Midterms 2018

[Guisslapp]

CNN has fallen below HGTV and Hallmark channel in terms of viewers. People see through their BS and their agenda. Once a great network has become irrelevant.

I have already posted the stats. The biggest viewership draws for all news channels are there entertainment/pundit shows - Hannity, Maddow, Carlson, Ingraham, and the Five. This proves people just aren’t tuning in for “news” but to be entertained by people that will tell the viewer why their opinions are still correct. This proves that BS is the draw - not the news. And your evidence proves the opposite of what you argued.

CNN has chosen not to go that direction and aims more for the ideological center. Thus it doesn’t have rabbid partisan fans - those guys go to MSNBC and FoxNews.

[brtransplant]

I have already posted the stats. The biggest viewership draws for all news channels are there entertainment/pundit shows - Hannity, Maddow, Carlson, Ingraham, and the Five. This proves people just aren’t tuning in for “news” but to be entertained by people that will tell the viewer why their opinions are still correct. This proves that BS is the draw - not the news. And your evidence proves the opposite of what you argued.

CNN has chosen not to go that direction and aims more for the ideological center. Thus it doesn’t have rabbid partisan fans - those guys go to MSNBC and FoxNews.

You don't believe that. You know as well as anyone that CNN spews nothing more than left wing propaganda all day, everyday.

[Guisslapp]

You don't believe that. You know as well as anyone that CNN spews nothing more than left wing propaganda all day, everyday.

Probably seems that way from the extreme right.

[brtransplant]

Probably seems that way from the extreme right.

No, just to anybody with a brain. The fake news mainstream media in this country is a joke these days. That's why so few pay it any attention.

[Guisslapp]

No, just to anybody with a brain. The fake news mainstream media in this country is a joke these days. That's why so few pay it any attention.

Why amongst Foxnew’s programming does their opinion shows get the best ratings?

[brtransplant]

Why amongst Foxnew’s programming does their opinion shows get the best ratings?

I guess those people like listening to the opinions on those shows. That doesn't make it news. It's just opinions. What I said is that few people pay attention to the fake news media these days.

[dawg80]

The media in this country has always leaned "liberal" going back to our very founding. Makes some sense, people wouldn't buy newspapers just to read opinions that mirror theirs. That wouldn't be "news" it would be "status quo." I have in my collection a series of newspapers published in Natchitoches from 1820 to 1825. It's amazing to read the headlines, and the sub-headlines of which there are plenty. In many ways, the more things change, the more they remain the same. That's 200 years ago, and in some articles, it might as well be 200 days ago.

The press in the north was brutal toward Lincoln. Many major papers were relentless in their criticism of him. He was blamed for everything, and most northern papers began publishing the LONG casualty lists...lists of names from that city, that county, that state...killed, wounded, taken prisoner. Of course Southern papers were not kind to Lincoln either. Jefferson Davis was criticized by the press in the South. Davis bristled at it, and even convened a meeting of his cabinet seeking advice on how to control the press. His cabinet said that would be a very bad idea.

Many media outlets were outraged over our participation in World War I, and many lobbied for us to stay out of World War II, even as FDR tried to convince the American people we should jump in. Of course when the Japs attacked Pearl Harbor, and then the Axis Powers declared war on us, we no longer had that choice.

It's not just in war that the media voiced opinions. Going back to the 1890's during the "industrial revolution" news outlets took a side, basically either choosing the "ruling elite" the industrial barons, or rights for workers. That's a simplification of the issues, but just trying to illustrate a point. And that point is, usually, most of the time, the American press took a position on an issue contrary to the status quo. That makes their opinions "liberal" by definition.

Many of us remember the three major networks, CBS, ABC, NBC, in the 1960's and how they reported news, and opinions. They clearly separated the two. Walter Cronkite (CBS) was the first news person that I remember stirring some controversy. He was in opposition to the Vietnam War. He tried to be fair, just to report the news without spin, but that grew increasingly hard for him as the war drug on. Some say he was more forgiving when LBJ was president, because Cronkite was a Dem, and doubled-down when Nixon was president in his opposition to the war, no longer concerned about protecting the administration. But Cronkite was hardly alone in his opposition to Vietnam. Even though in my family, my Dad, began to dislike Cronkite for his "too liberal" views, in many issues, we never questioned his love for our nation. I remember his breaking down in tears of joy reporting Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon. A proud American accomplishment.

The networks began to drop the veil of fairness in the 1970's. They chose sides, the Dems, and began to "campaign" in favor of their views. The media tried to destroy Reagan, which is why he took his message directly to the people. The lib media tried to "make" the news, rather than "report" it. Known as the "great communicator" Reagan circumvented the distortions of the media.

Rush Limbaugh credits the lib media for his success. He launched his radio show in 1988. If the media had remained fair, and unbiased, Rush and others would not have found traction to get started. FOX News launched in 1996, again as a direct result of the lib media who had no interest in reporting "news." Early on both sides tried to be "fair" but it became increasingly hard as the audiences grew more polarized. Today, media outlets have dropped the pretense, and have chosen sides.

I still find FOX to be the fairest. And yes, I watch both CNN and MSNBC during periods of "big news." To me, FOX is like the homer broadcasters who are honest enough to tell their audience, this is not looking good folks. Our defense is getting pushed around. While CNN/MSNBC blame the refs, or just bad luck, for any problems. FOX tells us the complete truth. Now, the opinion shows (Hannity...) do that as a warning. We may not get our way, and here's why. TRUTH!

[GonzoDawg]

Interesting take. In addition it seems to me as the rise of right slanted news organizations has taken place the left leaning organizations have moved farther to the left as a push back. It's only natural that things would become more and more polarized.

[TYLERTECHSAS]

Why amongst Foxnew’s programming does their opinion shows get the best ratings?

Because they at least try to tell the truth. They are also have the most common pro-American sense approach to their reporting and overall logic. There isn't an underlying "hate America first" , socialist or commie bend to everything as in MSNBC, CBS, ABC or CNN. And Fox isn't giving talking points by the NRC like the others are by the DNC.

[dawg80]

Maxine Waters is promising to extract revenge on insurance companies, banks, and other so-called "evil" big financial businesses once she is chairslug of the powerful Finance Committee in the House. First, who says she gets to be that? If the Dems take the House, aren't their other Dems better qualified to chair committees? Why is it that Pelosi assumes she will be speaker, and these other OLD Dems assume they will automatically get to chair various committees? If anyone needs evidence why we need term limits, or need to clean out the Swamp....this is it.

Back to Waters....I find it laughable that the key person to the whole mortgage crisis back in 2007-2008, who FORCED the banks to adopt that stupid subprime policy, is now casting herself as the savior of our financial system. What a piece of shit she is.

[Rooster]

I don't belive the dems will take over the house, I think they may gain seats, but not the majority. People can't even get in the gyms to see Trump. Just like the presidential elction in 2016, people are keeoing quiet who they vote for. The far left has become so extreme. I know there is a far right group (I am fiscally) but they don't seem to be so radical. I have talked to several blacks in Baton Rouge who support the president. They have told me that they can't really speak about it b/c blacks are supposed to vote D. I think this is not just in BR, its around the country. I think almost anyone that works 40 hours a week and pays taxes does NOT want the party is office who is publically saying they will not only repeal the tax cuts but also raise them. That is preposterpous. R's will probabky end up with 55-56 Senators and a very small majority in house. That prediction and $2 will buy you a beer.

[dawg80]

The hypocrisy of the Dems is simply amazing. obummer saying "politicians will say anything and do anything just to keep their power."

Which party wants MORE government, and which tries to downsize the government? Dems will say anything because they know their dumb followers will believe anything.

[johnnylightnin]

My prediction:

Reps hold Senate and lose the house. Dems act like it’s a big victory despite the fact that it was likely regardless of who won for the GOP.

Will be interesting to see how Trump spins the news.

[Guisslapp]

My prediction:

Reps hold Senate and lose the house. Dems act like it’s a big victory despite the fact that it was likely regardless of who won for the GOP.

Will be interesting to see how Trump spins the news.

The gender gap and education gap numbers will be interesting to watch. The Republican Party seems to be losing women and people with college degrees while gaining ground with folks with no college degree. If so, this could signal a realignment if the Party’s values that will extend beyond Trump.

[LEEDAWG]

Republicans gain in Senate to 56+ and keep House control with 230+ and win 25 of the 36 races for Gov.

(Billionaire-in-law-Boy Beto loses by 10% or more in Texas)