Posted on 09/03/2008 8:47:19 PM PDT by dalight
Model Three: I thought Model Two would be a workable model for years, until either the MSM itself went totally online or until almost all voters stopped paying attention to it. I was wrong! The Edwards scandal did Model Two in. For months, the MSM failed to report the increasingly plausible rumors of John Edwards' extramarital affair even as it became the widespread topic of conversation in blogs, in the National Enquirer, and among political types. The disconnect turned out to be painfully embarrassing for the MSM, especially when the rumors were finally "verified" with Edwards' confession. A lot of what we are seeing now is the MSM not wanting to go through another Edwards experience.
Why can't the MSM bear to fulfill its Model Two role? a) No press person likes to not be the center of attention. You want to talk about what people want to talk about. That's how you make money, for one thing. And maintaining a disciplined silence on a rampant undernews rumor--even an unverified one--made too many reporters feel as if they worked for Pravda; b) Suppressing an undernews scandal about a Democrat subjected the MSM to charges of pro-liberal political bias (to which respectable organizations are particularly sensitive, because they are largely true); and c) even much of the left was disgusted by the MSM's behavior regarding the Edwards rumor.
We are now, I think, making the next logical leap, to a model in which unverified rumors about public figures are discussed and assessed not just in the blogosphere or the unrespectable tabs but in the MSM itself.
(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...
BTW I found this posted at Hot Air.
This is BS.
We are not into a “new model”. We are into the unmasked liberal media going all out to ruin the rival of it’s “chosen one”.
We are not into a “new model”. We are into the unmasked liberal media going all out to ruin the rival of it’s “chosen one”.
And slate.com is attempting to providing cover for them.
“but Kaus is pointing to how we have stepped into a brave new world and it frightens all of us.”
How could it frighten all of us?
What does he mean Model 3?
If you read unfiltered history you will see that this nation started with open debate at all levels; a pre-model 1 if you will. Read the primary documents of various eras and you will find that we are an extremely peaceful society to day. When was the last time you read about a fatal duel over political issues? Or a caining on the floor of the House?
I much prefer an open debate with all sides putting forth their positions and then defending them. In other endeavors this is known as “testing” and “quality control”.
When you fail to have “testing” and “quality control” in politics is when things can turn real nasty. See Europe 1930s and 1940s. Again, see Eastern Europe 1920’s - 1950’s and today. Again, see China in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Cambodia and Argentina in the 1970’s. And the most important thing to remember is all of those deaths were perfectly legal by the existing laws of that time.
I get very frightened when there isn’t open political debate like we have been suffering through for the last 5 to 10 years. The same story line from various readers isn’t a debate.
Well. This is something they are doing to their vast regret, but this is a challenge to also look deeper.. because Kaus really is onto something here.. the Blogosphere has become the newsflow.. FreeRepublic was deep in this situation, exposing the insanity as fast as they were cooking it.. The speed of this has been incredible.
Honestly, what happened tonight at the convention wouldn't have been possible without all that has come before.
The MSM is still trying to catch their breath about what happened in the last 5 days.. and their world has changed forever.
The MSM has lost control and joined the blogosphere. They have become nodes in this vast engine of information processing. Their error this time was being sucked into an enormous trap that folks around here and in Republican circles understood on the face of it.. but that they seemed compelled to follow despite all of the clear warnings.
Kaus is attempting to understand for himself why, not so much to cover as he reflects on the fact that an enormous about of information was processed as well as the silliness. Heck I should know I darn near read it all in delighted fascination as something as big as Rathergate unfolded this weekend without some of the colorful characters on our side perhaps.. but this is and was big. And Sarah will have been the beneficiary of this instant review of her life, and the MSM's melt down.
All of America has also gained something. I see it like the awakening of a new level of consciousness. It includes wild fantasies and even regrets and shame.. but like it or not.. the next step is when this monster finally gets its teeth in to William Ayers and the Chicago Machine.
He's trying to rationalize and explain away most of the media outing themselves for the Democrat Party.
Anything the media says from now on is a lie - written by Democrats, for the Democrat Party and only to increase the power of the Democrat Party.
Oil prices? Lies to cover the Democrats.
Social Security? Lies to cover the Democrats.
Tax increases? Lies to cover the Democrats.
Bring on the Revolution, baby.
It's not going to happen. The media is Out for Obama, with no apologies.
They''re running for the end zone (total American socialism) and the only one standing in front of them is Sarah Palin.
Both hands on the face mask, Sarah, and rip it sideways with your body weight.
I want to see their heads come off.
I find this argument compelling.
The attack will be "What has Barack done about the Chicago Machine? He became a part of it.. and here is how and what he paid for it." This pulls back the more complete story that has emerged. The community organizer who sought out Jeremiah Wright's patronage, the New Party and William Ayres and then by going along to get along he has become the instrument of the Chicago Machine.
The Vice President is the Attacker in the election process and she will go after this most bitter corruption, perhaps playfully, perhaps with hard ball tactics and the Blogosphere will get back to processing Obama's stances on Life, Corruption, Taxes, Power and his traveling companions who are a disreputable bunch.
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