What It's All About...

[Sheila Samples]

Rise like lions after slumber
In unvanquishable number.
Shake your chains to earth, like dew
Which in sleep had fallen on you--
Ye are many, they are few.
~Percy Bysshe Shelley

My friend Bernie says he can't believe the American people haven't figured out what it's all about. "The whole damn political scene is nothing but a corporate media freak show," he said. "There's no breathing room between elections -- no time nor interest in investigating, or even addressing, issues that are critical to our survival as a nation. The minute every last dollar is sucked out of the competition, the candidate who bought the most attack ads -- the most face time -- wins, and the election is over. Then," Bernie said with disgust, "it's time to start raising money for the next election, because the media is already out there campaigning."

"I hadn't thought of it that way," I said. "But, surely electing a president is more important than the media, or who can raise the most money --"

"It doesn't matter what you think," Bernie said flatly. The mainstream media, both print and electronic, are as important as the American people allow them to be. And we've allowed them total control over our thoughts, our beliefs. They're freaks -- actors whose role is to divert national attention, manipulate public opinion, and keep the public in a state of suspended paralysis. They're bullhorns for corporate Boss Hogs and administration creeps who are determined to seize power and keep the military industrial complex rolling in dough."

Bernie's right. With each presidential campaign, the list of candidates -- serious candidates -- grows shorter, and the media grow more brazen in either trashing or ostracizing those who pose a threat to the corporate status quo. The media is determined to choose the president no matter what voters want. Little by little, the media has inserted itself into the process until elections are no longer about candidates or issues. They're about the media and what the media thinks about candidates and issues.

If you doubt that, check out CNN's 24/7 "Ballot Bowl 08" with Wolf Blitzer and "the best political team in television," stumble into America's Election Headquarters over at the Foxhole's "Strategy Room," spend a rollicking evening in MSNBC, "The Place for Politics," where you can watch Chris Matthews throw his hard balls at Hillary, listen to Keith Olbermann scold all those who disagree with him, or just relax and let M.C. Rove's dancing partner, David Gregory, decide the winner in his new "Race for the White House" show...

The One World Order criminals who seized power in the 2000 election coup will not exit peacefully if defeated in November. They have ruled through brutality and fear and, with the eager help of the media, stoked that fear into seven long years of shameful "patriotic" panic. Their eyes are on the prize -- total US dominion and control of the world and its resources. They're in too deep to back off now, and will not willingly accept defeat. The person taking over the reins of leadership from Bush must be one of their own, regardless of party. That is why the media relentlessly ambushed, weeded out, and tossed six of the eight Democratic presidential wannabes unceremoniously aside.

From the outset, the only two Democratic candidates in the media race were Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. The media and their corporate masters knew the hokey soap opera between a white woman and a black man would keep the masses panting for more "American Idol" drama and their attention diverted from more pressing matters, such as a landscape strewn with body parts, a desert stained red with innocent blood, dead and suffering children, grieving, horror-shocked parents on the one side -- and a smirking idiot madman on the other who chants mindlessly about "completing the mission...spreading freedom throughout the world..."

In their critical "George Bush: The Unauthorized Biography," Webster Tarpley and Anton Chaitkin warned that we are immersed in times of moral and cultural degradation wherein "rulers of great evil have inflicted incalculable suffering on humanity."

The book is less about Bush 41 or the Bush family than it is "an unveiling of the abuse and misuse of power, the shenanigans of egotism running rampant in high places." The authors strip aside the "curtain of secrecy, myopic journalism, and the illusion of a 'free' press," and stress that we must be "fully aware of the propaganda of the 'spin doctors' and the manipulations that benefit a few at the expense of the many." Tarpley and Chaitkin say we "are not to condone or advance this egoistic behavior, but to stand tall and say no to those who claim power."

Many more of us than the media will admit are doing just that -- from the courageous "Winter Soldiers" who stood up against the war machine last week, to the masses whose protests and arrests are blacked out by the media, to the growing numbers who speak truth to power on the Internet and on progressive radio. Fortunately, there are far too many to list, but if you're just waking up, and it's sheer, raw truth you're after, check out Chris Floyd anytime, or listen to Nova M Radio's Mike Malloy week nights from 9-midnight (EST).

Nebraska's Republican Senator Chuck Hagel says in his new book, "America: Our Next Chapter," that it's time for independent leadership and, perhaps, even for another political party. I agree. Those like Dick Cheney who have a death grip on power, and who will only tighten that grip if they remain in power, do not care what the American people think. White House press secretary Dana Perino echoed Cheney's sentiments last week when she told a reporter the American people have a right to speak only once every four years. After that, they can just shut up and follow the leader...

The current election is possibly the most important in US history. Yet, ironically, thanks to the media, few of us in either party have a horse in this race. We have one last chance to change that. We must stand together and support a candidate whose love for country overshadows party loyalty and media sound bites -- a candidate who will fight for the freedoms and rights bestowed upon us by the founding fathers -- who will work to restore our infrastructure and our environment. That candidate is former Vice President Al Gore, the man legally elected President of the United States in 2000. It's time to heal the wound and move on to the Inauguration.

Together, we must ask Al Gore to answer the call one last time. If it takes a new party, so be it. Because saving our republic, repairing our Constitution, and returning the power to the people is what it's all about.

[puebloknot]

1. K&R We are In Extremis at this point...

...and I find little hope that either candidate can or will stand up to the onslaught of tyranny we're facing.

Mr. Gore:

"There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life, Is bound in shallows and in miseries"

I long to think there is enough passion and intelligence in America for a write-in campaign to sweep Mr. Gore into office.

Thanks for another great article.

[Sheila Samples]

4. To puebloknot

Thanks for your kind words...

I honestly feel that our last chance at saving our way of life depends on Al Gore. And, until he says no, I will continue to nag. I am a very good nagger...LOL

[Time for change]

2. Though I agree with most of what you say here, I have 2 very big disagreements

First, I think that having Gore run as a 3rd party candidate would be a terrible mistake, for the same reason that Nader running as a 3rd party candidate was a terrible mistake in 2000.

McCain would be a disaster for our country. He is pushing Bush's war policies and even wants to go to war with Iran. If Gore runs as a third party candidate against Obama or Clinton, they will split the vote and McCain would be a virtual certainty to win the election. And anyone who says that there is no difference between Clinton or Obama vs. McCain is in a similar category to those who said in 2000 that there is no difference between Gore and Bush.

Much better that Gore get behind the Democratic nominee and thereby help to ensure a Democratic President, and perhaps gain some influence in the administration as well.

Second, I really take issue with putting Keith Olberman in the same category with those who are "trashing or ostracizing those who pose a threat to the corporate status quo". Keith is the very opposite of that. I have not heard any tv journalist challenge a President or Vice President as aggressively as he has EVER in my life.

[Sheila Samples]

3. Good arguments...

I am not advocating a third party, although if that's the only way Gore could be drafted, like I said -- so be it. I'm sorry, but I do not feel the two candidates the media left in this race are strong enough to go up against the tower of power. And McCain must be stopped. Can you imagine a McCain/Giuliani ticket? I can. Then, when the old guy has an accident, the candidate the media feverishly tried to prop up will be president. Hillary and Obama have both flip-flopped on so many issues that I neither know, nor care, where they stand. You are probably right, however. Gore will ultimately back one or the other of the candidates. But until that time, I am pleading with him to enter the race.

I admire Keith Olbermann, and feel he is one of only two (Dan Abrams being the other) on MSNBC who has the courage to tell the truth about the Bush administration. However, he has "scolded" both Hillary and Obama, and has given McCain a relative pass. He is also silent when his co-workers are as hateful and right-wing as the ghoulish Bill O'Reilly, e.g., Tucker Carlson, Joe Scarborough, et al... Ultimately, it's ratings he's after. But I like him and watch him every night.

[Time for change]

5. I wouldn't say that Keith has given McCain a pass

On a recent segment he spent a good long time showing how McCain repeatedly tried to get away with claiming a connection between Iran and al Qaeda. He helped the public to see McCain as the absolute fool that he is. That will be a must for Dems to use in the fall campaign against McCain.

With regard to his being silent about some of his hateful co-workers, I don't believe there is any choice. I don't believe that MSNBC would put up with him treating his co-workers as he does O'Reilly. That would probably mean instant firing. I (and most liberal/progressives I would think) would much rather have Keith continue in his current job, as a beacon of light and heat against the Bush administration, than to have him get fired over criticizing his co-workers. Bush and Cheney are a much greater danger to our country than are Keith's co-workers.

Anyhow, I don't doubt that he has had at least somewhat of a positive effect on the behavior of his co-workers.

[f the letter]

6. i wish Al Gore were running... no luck there.

Hopefully next time around

[bigbrother05]

7. Proudly #5, another important OP, Ms. Samples

As a native Lawtonian, always look for your work.

[Sheila Samples]

16. Bigbrother05

Glad to know I have a friend out here in the vast wasteland of Little Jimmy Inhofe Country...

[cornermouse]

8. Good Luck.

I've just about given up.

[tavalon]

9. You veered off of your original point, actually.

We need to figure out how to destroy, yes, destroy the media conglomerates. We need to bring back the fairness doctrine and stop treating news like entertainment. I think it's time to get rid of CNN, Headline News and of course, Faux "News". A 24 hour news cycle serves no one and in fact, encourages the talking heads to behave badly. The Fourth estate is broken beyond recognition and must be cleansed at the very least, more likely just destroyed and rebuilt from the ashes. I'm not sure the patient can be saved and pulling the life support might just be the only way. Of course, we need to make sure the void is filled with true journalism. There never was a liberal bias and I'm not advocating putting one in place. I'm advocating the real "Fair and Balanced" not the Orwellian catch phrase it's become for that propaganda channel. We especially need to get rid of the talking heads on both sides. I don't need, nor do you, someone spinning the news. Give me the news and I will form my own opinions, thank you very much. For those incapable of such brain working activities, adult learning classes in reasoning should be made available. They can put them on the 24 hour channels now devoted to the "spin till you puke" "news".

Until we fix or remove that cancer, we will not be able to fix our democracy, for a democracy relies on an informed electorate and the "News" channels are not doing that and are in fact, disseminating disinformation and dangerous diversion for the masses (I feel for Natalie Holloway's family but we should never, ever have had her name seared into our collective consciousness). That must end. How we end it, I do not know, but it must end for our country to survive. It isn't the only thing that needs to happen but it is, IMO, the first and most important thing that must happen.

[cornermouse]

11. "Cleansed." Interesting terminology...

Where have I heard that before?

[tavalon]

12. I was using it as a cleaning up terminology

not the way you clearly took it. Last time I checked I wasn't a Nazi.

[cornermouse]

13. Not that he's the only one recently, but I'm sure Milosivec called it "cleaning up" too.

Looks like a Freudian slip to me.

[tavalon]

14. Oh, bullshit!

Looks like you read too much into it. I think the media is completely corrupt and with a few exceptions, needs to be revamped. Does that word meet with your standards?:eyes:

[Sheila Samples]

19. Okay...

So let's take a huge fire hose and hit the media trail. They can be "cleansed" that way, can't they?

[Sheila Samples]

17. to tavalon

No -- my point was the media spinning the campaigns and selecting who would run, and win. Addressing the corporate media control, the CIA Mockingbirds embedded in CNN, the shameful bigoted, racist FOX News, and the sheer propaganda of the print media -- would be a whole "nuther" story, maybe even a book...

But I agree with you. If we have a revolution, it should start with the destructive media.

[iiibbb]

10. It's all just history repeating

The press has a long-standing tradition of hyperbole and grandstanding. There is nothing unique about this race over those 100 years ago except that the information travels a little faster.

The amount of time citizens invest in becoming informed has changed, and perhaps the number of issues that affect us have changed... but I really don't think the press has changed all that much.

I also don't understand the segue to Al Gore. Al Gore ran a bad campaign, and the only way he was going to win that election was by changing the rules after the fact. There's nothing special about him, he's just another politician who likes to hear himself talk. Don't blame it on the Supreme Court. There were other courts and other entities getting their hands just as dirty in that election. Even today Clinton seems to be hanging her hat on changing the rules of the game after the fact, possibly through the courts.

Ultimately the fault of the 2000 clusterfx lies with the election commissions doing sloppy work.



I hope Obama wins, and I hope he's our next president.

[Pachamama]

15. Great post....

Excellent analysis of the "Corporate Media Freakshow"....spot on....

[Sheila Samples]

18. To Pachamama

Thank you so much..

[rosesaylavee]

20. Thank you

I am not sure what the answer is ... but the media has to be addressed by the next administration. We need to break up the monopolies and reinstate the fairness doctrine in regards to elections.

Mr. Gore will have my vote and my volunteer time if and or when he should ever need it. I am hoping tho that whatever the scenario that unfolds this year, that it is a path that the majority of us Democrats will willingly follow. We need to win the WH in 2009 to survive as a country. This bloodletting has to stop. Now.

Great post.