For all the talk that these HCR negotiations needed to be on C-Span it was odd that when it happened the event was only on C-Span 3, which is not even offered as an option by many teevee delivery systems. The cable news shows were basically hacktacular in their coverage. CNN decided to only show Republicans and MSNBC was just as bad. The “liberal” network broke into the summit every few minutes for commercials or to let folks hear spin from proven corruptionists like Armstrong Williams.
Thank the FSM that I have broadband.
There was decent coverage online, but the teevee coverage was amazingly bad. The only aspect they seem to be able to cover is that John McCain still thinks that he is President.
OTOH, is you do get a chance to watch the full event online (or whenever C-Span decides to actually broadcast it on their real network) I thought it was an amazing event (this highlight reel from the GOS is a good sample of why). It is just too bad that most folks will never sit through it.
So it goes.
Cheers
dengre
and yes, this is an Open Thread…
Tonal Crow
Don’t let the “liberal” media stop reform. Please call Congress — and not just your own members — tomorrow and ask them to PTDB via reconciliation. If you want a public option, it’s time to ask for that, too. No guarantees on anything, but if you don’t ask, it’ll never happen.
Martin
Yeah, I had to turn off any talking head. The only things they were covering was the horserace shit. Who won, who lost. Talk about fucking missing the plot.
And then as I passed NBC, they had an extended promo for McCain being on MTP this sunday. FUUUUUUUCK!
Dennis G.
@Tonal Crow:
From your lips to the FSM‘s ears.
I’ll make some calls on Friday.
Cheers
Brian J
I didn’t get a chance to see it, so perhaps someone can fill me in: exactly what sort of tax increases did the Republicans agree to? Which new regulations do they support? What sort of laws do they propose in order to reform fee-for-service problems in Medicare? Do they plan to allow more doctors to come into the country by reforming immigration laws? What other exciting developments did I miss?
Rhoda
You had to know after signing Obama’s praises at the Republican retreat they were determined to screw with what was obviously an easy win.
If they didn’t talk and played the seven hours with fact checks; the Republicans would look like liars and idiots.
And Obama would be in a better place politically.
This way, they can declare a draw (as Politico has done) and say that means the Republicans won. And look, they didn’t bother with those dial people who love the president so much this time. Why let facts ruin good spin?
kdaug
@Brian J:
Yes. Precisely…
valdivia
@Rhoda:
Just like they declared Palin the winner of the debate? LOL.
smith
Only saw clips but it sounds like the coverage by the major networks was piss poor as usual. Not surprised. When FOX gives the best coverage of the debate, something is definitely off.
Armstrong Williams? MSNBC raiding the Z-list of GOP commentators? Wonder how much this fading manwhore got paid for his appearance.
Brian J
@kdaug:
Whoa, sweet.
Brian J
@smith:
Which station was it that had Tonya Harding commenting on the 2008 primary and/or election? I seem to remember wanting to do a swan dive off a tall building after that one.
Or was I imagining that?
hal
Speaking of evil Liberals, I have a family member who constantly sends mass email to people declaring all types of typical, right-wing bullshit. Obama approved a Muslim Holiday stamp, the ACLU wants to sue to remove crosses from the headstones of soldiers, Canada’s Health Care System blows, Obama is evil; you get the picture.
I find myself constantly sending links from Snopes, and other fact checking sites, typically responding all, and nicely advising this family member that they are wrong. Which then leads to the typical reply somewhere along the lines of how he’s not political anyway, and he thought he would just past the information on. Granted, nothing ever comes out about Republicans, but he’s “not political.”
So, is it worth sending corrections, or is it pointless, and I should just send them right to the trash? I feel obligated to offer up some type of response, but this could become a full time job.
Yutsano
Remember the meme denge. Always remember the meme. Obama must be a failure because there is no way an African-American male can be that successful on his own merits. They HAVE to tear him down and make him look as bad as possible, especially after the debacle that was the January meeting with the Congressional reps. He needs to be beaten down by any means necessary. And if not, a bullet can probably be arranged.
mike kay
glowing review by Ezra:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/02/political_differences_masquera.html
Hell, even the hippies are giving it two bongs up
smith
hal:
I always sends Snopes links or try to correct people when they send me that bullshit. Sometimes I don’t have the time to do it but I try to. I used to let it go but then it increased so the gloves are off now for anyone bold enough to send me that BS.
Brian J:
Obama made a Tonya Harding joke in 2009 joking about how people said the only way he would win the Presidency is by kneecapping the competition. She went on some stations and got all pissed at Obama for joking about her. That’s the only thing I can recall.
Brian J
@smith:
Okay, then.
freelancer
Yes, but even if you just strafed by news sites, you can’t help but come to the conclusion of “Fuck CNN“.
They are a total joke, whether via broadcast or html.
valdivia
BTW your prediction about what we would see today (when we could see it no thanks to the cable coverage) was spot on. Obama was masterful.
No matter how Politico and co are spinning this, it went just as you said it would.
smith
I don’t know why CNN and MSNBC even bother kowtowing to the GOP. They could have a lineup consisting strictly of uber-conservatives and mouthbreathing right-wing talk radio show hosts and the GOP and its minions would still label them liberal, Commie whores.
CNN and MSNBC might actually have better ratings if they just said “fuck it” and just told the truth no matter if it offends the Republicans or not. Republicans hate them anyways and don’t watch them and Democrats don’t really watch because they consider both of them to be Fox-lite so they need to stop being wishy-washy.
Brian J
Maybe someone here can help me out.
In this interesting article about the administration trying to use the $500 billion awarded each year in federal contracts to push up wages and living standards, we see the complaints from the right that this would remove small businesses from the possibilities of getting such contracts. Perhaps it’s just an issue of words, but are small businesses really in contention for federal contracts?
TooManyJens
@hal: It sounds like the only way that sending corrections will do any good is if you send them to everyone he’s sent the lies to. Is everyone CC’ed? Can you do a “reply all”?
Martin
@valdivia: Gee, everything I read says that Obama got schooled by Ryan and McCain. Here’s ErikVonErik:
See?
Mike in NC
He’s not? Quick, somebody tell David Gregory! Then maybe we won’t have to endure this asshole every Sunday.
Yutsano
@Brian J: Short answer is yes, small businesses can and do apply for government contracts, and often get the awards. What this will do to their benefits is totally another question, as benefits can be considered part of a salaried bid, so I can see the point here somewhat. I think it’s just Republicans pretending to care again though.
Martin
@Brian J: Yeah, small businesses are, but I don’t see how the conclusion that small businesses would be worse off pans out. By and large, it’s large businesses that break laws and regulations, not small ones.
Love how the GOP is complaining that excluding businesses that break the law is unfair and discriminatory. Law and order party!
Mike in NC
You could go tell them to piss up a rope, but then you’d get fewer Xmas cards.
Northern Sooner
I watched the whole thing on CNN, missing only the closing remarks. CNN did cut away frequently for anti-HCR ads, almost exclusively when Dems were speaking, including the President one time which I thought was over the top even for the “corporate media”.
They treated the whole thing with their usual “who’s winning the horse race mentality”. Worst moment was bringing Ben Stein in to “analyze” in a split screen with Donna Brazile. Poor Donna was so depressed she really could only half-heartedly refute Stein’s neanderthal talking points.
Best moment was Wolf (he truly is an idiot) Blitzer asking Roland Burris who he thought was scoring the better points in the debate. Roland replied that it was not about scoring points, it was about getting better health care. Wolf had no response. Needless to say, we did not hear from Roland again for the rest of the day.
Still, it was an amazing event, well worth sitting through the whole thing. I don’t think there has been anything remotely like it in the history of American politics.
WaterGirl
@Northern Sooner: Do you mean Roland Burris (Sen-IL) or Roland Martin?
MikeJ
It’s a pity everyone learned from Ted. Don’t get me wrong, I firmly believe he’s a good guy and on our side. But when Ted Turner started racing in SORC, it was a gentleman’s sport. At sundown, everybody kicked back and just cruised along. Ted raced 24 hours a day. He went balls out, and he kicked the ass of everybody who dared get in his way.
CNN is Ted Turner’s network. I wish we had a network that had not only his drive, but his values too.
d Nelson
I watched coverage on the Sunlight Foundation website and when each politician from both sides spoke they had a box to the right of them indicating their top donors. They also had a live rolling twitter feed which was incredible.