is in fact an ideological and political moderate, what is sad and shameful is that someone like myself feels compelled to support him, as he’s the best i’m going to do. for i know- no one in powerful media or political circles will. just as they don’t support DK, or other actual progressives. back of the bus for us, kids. still, always. shut up and sit down.

but when it’s all left over, as well as in my in future thinking, i believe that when the dem party wants to take on the media and the parasitic relationship the parties have with it, they as well as the rethug partei can win. the media bobblehead have some power, but in the end they are parasites. grok that and you’re free, like an alcoholic who firsts understand the wisdom of “letting go.” so much could be done if a party were to focus those resources on actually reaching voters, esp. potential but regularly nonvoting voters.

but for now, too many in the leadership of both parties believe that spending over a billion dollars in media advertising on just the presidential campaigns is all that matters on the road to election. are they wrong? i’m not sure. does this reflect the attitdues and concerns of the majority: black, gay, white, str8, conservative or otherwise? i say “no,” with a resounding clarity. we’ll see if that matters when we all get to “vote.”