Reply #4: It's easier and better to report optimism

[Lexingtonian]

Newspapers and news shows are losing readers/watchers, and those readers/watchers tend to lean or be politically conservative.

So to keep market share and revenue as high as possible in a market where there is constant overall decline, the safe thing to do is to prioritize an optimistic take on the situation seen from a conservative point of view. And when these readers/viewers are upset with Republicans, then allow your reporting to be critical of Republicans.

The story on the higher ratings given a Democratic program is that people are supporting it because they disagree with the Republican on and want a counter. But there is no strong consensus Democratic program, nor much of anyone who clearly represents the consensus of views inside the Party either. Who would you quote in explaining the Democratic program- John Murtha? Nancy Pelosi? Harry Reid? Hilary Clinton? Bill Clinton? Howard Dean? John Kerry? Joe Lieberman? Steny Hoyer?

I don't worry about this. The story line of the next six to eight months is more decline and disintegration and partial, defective, implementation of the Republican agenda. No matter what Democrats do or say, other than perhaps grossly disqualifying themselves, the story of the next election is whether moderate voters by consensus or preponderance have any use left for Republicans.