The following started as a comment on Booman’s recent post “Bernie is Stronger Than People Think.” (http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2019/2/20/133331/676) It grew.
Read on.
But first…if you have not done so already…read what he had to say. As always, his insight into what has been mainstream politics and the way it has worked over the past 50 years or so is spot on.
The question is…will it work the same way this time?
I don’t think so.
Wishful thinking?
Quite possibly.
Sorry…I am an almost incurable optimist.
Read on.
Booman writes:
After Bernie Sanders announced that he will make another run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, I spent some time watching the news coverage on MSNBC and CNN. I also skimmed through more than a dozen news articles at major newspapers. The impression I got, although anecdotal, is that there is a common wisdom on the center-left that Sanders is a spent force in American politics.
Sadly…I got yer “common wisdom,” Booman.
Right here!!!
MSNBC, CNN, the rest of the news networks and the (round up the usual suspects) “major newspapers” are all in the pocket of corporate interests.
Why do I say that?
Besides the obvious evidence? The last 50+ years of consistent media bias against any politicians of any party who even hinted that they might like to lessen the power of the corporate world and/or the Deep State over Washington DC?
Because they are supported by advertising revenues, that’s why. Leaving aside the overwhelmingly well-proven interference with political reporting from the Deep State/CIA etc., the people who run those media organizations know full well on which side their bread is buttered. They may run a sort of faux “balanced” coverage, especially if they are a generally respected old newspaper of record (Yes, I mean the NY Times. Sigh…), but in the final analysis their coverage always remains clearly biased towards the middle.
Bernie?
They cooperated in the DNC/HRC-led efforts to get rid of him in 2016.
They will do the same…along with any other truly corporation-threatening candidates…in 2020.
That’s a given.
What is not a given…and the main reason why I am so happy so far with politicians like Beto O’Rourke and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez…is that there is now a serious question of just how much influence the mainstream media really possess.
I will tell you one thing that I have personally observed over the past 20 years or so. They have almost no influence…in fact, more of a reverse influence…over the dominant minorities in his country.
And…they have less every year.
Who are these minorities?
Duh.
The African-American population, the Hispanic population and…now more than ever before…the young population.
Why?
Well…the evidence is in as far as most African-Americans and Hispanics are concerned. No matter how many people of color these media may hype, corporate control means continuance of the caste system by any means necessary. The old saying from post slavery-days goes like his:
You white?
Alright!!!
You brown?
Stick aroun’.
You black?
Step back!!!
Yup.
Now?
Nothing much new in that respect except for a few super-hyped , corporate-owned Judas goats.
The young?
I got news fer ya.
They ain’t watching those channels or paying much attention to what the print media say.
And all three of these major minorities…plus a fourth “minority,” the non-voters who do not fit into any of the above categories…are waiting around. Watching the big show, looking for someone who not only speaks to them but for them.
Together with the regular base Democratic vote, these groups could make a landslide Dem victory a sure thing.
The problem?
Sure.
The DNC is also owned by the same interests as are the media, and the primary voters are heavily non-“minority.” They are the ones who are still under the spell of TV and print media.
The worm is turning. That is undeniably true.
The question that remains is…will it turn fast enough for 2020?
I don’t know.
I certainly hope so.
Let us pray.
Later…
AG
No doubt. I’m less concerned about the Supreme Court’s views on corporate speech that I would have been in the days of the dominance of the (then) three broadcast networks.
No doubt also that the internet has brought some problems in the form of bad actors, but truth will out, eventually.
Arthur claims to idolize Bernie Sanders, Beto O’Rourke and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. While the three have significant differences in their priorities and policy preferences, all of these leaders call for a very strong and vigorous set of Federal government protections for the middle and lower class.
ARTHUR WANTS TO DO AWAY WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. HE HAS MADE THIS CASE REPEATEDLY, IMPLICITLY AND EXPLICITLY.
Why is he engaging in this charade? It’s offensive for him to pretend that he likes politicians whose ideologies he strenuously opposes.
In a range of domestic policies, AG’s preferences are far to the right of the most conservative Congressional Democrat. His ideology and political views are even more extraordinarily far to the right of Presidents Obama and Clinton, each of whom he now castigates for being corruptly centrist.
For one of many examples, Arthur has written in support of voter ID laws here. His claims need interrogation.
It appears that Arthur’s primary goal is to drive wedges in this community and between progressives in general. Given his raft of extremely regressive policy preferences and social views, it becomes necessary to point out what he is up to here.
. . . he just posted a
diary“standalone article”[LOL!] (sorry!) promoting the notion that Bernie betrayed us and “Our Revolution” in 2016.And here all this time ag’s been telling us the betrayal was by the evil DNC rigging the primaries against Bernie. Now this big reveal that, no, it was Bernie hizownself who betrayed us! (Click the link to enjoy the laughable “argument” in support of that notion.)
SIXTEEN diaries for Arthur so far this month. The censorship regime here is truly vicious.
The struggle is real.
Agreed generally. Vox reported DNC voted to accept PAC money again this year. I dont know how much ‘influence’ it will have, but Money is certainly going to try and gain as much of it wherever it can.
. . .
Given how many of these spontaneous malignant tumors you keep reporting here — and how frequently! — I at least hope for your sake you have access to a good oncologist.
It Grew, btw, would make a fine concept and title for a really bad, schlocky horror movie. You should pitch it to Troma right away!
If only Ed Wood were still alive. Perfect person to pitch that film to. I would suggest David Cronenberg, but he’s a bit too high concept for this project.
True. Ed Wood isn’t exactly pining for the fjords.